"What is the Truth" posted by sundino
The Apostle John recorded the following dialog between Pontius Pilate and Jesus:
John 18
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38 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.
My questions are these...
1. HOW CAN WE KNOW WHAT IS TRUTH AND WHEN THE TRUTH IS EVIDENT IN A GIVEN DEBATE?
Since, you are using the scriptures to launch these questions, based on the statement Jesus makes of Himself;
"that I should bear witness unto the truth.
Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."The truth of this statement will be confirmed by the written record, wherein God confirms this statement by His own words; that is to say that the truth will be revealed within the context of scripture which is the record of what God has said, whether He himself or by the mouth of His prophets, since it is impossible for our Holy God to lie;
Heb 6
18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
This is our consolation, on which every Christian hangs his hope.
And here it is: God spoke to Moses and told him, to tell the people the following, Moses the prophet testifies to this, truth;
Deut 18
15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me;
unto him ye shall hearken;16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.
17
And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.
18
I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee,
and will put my words in his mouth; and
he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name,
I will require it of him.And again;
Mat 17
17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5 While he yet spake,
behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased;
hear ye him.I have emboldened the words which bring out the words which make the point.
Evreryone that ever lived and has heard the words, which Jesus spoke will be judged by the same words, He spoke in Gods name;
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. (Jhn 12:48-50)
Jesus, himself claimed to be that prophet, consider, his own words;
Jhn 8
12
I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.14
Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go.15
Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.16
And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.17
It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18
I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. 19
Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. 23
Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 25
And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. 26
I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. 28 Then said Jesus unto them,
When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29
And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30
As he spake these words, many believed on him. 31
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. To the samaritan woman at the well in John 4; He said............
21 Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
26 [color] Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. Jesus claimed to be the Messiah..also.
2. What can we rely upon? The righteousness of Gods Word.
"revealed from faith to faith
The just shall live by faith." Rom 1:17
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph 2:8-9)
3. What can we compare with?
Gods Word.
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: (Isa 28:9-10)
4. What is the confirmation we should look for?
Gods Holy Spirit confirms to every spirit of every person he SAVES,
that he is a child of God. Petro