The Bible Concept of “Truth”

23. The Bible concept of “Truth” is a study on how the Bible uses the concept of “Truth” being a principle to be practiced. Note that this is Appendix 23 from the work Cox Study on the Holy Spirit. by Pastor and Missionary David Cox. This is written by David Cox and is here posted on one of Pastor Cox’s websites.

The Bible uses the concept of truth in some places that is totally different from what people would normally think.

John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (Psa 1:1-3)
1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (James 2:18)



1 Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. (Psa 119:105)

Notes: If a person does the truth is one alternative, the opposite (according to Jn 3:21) is to “practice evil”. 1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. As in the Gospel of John, where John declares that a person is saved (has eternal life) if he “has” the Son of God, Jesus, we can faithfully identify a saved person by “practicing the truth.” A person can recognize his own salvation by the presence of “truth” being lived out in their own lives. This is simply the moral principles of God alive in their own life or present as being willfully and joyfully practiced in their own lives.

Sin (“practicing evil“) is the disregard and breaking of those divine moral principles, and the visual identification as a child of God or a saved person is in their attitude towards this body of divine moral principles, which in one sense is just the Bible, but this is not just knowing or reciting Bible verses, but understanding these principles from personal study, and putting them into practice in that person’s own life, as that person’s own moral character. They live the truth or make the truth their own moral character.

Truth is Reality

How can a person “practice the truth” or “do the truth“? The question “what is true?” really means, “what is reality?” So the first concept that we need to define what the truth is, is simply, Is the thing reality? If you think about it a little, Satan is the father of deception (what is not reality)

Practicing the Truth is not practicing Evil

Although it is valid to associate “truth” with what is true, truthful, we do ourselves an injustice if we stop there. Truth is truthful, because God has declared it to us as what is reality. There is no such thing as something being “true” for some but not others. “My truth” is a lie, a deception. John 8:44 says that Satan is the father of lies. (“the devil… abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it“)

But all reality is the same for all people. Our reality cannot be changed, actually. God has set rules up in which nobody can break them without the divine consequences falling on them. He that sins will die for example. But then there are certain other promises which bless people, like faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior will save them. These things are real. They are reality. They are in themselves rules and principles. God demands that for a person to be blessed (especially in the question of going to heaven) that person has to “believe“. The things that a person has to believe to be saved are defined by God. Salvation depends on various of these truths, and whether you allow them to rule over your life or not (that is, you believe them or not).

Psalms 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

The Bible pictures this in the following way (another way of saying the same thing so that people can see it from different angles and understand it), that God is light, and Satan (anything other that God and His truth) is darkness. God gives light to whomever receives it. But light is a strange thing. The lest, littlest, dimest, light in pitch darkness is tremendous. It orientates to what is reality. You “see” dangers with a little light, and you can find what good thing you are looking for in the dark. But this is only “if you open your eyes to it.” In other words, many people have that light from God, but having the light, they close their eyes to it, and they get no real benefit from that light.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
John 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
John 11:10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Salvation is put into simple terms, it is “having Jesus” “following Jesus“. Without Jesus, without following Jesus, you are walking in darkness (Jn 8:12). Notice in Eph 5:8 that “having Jesus” or “following Jesus” is an ongoing activity. To have Jesus, you must walk as children of light. In other words, as a saved person, they have to walk in the light, because doing this is God’s will, and it is the basis of our salvation. So we can understand “walking in the light” as sanctification.

The Battle between Light and Darkness, the Truth and Lies

John 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

The Bible makes it “clear” that inspired Scripture is what “gives light” to people. (Psa 119:105) Scripture is what makes people understand truth (reality as God declares it).

Walking in the Light is a Testimony to that Light

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

There is although a point to be made that not all people understand and live their lives by the truths that God declares to humanity. Each person has to come to grasps with this truth (reality) which God teaches us about. Some fail miserably, and that is sad.
We have to insist that God is the giver of all good gifts (James 1:17; Mat 7:11; Rom 8:32; Psa 34:10; Heb 11:6; Eph 3:20; Psa 84:11). Whatever thing comes from a different source is tainted and will very quickly cause us harm, hurt, and pain.

More from Coxs Holy Spirit Notes

• Cults: Lies and Deceptions
• Cults: Double Standards and Hypocrisy
• Cults: Biblical Definition of a Cult
• Cults mishandle the Authority of God
• Cult Exit: Problems, Detention, and How-Tos
• Cox – What are the Marks of a Christian?
• Covetousness is Idolatry
• Covetousness doesn’t mix with God’s Work
• Coveting no Man’s Silver
• Congregationalism

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