When a witness takes the stand, he is asked, "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" At one time, the words "so help me God" were part of that oath, as an appeal to the highest authority. Telling the truth in a court of law is absolutely essential because it can determine a verdict of life or death.

When Jesus talked to Nicodemus about the new birth and eternal life, He spoke "under oath." Note how He prefaced His words in John 3:11, "Most assuredly, I say to you." He used the Greek phrase "amen, amen," which can also be translated "verily, verily," "truly, truly," or "I tell you the truth." In the gospel of John, Jesus used the phrase 25 times.

In his book The Unity Of The Bible, Daniel Fuller writes, "Jesus . . . did not speak for God but as being God Himself. Of all the biblical spokespersons, only Jesus attached amen to His own statements, thereby declaring that He Himself as God had the authority to affirm His teaching as reliable and true."

The words of our Lord are the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So believe them and obey them. Knowing the truth is a matter of life or death!    — Dennis J. De Haan