During the interrogation of Jesus, Pilate famously asked Him, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). This came after Jesus declared He had come to testify to the truth and everyone who is on the side of truth listens to Him. One thing I find interesting about this scene is that I believe that Pilate was genuinely seeking the truth as far as Jesus being guilty of anything. He obviously felt he knew the truth about this as Pilate fervently tried to release Jesus, but the Jews wouldn’t hear of it.
So, this leads to the question, how many truths are there? Was it true that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God? Yes, it was. Was it true that this went against the law of the Jews? Yes, at least one imposed by the Pharisees. Elements of any situation may be true, however, that does always mean that those truths are concrete support for the desired outcome.
Let’s use an example of a person on trial. The prosecutor is going to seek truths from witnesses that support their desired outcome of conviction. The defender is going to seek truths from the same witnesses that support their desired outcome of acquittal. Now these witnesses are sworn to tell the truth, but can they stay true to their promise and still offer truthful statements to both attorneys? Often times, the truth gets sprinkled with personal opinion or interpretation.
This happens with people and the Bible as well. I was recently asked why I was not part of a local inter-faith council. I gently explained I couldn’t support this because not everyone involved taught biblical truth. For example, some involved teach salvation by grace alone, there is nothing we have to do, nor can we do. Some say all we have to do is ask Jesus into our hearts to be saved, and others teach that we must say the sinner’s prayer. Most do not believe that baptism (immersion) is essential for salvation.
The Bible does teach we are saved by grace. Paul states in Ephesians 2:5–it is by grace you have been saved. I believe that whole-heartedly, however, notice Ephesians 2:8– 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Faith is belief in action, so there is obviously something we must do. Being saved by grace simply means that God was not obligated, nor did we deserve salvation, but He offers it to us anyway. As far as asking Jesus into your heart and the sinner’s prayer, both are man-made doctrine and not found in scripture. Some will accept baptism, however, may teach sprinkling or pouring as opposed to immersion. Sprinkling and pouring seems to become accepted around the 17th century. Mainly to justify what some were doing as opposed to following scripture.
In the course of some these discussions about scriptural issues, people have told me more than once. “I guess we just interpret the Bible differently.” The Bible teaches that there is only one truth. If many people interpret the Bible differently, wouldn’t that mean there is more than one truth? Wouldn’t this be calling God a liar because if all the interpretations were correct, there would be more than one truth.
If we want truth and want to be pleasing to God, we just need to understand and teach the Bible as it written and not try to put our own personal interpretations on it. It is the one truth and the only truth that can lead us to salvation.
Read Ephesians 4:1-6