Bible Truth
1. Things to understand about truth
a) The Bible tells us that an objective standard exists:
1 Thessalonians 5:21 (KJV) Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
b) The Bible tells us that truth exists:
1 Timothy 2;4 (KJV) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
c) Questions about the existence of truth are philosophical rather than theological questions:
John 18:38 (KJV) Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
Acts 17:17-18 (KJV) Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. 18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
d) The Bible tells us that truth comes from God:
Deuteronomy 32:4 (KJV)He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Psalm 31:5 (KJV) Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
Isaiah 65:16 (KJV) That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.
Romans 3:4 (KJV) God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
e) The Bible tells us that truth can be known:
John 8:32 (KJV) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
f) The Bible tells us truth can be passed on:
1 Kings 17:24 (KJV) And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.
2. Understand that the Bible contains truth:
Psalm 119:151 (KJV) Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.
John 8:40 (KJV) But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
John 17:17 (KJV) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
3. The need to believe the Bible to be true:
1 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV) For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
A changing Bible for a changing world?
Does God's word change over time? Dispensationally – yes, there are changes in instructions given by God. Otherwise, the Bible says not:
Psalm 100:5 (KJV) For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 119:89 (KJV) LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Psalm 119:152 (KJV) Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.
Psalm 119:160 (KJV) Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
Isaiah 40:8 (KJV) The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Matthew 24:35 (KJV) Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Mark 13:31 (KJV) Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
John 10:35 (KJV) If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Acts 17:11 (KJV) These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
1 Peter 1:23 (KJV) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.