Truth can be a rather elusive concept at times. If you try to follow the latest advice on diet and fitness one has to conclude that no advice is totally true. A while ago eggs, butter and pork were bad foods. Now scientists have discovered that their replacements also lead to health problems. In the world of science, truth is always changing as scientists discover more things in God’s created universe.

Because truth seems to be in a constant state of flux, many people, as did Pontius Pilate, have asked the important question, “What is truth?” Four basic answers are possible: truth is either discovered (science), experienced (senses), thought of (philosophy), or revealed (religion). Science, senses, and philosophy are able to discover things that are true; but only the Bible tells us what is absolutely true because it is revealed truth from God.

How can we be certain that God has revealed the truth in the Bible? God has given us the answer in His Word. Three especially clear passages declare it. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:35). St. Paul wrote, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Third, Jesus said, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17).

These passages do not need to be explained, though many people have tried to twist St. Paul’s words to deny that God is the author of the Bible. Consider what these passages imply. 1) God’s word will never change, 2) The whole Bible comes from God, 3) God’s Word speaks only what is true.

  One of the principles of understanding the Bible is: Scripture interprets Scripture. This means that passages can be used to interpret or explain other passages. The Psalmist declared, “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever” (Psalm 119:160). The entire Psalm 119 is a song of praise to the truthfulness of God’s Word. We can be confident that God’s revealed truth will guide us to heaven since “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”(Psalm 119:105).

Jesus Himself teaches us that Scripture is absolutely true when He states “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). Jesus is quoting Psalm 82:6. Jesus’ argument is that if God called Israel’s judges “You are gods,” then the Pharisees would be breaking Scripture by declaring that Jesus is blaspheming by saying He is the Son of God. Since all Scripture is “God-breathed” and no word of God can be set aside or declared to be a lie, we can be confident that the Bible is the absolutely truthful revelation of God.

How does this truth apply to us? Lent directs us to repent of our sins to prepare us to understand why Jesus had to suffer on the cross. This means we are to believe what the Bible says about our sinful nature, about what is holy and what is sinful, and about the punishment our sins deserve. Apart from God’s revelation we could not know how deeply corrupted by sin our nature is. Furthermore, the Bible tells us that it is impossible to do good works to pay for our sins, so that we cannot save ourselves. Finally, God’s Word reveals that God’s solution to our sin is His Son, Christ Jesus, who died on the cross to pay the ransom for all sins. Therefore, “In [Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

Without God’s revealed word we could not know these truths. St. Paul wrote, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Thank God that He has enlightened us to believe that His word is the truth which rescues us from sin and gives us eternal life.