What is

1
What is Truth?

• How do you determine truth?
• Pilate was caught in the middle of controversy
  Jews vs. Jesus. He asked about the truth but was
  not willing to wait for the answer
• Often, we are forced to ask and answer, What is
  truth?

2
Truth by imagination

• Truth is not determined by what seems right to us.

Proverbs 1412 There is a way that seems right
to a man, But its end is the way of death.
3
What is Truth?
Truth by Imagination.
An example of this is a man with the name of
Naaman?
2 Kings 51-12 Now Naaman, commander of the army
of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable
man in the eyes of his master, because by him the
Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a
mighty man of valor, but a leper. 2 And the
Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought
back captive a young girl from the land of
Israel. She waited on Naaman's wife. 3 Then she
said to her mistress, "If only my master were
with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would
heal him of his leprosy." 4 And Naaman went in
and told his master, saying, "Thus and thus said
the girl who is from the land of Israel."
4
What is Truth?
5 Then the king of Syria said, "Go now, and I
will send a letter to the king of Israel." So he
departed and took with him ten talents of silver,
six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of
clothing. 6 Then he brought the letter to the
king of Israel, which said, Now be advised, when
this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman
my servant to you, that you may heal him of his
leprosy. 7 And it happened, when the king of
Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes
and said, "Am I God, to kill and make alive, that
this man sends a man to me to heal him of his
leprosy? Therefore please consider, and see how
he seeks a quarrel with me." 8 So it was, when
Elisha the man of God heard that the king of
Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the
king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes?
Please let him come to me, and he shall know that
there is a prophet in Israel."
5
What is Truth?
9 Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot,
and he stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10
And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go
and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your
flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be
clean." 11 But Naaman became furious, and went
away and said, "Indeed, I said to myself, 'He
will surely come out to me, and stand and call on
the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand
over the place, and heal the leprosy.' 12 Are
not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of
Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?
Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he
turned and went away in a rage.
6
What is Truth?
Truth by Imagination
Another example of this is a man with the name of
Saul of Tarsus?
Acts 269-11 "Indeed, I myself thought I must do
many things contrary to the name of Jesus of
Nazareth. 10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and
many of the saints I shut up in prison, having
received authority from the chief priests and
when they were put to death, I cast my vote
against them. 11 And I punished them often in
every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme
and being exceedingly enraged against them, I
persecuted them even to foreign cities.
7
What is Truth?
Truth by Imagination
Another example of this is a man with the name of
Saul of Tarsus?
1 Tim 113 although I was formerly a blasphemer,
a persecutor, and an insolent man but I obtained
mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
8
What is Truth?
Truth by Imagination
We cannot trust our hearts alone for truth.
Jer 179"The heart is deceitful above all
things, And desperately wicked Who can know it?
9
What is Truth?
Truth by Imagination
Remember the heart can be self-deceived.
Galatians 63 For if anyone thinks himself to be
something, when he is nothing, he deceives
himself. James 126 If anyone among you thinks he
is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but
deceives his own heart, this one's religion is
useless.
10
What is Truth?
Truth by Imagination
Suppositions can be tragically wrong.
Luke 244 but supposing Him to have been in the
company, they went a day's journey, and sought
Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
Acts 1627 And the keeper of the prison, awaking
from sleep and seeing the prison doors open,
supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword
and was about to kill himself.
11
Truth by accommodation
To many, truth must accommodate existing
situations.
12
What is Truth?
Truth by accommodation
Acts 1925-2825 He called them together with the
workers of similar occupation, and said "Men,
you know that we have our prosperity by this
trade. 26 Moreover you see and hear that not
only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia,
this Paul has persuaded and turned away many
people, saying that they are not gods which are
made with hands. 27 So not only is this trade of
ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but
also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be
despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all
Asia and the world worship." 28 Now when they
heard this, they were full of wrath and cried
out, saying, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!"
13
What is Truth?
Truth by accomodation
True of many subjects The church, baptism,
marriage, etc. Truth should determine
situations, not situations the truth. To many,
truth must accommodate existing sentiments.
14
What is Truth?
Truth by accomModation
Formed by long-standing traditions (Cf. Matt.
159). Matt 159And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of
men.' Formed by emotions rather than facts (Acts
2221, 22) Acts 2221-22 Then He said to me,
'Depart, for I will send you far from here to the
Gentiles.'" 22 And they listened to him until
this word, and then they raised their voices and
said, Away with such a fellow from the earth,
for he is not fit to live!"
15
What is Truth?
Truth by accomModation
Truth by revelation
Gods Word is truth John 1717 Sanctify them
by Your truth. Your word is truth. Psa. 119160
The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one
of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
16
What is Truth?
Truth by accomModation
Truth by revelation
Spirit guided Apostles into all truth John
1613 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has
come, He will guide you into all truth for He
will not speak on His own authority, but whatever
He hears He will speak and He will tell you
things to come.
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What is Truth?
Truth by accomModation
Truth by revelation
They wrote, we read Eph. 33-5 3 how that by
revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I
have briefly written already, 4 by which, when
you read, you may understand my knowledge in the
mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was
not made known to the sons of men, as it has now
been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles
and prophets
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What is Truth?
Truth by accomModation
Truth by revelation
We believe through their word. John 1720 "I
do not pray for these alone, but also for those
who will believe in Me through their word
19
What is Truth?
Truth by accomModation
Truth by revelation
Search Scriptures to determine truth. Acts
1711 These were more fair-minded than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with
all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily
to find out whether these things were so.
20
What is Truth?
Truth by accomModation
Truth by revelation
Let God be true and every man a liar. Rom. 34
Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every
man a liar. As it is written "That You may be
justified in Your words, And may overcome when
You are judged."
21
What is Truth?
Truth by accomModation
Conclusion
People will be saved or condemned depending on
their attitude toward truth Let us seek truth at
all cost buy it and sell it not (Prov.
2323) Let us love the truth above all else. (2
Thess. 29-12) Let determine the truth by the
facts What saith the scriptures?