Introduction. Although Pilate did not trust Jesus enough to wait for Him to answer this question, Jesus did know the answer, and multitudes have accepted and based their entire life upon it. Before discussing His answer, it is important to look at the answer given by the world. Dictionaries define truth as: “the body of real things, real events, and facts,” “the state of being the case, true, genuine, actual, or factual”. Negatively truth is not false, dishonest, fiction, or a lie. The easiest way to explain and understand truth is in application and outcome. In physics, truth allows an airplane to fly, or a satellite to orbit the earth and function exactly as designed. If they don’t work, there is something false and in error. In retirement accounts, truth allows the investor to retire comfortably. If there is no money, it is evident to all that someone violated truth. In medicine, truth leads to the right diagnosis and a good outcome. Thus the true sign of truth is success!
The principle of truth in function not only works on a small scale, but also universally. Things man can neither control or fix also work on the basis of truth. The entire universe has functioned perfectly based on truth. The earth is in its orbit, along with the sun and moon perfectly placed bring light and heat, day and night, seasons and years. They never vary because they were designed to work based on truths that always succeed. God placed truth in His creation to reveal the same signs of mind and art that we have. Just as a car, computer, camera, or phone has many systems that must interact perfectly to function, so also does the universe. Just as the slightest divergence from the truth will cause what we create to fail, so also does the entire material creation. They both require careful planning and execution based on the truths of physics, chemistry and energy.
The principle of truth in function not only works on a small scale, but also universally. Things man can neither control or fix also work on the basis of truth. The entire universe has functioned perfectly based on truth. The earth is in its orbit, along with the sun and moon perfectly placed bring light and heat, day and night, seasons and years. They never vary because they were designed to work based on truths that always succeed. God placed truth in His creation to reveal the same signs of mind and art that we have. Just as a car, computer, camera, or phone has many systems that must interact perfectly to function, so also does the universe. Just as the slightest divergence from the truth will cause what we create to fail, so also does the entire material creation. They both require careful planning and execution based on the truths of physics, chemistry and energy.
Just as a functioning watch could not exist without a creator and someone to wind or replace a battery, so also the entire creation demands a Creator. The sun never varies and does not need to be recharged. The existence of a perfectly functioning creation demands the existence of a Creator who understood truth and used it flawlessly. This is all summed up: “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.” (Ps. 19:1-2) “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” (Rom. 1:20). These truths have led multitudes through the ages to conclude that God created the heavens and the earth flawlessly based on the truth. Once we draw this conclusion, absolute truth becomes easy to identify.
John began his gospel with this central truth. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” “full of grace and truth.” (Jn 1:1-3, 14). Since Jesus created all the truths of the universe, He is perfectly qualified to answer all our questions about the truth that will bring us eternal life. Jesus affirmed that all truth is in God’s word (the Bible). “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” (Jn. 17:17).
Within the pages of the Bible we learn of the existence of the eternal truths which bring eternal outcomes. Once we accept Jesus’ affirmation that God’s word is truth, Pilate’s question is easily answered. If God revealed it, it is absolute truth, and if man added it, it is not. This is clearly seen in God’s initial command to Adam and Eve. His warning about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was absolute truth. Everything would have continued without variation as long as they did not touch or eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
When God’s veracity was challenged by the devil, Adam and Eve were confronted with the same issue we face today. Can anyone else but God be trusted to tell us the truth? What Satan affirmed either made God a liar or clearly revealed the devil himself to be a liar. The immediate outcome revealed the truth. God had told them the truth! They did die (spiritually separated from God)! God has warned all who have lived that they face the same fate if they seek to modify the truth of His word and live contrary to it. “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” (Pr. 30:5-6). Imagine the anguish and sorrow of those who stand before God in judgment to find that what men added to make life easier were false and lies that result in rebuke and a loss of eternal life.
Thus God’s word is absolute truth kept pure by His power down through the centuries. Anyone who has contradicted or modified that word at any point in our history will be found a liar. Jesus witnessed Satan lie to Adam and Eve as He has witnessed all the lies of the false prophets since. Everyone who imitates the devil in setting aside God’s word is a son of the devil. “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (Jn. 8:44). God’s word is truth and anything that contradicts or denies what it reveals is a lie. Thus those who imitate Satan in denying anything in God’s word no longer have any fellowship or a loving relationship with God. “Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.” (2Jn. 9).
Those who lie in order to swindle others out of their rightful possessions are liars. We see this often. People who have worked their entire life and saved their earnings are taken in by some unscrupulous con man and swindled. The Holy Spirit warned us that this will happen spiritually to Christians. “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men.” “Let no one cheat you of your reward.” (Col 2:8, 18). There are many who through lies set aside truth and cheat people out of their reward by following Satan’s example. They seek to make life easier by modifying God’s clear commands and only succeed in violating truth that will cheat others.
Regardless of who says it or how many believe it, if on the last day God rejects it, how could we conclude that this is truth? Only those things recorded in God’s word are certified as the truth. Anything else is error, a lie, false and destined to fail. The Scriptures give no middle ground. Like all other complicated systems, one flaw leads to complete failure. In the same way, any truth found in Scripture that is set aside will lead to failure. Nothing has changed!
Anything in Scripture we refuse to believe or accept brings error and lies into our life. If we can’t accept God’s absolute truth about the six-day creation, we bring a lie into our life. If we refuse to accept God’s command in marriage (one man and one woman for life), we bring error and lies into our life. Not everything in Scripture will fit our thinking. Each generation has its own wisdom that makes God’s wisdom and commands look foolish. “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.” (1Cor. 1:27). Sometimes God’s word appears foolish and weak because God is testing us. We must rise above this world and hold fast to the truth of God’s word. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. … And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1Jn. 2:15-17).
The Holy Spirit used John to forcefully warn us of our danger. There are so many lies circulating today about why it is right to modify the truth of God’s word. This is a lie. When God’s clear commands are set aside, grave consequences always follow: “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1Jn. 2:4). Once again, the term liar is used of anyone who doesn’t respect God’s word as absolute truth. The Holy Spirit also revealed that all the writings of the apostles and prophets are absolute truth. “We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (1Jn. 4:6).
Conclusion. The simple answer to Pilate’s question “what is truth?” is “God’s word is truth.” Those who reject this answer will simply “…turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” per 2Tim. 3:16 - 4:4:
John began his gospel with this central truth. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” “full of grace and truth.” (Jn 1:1-3, 14). Since Jesus created all the truths of the universe, He is perfectly qualified to answer all our questions about the truth that will bring us eternal life. Jesus affirmed that all truth is in God’s word (the Bible). “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” (Jn. 17:17).
Within the pages of the Bible we learn of the existence of the eternal truths which bring eternal outcomes. Once we accept Jesus’ affirmation that God’s word is truth, Pilate’s question is easily answered. If God revealed it, it is absolute truth, and if man added it, it is not. This is clearly seen in God’s initial command to Adam and Eve. His warning about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was absolute truth. Everything would have continued without variation as long as they did not touch or eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
When God’s veracity was challenged by the devil, Adam and Eve were confronted with the same issue we face today. Can anyone else but God be trusted to tell us the truth? What Satan affirmed either made God a liar or clearly revealed the devil himself to be a liar. The immediate outcome revealed the truth. God had told them the truth! They did die (spiritually separated from God)! God has warned all who have lived that they face the same fate if they seek to modify the truth of His word and live contrary to it. “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” (Pr. 30:5-6). Imagine the anguish and sorrow of those who stand before God in judgment to find that what men added to make life easier were false and lies that result in rebuke and a loss of eternal life.
Thus God’s word is absolute truth kept pure by His power down through the centuries. Anyone who has contradicted or modified that word at any point in our history will be found a liar. Jesus witnessed Satan lie to Adam and Eve as He has witnessed all the lies of the false prophets since. Everyone who imitates the devil in setting aside God’s word is a son of the devil. “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (Jn. 8:44). God’s word is truth and anything that contradicts or denies what it reveals is a lie. Thus those who imitate Satan in denying anything in God’s word no longer have any fellowship or a loving relationship with God. “Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.” (2Jn. 9).
Those who lie in order to swindle others out of their rightful possessions are liars. We see this often. People who have worked their entire life and saved their earnings are taken in by some unscrupulous con man and swindled. The Holy Spirit warned us that this will happen spiritually to Christians. “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men.” “Let no one cheat you of your reward.” (Col 2:8, 18). There are many who through lies set aside truth and cheat people out of their reward by following Satan’s example. They seek to make life easier by modifying God’s clear commands and only succeed in violating truth that will cheat others.
Regardless of who says it or how many believe it, if on the last day God rejects it, how could we conclude that this is truth? Only those things recorded in God’s word are certified as the truth. Anything else is error, a lie, false and destined to fail. The Scriptures give no middle ground. Like all other complicated systems, one flaw leads to complete failure. In the same way, any truth found in Scripture that is set aside will lead to failure. Nothing has changed!
Anything in Scripture we refuse to believe or accept brings error and lies into our life. If we can’t accept God’s absolute truth about the six-day creation, we bring a lie into our life. If we refuse to accept God’s command in marriage (one man and one woman for life), we bring error and lies into our life. Not everything in Scripture will fit our thinking. Each generation has its own wisdom that makes God’s wisdom and commands look foolish. “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.” (1Cor. 1:27). Sometimes God’s word appears foolish and weak because God is testing us. We must rise above this world and hold fast to the truth of God’s word. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. … And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1Jn. 2:15-17).
The Holy Spirit used John to forcefully warn us of our danger. There are so many lies circulating today about why it is right to modify the truth of God’s word. This is a lie. When God’s clear commands are set aside, grave consequences always follow: “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1Jn. 2:4). Once again, the term liar is used of anyone who doesn’t respect God’s word as absolute truth. The Holy Spirit also revealed that all the writings of the apostles and prophets are absolute truth. “We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (1Jn. 4:6).
Conclusion. The simple answer to Pilate’s question “what is truth?” is “God’s word is truth.” Those who reject this answer will simply “…turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” per 2Tim. 3:16 - 4:4:
- All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 4 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.