I have heard some Christians say, “All truth is God’s truth.” While it may be true to say that God’s truth can come through various sources and take different forms, it is not accurate to assert that all truth is God’s truth.
As committed Christian believers who regularly pray, read and study the Bible, attend church, and listen to good Christian teaching, it is easy to assume that these activities will enable us to discern God’s truth competently. However, that is not necessarily true.
Every day, we encounter various interpretations of “truth,” including differing views on Christian truth. Many sincere pastors, theologians, churches, and denominations explain the Bible and God’s truths in contrasting ways.
In Matthew 15:1-9 and Mark 7:1-13, Jesus points out that certain religious traditions and doctrines of the scribes and Pharisees of His time actually contradicted and invalidated the word of God, rendering it of no value. Colossians 2:20-23 explains that following the basic principles of the world and the doctrines of men offers no benefit against the indulgences of the flesh, even though these practices may seem wise, religious, humble, and self-denying.
How do we distinguish between God’s truth and man’s truth?
Two scripture passages help me understand how we become trained to recognize which subtle teachings and concepts are presented as truth but contradict the Word of God: John 7:17 and John 8:31-32.
In John 7:16, Jesus is asked how He could have learned so much without formal education. He responded by stating that He had learned directly from the Father who sent Him. He then said, “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.” John 7:17
Jesus is telling us that anyone can discern which teachings are from God and which are not if they are willing to submit their will to God’s will.
Jesus offered only two options for His teaching: either it was from God, or He was speaking from Himself, apart from God, but not from both. These words of Jesus teach us that being willing to do God’s will enables us to discern what teaching is from God and what is not. In other words, when I submit my will to His will, I become familiar with the ways and truths of God, and that familiarity through obedience enables me to discern what is from God and what is not. My wife, Lori, summarizes this passage by saying, “Obedience brings discernment.”
John 8:31-32 provides us with another key to discerning God’s truth from all other seemingly good truths. “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:31-32
Jesus is speaking to people who have just come to believe in Him. He gives one condition that has three vital results: they must abide in His words. Abiding in Jesus’ words requires us to remain constant and steadfast, never deviating from His teachings. This means that His words become the filter through which we evaluate all that we hear, say, how we act, and what we believe, in order to determine what is true. His words become more foundational than what we feel and sometimes even more than what we see and think we know.
Three remarkable outcomes await those who fulfill the condition of abiding in His words.
- You will be “true disciples” of Jesus. John 8:31
- A disciple is a learner, student, or pupil. We are the disciples of those whose words we learn from and adhere to. A disciple of Jesus learns from Him and does not listen to anyone who brings a different truth. John 10:4-5, 27
- You will know the John 8:31
- Jesus boldly affirms that He is the one and only source of truth.
- True freedom comes only from abiding in Jesus’ words. John 8:32
Intellectual understanding alone will never be enough to enable us to discern between the alluring truths that originate from man and the truths that come from God. We must abide in His words and submit to His will to recognize God’s truth.
Please pray with me.
Lord, please grant me the grace to surrender my will entirely to Yours and to stay steadfast with You, so I can learn from You and live in the truth and freedom that comes only from You.