HELP! How Can I Discover Truth? The Best Epistemology Ever Is Revealed By Jesus

How can I possibly come to the truth? There is so much misinformation. I've had my Facebook blogs receive a "cover banner notice" saying the information was not true, even though I was posting a bar chart study showing an increase in death rates of 4000% over the last 12 months. 

Pilate asked, "What is truth?" Jesus wouldn't even answer him because Jesus had previously declared "I am the truth." So truth isn't a "what;" it is found in the person of Jesus. Pastors disagree. Politicians disagree. Scientists disagree.  So I sure can't figure out the truth on my own. Lord, help! 

So let's discover what John, the beloved apostle, has to say about coming to truth. Since it really is a matter of life and death, it's worth taking some time to see if one can't establish a valid system for discovering truth (i.e. epistemology).

Epistemology is one of the biggest words I learned while at Roberts Wesleyan College taking a major in religion/philosophy. At the time I could see NO VALUE in my philosophy courses. NOW I do see their value. With life expectancy in the U.S. dropping in the last year back to what it was 25 years ago, I realize either I make informed decisions or my life span will be as one of these. One of the simplest things we can do is to ask, "What happened in my life just before this infirmity erupted?" Dealing with the causative agent most often deals with the infirmity. Some people I talk with are so committed to their previous action, they will not accept a possible causative relationship between that action and the poor health that struck their bodies within the weeks that followed.

  • The only way our nation will experience reformation is if the Church experiences a revival.
  • The verses below provide the foundation of personal and corporate revival!

Twelve passages where the beloved disciple shares how we discover truth

  1. Beholding the glory of Jesus: "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (Jn. 1:14). My understanding of this is that if I am gazing upon Jesus, asking for the leading of His Spirit and tuned to flow, the flow of thoughts will be truth from His Spirit.
  2. The Scriptures are properly interpreted through the revelation by the Spirit: "For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ" (Jn. 1:17). "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me, and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life" (Jn. 5:39,40). "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word (logos) is truth" (Jn. 17:17). Truth can be found as Jesus illumines the Scriptures to us (Eph. 1:17,18; Lk. 24:13,35).
  3. Worship is to be truthful and from the spirit: "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (Jn. 4:23,24).
  4. Continuing in Jesus’ words: 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 (ginosko = word for intimacy) the truth, and the truth will make you free" (Jn. 8:31-32). So we see that truth demands an intimate encounter.
  5. Practicing truth: "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God" (Jn. 3:21). Obedience takes you further into a revealing of the truth.
  6. Truth comes as we hear from God: "But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God" (Jn. 8:40). Jesus received truth by living out of the voice of His heavenly Father.
  7. Hearing Jesus’ voice is evidence you are of the truth: "Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice" (Jn. 18:37). 
  8. Those not of God don't hear God speak: "He who is of God hears the words (rhema = spoken word) of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God" (Joh 8:47).
  9. Spirit of Truth within: "The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you" (Jn. 14:17).
  10. Spirit of Truth testifies about Jesus: "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me" (Jn. 15:26).
  11. Spirit guides into all truth: "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come" (Jn. 16:13-15).  Note: Coming to truth is a process that is guided by the Holy Spirit.
  12. Jesus is the truth: Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (Jn. 14:6-9). This means truth is embodied in a person, Whose Spirit bubbles up within us, leading us to the truth.

Summary of what the above verses say about how we discover truth

  • Jesus is the truth - 1 time
  • Gazing upon Jesus - 1 time
  • Hearing from the Spirit  - 5 times
  • The Scriptures contain truth and it will be revealed to us as we come to Jesus and receive revelation from Him - 2 times 
  • Practicing truth (continuing in Jesus’ words) - 2 times

My Epistemology - My summary of how I am enlightened by God to receive truth 

Truth is not a what, it is embodied in a Person, the Person of Jesus. Jesus reveals truth to me as I gaze upon Jesus and listen to the voice of the indwelling Spirit. As I meditate upon the Scriptures, I pray for the eyes of my heart to be enlightened, and for Jesus to grant revelation as He did for the disciples on the Emmaus road. The Holy Spirit (The River of God), flows within me so I honor the flow within (Jn. 7:37-39). As I am obedient to the truth, God reveals additional truth (2 Thess. 2:10-12). I must lay down my life for the truth (Matt. 10:38,39).

Journaling Application

Lord, what do You want to speak to me concerning the steps You want me to take to come to truth?

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