The Substance of Faith An Evidence and Foundational Christian Curriculum Truth Part 1c

Part 1c: How Can Humans Know Truth?

The voice of God is absolute truth “The truth is...” Ummm… maybe God is right!

How does the Bible explain how we know truth? In Romans 1:19-20, the apostle Paul discusses how all people at all time have had general knowledge of God. In this context, Paul provides an explanation of how all humans may have knowledge from God.

How do we know if God is speaking? “…because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse…” (Romans 1:19-20 NKJV) How then do we know if God is speaking? Consider with me a paradoxical statement from the Bible in Romans 1:19-20. “…because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse…” (Romans 1:19-20 NKJV)

How do we know if God is speaking? “…because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse…” (Romans 1:19-20 NKJV) First, we notice the passage expressing that God has shown all people what He has permitted us to know about Him. So, God also wants us to know the truth that He has given to us. How has this truth been shown to us?

How do we know if God is speaking? “…because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse…” (Romans 1:19-20 NKJV) Observe the next line. Here we have a paradox, a statement that seems to contradict itself yet is correct. God’s invisible attributes are clearly seen. How can we see the invisible? The Bible admits here that the attributes and truths of God are invisible in one sense. We cannot literally see God to view these attributes and we cannot conduct scientific experiments to determine the nature of God. However, the truths of God are clearly seen in another sense.

How do we know if God is speaking? “…because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse…” (Romans 1:19-20 NKJV) They are seen, because God has shown them to us. God has spoken, and what He speaks is true. If we view God has having absolute power and authority, what He speaks is always true even above what may seem correct to our human reasoning or to science. The passage then answers how we know when God is speaking.

How do we know if God is speaking? “…because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse…” (Romans 1:19-20 NKJV) God’s invisible attributes are shown and seen by the things God made. In everything God makes, there a distinctive fingerprint, which is His eternal power and Godhead. When we look at the creation and see the glory of God, the inaudible voice of creation declares plainly that God is glorious and powerful.

How do we know if God is speaking? This is how we know when God is speaking: His message has the distinctive glory of God. This is how we know when God is speaking: His message has the distinctive glory of God. This means that there are defining characteristics and distinctive wonders that only God could do. Now, I used a Bible passage to establish this point, but the idea is logical even without accepting the Bible as authoritative. We use distinctive fingerprints, signatures, DNA samples, etc. today to verify identity. I am simply saying that God’s message can likewise have identifiable characteristics.

Psalms 19:1-2 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. (Psalms 19:1-2 NKJV)

Absolute through the limited? If absolute truth is delivered through our perceptions, and our perceptions are limited, how can we have absolute truth through limited means? Is the whole greater than the sum of its parts? Yet, some would ask a deeper question. If humans are fundamentally flawed in acquiring knowledge due to their preconceived notions, how can anyone claim they have the truth? Even further, our five senses which allow us to perceive the world or even read the Bible are flawed and can be tricked. How then could we claim to have absolute truth delivered through limited means? In other words, can the whole be greater than the sum of its parts?

How Humans Obtain Knowledge Relational Knowledge Philosophy Science Media Senses Thought

How Humans Obtain Knowledge God’s Word (Relational Knowledge) Senses Thought

Whole > parts? Can the whole be greater than the sum of its parts? Yes, because all things are possible to God. This is the basis of life, faith, morality, and knowledge. But we must not forget the nature of God. If God is infinite--one who can do anything--then God can even make the whole greater than the sum of its parts. God can even deliver absolute truth through limited means. The concept of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts is a fundamental division of life and death, faith and disbelief, morality and chaos, knowledge and ignorance. For instance, humans are made of the same atoms as the dirt around us. If we are simply the sum of our parts, we are simply a bunch of atoms, and there is no harm in destroying the delicate arrangement of these atoms such as to murder humans. Yet, when the atoms come together to form a human, we are more than the sum of our parts. Knowledge also takes the form of ink on a page, air vibrations, nerve signals, electron transmissions in computers—all of which are meaningless in themselves—but when taken as a whole, they form human knowledge, which is more than the sum of its parts.

How is our perception of truth dependant on our view of God? If we continue to read in Romans 1:21-23, we see that people have known about God, but they rejected Him for two key reasons:

Romans 1:21-23 NKJV because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

How is our perception of truth dependant on our view of God? First, they did not honor God. To honor God is to uplift Him and esteem Him above all else. Instead of uplifting the truth of God, these people were wise in their own estimation, which was really foolishness (v. 22). Instead of uplifting God they uplifted idols—and especially the idol that looked like themselves (v. 23).

Proverbs 9:10 NKJV The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Romans 1:21-23 NKJV because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

How is our perception of truth dependant on our view of God? Second, they did not give thanks. Giving thanks occurs both in speech and action. To give thanks is to live in a way that shows appreciation of God and His truth. This would involve seeking truth and desiring truth. Those who do not desire and love truth will not find it (2 Thess. 2:10-11; Matt. 7:7).

2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 NKJV …and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie…

Matthew 7:7 NKJV Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Communication breakdown? We must spend time with God to know how to recognize His glory The Bible is a gift of the written words of God, which provides great clarity The inspiration of the Bible will be addressed in part four of this series Many people will come to different conclusions on what God is speaking based on a communication breakdown on our part. As in learning a new language, we must spend time in the language to understand it well. When we do not spend time with God, we will forget what His glory looks like, and we will mistake other ideas like our own desires for His will. Thankfully, God has given us a gift of clarity by providing written words contained in the Bible. This glory of God, however, is the fundamental principle used to establish the inspiration of the Bible, which will be addressed in a later study.

Many Interpretations? Many human interpretations does not mean that there is no true interpretation. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7 NKJV) “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32 NKJV) Although the Bible provides clarity of God’s message, there are also many conflicting interpretations of the Bible itself. The fact that many differing interpretations exist does not mean that there is not a true interpretation. It is generally not difficult to see clearly the true interpretation if we are allowing the Bible to explain itself rather than reading into it what we want it to say. Jesus, for instance, was very clear that those who truly seek would find (Matt. 7:7) and that we can know the truth (John 8:32).

Truth & Faith Faith is based on truth “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17 NKJV) There is a common notion of “blind faith,” or the idea that faith has no basis. This idea is actually not Biblical. Faith is not without evidence; it has a different kind of evidence. Faith is not based on nothing, but it is based on the Word of God. Romans 10:17 makes this clear, saying that faith comes through hearing the word of God.

Human knowledge God’s Word Truth & Faith Noah’s example (Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 6-8) Human knowledge God’s Word Hebrews 11 contains numerous examples of how this works. Noah, for instance, was told to build an ark in the middle of dry land. To human or scientific reasoning then or now, that made no sense; however, if Noah knew that God said to do it, it made perfect sense. What did Noah do? He considered that what God said was greater than his human reasoning. He exalted God above himself; he glorified God, and this is called faith in the passage. Therefore, faith is not without a foundation, but its foundation is the truth of what God says.

God’s Word Human knowledge Truth & Faith Faith is trusting in God’s truth above other forms of knowledge God’s Word Human knowledge He trusted that what God said was greater than his human reasoning. He exalted God above himself; he glorified God, and this is called faith in the passage. Therefore, faith is not without a foundation, but its foundation is the truth of what God says.

Conclusion In conclusion, humans can know truth of God by relationship to God. God has given us the language that allows us to perceive His nature and glory in general revelation. Although God chooses to transmit the perfect through the limited, if we truly exalt God, we understand that this is fully possible for God. The rejection of truth is fundamentally based on a rejection of God Himself.