By Duane L. Smith

A Philosophical Approach to Apologetics

One of the results of my life-long quest for the truth is that I have come to the conclusion that there is only but one absolute truth, and that one truth is God. Everything is relative to that one truth.

If something is true, then we can expect it to be true at all times,and not to be self-contradictory. It is also self-consistent. Since the Bible claims to be the Word of God, let us look at what it has to say (see 2 Timothy 3: 16 & 17). "...by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us."--Hebrews 6:18, N.K.J.V.

As a Christian I believe Truth is a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ! The Bible declares: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...and the Word became flesh and dwelt [literally "tabernacled"] amongst us." "...and we beheld His glory, the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."--John 1: 1 & 14, K.J.V.

Because Christ Jesus is the Word made flesh, He is the perfect revelation of God. If one wants to know what God is like, then look to Jesus. He is Truth Incarnate.

Hebrews 1: 2 states: "[God] hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son." "By His Son can be translated "in-the-Son". --K.J.V. In other words, the old question, "How can finite man conceive of an infinite God" can be answered with, "We can't!" Infinite God must reveal Himself. I believe God has revealed Himself to us, primarily in the Holy Bible, and particularly in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ!

What is truth? Christ said of Himself: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one cometh unto the Father but by Me."--John 14: 6, K.J.V.

He also said, to Pilate who was the Roman ruler who sat as judge and thought he had power over Jesus: "You [Pilate] say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come unto the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice." Pilate said to Him, "What is truth? -John 18: 37 & 38, K.J.V.

John 15: 26: "But when the Comforter [Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener] comes whom I [the Lord Jesus Christ] will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who comes [proceeds] from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me."

John 16: 13-15: "But when He, the Spirit of Truth [the Truth-Giving Spirit] comes, He will guide you into all the truth [the whole, full truth]. For He will not speak His own message on His own authority, but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father, He will give the message that has been given to Him] and will announce and declare to you the things that are to come that will happen in the future. He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of [receive, draw upon] what is Mine and will reveal [declare, disclose, transmit] it to you. Everything that the Father has is Mine. That is what I meant when I said that He [the Holy Spirit] will take the things that are Mine and reveal [declare, disclose, transmit] them to you. --Amplified Bible, slightly modified

John 8:32: "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." --N.K.J.V. And finally: John 14: 17: "The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you know Him, for He dwells with you." John 8:36: "If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." --N.K.J.V.

So, in conclusion, because I believe that everything is relative to this one absolute truth, everything I say, in the final analysis, is just an opinion, and I think my opinion is just as good as anyone else's. And just how reliable any opinion is, is dependent on one's personal understanding and relationship to that one absolute truth, which is God.

And if this is the case, I do not believe I am qualified to be anyone's judge. There is one ultimate Judge in the universe, and He is God! I am willing to stake my entire life and eternal destiny on what I believe. How about you?

END OF PART I, PLEASE GO TO HOME PAGE FOR PART II

Format: (c) 2007, Butterfly Productions, All Rights Reserved

Text: (c) 2007, Estate of Duane L. Smith, All Rights Reserved

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