What is Truth, and Why does it Matter?

Jesus said, “Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” ~John 18:37-38.

About 20 years ago, I was discussing theology and Christianity with a shop owner of musical instruments in Nanuet, NY. In the end, he asked the same question that Pontius Pilate did in the Biblical quote above. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the answers that I do now, and I wish I could go back to the time of that conversation.

The question, “what is truth?” is a great question, and the answer to it is easier than one might think. I first heard of this discovery in several different works from Norman Geisler[1] and J. P. Moreland.[2] Together, their writings on truth sparked a fire in me to memorize the Three Fundamental Laws and what they mean. Before I get to the Three Fundamental Laws of Logic, I think it is appropriate to show what makes the ability to know the truth so valuable.

For starters, Jesus says that “knowing the truth will set a person free” (John 8:32). Who doesn’t want to be free? Jesus is referring to the truth of the Gospel in this context. It develops into an argument about the deity of Jesus.

The truth will tell us about danger. “That stove is hot!” “There is a grizzly bear over there!” “Satan prowls around like a roaring lion!”

Knowing the truth is valuable because it reveals the distinctions in different religions and worldviews. For instance, Islam teaches that Jesus never died, but Christianity teaches the opposite of that. Mormonism teaches that god is one of many who are worshiped (monolatry). Baha’is believe that there is only one god, but that all religions describe this god. Atheism says that there is no god, Hinduism teaches that there are many gods, Jews believe that there is a monotheistic Unitarian god, Christians believe in a monotheistic, Trinitarian God, New Agers believe that all is god, and Christian Scientists believe that love is god (idolatry). The questions is, which of these are true?! If any?!

Knowing what is true can also help us understand the meaning, value, and purpose for and of life. For instance, is it true that God loves us? What does it mean if He did? What does it mean if He did not exist?

The Three Fundamental Laws of Logic

The first Fundamental Law of Logic is very simple. In fact, it is so simple that most people do not even think about it. It is called the Law of Identity. The Law of Identity states that a thing is identical to itself. If I were to point to a dying tree and say, “that tree is dying,” then this claim would be identical to reality if that were the case. The key to understanding this, I believe, is in the word, “claim” or, “statement.”[3] Look at the claim, and measure it up against reality. Is that tree dying?” If so, then it is identical to the claim that the tree is dying. In other words, it is true.

The second Fundamental Law of Logic is also very simple, and we use it all the time as well. It is called the Law of Non-contradiction.[4] This law states that a claim cannot be both true and false at the same time and in the same sense. For instance, a woman cannot be both pregnant, and not pregnant, at the same time and in the same sense. The same is true for many of the ideas listed above. It cannot be both true that Jesus died on the cross and true that He did not die on the cross. These claims contradict one another.

The third Fundamental Law of Logic goes a little further (and I prefer the model that J. P. Moreland uses in teaching the Three Laws because it seems to have an orderly progression, if nothing else but for mnemonic purposes), which is called the Law of Excluded Middle. The Law of Excluded Middle also looks at the claim and says that every truth claim must be either true or false. To simplify this, just think of the phrase “The Law of Excluded Middle” as a long way to say the word, “or.” True or false… this is not a false dilemma, there are no other alternatives. To use a familiar idea, a woman is either pregnant, or she is not. The light switch is either on or it is not. Jesus either died and rose again or He did not. Islam is true or it is false.

The Three Fundamental Laws of Logic really help us get to the bottom of things, so to speak. For instance, speaking of the Resurrection of Jesus, this event is either identical to the truth or it is false. The thing is, if it is not true, then Paul says that our Christian faith is futile (1 Corinthians 15:17). He is basically taunting people to investigate the truth claims of Christianity for themselves. On the contrary, if the Resurrection was an actual event in history, then what does this mean for us? It means that all other religions are false, for one thing. For another thing, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15, Christ died for our sins.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.[5]

Christ died for our sins. He was buried. He was raised on the Third Day. He appeared to many. Like I said, if this is the case, if these claims are identical to reality, then this is “Good News.” The good news is at minimum, twofold. 1. We are saved from the wrath of God.[6] Jesus took our place on the cross and took our place of eternal punishment. We no longer need to fear the wrath of God because of our sins because we are covered by the blood of Jesus, and because we are covered in His blood, when the Father looks at us, He sees His Son! 2. Because we are covered by the blood of Jesus, we have eternal life in Him![7] Those of us who place our trust and hope in Jesus will live forever![8]

Now, I mentioned above, that knowing what is true can also help us understand the meaning, value, and purpose for and of life. “If each individual person passes out of existence when he dies, then what ultimate meaning can be given to his life?”[9] The point here is that because God exists, because Christianity is true and we live for eternity, then life does have meaning. Having and living life does make a difference. Why? Because God created you, and He wants to have a personal relationship with you. Yes, the King of the Universe wants to have a personal relationship with you!

“If life ends at the grave, then it makes no difference whether one had lived as a Stalin or a saint.”[10] There is a value to how we live. It does matter how a person lives because in the end, he or she will be confronted by the King of the Universe on how they lived.

The purpose of life also depends on the existence of God and the fact that we live for eternity. If it is true that God exists, and that we do live for eternity through Jesus Christ, which I do affirm, then there is hope for mankind. HOPE FOR MANKIND. Let that echo in your minds.

I think we can all see the value in the Three Fundamental Laws of Logic. It is time that we put them into practice.

Practice using the Three Fundamental Laws of Logic with these truth claims:

A fetus does not feel pain.

Adultery is no big deal.

Guns kill people.

The Bible is the Word of God.

The truth can be known.

I can’t write a single word in English.

Jesus loves me.

There is Hope for mankind.

What other truth claims are worth your time to investigate?

Written by Nace Howell through the grace of the Lord Jesus

[1] Norman Geisler. Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics. Baker Books: Grand Rapids, 2000. 427.

[2] J. P. Moreland and William Lane Craig. Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview. InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, 2017. 120.

[3] Statement, as J. P. Moreland seems to use in most of his writings.

[4] Or, more simply, the Law of Contradiction.

[5] See 1 Corinthians 15:3-8.

[6] See Romans 5:1-8.

[7] See John 3:16; Romans 6:23.

[8] See Romans 10:9.

[9] William Lane Craig. Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics. Crossway: Wheaton, 2008. 72.

[10] Ibid. 74.

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