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KNOWING THE TRUTH
The Bible says: “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,” (John 8:31-32). Several important things can be seen in this one sentence. In the first place there are temporary believers in Christ as well as permanent ones. The temporary ones are like the rocky soil in which the seed springs up quickly but does not ever bear fruit. These believers believe with their heads only and most usually “believe” in order to get something their flesh wants from God or to escape eternal punishment. But there are some like the good ground: permanent believers: true believers – or as Jesus said, “disciples indeed.” These continue in Christ's Word as it is found in the Bible. Furthermore, Jesus said that these who continue – these true disciples: true believers - “shall know the truth.” This is a mark of true believers. Lots of people believe lots of different things, but Christ's disciples “know the truth.” Jesus said: “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me,” (John 6:45). Just prior to this verse Jesus had said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day,” (John 6:44). God draws sinners to Christ by teaching them. This is not something that preachers and human teachers do. Men can only teach the heads of other men. God, however, can reach the inner man: the heart. And He must do the teaching if men and women are to be enabled to come to Christ. Otherwise Jesus said they cannot come. Another thing to note here is that the knowledge of the truth makes us free. The truth makes us free from false ideas, free from doubt, free from ignorance, free from worry, free from despair, free from uncertainty and other such like things. And often the truth that does us the most good is the truth we at first hate the most. Such Bible teachings as the total depravity of all men, the inability of sinners to come to Christ unless and until God draws/teaches them, God's election of some sinners to salvation apart from any good in them, Christ's atonement for His sheep and for no others, God's preservation of the saved and their perseverance in good works. These are some of the most hated doctrines by some people and the most beloved ones by others. Truth is loved by those who have been taught it by God. And truth is hated by those who have never been taught it by God. Those taught by God will suffer and die for the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. Have you been taught the truth by God or are you yet in your sins?
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