"What is Truth?" - Lesson 02 - The Bible is Truth
In our previous lesson, we learned the Bible states there are three truths. We learned in that first lesson that Jesus is truth. So what else is truth according to the Bible?
Let turn to John 17:17 and read together.
“Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth.”
The Bible says that it is truth. How is the Bible truth?
Let’s turn to John 5:39 and read together.
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”
God wants us to search the Word of God and learn more about Jesus. The Bible teaches us about Jesus and His character.
Let’s turn to Matthew 4:4 and read together.
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”
If we were to stop eating physical food for a week, we would become weak and feeble. After a long enough period of time, we would eventually die without food. The Bible is our spiritual food and sustains our spiritual life. So in order to become spiritually strong, we need to faithfully study the Bible.
Let’s turn to Jeremiah 15:16 and read together.
“You words were found, and I ate them. And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.”
We are called to read the Word of God, heed it, and understand its teachings. How can we understand the Bible? Here are six principles of Bible study that may help you:
1. Reserve regular time for Bible study
I would recommend studying the Bible at the beginning of the day, so that you would have strength for the day ahead.
2. Pray
Psalms 119:25 – “I am your servant; give me understanding that I may know Your testimonies.”
We need to pray to God give us understanding. We can ask the author of the Bible to help us understand the Bible! The Holy Spirit can guide us in our reading.
Matthew 7:7 – “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
3. Ponder
Psalms 1:2 – “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.”
Psalms 119:50 – “This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.”
Think deeply upon a passage until the meaning of the passage is clear in your mind.
Isaiah 28:9-10 – “Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”
We can gain a clearer view of a particular passage in Scripture by comparing with other similar passages.
Keys to understanding a text:
- Read the entire context of the text to understand what God is saying. (If you take a text out of context, you will only be making a personal opinion on the text.)
- Let the Bible interpret itself (2 Peter 1:20)
- Compare Scripture with Scripture
- Ask questions:
a. Is there a promise I can claim?
b. Is there a lesson I can learn?
c. Is there a blessing I can enjoy?
d. Is there a command to obey?
e. Is there a sin to avoid?
f. How does the verse reveal Jesus and the plan of salvation? - Use a concordance to aid in your Bible study
- Use a notepad to mark down what you learned
a. Someone once said that the faintest note is better than the best memory
Kinds of Bible study:
- Topical study (e.g. using a concordance to look up “heaven”)
- Verse by verse study
- Chapter or book study
4. Practice
Apply what you have learned in your life.
Revelation 1:3 – “Blessed is he reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”
James 1:22 – “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
God not only wants us to read and study His word, but He also wants us to heed and obey His word.
John 7:17 – “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.”
5. Preserve
Psalms 119:11 – “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
Memorize Bible verses.
6. Proclaim
Psalms 40:10 – I “ hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great assembly.”
What you do not use, you lose. Share the Word of God with others.
Matthew 5:14 – “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias has three tests of truth that can help someone determine whether something is true:
- Logical consistency
- Empirical adequacy
- Experiential relevance
Friend, I invite you to study the Bible for yourself and see whether or not the Bible is truth.
