"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)
Jesus Christ is not just a figure who taught about truth or embodied truth in his teachings but is Himself the embodiment of Truth. This concept can be understood in several ways:
Truth as a Divine Attribute: In Christian theology, Jesus Christ is considered the Son of God and part of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). God is often described as the source of all truth, and Jesus, as the Son of God, is seen as having a unique and intimate connection to divine truth. Thus, in this understanding, Jesus embodies truth because he is divine.
Truth in His Teachings: Jesus Christ's teachings are often centered on spiritual and moral truths. He is believed to have revealed important truths about God, salvation, and the nature of humanity. His teachings are considered authoritative, and in following his teachings, Christians seek to live in accordance with these truths.
Truth in His Identity: Christians believe that Jesus Christ is not just a human teacher but is both fully divine and fully human. This dual nature is crucial to the concept that "Truth is a person." In Jesus, the divine truth and human reality are uniquely united.
Truth in His Role as Savior: For many Christians, Jesus is not only the embodiment of truth but also the savior of humanity. His life, death, and resurrection are seen as the ultimate revelation of God's truth and love, providing a way for humans to be reconciled with God.
Truth is rooted in the eternal God, Who is all-powerful and unchangeable. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is Truth” (John 17:17).
Truth is far more than facts. It’s not just something we act upon. It acts upon us. We can’t change the truth, but the truth can change us. It sanctifies (sets us apart) from the falsehoods woven into our sinful natures.
As Christ is the living Word is truth, so his written word is truth. Though heaven and earth will pass away, God’s truth never will.
Over half the New Testament uses of “truth” (aletheia) are in John’s gospel. Truth is reality. It’s the way things really are. What seems to be and what really is are often not the same. As I develop in my novel Deception, “Things are not as they appear.” To know the truth is to see accurately. To believe what isn’t true is to be blind.
God has written His truth on human hearts, in the conscience (Romans 2:15). Shame and twinges of conscience come from recognizing that truth has been violated. When the world hears the truth, if spoken graciously, many are drawn to it by the moral vacuum they feel. The heart longs for truth—even the heart that rejects it.
As followers of Christ, we are to walk in the truth (3 John 1:3), love the truth, and believe the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). We must speak the truth “in love” (Ephesians 4:32).
Truth is far more than a moral guide. Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father but by Me” (John 14:6). He didn’t say He would show the truth or teach the truth or model the truth. He is the truth. Truth personified. He is the source of all truth, the embodiment of truth, and therefore the reference point for evaluating all truth-claims.
Taken from "How is truth defined?" by Randy Alcorn, Eternal Perspective Ministries, 39085 Pioneer Blvd., Suite 206, Sandy, OR 97055, 503-668-5200, www.epm.org