Truth is a Big Deal
June 29, 2023 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments
Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement
Among Christians, it almost goes without saying, truth is a big deal. If we are not careful, however, what should be a given may easily become overlooked. As I prepare to preach on Ephesians 4:17-24 this Sunday, my attention has been grabbed by Paul’s use of the word truth. Let me share what Paul writes about truth and why it is such a big deal for Christians.
Ephesians 4 is not the first time Paul speaks about truth. He calls the gospel, “the word of truth” in 1:13. This implies that the message of our sin and Jesus’ sacrificial, atoning death is foundational truth. This is the truth that provides salvation and reconciles us to the heavenly Father.
The next time Paul uses the Greek word for truth, aletheia, is in 4:21. But he uses a connate word (uses the same root) in 4:15 when he writes, “speaking the truth in love.” The word is aletheuo, which simply means to speak the truth. As part of the body serving one another to help the body grow, we must speak the truth to one another.
What catches my attention this week is Paul’s use of the word truth three times in the cluster of verses between 4:21 and 4:25. In 4:21 he says “the truth is in Jesus.” In 4:24 Paul writes (translating the Greek literally, word by word), “put on the new self which has been created according to God in righteousness and holiness of truth.” The ESV has “true righteousness and holiness” for that last phrase. And then in 4:25, Paul commands, “speak the truth,” using the normal Greek verb for speaking and the noun “truth.”
In this cluster of verses, Paul is contrasting the way of life of unbelievers with the way of life of believers. He said that unbelievers walk “in the futility of their minds” (v. 17) and are “darkened in their understanding” (v. 18). The Christian’s way of life is different. Paul says the Christian has “learned Christ” (v. 20) and has been “taught in him” (v. 21). This is where the matter of truth is such a big deal. The unbeliever does not know the truth nor understand the truth. The believer has come to be taught the truth, for the “truth is in Jesus” (v. 21). Truth is the gateway into salvation. Without the truth of the gospel, we would still be darkened in our understanding.
Paul does not stop at the gateway, but emphasizes that truth must now be a defining mark of the followers of Christ. Our “new self,” the Christlike way of life, reflects the righteousness and holiness of truth (v. 24). A truth-filled life is a righteous and holy life. Therefore, Paul immediately applies this principle to our speech. Christians put away falsehood and speak the truth with one another (v. 25).
In our current cultural moment, speaking the truth with one another is not very popular. We avoid speaking the truth out of fear of offending someone. Or we ignore the truth when it serves our agenda to make accusations against others. Either way, Paul commands us to put away falsehood, because we are saved by the truth and now are called to walk in the truth.
Truth is a big deal for Christians. Our way of life and speech are to be marked by truth. Let’s continue to learn the truth as it is taught in Jesus.
