How to Use the Bible to Discover What Is Truth

The world is constantly changing, but God remains the same. His truth has endured the history of humanity and is still true and valid. The Bible says that Jesus is the truth, and that truth is found in who God is, the ways of God, and the rhythms of the world around us which declare the glory of God.

We live in a world that increasingly values subjectivity over objective truth. What is true for one person, says the world, may not be true for someone else. Culture encourages people to discover their own truth, make conclusions based on their personal experiences, and promotes the message that each person is entitled to create and live by their own set of truths.

The world offers little guidance on finding real and lasting truth, but the Bible has much to say about it. Believers, therefore, are given a precious gift through God’s word that helps us discover and know God’s truth in the midst of dishonesty, miscommunication, and confusion in the broken world in which we reside.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6).

What Is Truth?

There are many scientific and social facts that have been passed along throughout the history of humankind. Information is gained and shared. Truth, however, is richer than facts or knowledge which the secular world values.

Scripture declares boldly that truth is tightly bound to God. God is the God of truth (see Psalm 31:5), Jesus is the truth (see John 14:6), and the Spirit is described as the Spirit of truth that was sent to guide believers (see John 16:13). Truth is found within all three persons of the Trinity, and truth is found in the word of God.

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17).

Truth sanctifies us; making us holy and set apart. Truth sets us free; no longer bound by sin, death, and lies. Biblical truth does not change over time, it does not trend, and it cannot become less true. Biblical truth is not dependent on anyone believing it to be the truth. Truth is what we find in Scripture, truth is who God is, truth is the way of God, and truth is ultimately that which aligns with who God is and what He does.

What Does the Bible Say Is True?

“He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true” (John 3:33).

God himself is true. There is nothing false or deceitful about God. His very nature is truthful. God is faithful, God is pure, and God is honest. God is good in every way possible. It is the very nature of God that makes Him trustworthy and worthy of all honor and praise. Scripture teaches that God is true.

“The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His precepts are sure” (Psalm 111:7).

All God does is true. Just as God himself is true, so too are the works of His hands. All that God has done, is doing, and will do is true. The works of His hands, all of creation, and His continued involvement in humanity is true.

“I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on Your laws” (Psalm 119:30).

God’s ways are true. Throughout Scripture, the ways and commands of the Lord are taught as they are woven into the narratives of God and His people. God invites us to set our heart on His truth. The Lord’s path is true and should be what guides believers in how we live, think, and act. God’s way of truth determines our steps when we set our hearts on His laws rather than following our own desires.

“The sum of Your word is truth” (Psalm 119:60).

The word of the Lord is true. All Scripture is God-inspired (see 2 Timothy 3:16) and therefore, fully true. We have confidence that what we read in the Bible is true and reliable as it teaches about a wide variety of aspects in relation to God and humanity. We can read the Bible knowing that it is a dependable source and entirely true.

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What Are Some Bible Verses about Truth?

There are plenty of encouraging and insightful verses about truth found in Scripture. These verses relay a powerful sense of how good and valuable truth is and that believers should pursue God’s truth above all.

“For His lovingkindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 117:2).

“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).

“He who speaks truth tells what is right, but a false witness, deceit” (Proverbs 12:17).

“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me” (John 15:26).

“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:6-7).

“Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body” (Ephesians 4:25).

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:6).

These verses about truth remind us that truth is not supposed to be confusing or difficult to attain. Rather truth is found in God and truth should inform how we live and speak. When we pursue God, we will indeed find truth that transcends time and the subjectivity of the secular world.

How Can We Use the Bible to Determine What Is True?

The Bible teaches us that God is true, and that the word of the Lord and His ways are true. The Bible helps us to discern what is true when something is consistent with who God is, the ways of God, and what the Bible teaches.

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31-32).

The sobering reality is we have an enemy who is the father of lies, and there is no truth in him (see John 8:44). The enemy tries to distract people with his lies and attempts at distorting the truth to lead people away from God and what is true. In Jesus we find truth. When we face situations in life, have decisions to make, or are trying to find clarity, we can use Scripture to determine if something is true when it aligns with the teachings, ways, and works of the Lord laid out in the Bible.

We Follow a God of Truth

God is not the God of confusion, rather, He is the God of truth. Followers of Jesus are to live truthfully and honestly, and aligning their lives, thoughts, and actions with the ways of God. Jesus invites us to know Him, and to know the God of truth.

In the world around us, we are tempted to believe truth is something each of us can construct, or that truth is somehow unattainable. The Bible, however, demonstrates that truth is found in God alone. We cannot know truth apart from knowing God. When one finds and knows Jesus, they have indeed found truth.

Pamela Palmer is a writer, speaker, and the founder of upheldlife.com, the platform on which she produces devotionals and faith resources to inspire keeping faith at the center of life. She is in pastoral ministry and gets to share in the emotional and spiritual lives of others. She lives and thrives on Jesus, coffee, and music. She is the author of Living a Deeper Faith: Nurture Your Relationship with God and Live a Faith-Fueled Life. Pamela married the perfect man for her and they have two beautiful kiddos. She has been published on herviewfromhome.com, and you can follow her at upheldlife.com or on Facebook.com/upheldlife.