By Mike Ratliff
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 KJV)
Post-Modern thought states that it is arrogance to state that one knows the truth. The adherents of this type of thinking claim that it is impossible for anyone to know the truth and those who claim to know it are trying to put others in bondage to their conception of the truth. They teach that true freedom is contained only in relevance.
Genuine Christianity, on the other hand, teaches that God’s Word is our foundation of truth, Jesus Christ is truth, and any person or entity that says otherwise is of the antichrist. Is it really possible to know absolute truth? What did Jesus tell us?
“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 KJV)
Jesus says in this passage that some will know the truth and that truth shall make them free. What is the condition Jesus puts on this? Only those who continue in His Word are His true disciples and they alone will know the truth. Let’s take a closer look.
Jesus is responding to some Jews who had believed Him. The Greek word that is translated as “believed on” here is “pisteuo.” It denotes those who are followers because they have believed. It can mean faith or belief, but in this context it is describing some Jews who were following Jesus. The grammar structure of this word in this text is as a “perfect, participle, active.” That means that this word is describing a state brought about by the finished results of the action. The direct translation of this into English would be, “having believed.” Are they genuine believers?
There is a Greek Word for “if,” that means, “if and it is so,” but this is not that word. When Jesus said “if ye continue in my word,” he used a word for “if” that is a conditional participle that could best be translated as, “in case that” or “provided.” When used with other participles it denotes indefiniteness or uncertainty. Jesus is not saying they aren’t believers, but that their authenticity will be proved by something. What is it? If they continue in Jesus’ Word then their authenticity will be proved to be genuine. If they do not then they will be proved to be simply religious converts.
The word “continue” in v31 is also translated as “abide” in John 15 where Jesus tells us about those who “abide” in the true vine.” In that analogy, Jesus is the Vine and believers are the branches in the vine. The Father is the Vinedresser who prunes the vines so that they will bear much fruit. Some branches do not abide in the vine. They are cut away by the Father and burned. In John 8:31-32, Jesus is telling us that those who remain or continue or abide in Him are proved to be His disciples indeed. These are genuine believers who abide in the Vine.
It is this group of people who shall know the truth and that truth shall make them free. What is this truth? This Greek word is “aletheia.” It means truth, as the unveiled reality lying at the basis of and agreeing with an appearance; the manifested, or the veritable essence of matter. This word denotes the reality clearly lying before our eyes as opposite to a mere appearance without reality. Jesus’ application here for this word has reference not only to the facts surrounding Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God but also to the teaching that He brought. Jesus’ application of this word to those who genuinely believe and abide in Him is that they will know divine truth and both freedom from sin and the search for reality. This divine truth does not come just by learning or intellectual assent (1 Corinthians 2:14), but also through saving commitment to Christ. (Titus 1:1-2)
Who is genuinely free? Only those who know divine truth that comes only to those who abide in Christ, thereby proving their authenticity as believers. Therefore, when a Post-Modernist implies that no one can know the truth and it is an act of arrogance to speak the truth as absolute truth, we must not believe him or her. Instead, we must believe our Lord as we abide in His Word as genuine branches who are pruned by the Father.
SDG
If truth cannot be known, why can the truth that truth cannot be known be known? The whole nebulous concept hinges upon espousing as absolute the truth cannot be known fact. At the heart of it all is a rejection of Christ and His Word.
Dress it up and clothe it with a tuxedo, it still is raw rebellion. The devil’s strategy is to make his claims so outrageous that people are mesmerized into believing it must be true. He no longer hides in the fringes, he now preaches from the pulpit, struts among book shows, sells millions of CDs, and makes exciting personal appearances. And truth is treated like the next volume of the Harry Potter series, stay tuned for the next installment!
Amen Rick!
It is truly heartbreaking that satan’s deceptions are causing souls to perish, as in the garden of Eden. It used to be that the Church was able to stand for the Lord’s truth, but so many people are out to mislead the ignorant, that unbelievers hardly stand a chance.
During recent suppers at McDonalds, “gay” behaviors among Middle Schoolers broke my heart. Who is there to convince them of God’s precepts? How can a culture stand against the promotion of “gay” role-models for our youth, and even the false-churches’ “blessing” of them?
It truly is a time for prayer.
Hallelujah, what a wonderful post!
Mike:
Excellent article. A Bible less Christianity simply is not a genuine one. Wendy
If man is imperfect, how do you know what you’re saying is right? How do you know if you’re is “genuine” or not?
So true. If there is any other means that a man can be saved, then Christ died in vain. Think about that………. Would you have wasted your time going through an agonizing death just to say, “Ok, well I just wanted there to be another path for you guys to follow. Sorry guys, I just got bored and wanted to make the cross another way for you to get religious.”
It is idolatry to believe that man has his own path. Men cannot save themselves because of their disobedient nature. Our God is a consuming fire who cannot be tempted (his nature is incorruptible).
Jesus is perfect…. because he has a different nature than we do. That is why man must be born again by the Spirit (incorruptible nature). Regeneration puts to death that old corruptible nature which seperated us from God. Jesus is the only man who does not (nor did not) have to be born again.
Yes, truth is relevant and those who believe that, believe it absolutely! Actually, it is the height of arrogance to say that truth cannot be known. And it is a great excuse for being intellectually lazy, though they think they are being very intellectual in their belief.
We have the promise of the Spirit of Truth. We only know the truth, because He alone gave us the Spirit indwelling to know. I love how Jesus said, “…He (the Spirit of Truth) may abide with you forever…”, “…dwelleth with you and shall be IN you.”, “I will come to you” ( Jesus as the indwelling Holy Spirit )
I often see and meet in the local body, and the greater so-called ‘church’ many who seem to not have any Spirit of Truth. They will shake your hand in the building foyer, but in a short conversation outside of that ‘stage’, they seem to have no Spirit and practice error.
John 14:16-18
(KJV)
16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
“denotes the reality clearly lying before our eyes as opposite to a mere appearance without reality”
I think that one of the reason for the controvesy of truth is because of ‘variety’ of truth that is out there that seems ‘truthful’. This has become a common question, that is the question that challenges our truth so to say. Sometimes it is easy to explain that truth – Jesus, and sometimes it is difficult. And when it is difficult, only faith would do it.
I’m not sure what I’m trying to express here. But I think your post is essential even if its 1/zillion of blogs that out there. I pray someone seeking (googling) ‘truth’, ‘god’ will come here and get touched by God.
Good post.
Yes it is Kathy!
Thank you Fleur!
Amen Wendy, well said!
madmonq,
I am imperfect, but God’s Word isn’t nor is God. By and through the faith He has given me I know that the Holy Spirit opens up my heart to understand His Word.
In Christ
Mike Ratliff
Amen, well said Josh!
Amen, well said Sherry C!
Amen mayflower2!
Thank you Kai!
madmonq,
I am imperfect, but God’s Word isn’t nor is God. By and through the faith He has given me I know that the Holy Spirit opens up my heart to understand His Word.
In Christ
Mike Ratliff
———————————————————————————————————————–
None of that answers the question. He doesn’t give you faith, you provide it. Otherwise you’d have no free will to make the choice to begin with. Jesus’s dying on the cross for your sins is not a historic fact but an act of your faith.
Thousands have literally done and said the same thing. They had faith in Jesus, some other person or belief system. They too would swear to being divinely inspired. More than anything that’s an act of faith. I apologize. But it doesn’t make it a fact.
Yes it does madmonq. Read this:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
(Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV)
I am saved by grace through faith NOT OF MYSELF, IT IS A GIFT OF GOD. The Greek grammar structure of this passage states that my faith is a gift from God.
In Christ
Mike Ratliff
Your post implies the bible passage is a fact. If I need to be given the faith by god and not choose it for myself, I’m not going to understand it anyway.
It’s a fact because you believe it to be.
No madmonq, it’s a fact because God says its a fact whether I believe it to be so or not. Have you asked God to show you the truth?
Brilliant Mike. Helpful plus. Very much appreciate your responses to madmonq, too.
Thought I would share a quote from a recent reading written by Francis Ridley Havergall. It is on freedom.
He (God) knows our need of a king. He knows the hopeless anarchy, not only of a world, but of a heart, ‘without a king.’ Is there a more desolate cry than ‘We have no king?’– none to reverence and love, none to obey, none to guide and protect us and rule over us, none to keep us in that truest freedom of whole hearted loyalty.”
Thanks Kim and also, thank you for sharing that from Havergall.
Pingback: The Freedom of Knowing the Truth « GalatiansC4V16