Our Duty Toward Truth

WE MUST LOVE THE TRUTH (2 Thess. 2:10). Before truth can have a positive effect upon our life we must have a great love for the truth and a desire live eternally in heaven. This will insure that our motives in approaching God's word are pure, which will help greatly in our determination to discern truth from error (John 7:17). But, those who do not have a love for the truth will be deceived by Satan's lies and will perish (2 Thess. 2:10).

WE MUST KNOW THE TRUTH (Jn. 8:32; 1 Tim. 2:4). God's word is truth (Psa. 119:142; Jn. 17:17), and He has revealed His truth for man's good (Deut. 29:29). Therefore, unless one allows that God is cruel and malicious, he must accept that God's word can be understood and known by all who desire such knowledge (Eph. 3:3-4; 5:17). Jesus said "ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (Jn. 8:32). God desires that "all men ... come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4).

WE MUST BELIEVE THE TRUTH (2 Thess. 2:12-13). Believing God is not a blind leap in the dark. His truth is a presentation of evidence designed to bring men to believe (Jn. 20:30-31). Each individual is responsible to weigh the evidence, determine if it is credible and conclude if it is believable. Those who disbelieve do so because they do not choose to consider the evidence properly (if at all). Instead, they have pleasure in unrighteousness. The evidence that proves God exists and that the Bible is inspired of Him is abundant and available to any who desires truth.

WE MUST OBEY THE TRUTH (Gal. 5:7; 1 Pet. 1:22). God's truth demands an obedient response on our part. Truth is not a spiritual smorgasbord of options from which we may pick and choose. God's word is truth (Psa. 119:151, 160). Everything He has revealed on a subject constitutes the pattern to be obeyed (Rom. 6:17,18). Therefore, we are responsible to "handle aright the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).

WE MUST WALK IN TRUTH (2 John 1:4; 3 John 1:3-4). The word "walk" in these texts has reference to one's manner of life. Our attitude toward God and truth should be that of the Psalmist: (Psalms 86:11) "Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name." The righteous will incorporate God's truth into his life and walk therein.

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