Text: John 18:37-38
Jesus told Pilate He came to “testify to the truth” (John 18:37). Pilate asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). This may not have been a sincere inquiry, but it is a vitally important question. God is the ultimate source of truth (Hebrews 6:18), and truth is found in His word (Psalm 119:160; John 17:17). It is critical that we understand that truth is contained in the Scriptures. Yet simply acknowledging this is not enough. There are certain things we must DO with truth.
Hear the Truth (Colossians 1:5)
- The gospel tells us of the hope of heaven – so it is important that we listen to it
- We must first be willing to listen (Luke 8:8) – not close our ears to it (Acts 7:57)
Believe the Truth (Ephesians 1:13)
- Hearing alone is not enough – we must believe it
- Do not be like those who “did not believe” because they “took pleasure in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:12)
Obey the Truth (1 Peter 1:22)
- Many people argue against the necessity of obedience – those who do not obey are lost (2 Thessalonians 1:8)
- We are freed from sin when we obey (Romans 6:17-18, 3-4) – faith without works is dead (James 2:26)
Practice the Truth (John 3:21)
- After believing and obeying the gospel, we must continue to do what the Lord commanded (Matthew 28:20)
- We must not walk in darkness while still claiming fellowship with God (1 John 1:6) – “practice the truth“
Learn the Truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4)
- God wants us to know the truth because this is how we learn what to do to be saved
- Yet some are “always learning” and never arrive at truth (2 Timothy 3:7) – must study the Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15)
Think the Truth (Philippians 4:8)
- We must fill our minds with truth so much that we can recall it even when not actively reading it
- Meditate on it (Psalm 119:97) – God’s word must be in our hearts if we want to keep it on our minds
Speak the Truth (Ephesians 4:25)
- This is more than just being honest and telling what is true – it includes teaching the truth
- We must be ready to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15) – as we do, speak as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11)
Hold the Truth (Proverbs 23:23)
- Once we learn and understand the truth, we must never give it up by ignoring or compromising it
- Instead, hold fast to the pattern (2 Timothy 1:13) – regardless of the consequences of our stand for truth
Love the Truth (Psalm 119:163)
- The psalmist contrasted God’s “law” with “falsehood” – again, God’s word is truth (Psalm 119:160)
- He loved God’s law because it tells of God, His will for us, and the promises for faithfully serving Him
Conclusion
- The truth of God has been revealed in His word – but we must do more than just acknowledge this
- We must hear the gospel, believe it, and obey it
- We must put His word into practice while continually learning and meditating on it
- We need to speak and teach the truth to others and never compromise or abandon it
- All of this needs to be motivated by our love for the truth
