Back in August 2022 I posted my review of Stephen T. Davis delightful and informative book, Rational Faith: a Philosopher's Defense of Christianity. Recently, I have been revisiting this excellent work and found Davis' answer to the question, "What did Jesus mean when he said that he was 'the truth?'" Davis argues that Jesus (and Christians who make the same affirmation about him) mean at least 3 things:
1. Jesus is the truth in that what he says is objectively true. The teachings of Jesus as we find them in the Gospels are authoritative for us; our job is to submit to them, to take them as words from God. We do our best to follow them; we model our lives on them; we allow Jesus' teachings to shape and mold us. As Jesus himself said, "My words will not pass away" (Matthew 24:35).1
2. Jesus is the truth in that what he did on our behalf is the true route to redemption and wholeness of life. Jesus is not just a guru who issues profound and helpful teachings about life, like Socrates or Confucius. Jesus is the Savior, the one who by his life, death and resurrection made it possible for our sins to be forgiven and for us to know God.2
3. Jesus is the truth in that he truly was and is the Son of God (i.e., God incarnate). It think the resurrection of Jesus from the dead was a way for God to repeat in action what he had said in words at Jesus' baptism, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). There are very many gurus and spiritual leaders in the world: Which of them should we trust? If Jesus is simply a guru, then no matter how helpful his teachings are, they can be rejected on grounds such as, "Well, I like my guru better than your guru." But if Jesus is the Son of God, then there is a non-gainsayable finality about what he said, what he did and who he was. He was indeed "the way" to God. As he said, "No one comes to the Father except through me."3
Courage and Godspeed,
2. Jesus is the truth in that what he did on our behalf is the true route to redemption and wholeness of life. Jesus is not just a guru who issues profound and helpful teachings about life, like Socrates or Confucius. Jesus is the Savior, the one who by his life, death and resurrection made it possible for our sins to be forgiven and for us to know God.2
3. Jesus is the truth in that he truly was and is the Son of God (i.e., God incarnate). It think the resurrection of Jesus from the dead was a way for God to repeat in action what he had said in words at Jesus' baptism, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). There are very many gurus and spiritual leaders in the world: Which of them should we trust? If Jesus is simply a guru, then no matter how helpful his teachings are, they can be rejected on grounds such as, "Well, I like my guru better than your guru." But if Jesus is the Son of God, then there is a non-gainsayable finality about what he said, what he did and who he was. He was indeed "the way" to God. As he said, "No one comes to the Father except through me."3
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Footnote:
1. Stephen T. Davis, Rational Faith, p. 21.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid., p. 21-22.
Related Posts
TruthB.O.M.B. Book Review: Rational Faith- A Philosopher's Defense of Christianity by Stephen T. Davis
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What Can We Learn about Jesus (and the Reliability of the Gospel of Mark) from the Apostle Paul?
Footnote:
1. Stephen T. Davis, Rational Faith, p. 21.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid., p. 21-22.
Related Posts
TruthB.O.M.B. Book Review: Rational Faith- A Philosopher's Defense of Christianity by Stephen T. Davis
An Argument for God's Existence Based on Morality
What Can We Learn about Jesus (and the Reliability of the Gospel of Mark) from the Apostle Paul?
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