Reading: John 8
We live in a world of deception; of deception so subtle and great that at times even the strongest believers feel discouraged, afraid or tempted to doubt. It is at times like this that we need to remind ourselves and others about the realities of YaHuWaH 's Truth, an entity of immeasurable importance and worth in this age of deceit. Listen to the politicians of any party; hear a sermon by an eloquent speaker of any denomination or religion and everyone - initially - appears to be telling the truth. It's only when one looks deeper and gathers more and more facts does the truth begin to emerge. Some one said 'half a truth is worse than a lie' because you do not know which half you have. I want to discuss YaHuWaH 's truth. What is it?
What is Truth?
In John 18:38 Pilate asked the question "What is truth?"
It is an important question to say the least and the answer is vital to salvation. In a world of massive deception and vice we need to know that answer or we're bound to fall into error and suffer loss. As with every precious gem or metal, truth is not found on the surface: you must dig deep to find it. The dictionary defines the word 'truth' as something being "in accordance with fact."
Truth, in other words, is 'something that is in accordance with reality - the facts.'
YaHuWaH is an Elohim of Truth
Prior to his death the patriarch Moshe proclaimed the following testimony:
| Deut. 32:1 | : Give ear, O ye Heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O Earth, the words of my mouth. 2: My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: 3: Because I will publish the Name of YaHuWaH : ascribe ye greatness unto our Elohim. 4: He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: an Elohim of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He. |
On Mount Sinai the Almighty met with Moshe and made the following announcement:
| Exodus 34:5 | And YaHuWaH descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the Name of YaHuWaH. 6: And YaHuWaH passed by before him, and proclaimed, YaHuWaH, YaHuWaH Elohim, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. |
From the above we can see that truth is infinitely more than just something in accordance with the facts. It is used in the above verse to describe YaHuWaH 's character, the kind of person He is. YaHuWaH is abundant in truth. His only begotten son YAHUSHUA the Messiah came to earth to demonstrate this fact. This is what the Savior said of truth.
| YAHUSHUA is Truth |
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| John 14:6 | YAHUSHUA saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. |
| YaHuWaH 's Torah is Truth |
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| Psalm 119:142 | Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy Torah is the truth. |
| v 151 | Thou art near, O YaHuWaH ; and all Thy commandments are truth. |
| Malachi 2:6 | The YaHuWaH of truth was in his (Levi's) mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with Me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. 7: For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the Torah at his mouth: for he is the messenger of YaHuWaH Tz'va'ot.
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| YaHuWaH 's Word, the Torah, is Truth |
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| John 17:17 | Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Torah is truth.
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| We are to Worship YaHuWaH in Truth |
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| John 4:23 | But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. 24: YaHuWaH is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. |
This means our worship of YaHuWaH must be motivated by His Spirit and it must be according to His directions - in truth. The Pharisees did the right things but they lacked the Holy Spirit. Their attitude was wrong. Others have the right attitude, but their doctrine is in error. For worship to be effective we must worship with the right Spirit and in the right way - in truth. Any other combination is vain and ineffective.
NOTE: Human tradition is not necessarily Divine Truth!
Many Christians naively accept church tradition as truth. But that is a serious mistake. The fact is: when the traditions or commandments of men pose as Divine Truth, then religious worship becomes vain and futile. Billions of souls are going to awake to this fact on the Day of Judgment. Also see the article Iniquity in the Christian Church.
Carefully note the following words of the Savior:
| Matthew 15:9 | But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. |
2. Characteristics of Truth
Being a component and manifestation of YaHuWaH 's own makeup, truth has multiple effects. I list a few.
| Truth Liberates |
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| John 8:32 | and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
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| Truth Sanctifies |
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| John 17:17 | Sanctify them through thy truth: Thy word is truth.
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| Truth Protects and Preserves |
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| Psalm 91:4 | He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. |
| Proverbs 20:28 | Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
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| Truth is Potent |
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| James 1:18 | Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
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| Truth Sifts |
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| John 18:37 | Pilate therefore said unto Him, Art thou a king then? YAHUSHUA answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice. |
3. Truth has many Enemies
It shouldn't come as a shock to anyone to be told that truth has its enemies - many enemies! Satan's attack on truth is yet to reach a climax when he will think that he has overthrown YaHuWaH and established his own life-style on Earth. But as is always the case, Satan's final deception is self-deception.
| Daniel 8:12 | And an army was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered. |
4. A Believer's Response to Truth
Every believer must constantly examine his/her reactions, attitudes and expression of truth. None of us is perfect (1 John 1:6-8) so we need YaHuWaH 's written Word of Truth as our chart and standard. Without it we will surely go astray and get lost in a maze of speculation, tradition and error. Here are some reactions to truth which are vital to healthy growth.
| Receive the Truth through YAHUSHUA the Messiah |
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| John 1:17 | For the Torah through Moshe was given, the grace and truth through YAHUSHUA Messiah was realized. |
| NOTE: YAHUSHUA is YaHuWaH 's channel of truth. Through Him all things of value (salvation, holiness, meekness, faith, love etc.) come. Moshe was the channel of the Torah which develops godly character, but salvation comes through the shed blood of YAHUSHUA the Messiah. |
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| Walk in Truth |
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| Isaiah 38:3 | And said, Remember now, O YaHuWaH, I beseech Thee, how I have walked before Thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. |
| 2 John 4 | I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. |
| Speak the Truth |
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| Exodus 20:16 | Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. |
| Zechariah 8:16 | These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: |
| Teach the Truth |
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| Isaiah 38:19 | The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth. |
| Testify to Truth |
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| John 18:37 | ... Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. |
| Using Truth as a Test |
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| 1 John 2:4 | He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. |
Failure to "love the truth" usually ends in spiritual death. Our reactions to truth, to YaHuWaH, His Son, His Word and His Torah, are vital to success. People will be measured on the Judgement Day according to how they reacted to truth. What a sobering fact! The Bible is Life's User Guide. It not only tells of how humanity was created and later fell into sin, but it tells the truth of where our whole system of civilization is heading. It tells of how truth will eventually be victorious over error. How will the Most High accomplish this seemingly impossible goal?
- By His Living Truth - the Messiah
- By His Written Truth - His Word and His Torah
5. The Unbeliever's Response to Truth
Those who reject truth because they love unrighteousness are given over to believe the lie. They get what they want. They are handed over to believe the Lie. Their end is awful. They are damned!
Make sure that you do not fall into the category of those who reject the Truth and are handed over by YaHuWaH to believe the Lie!
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