We have studied about "what is truth" and we covered 2 important points:
1. How do we know the truth is true?
(Hebrew 11:3 - by Faith)
2. How to obtain the truth?
(Ephesians 2:8-9 - faith is by grace alone)
So, what does it mean for "Faith is by Grace alone"?
Absolute truth can't be coming from man himself. Why? Because mankind is not reliable - it doesn't mean there's no truth at all in humanity.. But it means mankind's ideology or truth is not always right.
Example:
- how many times you found medical breakthrough that claim such drug to cure such disease/pain..but actually it has side effect?
- how many times man said "i promise" but he/she doesn't fulfil the promise for whatever reason
- how many times such theory is proven false? Eg: geocentrism vs heliocentrism
- How many times we find hypocrite people? Many times even ourselves -- what we do and what the motivation behind it is often contradict to each other.
All of these prove at least one thing: mankind is not reliable - and so mankind can not be the source of absolute truth itself.
If it is coming from man (ie. Ideas or theory), we can't just accept it as the absolute truth because it can be wrong or right (if it is according to the absolute truth). If man can find the truth it must be because man receive such revelation (an exposure toward such knowledge from external source) of some sort.
The Bible tells us (and we accept this by faith) that there is God who is the absolute truth itself (as He alone defines the reality) and this God reveals His TRUTH to mankind.
Look at Psalm 19:1, and see what it says: " The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." All that is in this universe point to God, including ourselves: we are created in God's image. For us to know God's power and love and mercy that He once came in flesh (as in become God's image which He created) and save us from our sin / rebellion - that is a special revelation that God puts in our heart (by His Grace). Look on Hebrew 11:3, and also Ephesians 2:8-9.
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:3, ESV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)
So, we see here that we know there is God who is the absolute truth through faith, and this faith was given by God that reveals the truth to us - He imparts the reality, the truth and plant it in our hearts so that we believe. We find truth from God’s revelation. The Bible is God’s revelation - It is the Word of God.
And so, when we read the bible, by faith we acknowledge and receive that it is the Word of God. When we read the bible, and we find things are not right according to us (what we experience or think or anything), we should ask "what am i missing?" Or "what might be wrong with my approach or situation?" Instead of saying "i think the bible is wrong" because that means we put ourselves as the judge which hold the absolute truth which contradict with the reality that is: we are not reliable. How many times we see people is saying things about the bible like "that's illogical" or "science told us blah and the bible said the otherwise", or "that's not right because people don't do that" or even "that's not what i believe because my pastor said..blah". I'm not saying that logic, science, mathematics, culture, or even your pastor is wrong and you shouldn't listen to them - nevertheless how do we start learning in the first place when we are still young if it is not from our parents and maybe school teacher? What I'm saying is: they don't hold the absolute truth. If there's truth in this universe, it is again because there God’s truth in it - "All truth is God's truth"
The bible which is the Word of God holds the absolute truth, and should be the judge of our thinking, our behaviour, our emotion - our life. So when we don't understand, God said seek wisdom, pray for wisdom and keep reading the Bible. Faith seeks understanding and we will find it if we ask.. The Word of God will give us understanding that is what God said (read Proverbs 2).
~ Paul
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