THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF TRUTH

" . . . 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 . . . If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:31-36)

Devotion 5 of 20

OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE TRUTH

The following texts provide a thumbnail sketch of our relationship to the truth itself--not an aspect of the truth, but the body of the truth. These relationships assume a commitment to the Person of Christ and the purpose of God.

The church is responsible for maintaining the body of revealed truth. This includes the announcement of divine perspective and priorities. "If I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tim 3:15). Theological error occurs when the whole picture is obscured and the divine emphasis is lost. Hymenaeus and Philetus provide an example of the impact of this loss. "Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some" (2 Tim 2:18). When the truth does not find a dwelling place in our hearts, self deception is inevitable. The loss of spiritual perspective is the prelude to spiritual ruin. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (1 John 2:4).

The objective of every believer is to live in agreement with the truth of God--to eliminate all known variance between our perspective and that of our God. "For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth" (3 John 3). The truth is an environment in which we can live and have our being. There, we are in accord with God, and there we experience righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 15:13).

It is possible to be commended by the truth itself. This occurs when our lives are in accord with the thrust of revelation. "Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true" (3 John 12). How blessed is the individual that lives in harmony with the divine agenda! Tragically, there are some people whose presence never provokes a godly thought, recollection of Scripture, or desire to press closer to the Lord. Such individuals, nice or not, are not in harmony with the truth.

In Summary

The truth consists of related and complementary parts. Everything fits together in glorious harmony. All of God's Word is related to Divine intent, determined before the foundation of the world. No text of Scripture stands on its own, as we will demonstrate. All Scripture is complementary, enhancing and clarifying the overall objective of God, as presented in Christ Jesus, and illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Further, all of Scripture fits together, presenting a composite of Divine intent.

An understanding of the nature of truth dramatically alters the manner in which we preach and teach. The common perception of expository preaching, for example, has some very basic flaws. It assumes that a given text of Scripture has an isolated meaning, established by its writer. Some suppose passages can be sequestered from the remainder of Scripture, and expounded as though it were independent from the rest of revelation. But this is not the case at all. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Tim 3:16-17), and is given in strict accord with the "eternal purpose" of God. The equipping of the saints is not an end of itself, but the means to an end--the fulfillment of the divine agenda in "the world to come." True exposition concerns the Person of Christ and the purpose of God. If, in our presentation of the Word of God, Christ and the purpose of God do not become clearer. there has been no real exposition.

PRAYER POINT: Father, how glorious is Your truth! In the name of Jesus, I thank You for revealing Your Person and purpose in the Son and in Scripture. I thank You for harmony and singleness of Scripture. Give me grace to see Jesus in Your Word.

-- TOMORROW: CONSIDERING "DOCTRINE" #1 --