What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth?

What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth? One might ask, “What is Truth?” It is rather unfortunate that almost two thousand years ago, Truth was put on trial and judged by men who were filled with lies and devoted to evil ways. In a single day, Truth faced six trials, three of which were legal and three that were religious. When it was over, only few people involved in those events could give elements of answers to the question, “what is the truth?” The Bible tells us that after being arrested, the Truth was first led to a corrupt former high priest of the Jews named Annas. Behold, Annas break numerous Jewish Laws during the trial, including trying to induce self-accusations against the defendant, holding the trial in his house, and striking the defendant who had not been convicted of any wrong at that time.

The Bible further tells us that after Annas, the Truth was led to the reigning high priest, Caiaphas, who happened to be Annas’s son-in-law. Standing before Caiaphas the high priest and the Jewish Sanhedrin, numerous false witnesses came forward to speak against the Truth. Caiaphas break not fewer than 7 Jews Laws in his attempt to convict the Truth:

The trial was held in secret
The trial was carried out at night
It involved bribery
The defendant had no one present to make a defense for Him
The requirement of 2 to 3 witnesses in the trial could not be met
They used self-incriminating testimony against the defendant
They subjected the defendant to a death penalty on the same day

All these actions were prohibited by the Jews Law. Regardless, Caiaphas declared the Truth guilty because the Truth claimed to be God in the flesh, what Caiaphas referred to as blasphemy.

What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth?

The Bible tells us that when morning came, the third trial of the Truth took place in the midst of His enemies who wanted Him dead. Behold, this third trial came with the result that the Jewish Sanhedrin pronounced the Truth should die. However, the Jewish council had no legal right to carry out the death penalty, so they were forced to take the Truth to Pontius Pilate who was the Roman governor at that time. Pontius Pilate was appointed by Tiberius as the fifth prefect of Judea and saved in that capacity A.D. 26 to 36. It is worth pointing out here that Pontius Pilate who was the procurator had power of life and death and had the authority to reverse capital sentences passed by the Sanhedrin. The Bible tells us that as the Truth stood before Pontius Pilate, more lies were brought against Him.

These lies were formulated and brought by His enemies who wanted Him dead at all cost. Behold, His enemies said, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King” (Luke 23:2). This was a clear lie, as the Truth had told everyone to pay their taxes (Matthew 22:21) talk-less of speaking about Himself as a human challenge to Caesar.

What does the Scriptures say about the Truth?

Despite all the accusations against the Truth, Pontius Pilate requested for and enhanced an interesting conversation with the Truth.
John 18:33–38 says, “Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?’ Pilate answered, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?’ Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.’ Therefore Pilate said to Him, ‘So You are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’ Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’”

Note that Pilate’s question, “what is the truth?” has been the talk of time across several centuries. That is, it has reverberated down through history. In regard to this question, many have been wondering whether it was a melancholy desire to know that which no one else could tell him, a sarcastic insult, or perhaps an irritated reply to Jesus’ words. So what is truth?

A general overview and proposed definition of Truth

In our effort to genuinely propose a definition for truth, we’ll start by pointing what truth is not:

Truth is not merely whatever works. Such is the philosophy of pragmatism-an ends.vs. -means-type approach. We all know that in reality, lies can appear to “work,” but this does not change the fact that they are not lies and not the truth.
Truth is not simply what is coherent or understandable. Behold, it is possible for a group of people to get together and form a conspiracy based on a set of falsehood whereby they all agree to tell the same false story. From all angles, this does not make their presentation true.
We can as well say that truth is not what makes people feel good. This is so, because even bad new can be true.
Truth is not defined by what is intended. This is so because even good intentions can be wrong.
Truth is not necessarily what is comprehensive. This is so because even a well detailed lengthy presentation can still result to a false conclusion.
We can as well say that truth is not how we know; truth is what we know.
Truth is not what is publicly proved. Note that a truth can be privately know (for example a buried treasure in the thick forest ).
Truth is not simply what is believed to be. This is so because even a lie believed still remains a lie.

What is Truth?

The Greek word for “truth” is aletheia , which literally means “un-hide” or “hiding nothing.” This Greek word conveys the thought that truth is always there, with nothing being hidden or obscured, as it is always open and available for all to see. The Hebrew word for “truth” is emeth, meaning “firmness,” “constancy” and “duration.” This definition or meaning points to an everlasting substance or something that we can firmly rely upon. The philosophical approach reveals three simple ways to define truth which are:

Truth is simply telling it like it is.
Truth is that which matches its object.
It is that which matches reality

It is very important to understand that truth corresponds to reality or “what is.” Truth is real and correspondent to nature. That is, it is such that it matches its object and it is well known by its referent. In short, truth is simply telling it the way it is. Truth reveals the way things really are, and any other viewpoint is wrong.

Philosophical Challenges to Truth

The foundation principle of philosophy is being able to discern between truth and error. Thomas Aquinas puts it this way, “It is the task of the philosopher to make distinctions.” It is rather unfortunate that Aquinas’ words are not very popular these days. It is sad to say but making distinctions seems to be out of fashion in a postmodern era of relativism. Note that it is acceptable to say that “This is true,” so long as it is not accompanied by, “and therefore that is false.” Such is highly observable in matters of faith and religion whereby, every belief system is supposed to be on equal footing where truth is involved. Although there are several philosophies and worldviews that challenge the concept of truth, yet, when each is critically examined in the light of understanding, it turns out to be self-defeating in nature.

1. Philosophy of relativism

The philosophy of relativism holds that all truth is relative and that there is no such things as absolute truth. With this in mind, we can ask whether the claim that “all truth is relative” is a relative truth or absolute truth? If it is a relative truth, this makes it highly meaningless because we do not know when and how it applies. If it is an absolute truth, then absolute truth exists. In addition, the relativist betrays his own position when he states that the position of the absolutist is wrong – why can’t all who say that absolute truth exist be correct? In essence and fact, when the relativist says, “There is no truth,” he is simply asking you not to believe him. And in such a circumstance, the best thing to do is to follow his advice and not believe him.

2. Philosophy of Skepticism

All those who follow the philosophy of skepticism simply doubt all truth. Whatever the case, is the skeptic skeptical about skepticism; does he for once doubt his own truth claim? If so, then why even suffer yourself by paying attention to skepticism? If not, then we can be at-least sure of one thing (in other words, absolute truth exist)-skepticism, which, ironically, becomes absolute truth in that case.

3. Philosophy of Agnosticism

The Agnostic says that you can’t know the truth. Yet the mindset in this case is self-defeating because it claims to know at least one truth: that you can’t know the truth.

4. Philosophy of Postmodernism

As for the disciples of postmodernism, they simply affirm no particular truth. Frederick Nietzsche who is the patron saint of postmodernism described truth as: “What then is truth? A mobile army of metaphors, metonyms, and anthropomorphisms … truths are illusions … coins which have lost their pictures and now matter only as metal, no longer as coins.” Sarcastically, although the postmodernist holds coins in his hands that are now “mere metal,” he affirms at least one absolute truth: the truth that no truth should be affirmed. Just like all other world vies, postmodernism is self-defeating and can not stand the test of time.

5. Philosophy of Pluralism

Pluralism is another popular worldview which says that all truth claims are equally valid. Of course, this is absolutely impossible. Behold, immediately you start making good use of your senses, you’ll realize that this concept does not hold. Can two claims – one that says a woman is now pregnant and another that says she is not now pregnant – both be true at the same time? Pluralism is unraveled at the feet of the law of non-contradiction, which holds that something can not be both “A” and “Non-A” at the same time and in the same sense.

As one philosopher quipped, anyone who thinks or believes that the law of non-contradiction is not true (and, by default, pluralism is true) should be beaten and burned until they admit that to be beaten and burned is not the same thing as to not be beaten and burned. In addition, pluralism says that it is true and that anything oppose to it is false, which is a claim that denies its own fundamental tenet: all truth claims are equally valid. It is important to understand that the spirit behind pluralism is an open-armed attitude of tolerance. However, pluralism ends up confusing the idea of everyone having equal value with every truth claim being equally valid. Although all people may be equal, not all truth claims are. Mortimer Adler says, “Pluralism is desirable and tolerable only in those areas that are matters of taste rather than matters of truth.”

Understanding the Offensive Nature of Truth

On most occasions, when the concept of truth is maligned, it is usually for one or more of the following reasons:

One of the most common complaint against anyone claiming to have absolute truth in matters of faith and religion is that such a stance is “narrow minded.” However, the critic in this situation fails to understand that, by nature, truth is narrow. Common and tells whether or not a mathematics teacher is narrow-minded for holding to the belief that 2 + 2 equals 4?

Another objection to truth is the belief that it is arrogant to claim that a person is right and another is wrong. However, referring to our mathematical example above, is it arrogant for a math teacher to insist on only one right answer to an arithmetic problem? Or is it arrogant for a locksmith to say that only one key will unlock a locked door?

Another complaint against those holding to absolute truth in matters of faith and religion is that such a position excludes people, rather than being inclusive in approach. The critic in this case fails to understand that truth, by nature, excludes its opposite. Basing ourselves on the arithmetic above, we can say without doubt that all answers other than 4 are excluded from the reality of what 2 + 2 equals.

Another charge against those holding to absolute truth in matters of faith and religion is that it is offensive and divisive to claim that one has the truth. Here, the critic argues that what actually matters is sincerity. However, truth is immune to sincerity, belief, and desire. No matter how sincerely a person believes a wrong key will fit a door; the key won’t still go in talk-less of unlocking the door.

ALSO READ What Does The Bible Say About Acting Like God?

More Facts on the Offensive Nature of Truth

It is important to understand that truth is unaffected by sincerity. For example, a person who picks up a bottle of poison and sincerely believes that it is lemonade will still end up suffering the heavy effects of the poison if he/she drinks. Likewise, truth is impervious to desire. If the gauge indicates that the tank is empty and the car will not run any farther, there is no desire in the world that will miraculously cause the car to continue going.

There are some people who admit that absolute truth exists, but then claim such a stance valid only in the area of science and not in that of faith and religion. Such is the philosophical way of thinking known as logical positivism. This philosophy was made popular by philosophers like David Hume and A. J. Ayer. According to them, truth claims must either be (1) tautologies (for example, all bachelors are married men) or (2) empirically veritable (that is testable via scientific approaches). To the logical positivists, all talk about God is nonsense.

It is unfortunate that those who hold to the concept that only science can make truth claims fail to understand that there are many realms of truth where science is impotent. Below are some few examples.

Examples

Science cannot prove metaphysical truths such as, minds other than my own do exist.
Science cannot prove the disciplines of mathematics and logic because it presupposes them.
In addition, science is incapable of stating truths about aesthetic positions such as the beauty of a sunrise.
Science is incapable of providing truth in the areas of morals and ethics. For example, you cannot use science to prove that the Nazis were evil.
Each time that a person makes the statement “science is the only source of objective truth,” they have just made a philosophical claim – which cannot be tested in anyway by science.

There are also people who hold to the claim that absolute truth does not apply in the area of morality. Yet the response to the question, “Is it morally upright to torture and murder an innocent child?” is absolute and universal: No. We can as well make it look more personal by pointing to the fact that those who espouse relative truth concerning morals always seem to want their spouse to be absolutely faithful to them.

God and Truth

All through the six trials of Jesus Christ, the contrast between truth (righteousness) and lies (unrighteousness) was clear. Jesus Christ, the Truth, stood being judged by those whose actions were deeply rooted in evil. In handling the case of Jesus Christ, the Jewish leaders broke nearly every Law that was given to Moses by God to protect a defendant from wrongful conviction. It is sad to say but the Jewish leaders worked to find any testimony that would incriminate Jesus. In their frustration and desire to have Jesus Christ killed, they turned to false evidence brought by liars who also wanted Jesus Christ dead. Upon noticing that all their efforts to convict or incriminate Jesus were not working, they broke another Law and forced Jesus to implicate Himself.

Even in front of Pilate, the Jewish leaders lied again. Having convicted Jesus of blasphemy and realizing that it won’t be sufficient to coax Pilate to kill Him, they claimed that Jesus was challenging Caesar and was breaking Roman Law by encouraging everyone not to pay taxes. It was not long that Pontius Pilate detected their superficial deception, and he did not address the charge. Note that Jesus the righteous was judged by the unrighteous. He who had no sin was judged by sinners. The good suffered in the hands of the bad. Another sad fact is that the later always persecutes the former. As you’ll read from the Bible verses about truth, you’ll clearly perceive the relationship between truth and righteousness and between falsehood and unrighteousness.

What is Truth? – Meaning of Living in Truth

Jesus Christ clearly tells us in John 14:6 – “I am the truth.” Although simple, it is an incredible statement to be spoken by a human being. How could be a mere man be the truth? The truth is that He couldn’t be unless He was more than a mere human being, which is actually what He claimed to be. Although Jesus’ claim was doubted at that time, it was validated when He rose from the dead (Romans 1:4) and ascended as God the Son to the presence of God the Father who gave Him all authority and power in Heaven, on Earth and in the world to come (Matthew 28:18). Behold, living in truth is living in Christ. That is, to live in truth, we must develop and enhance a healthy spiritual relationship with Christ by Following Him on a daily basis.

The One Pilate and the Jewish leaders convicted will one day serve as their judge, as He will be for all people who suppress the truth with unrighteousness. Records hold that Pontius Pilate evidently never came to knowledge of the truth. Eusebius, the historian and Bishop of Caesarea, records the fact that Pontius Pilate ultimately committed suicide at some point in time during the reign of the emperor Caligula. This sad ending which was experienced by Pontius Pilate is an indication that ignoring the truth leads to severe consequences (physical and spiritual death). On the other hand, Believing, Sincerely Repenting, and obeying the Key Teachings of Jesus Christ sets us apart as beneficiaries of God’s special gift of Eternal Life. In this way, we are saved from the Fire of Hell and the Judgement Day.

What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth?

Psalm 15:2-3 – “The one whose walk is blameless,who does what is righteous,who speaks the truth from their heart;whose tongue utters no slander,who does no wrong to a neighbor,and casts no slur on others.“

1 John 1:6 – “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.”

1 John 3:18 – “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

3 John 1:4 – “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.“

John 8:31-32 – To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Ephesians 4:15 – “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

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

Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.“

Group 1 – What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth

Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

2 Timothy 2:15 – “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

Psalm 34:13 – “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.“

Proverbs 10:32 – “The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.”

Psalm 25:5 – “Guide me in your truth and teach me,for you are God my Savior,and my hope is in you all day long.”

Psalm 119:30 – “I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.”

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

James 5:12 – “Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.“

1 John 2:27 – “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.”

Group 2 – What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth

Proverbs 30:5 – “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.“

James 1:18 – “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.“

1 John 5:20 – “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”

Proverbs 4:24 – “Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.“

John 1:14 – “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.“

Psalm 33:4 – “For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.“

John 15:26 – “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 16:7 – “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”

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Group 3 – What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth

Proverbs 12:22 – “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”

Proverbs 14:5 – “An honest witness does not deceive,but a false witness pours out lies.”

John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 16:13 – “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

John 8:32 – “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

2 Timothy 2:15 – “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.“

John 17:17 – “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

John 4:24 – “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Proverbs 12:22 – “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.“

Group 4 – What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 – “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.“

John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

James 1:18 – “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

Ephesians 6:14 – “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,“

Psalm 145:18 – “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

Psalm 119:160 – “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.“

1 John 3:18 – “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.“

Psalm 25:5 – “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”

Group 5 – What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.“

Ephesians 4:15 – “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,”

John 18:37-38 – “Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.“

Psalm 86:11 – “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”

John 1:17 – “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

John 8:31-32 – So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.“

Group 6 – What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth

Psalm 43:3 – “Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!“

John 8:44 – “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Proverbs 16:13 – “Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right.”

1 John 1:6 – “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”

1 John 5:20 – “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”

1 John 1:8 – “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

Exodus 20:16 – “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

Ephesians 4:25 – “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.“

Group 7 – What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth

Romans 1:18 – “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”

John 14:17 – “Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.“

1 Kings 17:24 – And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”

Proverbs 30:5 – “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.“

John 18:37 – Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

1 John 4:6 – “We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.“

Psalm 25:10 – “All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.”

Psalm 51:6 – “Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.“

Group 8 – What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth

Ephesians 4:21 – “Assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,”

Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Ephesians 1:13-14 – “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

Ephesians 5:9 – “(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),”

John 18:38 – “Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.”

1 Timothy 3:15 – “If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”

John 15:26 – “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”

Psalm 119:142 – “Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true.“

Group 9 – What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth

John 8:36 – “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Zechariah 8:16 – “These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;“

Psalm 15:2-3 – “He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend;“

2 John 1:2 – “Because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:“

1 Corinthians 5:8 – “Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.“

3 John 1:3-4 – “For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

Psalm 15:1-2 – “A Psalm of David. O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;“

John 16:7 – “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”

Group 10 – What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth

James 5:12 – “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.“

Proverbs 16:6 – “By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.”

Psalm 34:13 – “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.“

Job 34:12 – “Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.”

Group 11 – What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth

Daniel 10:21 – “But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.”

3 John 1:4 – “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

John 8:46 – “Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?“

Romans 1:24-25 – “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”

John 4:23 – “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.“

1 John 2:27 – “But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.”

Psalm 85:10 – “Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.”

Group 12 – What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth

Proverbs 12:19 – “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.”

Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Psalm 119:30 – “I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.“

Proverbs 12:17 – “Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.“

Exodus 34:6 – “The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,“

2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,“

Matthew 22:16 – “And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.“

2 Peter 3:16 – “As he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.”

Group 13 – What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth

Proverbs 20:28 – “Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.”

Revelation 22:14-15 – “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”

Deuteronomy 32:4 – “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.”

John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 – “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”

Group 14 – What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth

Colossians 1:5-6 – “Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,“

Genesis 42:16 – “Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.”

Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Psalm 23:1-6 – “A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. …“

Psalm 12:3 – “May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts,”

Group 15 – What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth

2 Corinthians 4:4 – “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

1 Peter 1:22 – “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,“

John 1:1-51 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. …“

John 14:1-31 – ““Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” …“

Psalm 26:3 – “For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness.“

Group 16 – What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth

Psalm 33:4 – “For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.”

Romans 10:17 – “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Proverbs 10:32 – “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.“

1 Peter 1:22-23 – “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;“

2 John 1:3-4 – “Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.”

Group 17 – What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth

Daniel 9:13 – “As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth.”

Acts 20:28 – “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”

2 Corinthians 4:2 – “But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.”

Group 18 – What Does The Bible Say About Living In Truth

Exodus 20:1-26 – “And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth, You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,”