1.25.22 2.18.22
This is the post I was working on just prior to Jan’s passing. It was nearly ready to post at the end of January. I present it now.
According to Jesus, there are three things necessary in order to find the truth.
1/ Volition (John 7:17)
If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
In this verse, Jesus essentially said that a willingness to please God is prerequisite to receiving knowledge of true doctrine. It makes sense that, if a person doesn’t care to please God, neither will he care about God’s truth. Why would he? And, if he does sincerely want to please God, he will also want to know the truth of God’s Word because we please God by obeying the truth (John 4:23-24; Romans 2:8; Galatians 5:1,7; 1Peter 1:22; 1Thessalonians 4:1; 1John 2:3-5). Plainly speaking, a person must want the truth in order to receive it. That’s a simple principle that applies to many things in life. People tend to get what they want and dismiss things that are not desirable to them. It is similar in the realm of religion.
There are several reasons why people may not desire truth. First, some scorn truth as Pilate did (John 18:38). It just doesn’t matter to them. Hence, they miss the truth. Sometimes, truth is avoided because it has a price tag associated with it that may seem too expensive (Proverbs 23:23). Or, it may be sidelined because it is not popular. By and large, truth is not what the world pursues. Worldly people are generally more focused on pleasure, power, and money. Seekers of truth may be ostracized or persecuted (John 9:21-22; Matthew 5:10-12). Receiving truth is not an imperceptible process of osmosis. It doesn’t just gradually happen. Accepting it is a profound decision. It is the result of consideration, determination, and resolve. Like entering a gate, it is a choice (Matthew 7:13-14). And, it becomes a way of life (2John 4; 3John 3-4).
Desiring truth includes having an open mind. That is especially needed in the realm of salvation doctrine. A person that truly wants to be saved will also truly want to know what the Bible specifically teaches about the plan of salvation. He will be open-minded because his earnest desire for truth prompts it. And that is good because it will enable him to wade through the tide of falsehood that exists in this vital area. Sometimes, being open-minded involves cross-examining long-established beliefs (Proverbs 18:17). Thankfully, the process is fruitful because only the truth will hold up to sound biblical scrutiny.
The desire to know the truth is imperative in obtaining it. God gave everyone free will and, if a person does not want spiritual knowledge (2Peter 3:5a), which is the premium knowledge of the universe, God accepts his choice (1Corinthians 14:38). Jesus said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 13:9). Nearly everyone has ears, but having ears to hear spiritual truth is another matter, which involves willingness (Matthew 23:37). (Sadly, many people don’t want to hear the truth as much as they want to hear that what they already believe is true or that something very easy on their lifestyle is true. Absolute surrender to Christ and to His Word is a very difficult endeavor for fallen human beings.)
2/ Honesty (Luke 8:15)
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
According to the wisdom of God, the truth is incredibly plain (Proverbs 8:1-10) to those who want to hear it. True doctrine is knowable precisely because it was given by God to be known (1Timothy 2:4). As James pointed out, Scripture does not speak in vain (James 4:5).
The truth is plain because God is not the author of confusion (1Corinthians 14:33). In fact, He is the supreme communicator. Jesus said people would be more convinced by Scripture than by any other testimony (Luke 16:31). The Apostle John said the Word of God is the greatest testimony of all (1John 5:9). Certainly, that communication which exceeds the authority of all others will, unsurprisingly, be as clear as it is authoritative.
But a person must be honest when looking at the Scriptures. The very reason there are so many doctrines, especially in the area of salvation doctrine, is because people are not completely honest. What other conclusion can be drawn from the fact that God made doctrine plain and wants everyone to know it? If false doctrine is rampant, the fault must lie in the character of the interpreters. This is especially understandable when we consider that Scripture, more than anything else, is given to direct souls, not only in faith, but in conduct as well. Truth affects lifestyle (Titus 1:1,16; 2:1-15). We are called to holiness (Romans 6:17-19; 1Thessalonians 4:7; Hebrews 12:14). And, often the character outcome that truth effects is the reason it is shunned.
3/ Persistence (To The Point Of Understanding) (John 8:30-32)
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Jesus made this powerful statement about the efficacy of truth to people who believed in Him. It precludes the simple notion that anyone who believes in Him is automatically in the truth or made free. Christ indicated that knowing the truth is subsequent to believing in Him and is contingent upon continuing in His Word to the point of learning and understanding the full truth of His message.
The fact that Jesus referred to people being made free by the truth implies that He was referring specifically to salvation doctrine, which is the means He ordained to deliver souls from sin and eternal punishment. That, of course, is the ultimate emancipation. Elsewhere in Scripture, there is an abundance of emphasis on the salvific nature of the truth (1Timothy 4:16; 1Thessalonians 2:13; 2John; 3John).
The essence of Jesus’ ministry was to give His sinless life a ransom for our sins and to reveal His plan of salvation. The last thing He did before ascending to heaven was to clarify the tenets of salvation to His Apostles in His Great Commission, the grand finale of His words on earth. Those very tenets are the truth which effect remission of sins and regeneration (John 20:21-23; Mark 16:15-17; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 24:45-49). What Jesus prescribed there for salvation is the truth that makes people free.
Each of us must continue in study of salvation doctrine until we understand the truth (Matthew 13:23). A person understands when he, not only accepts the truth, but knows why it is true and why other challenging doctrines are false. He, thereby, becomes convinced of its veracity and, consequently, is established in it to the point of being a lover of it (2Thessalonians 2:10).
A practical point about understanding
Understanding the truth about salvation doctrine includes knowledge of the following because these, more than anything else in the New Testament, constitute true salvation doctrine.
1/ The Great Commission
2/ The Day of Pentecost
3/ Additional examples of salvation in Acts
You can see a brief treatment of these things in Blogpost 33.