Jesus said to him (Thomas), “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
John 14:6
Truth Is A Person
Often, when we think of something being true, we might defer to a statement of fact. For example, I might state that Austin is a city in the state of Texas. This is a statement of fact therefore we would say that it is true. Likewise, I could tell you that I like going to the ballpark to watch baseball. This is a preference of mine and might not be shared by everyone, nevertheless, it is a statement of fact therefore we can declare it to be true. But when it comes to spiritual truth, we need to move from mere preference or statements of fact and realize that spiritual truth is not found in the question “what?” rather truth is found in the question “who?” Simply put, truth is a Person and that Person is Jesus Christ.
There is an interesting distinction that we find in scripture between knowing Jesus and knowing about Jesus. The former refers to an intimate, personal relationship while the latter hangs on intellectual, cognitive knowledge of Christ. The latter can be achieved through study alone but the former requires reconciliation, transformation, and experience. Paul makes a statement that involves both of these types of knowledge, one being experiential and the other intellectual. He is speaking about what he desires for believers. Consider the following:
…and to know (intimately, relationally) the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge (through formal, intellectual study)…
Ephesians 3:19a
At first glance, we might think that Paul is referring to knowing something that cannot be known. But he is using two different words in regards to knowledge. Paul prays that the church will know the love of Christ intimately, relationally, and experientially. He then goes on to say that this kind of understanding surpasses knowledge, meaning that it cannot be arrived at through study alone. We certainly do not want to elevate experience over the truth of scripture but our experience should be in line with it. We should be living out the truth of scripture by enjoying the presence of God in our lives everyday. In other words, knowing Jesus means that we know the truth.
It has been said that if we can get three things right, theologically speaking, then the rest will fall into place. Those three theological items are, the Person of God, the Person of Christ, and a proper understanding of salvation. If we equate salvation to eternal life, then we will see all three of these items spoken by Jesus in one statement. Consider His words as He prays:
This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
John 17:3
Jesus defines eternal life as knowing God and knowing Jesus Christ. The word “knowing” used here is the same one that Paul used to express an intimate and personal relationship with God. We might define eternal life as living in heaven when we pass from this earth and in a very real sense that is part of life eternal. But born again believers possess eternal life in the here and now. Our relationship with the living Christ grants us eternal life. Knowing Him in a relational way means that we are walking in the truth. Why? It is because truth is a Person.
When Paul admonishes us to “gird up our loins with truth,” he is instructing us to center our lives around the truth that is found only in Jesus Christ. It is perfectly fine and necessary for us to make factual statements in regard to our doctrine, but real, intimate knowledge of the truth is not found in intellectual study alone rather it is found in a personal, experiential knowledge of Jesus.
Putting on the belt of truth means:
- Recognizing The Enemy
- Knowing That Truth Is A Person
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
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