Can The Truth Be Known

Throughout this summer we are doing an apologetic series called, “What do you believe?” In addition, during the month of August we will be offering a few sessions on cults and comparative religions. Our desire as a church is to equip people with the truth so each person can stand up for and defend their Christian faith.

We live in a day and age where people are longing for truth and wondering if it can be known. We want to be told the truth by our friends and loved ones, by our doctor, our employer; we want the truth from advertisers, from researchers, leaders, & politicians. We assume that road signs, medicine and most food labels reveal the truth. In fact, we demand the truth in almost every facet of life that affects our money, relationships, safety, health, and our future. But there is this love/hate relationship with truth. Especially when it comes to the area of morality and a belief in God.

Augustine said:

We love the truth when it enlightens us, but we hate it when it convicts us.

People tend to think there is no absolute truth. Each person should decide for himself” and “If it works for them, fine.” Maybe you have heard the statement, “Your truth is not my truth.” In reality, many times, it is because a person doesn't want to be accountable to an unchanging, objective moral standard or to a transcendent being. But the question is, “Does your truth match with reality?” How do you know it is the truth? This brings us to our passage today.

Please turn with me to John 18:28-38

Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter the Praetorium, so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. Therefore Pilate came out to them and said, “What accusation are you bringing against this Man?” They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not a criminal, we would not have handed Him over to you.” So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” This happened so that the word of Jesus which He said, indicating what kind of death He was going to die, would be fulfilled. Therefore Pilate entered the Praetorium again, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “You are the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you about Me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me; what have You done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” 37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” 38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And after saying this, he came out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no grounds at all for charges in His case.

Pilate is asking Jesus here, whether He was actually the King of the Jews and what is the real reason He was standing in front of him. Jesus said: My kingdom is not of this world and… My kingdom is not of this realm.” In verse 37 Pilate said, “Then You are a king!” Jesus confirmed that He was a king and as the King of kings, He replied that the reason He was even born in this world was to testify to the truth.

Pilate’s question was, “What is truth?” We’re not sure if he was sincerely asking or was just being cynical. But this and other questions have been raised throughout the ages:

1. What is truth?

2. Can the truth be known? and

3. Can the truth about God be known?

Let’s look at the first question:

1. What is truth? Very simply, truth is:

? That which corresponds to reality.

? That which matches its object.

? Simply telling it like it is.

What can we observe about the nature of truth?

? Truth is unchanging even though our beliefs about truth change. (At one time, many believed the earth was flat instead of round. The truth about the earth didn’t change, but as they gained more knowledge about the earth their belief about the earth changed.)