1. John 18:28-38

2. “What is truth?” Pilate was in a delicate position as Rome’s agent: He needed information about the accused [29-32] His only knowledge came from the accusers [33-35] Jesus sought to help him focus on the truth [36-37] Death sentence without proper accusation could get him in trouble with Rome [cp. Acts 25:24-27] The real objective of knowledge is finding the truth, not just knowing some truths – 2+2 = ? (need 1 true answer, not all wrong ones) – lost keys (need 1 true location, not all wrong ones) – in court (need 1 true answer, not all wrong ones) – John 8:13-14, 19, 31-32 (knowing truth liberates)

3. “What is truth?” Pilate was in a delicate position as Rome’s agent: He needed information about the accused [29-32] His only knowledge came from the accusers [33-35] Jesus sought to help him focus on the truth [36-37] Death sentence without proper accusation could get him in trouble with Rome [cp. Acts 25:24-27] The real objective of knowledge is finding the truth Once the truth is found, all other answers are error Pilate didn’t really want the truth, just “an out” [38] – His attitude same as post-modernist: “there is no absolute truth” – what you know is “your truth” – This attitude has affected the “religious” as well!

4. “What is truth?” Pilate was in a delicate position as Rome’s agent: He needed information about the accused [29-32] His only knowledge came from the accusers [33-35] Jesus sought to help him focus on the truth [36-37] Death sentence without proper accusation could get him in trouble with Rome [cp. Acts 25:24-27] The real objective of knowledge is finding the truth Once the truth is found, all other answers are error Pilate didn’t really want the truth, just “an out” [38] If we cannot recognize truth – like Pilate and post- modernists – we will not know when we find it!! If asked honestly, Pilate’s question needs an answer

5. “What is truth?” The VALUE of truth Proverb 23:23 Through our knowledge of truth we have: Highest treasure; worth every effort required to obtain and keep it [cp. Mt. 13:45-46; 2 Tim. 2:15] 2 Peter 1:2-4 John 8:31-32 and Rom. 6:20-23 – the key to life and godliness – the way to escape corruption, partake of Divinity – the way to be free from bonds of sin and death Knowing, understanding the truth is the difference between life and death [cp. John 8:21-24]

6. “What is truth?” The VALUE of truth NOT a mystery that’s impossible to determine “TRUTH” is the same as any other word: defined by how it is used and its characteristics The DEFINITION of truth

7. “What is truth?” Three basic uses: as a character trait: genuine, dependable as an absolute: pure, complete, uncontaminated – “…a true friend”; “true to his word” How “truth” is used – “…the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”; “I got the whole story” to describe reality: as opposed to shadow, copy, counterfeit, etc. – Heb. 10:1-4; Col. 2:16-17: “shadow” vs. “reality” – shadows point to that which is true [1 Pet. 3:21] – counterfeits deceive, claim to be true [Jn. 8:43-45]

8. “What is truth?” The VALUE of truth NOT a mystery that’s impossible to determine Basic uses of “truth”: character, absolute, reality “TRUTH” is the same as any other word: defined by how it is used and its characteristics The DEFINITION of truth

9. “What is truth?” Truth is always consistent with other truth: apparent contradiction = whole truth unknown Characteristics of truth to determine validity of any statement, compare its harmony with other known simple truths – in Bible study, our conclusions must be consistent with all Scripture, or we are in error [Mk. 12:24] – in legal proceedings, consistency of testimony is necessary for establishing truth of what occurred [cp. Dt. 17:6; Mk. 14:53-59] – where genuine variance exists, both can’t be true; often both are wrong! Truth = harmony w/truth!

10. “What is truth?” Truth is always consistent with other truth post-modern catch-phrase is “broad-mindedness”; this is inconsistent with the nature of truth Characteristics of truth Truth is always narrow:

11. “What is truth?” Truth is always consistent with other truth in mathematics: Characteristics of truth – 2+2=4; not “narrow-minded”, but true; cannot get “right answer” with any other number! – what if stores, banks, etc. took a “broad-minded” approach when counting our money? No WAY! – we inherently understand that mathematical truth is narrow, so we object! Truth is always narrow:

12. “What is truth?” Truth is always consistent with other truth in mathematics: Characteristics of truth – pure H2O freezes at 32F, boils at 212F at sea-level; not “narrow-minded”, but true – unless we alter the water or the conditions, there is no “broad-minded” approach we can take! – we inherently understand that scientific truth is narrow, so we prepare! Truth is always narrow: in science:

13. “What is truth?” Truth is always consistent with other truth in mathematics: Characteristics of truth – a given event has only happened in one particular way; not “narrow-minded”, but true – that is the reason our justice system seeks “truth, whole truth, nothing but…” to reconstruct events – the “broad-minded” who claims that one event took place in several different ways is insane! Truth is always narrow: in science: in history:

14. “What is truth?” Truth is always consistent with other truth in mathematics: Characteristics of truth – places are only where they are, not elsewhere – NY only exists in one place; not “narrow”, but true Truth is always narrow: in science: in history: in geography: – I cannot leave Charleston driving south and truly hope to arrive in NY, no matter how sincerely I “believe” NY is south! Is that “broad-minded”?

15. “What is truth?” Truth is always consistent with other truth in mathematics: Characteristics of truth – truth is still narrow when applied to God! – the truth of God does not change based on what we “feel” to be true or on our manner of thinking Truth is always narrow: in science: in history: in geography: in religion: – emotion nor “faith” will change FACTS!

16. “What is truth?” Truth is always consistent with other truth Characteristics of truth – many false doctrines very narrow [cp. Mk. 7:1-5] – then how can we determine what is true or not? Truth is always narrow all truth is narrow, but not all that is narrow is true! – there is a need for a proven standard: a ruler for truth in measurement, the Bible for truth of God Truth must be determined by a standard – God’s word has consistently made claims, then proved them; is the proven standard of truth – cp. Mark 1:21-28; John 17:17; 12:44-50

17. “What is truth?” The VALUE of truth NOT a mystery that’s impossible to determine Basic uses of “truth”: character, absolute, reality “TRUTH” is the same as any other word: defined by how it is used and its characteristics The DEFINITION of truth Characteristics of “truth”: consistent with other truth, narrow, determined by a standard

18. “What is truth?” The VALUE of truth KNOW the truth with no knowledge of the truth, no way to benefit from it or fulfill any obligation to it The DEFINITION of truth Our OBLIGATION to the truth Paul tells how to know it: read! [Eph. 3:4-6] Paul tells why to know it: salvation! [Rom. 1:15-17] Knowledge of truth is necessary before there can be faith or proper action [Rom. 10:1-3; Mk. 16:16] – cp. Prov. 19:2; “Look before you leap!”

19. “What is truth?” The VALUE of truth KNOW the truth Knowledge must lead to faith if it is to be useful The DEFINITION of truth Our OBLIGATION to the truth – intellectual “collecting” of knowledge is no good unless it is used; “book-smart” v. “common sense” BELIEVE the truth

20. “What is truth?” The VALUE of truth KNOW the truth Knowledge must lead to faith if it is to be useful The DEFINITION of truth Our OBLIGATION to the truth Faith a product of hearing and receiving as Word of God and not of men [cp. 1 Thess. 2:13; Rom. 10:17] BELIEVE the truth – cp. Heb. 4:2; 11:6

21. “What is truth?” The VALUE of truth KNOW the truth Knowledge must lead to faith if it is to be useful The DEFINITION of truth Our OBLIGATION to the truth Faith a product of hearing and receiving as Word of God and not of men [cp. 1 Thess. 2:13; Rom. 10:17] BELIEVE the truth Faith in the truth is necessary; does no good at all to believe and live a lie! “But I am sincere, honest” – truth is basis, not sincerity! [Prov. 14:12; 3:5-6]

22. “What is truth?” The VALUE of truth KNOW the truth Knowledge + faith + action is the key to results in any form of truth; how much more with God! The DEFINITION of truth Our OBLIGATION to the truth BELIEVE the truth – if no action follows faith, faith dies! [Jm. 2:19-22] RESPOND to the truth

23. “What is truth?” The VALUE of truth KNOW the truth Knowledge + faith + action is the key to results in any form of truth; how much more with God! The DEFINITION of truth Our OBLIGATION to the truth BELIEVE the truth RESPOND to the truth – simply, we are known by what we do [Pr. 20:11] – knowledge without belief = no action – belief without knowledge = wrong action

24. “What is truth?” The VALUE of truth KNOW the truth Matthew 7:21 – the response is doing! The DEFINITION of truth Our OBLIGATION to the truth BELIEVE the truth RESPOND to the truth

25. “What is truth?” Do YOU value the truth? Do YOU recognize the truth by its character? Are YOU fulfilling your obligation to know, believe, and respond to the truth? Won’t YOU respond today?