Finding Clarity in a World Full of Noise
“What is truth?”
That’s the question Pontius Pilate asked Jesus in John 18:38. But it was not a genuine inquiry. It was a rhetorical toss, a cynical swipe at something he had already decided could not be known. And with that, he turned his back on Jesus, the very embodiment of truth standing in front of him.
Just hours before that exchange, Jesus had told His disciples, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). He was not just making a philosophical point. He was making a personal claim. He did not merely teach the truth. He was the truth.
Pilate’s question still hangs in the air today. It echoes in courtrooms, classrooms, coffee shops, and social media comment sections. What is truth? And can we even agree on it anymore?
According to the Bible and echoed by Professor David Schrock, the answer is a resounding yes. Truth exists. It has a source. And it has a name.
The Three Facets of Truth That Still Guide Us Today
Professor Schrock outlines a compelling framework for understanding truth that remains relevant and life-giving today. These three dimensions of truth are: inspired truth, incarnate truth, and eschatological truth. Each one serves as a lens to help us see the world clearly, walk in freedom, and anchor our lives in something eternal.
1. Inspired Truth: Anchored in the Word of God
Truth begins with God. And God has spoken.
The Bible is not a collection of helpful thoughts or spiritual suggestions. It is the inspired, authoritative Word of God. That means its truth is not conditional, not culturally bound, and not up for vote. Isaiah 65:16 refers to God as “the God of truth.” Psalm 119:142 declares, “Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is truth.”
The inspired truth of Scripture gives us a trustworthy foundation. When everything around us feels unstable or unclear, the Bible remains consistent. It does not sway with opinion polls or social trends. It reveals what God has decreed from eternity, what He has demonstrated in history, and what He is progressively revealing in our present moment.
In a culture where people often treat feelings as facts, the Word of God reorients us. Truth is not about how we feel in a given moment. It is about what God has said for all time.
2. Incarnate Truth: Embodied in the Person of Jesus
Truth is not just written. It walked among us.
Jesus is the living Word, the full and final revelation of who God is. He is truth in human form. John 1:14 tells us, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, full of grace and truth.”
In Jesus, we find more than doctrine. We find direction. More than theology. We find transformation.
Jesus did not simply speak truth. He lived it. He touched the untouchable, welcomed the outcast, and forgave the guilty. He challenged religious hypocrisy while also extending mercy. He never compromised on what was right, yet He always led with love. This is what truth looks like when it wears sandals and walks through the dust.
To know the truth is to know Jesus. And to walk in truth means to follow Him.
3. Eschatological Truth: Pointing Us Toward Eternity
There is also a future aspect to truth. It is not only something we look back on or experience now. It is something that points us forward.
Eschatological truth reminds us that Jesus is not finished. He sends His Spirit to lead us into truth, to shape us, and to prepare us for the future. A day is coming when He will return, not in humility but in glory, and truth will be revealed in full.
On that day, truth will no longer be debated. It will be undeniable. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. What we believe about Him now—what we do with the inspired and incarnate truth—will determine where we stand then.
Truth is not just academic. It is eternal. Our understanding of it matters because eternity hangs in the balance.
The Cultural Clash: Harvard or Heaven?
These truths are not just theoretical. They shape how we live and lead our families.
I want to share something from our own family. My daughter plays club soccer. She's actually really good. She takes after her mom, who was an even better player. Now, I’m the pastor, and yes, you all pay me to be here on Sundays, but this conviction would stand either way. In our house, we’ve drawn a line: she doesn't play on Sunday mornings.
Let me be honest with you, club sports will take every holiday from your calendar if you let them. Mother’s Day, Easter, even Christmas. There was a tournament scheduled for this weekend. But we’ve decided Sunday mornings belong to God.
That decision isn’t about legalism. It’s about order. If Jesus is the truth, if all truth flows from Him and belongs to Him, then our schedule needs to reflect that. We’ve told her coach, “If it’s Saturday, we’ll be there. But we won’t give you Sunday morning.”
And here’s something else I’ve noticed. People get excited when their kid shows potential. “She’s got talent. He’s got skill.” So they join the team, and before long, Sundays are gone. Slowly, Jesus becomes one option among many.
That’s why I ask: Parents, where’s your heart set? Where are your kids headed: Harvard or heaven? Those don’t have to be in opposition, but your priorities will shape their trajectory. If Christ is first, everything else, including Harvard, will fall into place.
Truth That Sets You Free
Jesus made a promise in John 8:31-32: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
That freedom is not just from guilt. It is freedom from confusion and the pressure to perform. Freedom from cultural lies that say you are only as valuable as your GPA, your income, or your social media following.
Truth sets us free to live with clarity, purpose, and confidence. It allows us to rest in who God says we are and to walk boldly in who He is.
Putting It All Together: How to Live by the Truth
If truth is real, if it is inspired, incarnate, and eternal, then how should we respond?
1.Immerse yourself in the Bible
Let it guide your decisions, challenge your assumptions, and comfort your heart.
2.Follow Jesus personally
Build your life on His example, not just His teachings. He is the truth in action.
3.Think with eternity in mind
Let your choices reflect a future hope, not just present gain.
4.Resist cultural idols
Whether it is success, sports, or social approval, make sure nothing outranks Christ.
5.Teach your children to pursue heaven over hype
Equip them with a vision that is bigger than achievement and rooted in truth.
Truth is not optional. It is essential. And it is not hiding. It is waiting to be embraced.
This blog is based on the message shared by senior pastor Dr. Roger Patterson at our Cityrise West U Baptist campus on Sunday, May 11, 2025. Check out the full message below!
That’s the question Pontius Pilate asked Jesus in John 18:38. But it was not a genuine inquiry. It was a rhetorical toss, a cynical swipe at something he had already decided could not be known. And with that, he turned his back on Jesus, the very embodiment of truth standing in front of him.
Just hours before that exchange, Jesus had told His disciples, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). He was not just making a philosophical point. He was making a personal claim. He did not merely teach the truth. He was the truth.
Pilate’s question still hangs in the air today. It echoes in courtrooms, classrooms, coffee shops, and social media comment sections. What is truth? And can we even agree on it anymore?
According to the Bible and echoed by Professor David Schrock, the answer is a resounding yes. Truth exists. It has a source. And it has a name.
The Three Facets of Truth That Still Guide Us Today
Professor Schrock outlines a compelling framework for understanding truth that remains relevant and life-giving today. These three dimensions of truth are: inspired truth, incarnate truth, and eschatological truth. Each one serves as a lens to help us see the world clearly, walk in freedom, and anchor our lives in something eternal.
1. Inspired Truth: Anchored in the Word of God
Truth begins with God. And God has spoken.
The Bible is not a collection of helpful thoughts or spiritual suggestions. It is the inspired, authoritative Word of God. That means its truth is not conditional, not culturally bound, and not up for vote. Isaiah 65:16 refers to God as “the God of truth.” Psalm 119:142 declares, “Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is truth.”
The inspired truth of Scripture gives us a trustworthy foundation. When everything around us feels unstable or unclear, the Bible remains consistent. It does not sway with opinion polls or social trends. It reveals what God has decreed from eternity, what He has demonstrated in history, and what He is progressively revealing in our present moment.
In a culture where people often treat feelings as facts, the Word of God reorients us. Truth is not about how we feel in a given moment. It is about what God has said for all time.
2. Incarnate Truth: Embodied in the Person of Jesus
Truth is not just written. It walked among us.
Jesus is the living Word, the full and final revelation of who God is. He is truth in human form. John 1:14 tells us, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, full of grace and truth.”
In Jesus, we find more than doctrine. We find direction. More than theology. We find transformation.
Jesus did not simply speak truth. He lived it. He touched the untouchable, welcomed the outcast, and forgave the guilty. He challenged religious hypocrisy while also extending mercy. He never compromised on what was right, yet He always led with love. This is what truth looks like when it wears sandals and walks through the dust.
To know the truth is to know Jesus. And to walk in truth means to follow Him.
3. Eschatological Truth: Pointing Us Toward Eternity
There is also a future aspect to truth. It is not only something we look back on or experience now. It is something that points us forward.
Eschatological truth reminds us that Jesus is not finished. He sends His Spirit to lead us into truth, to shape us, and to prepare us for the future. A day is coming when He will return, not in humility but in glory, and truth will be revealed in full.
On that day, truth will no longer be debated. It will be undeniable. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. What we believe about Him now—what we do with the inspired and incarnate truth—will determine where we stand then.
Truth is not just academic. It is eternal. Our understanding of it matters because eternity hangs in the balance.
The Cultural Clash: Harvard or Heaven?
These truths are not just theoretical. They shape how we live and lead our families.
I want to share something from our own family. My daughter plays club soccer. She's actually really good. She takes after her mom, who was an even better player. Now, I’m the pastor, and yes, you all pay me to be here on Sundays, but this conviction would stand either way. In our house, we’ve drawn a line: she doesn't play on Sunday mornings.
Let me be honest with you, club sports will take every holiday from your calendar if you let them. Mother’s Day, Easter, even Christmas. There was a tournament scheduled for this weekend. But we’ve decided Sunday mornings belong to God.
That decision isn’t about legalism. It’s about order. If Jesus is the truth, if all truth flows from Him and belongs to Him, then our schedule needs to reflect that. We’ve told her coach, “If it’s Saturday, we’ll be there. But we won’t give you Sunday morning.”
And here’s something else I’ve noticed. People get excited when their kid shows potential. “She’s got talent. He’s got skill.” So they join the team, and before long, Sundays are gone. Slowly, Jesus becomes one option among many.
That’s why I ask: Parents, where’s your heart set? Where are your kids headed: Harvard or heaven? Those don’t have to be in opposition, but your priorities will shape their trajectory. If Christ is first, everything else, including Harvard, will fall into place.
Truth That Sets You Free
Jesus made a promise in John 8:31-32: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
That freedom is not just from guilt. It is freedom from confusion and the pressure to perform. Freedom from cultural lies that say you are only as valuable as your GPA, your income, or your social media following.
Truth sets us free to live with clarity, purpose, and confidence. It allows us to rest in who God says we are and to walk boldly in who He is.
Putting It All Together: How to Live by the Truth
If truth is real, if it is inspired, incarnate, and eternal, then how should we respond?
1.Immerse yourself in the Bible
Let it guide your decisions, challenge your assumptions, and comfort your heart.
2.Follow Jesus personally
Build your life on His example, not just His teachings. He is the truth in action.
3.Think with eternity in mind
Let your choices reflect a future hope, not just present gain.
4.Resist cultural idols
Whether it is success, sports, or social approval, make sure nothing outranks Christ.
5.Teach your children to pursue heaven over hype
Equip them with a vision that is bigger than achievement and rooted in truth.
Truth is not optional. It is essential. And it is not hiding. It is waiting to be embraced.
This blog is based on the message shared by senior pastor Dr. Roger Patterson at our Cityrise West U Baptist campus on Sunday, May 11, 2025. Check out the full message below!
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