Truth Magazine

By Morris W. R. Bailey

In a previous article under the above heading, the importance of truth was pointed out from the facts that: (1) knowledge of the truth frees us from the bond service to sin (John 8:32); (2) Belief of the truth saves us from the guilt of sin (2 Thess. 2:13); (3) Obedience to the truth purifies our souls from the defilement of sin (1 Peter 1:22). We are now prepared to come to grips with the question posed by our subject title by studying

The Definition Of Truth

The word “truth” in its general sense is defined by the dictionary as: 1. Fact. 2. Conformity to fact. Other words are used to define truth, but they are, I believe, summarized in the two above definitions. So then, truth is defined as fact. And when we consider the nature of fact, it is obvious that truth could not be anything else but fact, or facts. Here we must be careful to distinguish between fact and theory. A theory may be based on speculation and, therefore, if found to be wrong it will be discarded. But when a fact is discovered it is established for all time. For centuries men held various theories concerning the shape of the earth and the foundation on which it rests. But when Columbus made his historic voyage, followed by Magellan, who was the first man to sail around the world, it was demonstrated to be a fact that the earth is globular in shape and hangs in space supported by the law of gravity. That, being a fact, it is not just a theory that will be superseded by later discoveries.

There are facts which constitute the truth in every field of knowledge. These facts are self-evident and undisputed and are as old as time itself. Man did not create these facts; but they are a part of the order of things that was established in the beginning when God created all things. Man discovers these facts as he studies further into the laws of nature.

Biological truth consists of the facts of biology. One of these facts, so obvious in the botanical field, is that seed produces after its kind. Another fact, obvious in the field of zoology, is that all living creatures produce after their kind.

Mathematical truth consists of mathematical facts. The facts of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division form the basis of our whole mathematical system. By the use of these facts, we establish the value of money, judge time and distance, and compute our weights and measures. By the application of mathematical facts, the civil engineer is able to calculate the stress and strain on a suspension bridge, and the materials that will be needed to enable it to carry its own weight plus the weight of the traffic that will pass over it. By the use of mathematical truth, the architect is able to calculate the strength of a foundation that will be needed to support a hundred story skyscraper. How thankful we should be that there is such a thing as mathematical truth! Would we want to cross a bridge designed by an engineer who relied only on guesswork in designing it? Would we want to live in a building designed by an architect who relied only on his feelings in choosing the material that went into the foundation?

Chemical truth consists of the facts of chemistry. It is because of his knowledge of chemical truth that the doctor is able to prescribe a certain medication for a certain physical ailment. It is because of his knowledge of chemistry that the druggist is able to fill the prescription, giving the directions for its proper application. For it is also one of the facts of chemistry that the manner of application is as important as the medication itself. An under dosage can be useless while an over dosage can be fatal. A medication that is designed to be taken internally would be useless if applied externally. And a medication that is designed to be applied externally, could be toxic if taken internally. So, how thankful we should be that we have such a thing as truth in the field of chemistry, and that matters relating to the health of the body are not left to chance or the experiment of some theory. Would we risk going to a doctor who relied on nothing more than mere guesswork in writing out a prescription? Would we trust a druggist who would try to persuade us to take something different from what the doctor prescribed on the plea that “it is just as good”? Would we believe him if he tried to tell us that it did not make any difference what medicine we take just as long as we are sincere? No, in such matters we want nothing but the truth.

The Truth Of God’s Word

The truth with which we are concerned in this discussion, however, is not mathematical truth, important as it is in the realm of business and architecture. Nor is it chemical truth, important as it is in the field of medicine. It is truth that has more far-reaching implications. For it is the truth the knowledge of which makes us free from bond service to sin (John 8:32). It is the truth, the belief of which saves us from the guilt of sin (2 Thess. 2:13). It is the truth, the obedience to which, purifies our souls from the filth of sin (1 Peter 1:22).

That truth is God’s word. In the prayer of Jesus, uttered in the shadow of the cross, Jesus said, “Sanctify them in the truth, thy word is truth” (John 17:17). Time after time we find that word described as “the word of truth.” To the Ephesians Paul wrote, “In whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation. . .” (Eph. 1:13). To the Colossians he wrote, “Because of the hope that is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel” (Col. 1:5). James said, “Of his own will he begat us by the word of truth. . .” (James 1:18).

So here we have the truth with which the question of our subject is concerned. God’s word is that truth. Like all other truth it is eternal. David said, “Forever, O Jehovah, Thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). So man did not create or formulate divine truth any more than he created mathematical truth or chemical truth. Like all other truth, he can only discover it and apply it, and that only as he studies the Bible where the truth is revealed. There is not a sentence or a syllable of divine truth that man knows that he did not learn from God’s book of truth, the Bible.

Truth, The Sum Of God’s Word

Just as important as the matter of learning truth itself is the matter of learning all the truth on any Bible subject. David said, “The sum of thy word is truth” (Psalms 119:160). There are a few people who obviously have had some difficulty with the word “sum.” They obviously want to spell it, “s-o-m-e.” And they tell us that some of God’s word is truth. The implication is that some of the Bible is not true. I have had people tell me what parts of the Bible they believe and what parts they do not believe. I was in conversation with a man one time who told me that while he believed the New Testament, he did not believe the Old Testament. Without realizing it, he placed Jesus Christ in a very awkward position. Time after time, Jesus quoted from the Old Testament scriptures, thereby implying that He believed them to be true. If they are not true, He was deceived, and that reflects upon His wisdom. If He knew they were not true, yet quoted them anyway, that reflects upon His integrity. Either alternative is unthinkable.

The fact is that when David said, “The sum of thy word is truth,” he simply meant that it takes all that God’s word says on any subject to give us the truth on that subject.

That is a principle that is recognized in every field of knowledge, particularily in courts of law where justice is served only when all of the evidence pertaining to a case is considered. So when a witness is summoned to testify in a case, he is required to swear that he will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. If there are ten witnesses, then it requires the testimony of all ten to bring out all the truth in that particular case. What would we think of the judge who, after hearing the testimony of two witnesses, would ignore the testimony of the other eight, and would render his verdict on the basis of only a part of the evidence available? It could be the means of the convicting of an innocent man. Or, conversely, it could allow a guilty man to go free.

Of course men do not usually conduct themselves that way in courts of law. But strange to say, that is often the way that they deal with the Bible. Sometimes a whole system of doctrine will be built on a few passages of scripture, or perhaps even on one passage of scripture, while ignoring other passages of scripture that teach vital truth on .that particular subject.

For example, some people are willing to hear Paul, when he said in Romans 5:1, “Being therefore justified by faith we have peace with God ….” They stop reading there, and shout, “Salvation is by faith alone!” But they are unwilling to hear James when he said, “Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith” (James 2:24). A contradiction? No. Paul’s testimony is true. But so is James’. And if we ignore James’ testimony in this second chapter, we do not have all the truth. For James tells us in verse twenty, “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren.” Taken together, however, the testimony of Paul and James unite in teaching that we are justified or saved by a faith that demonstrates itself in works of obedience. And that is the only faith that avails in the sight of God (Gal. 5:6). Also read the eleventh chapter of Hebrews.

So then, the sum (or total) of God’s word is truth, which is to say that it takes all that God has said on any matter to constitute all the truth. And that is the principle that must never be lost sight of in the study of any Bible subject; learn all that the Bible says on that subject.

The word, church, occurs something over a hundred times in the New Testament (depending on the version used). Then a number of other passages speak of it as the body of Christ, while others teach that it is the kingdom of Christ. To learn all the truth about the church will thus require that we study not only passages where the word “church” occurs, but other related passages as well.

The word, gospel, occurs something over ninety times in the New Testament. But other related passages speak of it as, the faith, while still others speak of the preaching of the gospel as, preaching Christ. To learn all that is involved in preaching the gospel, believing the gospel and obedience to the gospel will require a study of all the scriptures that speak of the gospel as well as other related scriptures. Only when we have the sum of God’s word do we have the truth.

Truth Magazine XXII: 47, pp. 757-758
November 30, 1978

By Morris W. R. Bailey

The question of our subject title was asked by Pontius Pilate at the trial of Jesus. The question, in its context is found in John 18:33-38. To appreciate the setting in which the question was asked by Pilate, we observe that one of the accusations that the Jews brought against Jesus at His trial was that He claimed to be a king (Luke 23:2). They hoped thereby to make it appear that Jesus was thus a rival of Caesar (John 19:12) and, therefore, in rebellion to the Roman empire of which Pilate was the representative. This, they hoped, would persuade Pilate to call for the death penalty.

It is obvious, however, that Pilate recognized from Jesus’ declaration, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), that whatever manner of kingdom it was, and whatever the character of Jesus’ kingly rule, neither posed any threat to the sovereignty of Rome.

But there was a point which must have been somewhat of a mystery to Pilate. His earthbound conception of any kingdom would conceive of its rise only through the exercise of military power. Thus, when Jesus forbade His followers to fight in His defense, and stated that His kingdom was founded on truth, and its citizens composed of them that hear and believe the truth, it would all be a mystery to his carnal mind. It was in that context that he asked the question that constitutes our subject, What is truth?

The Importance Of The Question

Whether the question was asked by Pilate in scorn (as it probably was), or whether it was asked in sincerity prompted by a desire to learn more about the kingdom of Christ .and the principles on which it was founded (a remote possibility), the fact remains that it is one of the most thought-provoking and challenging of questions that has ever been raised. When we consider the issues that are involved there is probably no greater question.

We recognize the importance of truth, even as it relates to the matters of this life. In the various branches of science there is nothing more challenging to the minds of men than their quest for truth. It is because of the search for truth that men have learned much about the laws of nature. It is the never-ending quest for truth that has made possible many of the modern inventions that help to make life more pleasant. In the field of medical science and surgery, it is the search for truth that has led to the discovery of new antibiotics that make us immune to some diseases, and new medicines that cure us of what were once terminal diseases, and new techniques of surgery such as organ transplants, all of which give us a life expectancy of several more years than that of our grandparents.

But it is the search for the truth of which Jesus spoke and concerning which Pilate inquired that is the most important of all. It is concerned not with truth in the natural realm, but truth in the spiritual realm. It concerns not just a body that some day will die but it is concerned with the soul of man which is eternal. Therefore, what our attitude is toward the question asked by Pilate, and the answer we find to that question, will determine where we will spend eternity.

Its Relationship To Current Religious Attitudes

The question, “What is truth?” is especially important today when viewed against the background of current attitudes toward religion in general. We are living in an age of what people like to think of as tolerance. People like to be considered as broad minded. The so-called new morality of today is based on a concept of situation ethics. In other words, the new moralist does not classify things as being right or wrong according to a strict standard of morality, but only as they relate to the present situation. So the man today who is so dogmatic as to say that something is unquestionably wrong, or who questions the religious beliefs of another is not popular. Instead, a common sentiment prevails and is being echoed from many pulpits that it does not make any difference what one believes as long as he or she is sincere in that belief. Thus, they make sincerity and not truth the test of doctrine.

Because of this lack of conviction regarding the importance of truth, the religious world has undergone a radical change in its attitude toward controversy and the discussion of religious differences. Where today are the Luther’s, the Huss’s and the Knox’s-men who held strong convictions for which they were willing to die rather than to compromise? What has become of militant spirits of yesteryear who prompted religious leaders to engage in the great religious debates in which they sought to defend and promote their religious beliefs. Sometimes men debated one another when it is obvious that both were wrong. But at least they recognized something that many have lost sight of today and that is, that two conflicting doctrines cannot both be right.

But it seems that those days are past and in the place of militancy there has grown up a spirit of compromise; conviction has been replaced by indifference, and characterized by the sickly attitude that it does not make any difference what one believes. To such people it seems to make no difference that, when pressed to its logical conclusion, the doctrine preached by the people who call themselves Jehovah’s Witnesses makes Jesus Christ nothing more than a glorified animal. In fact, about the only thing wrong in the estimation of many today, is to question what some one else believes. That, they tell us, is being narrow-minded. And that is anathema to the thinking (or should I say, lack of thinking?) that characterizes this broad minded age.

Truth: The Only Solution To Division

That the religious world is sadly divided today is a fact that is obvious to all. There has, in recent years, been some efforts made toward union of churches. In Canada, there is a movement under active consideration to unite the two largest of the Protestant denominations-the United Church of Canada and the Church of England. Also, there have been some overtures made by the Roman Catholic church toward uniting all churches under one head. Of course there is no doubt but that Rome expects to be that head.

As desirable as unity may be, however, I believe that all such efforts as the above are doomed to failure since they ignore the causes of division. Those causes exist in the multiplicity of differing and contradicting creeds. No doctor can be successful in treating a disease as long as unsanitary conditions that are the cause of the disease are allowed to persist. Fractions cannot be added, multiplied, subtracted, or divided without the use of a common denominator. So neither can the religious world be untied unless it first eliminates the dividing creeds and agrees to accept a common faith. There can be no unity in diversity. Even some of my brethren need to learn that.

The common faith on which all must unite is truth. Jesus prayed that all His followers might be one as He and the Father are one. But it is a unity that will be attained only by believing the word preached by the apostles (John 17:20, 21). Paul’s plea for unity in the church at Corinth was based on their speaking the same thing and being joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment (1 Cor. 1:10).

Thus, if there is going to be any hope of emergence from the babble of confusion in which the religious world is enmeshed today, the first step will require a change in attitude toward the truth. It will require that men place a higher value on truth than what they obviously do. The words of Solomon are very much in order here “Buy the truth, and sell it not” (Prov. 23:23)-which means nothing more nor less than this: that we should seek to learn the truth regardless of the cost. After having found it, we will not part with it regardless of the price that is offered.

The Importance Of Truth

The apathy toward truth that is so prevalent today is inexcusable. God has not left us without witness as to the importance of knowing, believing, and obeying the truth. Consider the following observations:

1. Jesus taught that the practice of sin makes us a bond-servant of sin (John 8:34). Freedom from such bond service is man’s greatest need. Happily, there is a means provided. Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). But if it takes the truth to make us free, it is certain that error will not bring us freedom.

2. Man is lost because of sin. He needs to be saved. Paul tells us that we are saved by belief of the truth (2 Thess. 2:13). Obviously, Paul did not subscribe to the idea that it does not make any difference what one believes. If it takes belief of the truth to save, it is obvious that belief of error cannot save.

3. Sin defiles man (Mark 7:20-23). He needs to be cleansed and purified from such defilement. Peter said, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth. . .” (1 Peter 1:22). If it takes obedience to the truth to purify us from sin, then it is certain that obedience to error will not bring about such the desired end.

Truth Magazine XXII: 46, pp. 742-743
November 23, 1978

By Donald P. Ames

One of the problems in dealing with statistics is that someone else will always come along and seek to show they can produce even greater statistics than those you may have produced. But, so often it is easy to look at the vast numbers of people in foreign countries without the benefit of the gospel and become alarmed at their lack of -opportunity. We immediately start sending $25 per month to some preacher overseas, and begin telling ourselves what a great part we are having in carrying the gospel “to the lost.”

Now lest any misunderstand, I am not condemning the work done in other countries, nor am I trying to discourage any interested in such. Certainly the Lord Himself can bear witness to my interest in the work overseas, and such opportunities should not be passed up while people are so eagerly hungering and thirsting for the precious word of God in those countries.

But, are we really being realistic in some of our attitudes? Are only those overseas lost in the darkness of sin? Are they the only ones who have not had the chance to hear the gospel of Christ? The following statistics may come as a real shock to many, especially some of our brethren in the South (where you can drive through a mud hole and find a “Church of Christ”). It should make us all pause and ask what are we really doing to carry the gospel to the lost and to help the cause of Christ spread.

In the northwestern part of Indiana there are nine faithful congregations, or ten if you also include the city of South Bend. These congregations average about 100 per congregation, and serve a total population within those towns of 490,967 people, or in other words, there is one in attendance at church for every 491 people not at services in the Lord’s church-1,000 to 491,000! To further add to our concern for the lost is the fact these ten churches serve 898,841 people in just four counties, while included in this same area are seven other counties without even one congregation, and which have 216,015 people (Newton, Benton, White, Pulaski, Stark, LaPorte and Marshall). The figures are now 1,000 to 1,114,856. This should cause all of us interested in those lost to be greatly concerned.

But let’s break this down even further. St. Joseph county has 245,045 people and only one church (South Bend); Jasper county has 20,429 people and only one church (DeMotte-which does not even have their own building yet); Porter county has 98,114 people and only one church (Portage); and Lake county has 546,253 people and only seven churches.

Hammond is served by two congregations, yet covers over 107,709 people. South Bend has only one faithful congregation to serve 125,580 people. Gary has only one faithful congregation serving its 175,415 people. The following towns also only have 1 congregation each: Highland-24,947 people; Hobart-21,485; Portage-19,127; Griffith- 18,168; Lowell-3,839 and DeMotte-1,697.

Other towns of significant size that do not even have a .sound congregation at all (and most likely not even a liberal one either!) include: East Chicago 46,982; Michigan City-39,369; Mishawaka-35,517; LaPorte-22,140; Valporaiso-20,020; Logansport19,255; Merrillville-15,918; Munster-16,514; Crown Point-10,931; and Lake Station (formerly East Gary)-9,858.

Lowell and DeMotte serve as the southern edge of the towns served; while Gary, Portage and Hobart compose the eastern edge (and South Bend is an isolated island). The next congregation to the south is in West Lafayette. Now get out your maps and see the area left uncovered in this vast area-towns and cities without a church even in them-lost and without the opportunity to act yet!

Of course the field is hard and the work is slow. Indifference is deeply entrenched. There also comes the time when churches must pause, regroup and grow to become stronger and self-supporting. But the work must go on, and too often the desire is there, but the opportunity to use it cannot be taken advantage of. Any Christians looking for a challenge, to work, and to help others carry the gospel to the lost do not have to just go overseas. Why not look over northwestern Indiana. Indeed, they do need your help too.

(Now if anyone is so disposed as to see if they cannot produce even larger statistics than these, my comment is: “Go to it!” Maybe we need to get knocked out of our complacency, and maybe this will do us all some good).

Truth Magazine XXII: 46, p. 738
November 23, 1978

By William V. Beasley

As John draws the epistle of First John to a close he tells us why it was written: “These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13). People today, as in the first century, are interested in knowing their spiritual condition. Thus, a study of this epistle is in order to “know.”

Basis Of Our Faith (1 John 1:1-4)

The epistle of First John begins, as does the fourth gospel, with a statement of the deity of Jesus Christ. Both look back to “the beginning,” and both speak of the divinity of Him whom we through faith accept as our Savior. John speaks of the basis of our faith as something which he knew by his physical senses (saw, heard, touched-1 John 1:1, 3). Our faith is based on the testimony of eye, ear and hand witnesses. Jesus, after His resurrection, told the disciples “see” and “handle” (Luke 24:39) that they might know. Like Peter, John could have said, “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables. . .” (see 2 Pet. 1:16-21).

It is possible for our physical senses to deceive us; courts prefer more than one witness. When numerous witnesses respond telling of physical senses (see, hear, handle; or as in the case of Matt. 14:16ff all five senses involved) we are forced to believe. When we see men, the apostles and many others, whose whole lives were changed by what they saw, heard and handled and their testimonies agree, we must accept it or, as N. T. Caton says, “admit the chief of absurdities, viz.: an effect without a cause” (A Commentary and an Exposition of the Epistles of James, Peter, John and Jude, p. 142). The apostles did not deliver ought by hearsay, human tradition or conjecture.

Through the testimony of the eye, ear and hand witnesses we have fellowship with the apostles (witnesses), the Father and the Son (1 John 1:3b). Such fellowship (which includes our forgiveness, adoption as children of God, promises of eternal life, etc.) is the completeness of joy (1 John 1:4).

Basis Of Our Fellowship (1 John 1:5-10)

The message from Jesus is that “God is light. . .” (1 John 1:5), i.e., God is the source of all light (physical and spiritual). There is no mixture of light and darkness with God. The Devil and his angles are spoken of as darkness (Eph. 6:12; Luke 22:53; Col. 1:13) and those who obey God are “saints in light” (Col. 1:12).

Fellowship with God is based on walking in light (Psa. 119:105; John 1:4-9; 8:12). It is a lie (1 John 1:6) to claim fellowship with God while walking in darkness, but if we walk in the light we are cleansed by the blood of Jesus. This is not a one time shot (baptism) but is continuous action-we must continue walking in the light of God’s word.

The one claiming sinlessness is deceived (1 John 1:8). Some people see in this the same idea as in 1 John 1:10, but it would seem that the present tense indicates more. We can receive forgiveness and for a while live above sin. Experience tells us that we will stumble and need forgiveness again. If “the truth is not in us” the blood of Jesus does not cleanse us. In verse 9, we find our belief about verse 8 strengthened. One translation reads, “If we keep confessing our sins. . .” (The Interpretation of the Epistles of St. Peter, St. John and St. Jude, R. C. H. Lenski, p. 392). We are commanded to “confess our sins” (1 John 1:9). This means far more than to say, “I have sinned.” We must confess, even to God, our specific sins: “I have lied, stolen, lusted, etc.” To claim sinless perfection is to call God a liar (1 John 1:10). Sin is a common denominator of all responsible (age of responsibility) individuals (Rom. 6:23).

Conclusion

Can you, from our study thus far, ” know that ye have eternal life?” If you cannot know that you do have eternal life, it may be a strong indication that you do not have eternal lite. Is your faith based on the eye, ear and hand witness of the apostles? Are you walking “in the light” of God’s word? Do you “keep confessing” you sins? If not, you know concerning salvation, but it is not to “know that you have eternal life,” but that you do not have it.

Truth Magazine XXII: 45, pp. 730-731
November 16, 1978