Do you believe in absolute truth? Do you believe that something can be true no matter what? If you do, you’re in the minority! According to a 2020 Barna Group research study, 58% of American adults believe that truth depends on the individual, and that even includes people who claim to be born-again Christians.[1] The majority of Americans believe that moral truth is relative. They believe there are no absolute truths, which is ironic because by saying there are no absolute truths, one is admitting that there actually is at least one. We, as Christians, should believe that there are absolute moral truths because we have the Source of absolute truth-
“I the LORD speak the truth; I declare what is right.” Isaiah 45:19, ESV
Our God is true (John 3:33)! He speaks truth, and He declares what is true. He is true; therefore, His Word, the Bible, is also completely true (John 17:17). Our God does not lie (Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2). In fact, it is absolutely impossible for Him to not tell the truth (Hebrews 6:18). Jesus was also described as being full of truth (John 1:14). He declared of Himself,
“I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
God is absolutely truthful, which means we can absolutely trust Him! His scriptures are also absolutely true, so we can trust that everything written in them is accurate. God cannot lie, so we never have to worry about anything in the Bible being false. God is our source of absolute truth because God created everything and knows everything. Jen Wilkin writes something similar-
“God is truth. He is its origin and its determiner. What he defines as true is eternally true, unchangingly true… God, as the source and possessor of all knowledge, cannot be less than truthful. He defines reality because He is its origin.”[2]
God is truth. Every word He speaks is truth. This is why the Bible is such a gift to us! The Bible is a book full of God’s truth. It is our reference book for God’s moral standards. We must never turn to a history book, scientific theories, or human reason to determine what is true. We must be like the Bereans! In Acts 17, Paul and Silas traveled to Berea to preach the gospel in the synagogue there. After they spoke, the Berean Jews examined their scriptures to see if what Paul and Silas were saying was true (Acts 17:10-11). In the same way, when someone tells us or teaches us something, we must always compare it to what the Bible says to see if is true or not.
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” John 8:31-32
If you want to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, abide in God’s Word, God’s truth. This truth is not restrictive. This truth sets you free! And it allows you to know who God truly is and who He wants you to truly be. Once you know the truth, though, never use it for hatred or judgment. Never use it to puff up your own ego. Instead, share truth with others and speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Give thanks to God for His gift of Truth! Encourage someone with God’s truth today! And praise our true God-
“The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous rules endures forever.” Psalm 119:160
[1] Bryan Brammer, “Barna: 58% of Americans reject moral absolutes, including some who identify as Christians,” last modified May 28, 2020, https://disrn.com/news/barna-58-of-americans-reject-moral-absolutes-46-of-evangelical-christians-agree.
[2] Jen Wilkin, In His Image: 10 Ways God Calls Us to Reflect His Character (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018), 123-124.
