WHAT IS TRUTH?
(CONTINUED)
The unmistakable fact of history since the time of Christ's ministry on Earth and His subsequent death on the Cross of Calvary and His triumphant bodily resurrection on that first Resurrection Sunday is that those who have embraced THE TRUTH in the person of Jesus Christ - find that truth to be life-changing. This is also contingent on them giving heed to the Word of God, which is able to liberate from bondage to sin and its consequences. Satan, the arch deceiver, whom the Bible calls the father of lies, cannot stand up to the searchlight of the truth of God's Holy Word.
As I was thinking about what to write in this blog, "What Is Truth?", I Googled this question on the internet. I discovered a lengthy Wikipedia article which outlined some of the philosophical theories concerning Truth, and what it means. These include what are known as Substantive Theories, including:
Correspondence Theory
Coherence Theory
Constructivist Theory
Concensus Theory
Pragmatic Theory
Then there are Minimalist or Deflationary Theories. These include:
Performative Theory of Truth
Reduncancy and Related Theories.
There are also what is known as Pluralist Theories.
I discovered that, of the above, the Correspondence Theory seems to have the highest percentage of support in relation to the definition of Truth - in philosophical terms.
I am reminded of the verse in 2 Timothy 3:7 where the apostle Paul speaking of the days in which we are living, describes people who would be "always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
If you who are reading are on a quest to know ultimate Truth in all its dimensions, may I suggest you take a look in the Bible at the one who is TRUTH HIMSELF, the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus finished His earthly ministry, He told His disciples that He would send them a Helper, the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 16:13 that ".....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."
In John 18:36-38, as Jesus stood before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, who would decide whether He lived or would be condemned to be crucified, Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world.If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."
Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are you a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause, I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all."
Pilate asked Jesus one of the most important questions He could have asked of the Son of God: "What is truth?" and He didn't bother to wait for the answer. Like Pilate, many today are searching for the meaning of Truth in Philosophy, Religion, Science - even Politics and always coming short.
The apostle Paul warns in Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
He goes on to say in verses 9 and 10 For in Him [Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Does it matter what we believe to be the truth today? Isn't truth relative to the circumstances, culture, socio-political setting in which we find ourselves today? Ah...........we shall have to leave the answers to these questions to the next time we meet in cyberspace in the not too distant future.
If you have not yet encountered personally the one who is Truth Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, may I suggest one of many websites where you can find clear direction on how to become a Christian:
www.vision.org.au Click on the Radio word on the top left of the screen. Then click on Grow your faith, then Looking for God!
If you who are reading are on a quest to know ultimate Truth in all its dimensions, may I suggest you take a look in the Bible at the one who is TRUTH HIMSELF, the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus finished His earthly ministry, He told His disciples that He would send them a Helper, the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 16:13 that ".....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."
In John 18:36-38, as Jesus stood before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, who would decide whether He lived or would be condemned to be crucified, Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world.If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."
Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are you a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause, I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all."
Pilate asked Jesus one of the most important questions He could have asked of the Son of God: "What is truth?" and He didn't bother to wait for the answer. Like Pilate, many today are searching for the meaning of Truth in Philosophy, Religion, Science - even Politics and always coming short.
The apostle Paul warns in Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
He goes on to say in verses 9 and 10 For in Him [Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Does it matter what we believe to be the truth today? Isn't truth relative to the circumstances, culture, socio-political setting in which we find ourselves today? Ah...........we shall have to leave the answers to these questions to the next time we meet in cyberspace in the not too distant future.
If you have not yet encountered personally the one who is Truth Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, may I suggest one of many websites where you can find clear direction on how to become a Christian:
www.vision.org.au Click on the Radio word on the top left of the screen. Then click on Grow your faith, then Looking for God!
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