In a world of deception and shifting truth, Jesus calls us to know the Truth—and walk in it.
Weekly Devotional
What Is Truth?
August 25, 2026 · Anne Barkley
Scripture focus: John 14:6 — “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”
This week God brought me back to a panel game show which originally aired from 1956 to 1968 called “To Tell the Truth.” Three contestants were presented, all claiming to be the named person and subject of a particular story.
The host asked each person to state their name and then read an affidavit about the subject. The real character was sworn to give truthful answers, and the impostors were permitted to lie and pretend to be the central character. After questioning was completed, the host would ask, “Will the real (person’s name) please stand up?”
In this day of imposters, liars, fraud, cancel culture and false information it is becoming increasingly difficult to discern truth. We have “fake news” and AI-generated videos and disinformation.
It is time that we return to TRUTH according to Scripture which is consistent with the mind, will and character of God, making it the self-expression of God and an objective, immutable standard rather than subjective opinion.
It Is Time to Return to Biblical Truth
GOD’S CHARACTER
He is the “God of Truth,” and His truthfulness is synonymous with His steadfastness, trustworthiness, and eternal faithfulness.
— Isaiah 65:16
JESUS CHRIST
Truth is personified in Jesus, who declared, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,” serving as the living embodiment of God’s reality.
— John 14:6
SCRIPTURE
The Bible is identified as Truth, with Jesus praying, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth,” indicating that God’s Word is the ultimate standard against which all else is measured.
— John 17:17
THE HOLY SPIRIT
Referred to as the “Spirit of Truth,” He guides believers into all truth and illuminates the reality of God’s Word.
— John 16:13
Ultimately, biblical truth is not merely a collection of facts but a transformational power that leads to freedom, sanctification, and right relationship with the Creator.
WILL THE REAL CHRISTIANS PLEASE STAND UP?
Truth in the Old Testament
GOD OF TRUTH
Truth is a quality used to describe utterances that are from the LORD. When Elijah intervenes for the son of the widow of Zarephath, bringing the boy back to life, the boy’s mother remarks that now she knows that Elijah is a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in his mouth is truth.
The Bible says that God is not only truthful, but He Himself is the essence of truth. When Scripture speaks of truth, it refers to a completeness of moral integrity that influences how one thinks and behaves.
— Psalm 86:11; Psalm 119:30
The Psalter describes truth as a fundamental characteristic of God, a characteristic that the psalmist desires to share. The psalmist tells God to “guide me in your truth” (Psalm 25:5); to “send forth your light and your truth” to lead him (Psalm 43:3); and asks the LORD to “ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth” (Psalm 45:4).
The psalmist desires to walk in God’s truth (Psalm 86:11).
Indeed, the sum of God’s Word is truth!
God’s laws and instructions outline the way of truth that is meant to lead people to Him.
> “The entirety of Your word is truth.”
— Psalm 119:160
Truth in the New Testament
JESUS CHRIST—THE TRUTH
The Gospel of John often speaks of truth referring to Jesus and His ministry. Jesus, as the Word became flesh, is full of grace and truth (John 1:14), and is the source of grace and truth (John 1:17).
For John, truth is ultimately identified with and is personified in the person of Jesus Christ.
> “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
— John 14:6
Jesus as the one way to the Father fulfills the OT symbols and teachings of the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).
Jesus is the only “way” to God (Acts 4:12), and He alone can provide access to God.
Jesus alone is the life who fulfills the OT promises of “life” given by God (John 11:25–27), having life in Himself (John 1:4; John 5:26), and He is thus able to confer eternal life to all those who believe in Him (John 3:16).
His “I AM” sayings are another claim to deity (John 6:35).
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
> “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 16:13
The Spirit’s ministry of guiding Jesus’ followers into all the truth is a promise especially directed toward the eleven disciples, and it finds particular fulfillment in the books of the NT.
The promise, like the other things that Jesus says, has a broader application to all believers as the Holy Spirit leads and guides them (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:18).
The activity of the Holy Spirit in declaring the things that are to come suggests that He knows the future, something that is true of God alone; this gives evidence of the full deity of the Holy Spirit.
THE WORD OF TRUTH
In 2 Thessalonians Paul equates the truth with the believers’ salvation. Those who perish do so because they are under a wicked deception and so refuse to love the truth and be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:10). God’s choosing of the Thessalonian believers for salvation came about by means of sanctification by the Spirit as well as belief in the truth.
The Scriptures themselves are the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Paul informs Titus that the knowledge of the truth goes along with the furtherance of faith and with godliness (Titus 1:1).
To claim to have fellowship with God, and to walk in darkness, is not to live according to the truth (1 John 1:6). To claim sinlessness for the believer is to practice self-deceit and thus be void of truth (1 John 1:8).
The basic message of Christianity is termed “the Truth,” and believers know the truth, and can discern that no lie is of the truth (1 John 2:4; 1 John 2:21). Believers are to love in both deed and in truth (1 John 3:18).
Believers are of the truth, which no doubt means that they belong to Jesus, who is the truth (1 John 3:19). Likewise, the fact that we are of God allows us to know the Holy Spirit of truth, and to discern it from the spirit of error (1 John 4:6).
The truth abides with us forever (2 John 2).
> “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
— 3 John 1:4
The Bible says that God delights in truth. “The LORD is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).
He calls believers to worship Him in truth (John 4:24), love others in truth (1 John 3:18), and always speak the truth (Ephesians 4:15, 25; Zechariah 8:16).
A Real Christian Walks in Truth
PERILOUS TIMES
There are some true Christ followers left who sincerely love and seek the Lord with all their hearts, but their numbers are few. Paul warns us of these times in 2 Timothy 3:1–5. He called them perilous—periods of intense moral decay, spiritual turmoil, and societal breakdown in the last days.
The term is translated from the Greek word chalepos, meaning difficult, dangerous, harsh, or fierce, indicating times that are strength-sapping and emotionally hard to bear. I believe that the times we are experiencing today adequately fit this description.
These verses characterize specific negative traits in people, including being lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, disobedient to parents, and ungrateful. Other key characteristics include being unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
The passage warns against those who have a form of godliness but deny its power, urging believers to turn away from such people.
STAND FIRM IN THE TRUTH
Instead, believers are advised to remain grounded in the Holy Scriptures—in the Truth—which provide wisdom for salvation, and to stand firm in their faith amidst these challenges.
ROB PUE WRITES:
“What happened to our people, once grateful and devout followers of our Creator and Sustainer? Not only have they abandoned their reverence, awe and faith in Almighty God, but for most Americans, God has become totally irrelevant in their daily lives. Some even openly mock, despise and hate God and those who faithfully follow Him. They see Christianity as a ‘repressive religion,’ though they really know nothing about the Bible, God the Father, or Jesus Christ, our Savior. Because no one has ever taught them.”
As a child I remember Vacation Bible School for a whole week where we memorized Bible verses, were taught about Jesus and learned songs of praise.
We’re now several generations removed from those days when God was honored and revered in our nation. The modern American church, instead of standing firmly on the Word of God—the Truth—and living holy, God-honoring lives, has chosen entertainment and compromise with the world.
We could easily learn the mercy and grace of our Heavenly Father if only we’d read one of those many Bibles that can be found in just about every home in America.
There is a move today to rewrite the Bible leaving out Jesus. AI is doing it now!
We better dust off our Bibles and dig into the Truth lest we too be deceived and led astray by every wind of doctrine.
Growing Up Into Christ
Ephesians 4:14 describes spiritual immaturity, where believers are unstable and easily deceived by false teachings. Immature Christians lack the doctrinal foundation to resist human trickery and cunning craftiness intended to lead them astray.
If we are to be REAL CHRISTIANS, we must grow up into Christ, moving beyond instability and speaking the truth in love.
Ultimately, the Bible distinguishes a true Christian from just those who attend church by emphasizing that good works are the consequence of salvation, not the cause, and that true faith is validated by a life aligned with God’s will and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
Even church attendance can become an idol, if God—and ALL HIS TRUTH—is not welcome there!
The evidence of a true Christian is displayed in both faith and action. Set your hearts and minds on Christ Jesus!
> “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17
Jesus put it this way:
> “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
— John 8:12
A true Christian will show his faith by how he lives.
WILL THE REAL CHRISTIAN PLEASE STAND UP!
Take a Moment This Week
- Is Christ first in your worship and your loves?
- Have you finished what you once started for Him?
- Are you standing firm in the battle?
- And is there still “saltiness” in your life for others to taste?
A true disciple has counted the cost—and follows Jesus no matter what!
Salvation is not merely a passive gift but actively trains believers to renounce sin and pursue good works, awaiting the glorious appearing of Christ. (Titus 2:11-14)
Scripture references:
John 14:6 · John 17:17 · John 16:13 · Psalm 119:160 · 2 Timothy 3:1–5 · Ephesians 4:14–15 · 3 John 1:4
OUR MISSION UNTIL CHRIST RETURNS
WORSHIP · MINISTRY · EVANGELISM
FELLOWSHIP · DISCIPLESHIP
Matthew 28:19–20
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