Although truth means everything that is true, and therefore not a lie, in the Holy Scriptures truth has a deeper meaning, which is revealed to us by God in His word. There are numerous biblical quotations on the subject. And although the word truth is often taken to mean what is generally true, truth means something more. In a narrow and particular sense, it is almost always mentioned together with justice. We will discuss this later. Now let us discuss “The Truth of God.”

Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32. Although Jesus is “The Truth,” it translates into something, just as Scripture says that God is love, and that love is also translated into something not material, but spiritual; not a feeling, but an attitude.

When Pilate questioned Jesus, he asked him, “What is truth?” Jesus did not answer him on that particular point. Pilate was certainly not in a position to understand it. Therefore, it was useless to cast pearls before swine.

But Jesus had already spoken about it when he said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” John 14:6.

Just as God is love, and the love of God is the keeping of His commandments, so also He is “The Truth,” which are His commandments. This is very evident in the Scriptures, which say: “All your commandments are truth...” Psalm 119:86, first part. And: “You are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are truth.” Psalm 119:151. Or: “God is truth, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” Deuteronomy 32:4. And again: “But the Lord God is truth.” Jeremiah 10:10.

Mathematically speaking, if “a” equals “b,” then “b” equals “a.” So, if Scripture says that God's commandments are “truth,” then ‘truth’ is “God's Commandments.”

One Scripture says: “Your word is truth.” Jesus is the Word of God, the word of action. And therefore, He is The Truth. And since He is the Word of God, it is through Him that the word has been proclaimed since ancient times. It was He who gave the commandments at Sinai, and the commandments are His. That is why He says: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15. And: “He who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me.” Verse 21, first part. And since God's commandments are “The Truth,” the Scriptures tell us about their duration, see:

“His truth endures from generation to generation.” Psalm 100:5, last part. And: “The truth of the Lord endures forever.” Psalm 117:2, last part.

“Although truth is the commandments of the Lord, Scripture is more emphatic when it calls it the truth of the Lord, distinguishing it from generic truth.”

Since the Lord's commandments are also called His Law, the psalmist says of it: “Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is the truth.” Psalm 119:142.

The definite article preceding the word truth gives it its own identity, to distinguish it from truth in the generic sense as not a lie.

According to Portuguese grammar, the definite article serves to precisely determine the noun. Although the word truth is a noun, when it is used after the definite article, it becomes a qualifying adjective, serving to designate more than veracity, a quality of God, as in the case we are dealing with, and to which it refers and represents: His commandments.

When we say “João,” we are not talking about just any João, but someone we know, regardless of whether our interlocutor knows him. But from the context or our previous quote, we can tell who we are talking about.

God's Law or Commandments represent God's integrity and His will for us. In other words, that we participate in His righteous nature by practicing His righteousness. That is why the apostle John says: “Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous.” I John 3:7.

Let us pay attention to these quotes from Scripture:

God is truth. John 14:6.
God is light. I John 1:5.
God is the way. John 14:6.
God is life. John 14:6.
God is love. 1 John 4:8.
God is righteous. 1 John 3:7, last part.

So, since His commandments or Law are the truth, let us put the above quotations in comparative order, and then check them against the Scriptures.

Truth is equal to light; equal to the way; equal to life; equal to love; equal to righteousness; equal to Jesus.

Thus, whoever obeys the truth has the light and is in the light; is on the path of life; loves God, practices righteousness; and, therefore, is righteous; is in Jesus (God), and God (Jesus) is in him. For Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6, first part.

“He who keeps His commandments abides in God, and God in him.” I John 3:24, first part.

“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8. “And this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.” 1 John 5:3. “Do you want to enter into life? Keep the commandments.” Matthew 19:17. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15. “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.” John 15:10. “He who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me.” John 14:21, first part.

According to Scripture, ungodliness is transgression of God's Law. See:

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools. And they exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen." Romans 1:18-25.

Let us note that the ungodliness mentioned there is practiced by men who knew God. These men changed the “truth of God,” His commandments, into a lie, and held the “truth” in unrighteousness. Romans 1:18, last part, and 25, first part. In this quotation, Scripture speaks of the worship of images of creatures: men, birds, quadrupeds, and reptiles, verse 23, which is a transgression of the divine decalogue.

Such men have changed the truth of God into a lie. And of this John says: “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4.

The word of the Lord spoken by the prophet Hosea says: "Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel, for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, no kindness, nor knowledge of God in the land. Only swearing, killing, lying, stealing, and adultery prevail, and there are murders upon murders." Hosea 4:1 and 2.

There is no truth, no law of God, no knowledge of God, no observance of His commandments on earth.

And when the Lord speaks to the children of Israel, one should not think that He is referring to the nominal Israel of Palestine, but to Israel, His people. This is implied in Psalm 50. Analyzing it carefully, we observe that there the Lord speaks of an Israel from which He did not demand sacrificed offerings. In that same psalm, where He speaks of judgment, He says that the heavens will proclaim His righteousness (His Law or Commandments).

These commandments, His Righteousness and Truth, will be the basis for the judgment of His people, for they are the belt of His loins. Isaiah 11:5. Righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne. Psalm 97:2.

God, speaking through the prophet Malachi, gives a stern warning to the priests, saying: "And now, O priests, this commandment is for you. If you will not hear, and if you will not give honor to My name, says the Lord of hosts, I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; and I have already cursed them, because you do not take it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, the dung of your feasts; and with it you shall be taken away. Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that my covenant may remain with Levi, says the Lord of hosts. My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him, and he feared me, and he stood in awe of my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found on his lips; he walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many away from iniquity. For the lips of a priest shall keep knowledge, and from his mouth men shall seek the law, for he is an angel of the Lord of hosts. But you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble in the law; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts. Therefore I have also made you contemptible and base before all the people, since you have not kept my ways but have shown partiality in the law." Malachi 2:1-9.

Let us observe the reason for this: you have caused many to stumble in the law, and you have shown partiality in the law. When does this occur? When priests say that it is no longer necessary to keep the Law of the Commandments; that it was only for the people of Israel, referring to the Israel of Palestine.

That is why the Lord speaks through the prophet: “Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor.” Zechariah 8:16.

This truth, established by the Son, the righteous judge, serves as protection, for it is a shield and a buckler. Psalm 91:4. That is why the Holy Spirit inspired the apostle to say: “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.” Ephesians 6:13 and 14.

And this work of the Holy Spirit was foretold by Jesus when he said: “When that Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. John 16:13, first part. For the Spirit is truth.” I John 5:6.

Thus, whoever does not have this truth does not have the Spirit of God, and therefore is not of Him. For Jesus said, “He who is of God hears the words of God.” Moreover, the fruit of the Spirit is in all truth. Ephesians 5:9. That is why the apostle Peter says, “And be established in the truth.” II Peter 1:2.

And this work has the goal of fulfilling what the apostle inspiredly recommends to us: "And the servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but be gentle toward all, apt to teach, patient, gently instructing those who oppose him, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will." II Timothy 2:24-26. For we are already living in the evil days of which the apostle speaks, in which men will be contrary to sound doctrine, see:

"But know this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such people. For among them are those who creep into homes and captivate foolish women laden with sins, led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth." II Timothy 3:1-7.

As if that were not enough, the apostle says: “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” Ephesians 4:14 and 15.

The truth is the commandments of Jesus, our Savior, King, and Lord, and love is the keeping of those commandments. For the apostle John tells us: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3.

The same apostle also says: “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we shall know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” 1 John 3:18 and 19.

For those who want to know the truth, what we have presented is sufficient, even though there is much more evidence of its permanence.

Oli Prestes
Missionary