The Value of Truth

Once we understand that God’s Word is truth, the next question that comes up in my mind is “What value does truth hold?”

Truth Provides Freedom
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31-32).

What type of freedom? Freedom from what?

First, God’s Word provides freedom from sin. Notice the exchange between the Jews and Jesus in John 8: 33-35: “They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.”

We understand that all have sinned; therefore, all are slaves of sin. However, the Word of God has the power to free mankind from the bondage of sin. Paul devotes the entirety of Romans Chapter 6 to the idea of freedom from this bondage. Note especially what he says in verses 17-18: “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” “Doctrine” means simply “teaching.” What teaching had they received? Teaching from the Truth . . . the Word of God.

Also, God’s Word provides freedom from the Old Testament Law. Remember that Jesus was speaking to Jews in John 8. There would come a time when they would no longer be bound by the tenets of the law given to Moses. Paul told the Galatian church that the Old Law was a schoolmaster, something to prepare the world for the coming of Christ. However, he says that after Christ came “we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Galatians 3:25). In fact, Paul also told the Galatians that any of them that were seeking to be justified by the keeping of the Old Law were “fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4).

Once the Old Law had fulfilled its purpose, it was no longer necessary. What happened to it? Paul tells us that it was nailed to the cross (emphasis mine): “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14). In Hebrews Chapter 9, the Old Law is likened to a last will and testament that comes into effect when one dies. Jesus brought a New Testament that went into effect when He died. This made the Old Testament null and void, as revealed by the Hebrew writer in Hebrews 10:8-10 (emphasis mine): “Previously saying, ‘Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them’ (which are offered according to the law), then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.’ He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Truth Provides Completion

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Paul tells us here that God’s Word gives us everything we need to do the work that God wants us to do as His people.

Doctrine: As stated above, the word “doctrine” literally means “teaching.” We don’t need to go to any other source but the Word of God to find teaching for ourselves and teaching for others.

Reproof: Other versions of the Bible use the word “rebuke” here. The word translated “reproof” or “rebuke” come from a Greek word meaning “instruction which aims at increasing virtue” and “chastisement or chastening.” So, the Word of God is to be used to show others where they are wrong in relation to the teaching of the Word. Literally, we are to take the Word of God and “prove again” (re-prove) that which is sound doctrine. This instruction, however, is to be done with the aim of increasing virtue rather than to tear down.

Correction: This goes hand in hand with reproof. Again, if we look at the original Greek word, what we have is “restoration to an upright or right state” and “improvement of life or character.” The idea here is that when we see ourselves (or someone else) going astray from the Truth, we can use the Word of God to bring those things back in line. As with reproof, the goal is achieving what is best for the one who has strayed (i.e. agape love).

Instruction in righteousness: Righteousness, most simply put, is doing what is right in the sight of God. We can go to the Word of God to find out what it is we must do to be accounted as righteous in His sight.

When I use the Word of God and only the Word of God as my guide for living, I can be complete and do those things that are pleasing to God.

Truth Provides Limits
For those of us that are parents, we understand the value of placing limits on our children. Doing so prevents them from “running wild” and doing whatever they please. Furthermore, children have a desire to please their parents and to know their limits so that they CAN please them. God has done no less with His children. It is to our benefit that He has placed limits on what is pleasing to Him.

How do we know these limits exist? Scripture is very plain on this point. Consider what John tells us in 2 John 9: “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.” The word “transgress” literally means to “go beyond.” Therefore, if I “go beyond” anything that is not revealed in the Truth, I do not have a relationship with God.

In Colossians 3:17, Paul says, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” What does it mean to do something in the name of Jesus? It certainly doesn’t mean that I can do anything I want to as long as I say I’m doing it in His name. Doing something in someone’s name means you are doing it with their authority. What does a law officer mean when he says to someone “Stop in the name of the law!”? He is saying that he has the authority of the law to require the person to stop. The same principle applies to what we do in service to God. If I do not have the authority of Christ to do a certain thing, then I have overstepped my bounds.

So, how do I know if I have the authority of Christ to do a certain thing? Consider verse 16 in Colossians 3 (emphasis mine): “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Those things that Christ has authorized are revealed in His Word. If it’s not there, I don’t have the authority of Christ to do it.

Truth Provides Salvation
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

The Word of God has the power to convict man’s soul of sin and to save him from that sin. In Acts 11, we see that the angel of the Lord visited a Gentile named Cornelius. The angel told Cornelius to send for Peter and when Peter arrived “[he] will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved” (verse 14). Acts 10 records the words Peter spoke to Cornelius and we see that what he spoke was the Gospel of Christ.

James makes a contrast between those who belong to the world and those who belong to God in James 1. In verse 18, he says that God “brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” The idea here is that of a rebirth and what accomplishes that rebirth is “the word of truth.” Furthermore, he says in verses 19-21 that the deeds of the flesh do not accomplish the righteousness of God; he tells us rather to “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

It quickly becomes evident that the Truth is the most valuable thing that we can possess. Is it any wonder that Solomon said in Proverbs 23:23, “Buy the truth and sell it not”? The Word of God is the most precious thing that we own.

When we come to a realization of how valuable and precious Truth is, it can help us to more fully appreciate our responsibility toward Truth.