Truth. This might be one of the most complex and difficult words to unpack and define. The word truth has become a suspicious email with dangerous attachments.
The word truth has often been used to describe those particular principles of faith (or practice) that fit our particular belief system. If a particular doctrine fits our criteria it becomes truth.
If a particular tradition fits our criteria it also becomes truth. Most often these doctrines are referred to as THE truth. This may be a result of the confusion between truth and tradition.
The bible certainly speaks of the truth of the Gospel.
Galatians 2:5 (NCV) But we did not give in to those false believers for a minute. We wanted the truth of the Good News to continue for you.
But this means the verity of the Gospel, the quality of the gospel that is true or real. The bible also speaks of the “word of truth”:
Ephesians 1:13 (NCV) So it is with you. When you heard the true teaching - the Good News about your salvation - you believed in Christ. And in Christ, God put his special mark of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit that he had promised.
But notice that the word of truth or the true teaching is a specific reference to the Good News about salvation.
Colossians 1:5 (NCV) You have this faith and love because of your hope, and what you hope for is kept safe for you in heaven. You learned about this hope when you heard the message about the truth, the Good News
Again in this passage the message of truth is a reference to the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 2:15 (NCV) God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things he made.
In this passage it is the word of truth, a reference to the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ, which gives life.
We can all agree that the word of truth, the message of truth is Good News for it speaks of salvation through Jesus Christ. The conflict comes when truth (the doctrine of salvation) becomes equal with truth (the doctrine of tradition).
There are certainty things that are true:
Philippians 4:8-9 (NCV) Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. Do what you learned and received from me, what I told you, and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you.
Those things that are true, along with those things that are honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected, are those things we pursue so that as the people of God we may receive the peace of God.
Knowing the truth (the doctrine of salvation) is what makes people free.
John 8:32 (NCV) Then you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
We know what it means to be a slave to sin. We understand how this leaves us powerless to serve God. Likewise, when we become a slave to tradition we are left powerless to serve Christ.
