The Spirit Of Truth

by G. Jarvie, Glasgow | Category: General | Aug 1974

"When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He shall guide you into all the truth ... He shall declare unto you the things that are to come" (John 16:13).

It is the will of God that all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4). For this great work, the Spirit of truth has come. In the world He convicts men of sin. The believer He guides into the truth - into all the truth - for He is the Spirit of truth. The Lord Jesus Himself bore witness to the truth, and they who were of the truth heard His voice (John 18:37). Grace and truth came by Him (John 1:17).

Despite the lies and deceptions of the evil one, and the uncertainties of men, and even the differences and divisions among believers, we need not be anxious, for the Spirit of truth will guide us into all the truth.

"The sum of Thy word is truth" wrote the Psalmist (119:160). The Spirit of truth uses the word of truth in revealing Christ, who is the Truth. So then, in his hands the believer holds the word of truth, and in his heart the Spirit of truth dwells. He needs no other revelation, and no addition to the Word.

"The truth shall make you free" said the Lord Jesus (John 8:32). Free from superstition and from the thoughts of men, as well as from the deceptions of the evil one. The Spirit of truth guides every willing heart.

Truth does not come alone, but in company with its gracious companion - mercy These two have met together, and should not be separated (Psa. 85:10). Light also goes with truth (Psa. 43:3), and both of these lead us to God's holy hill, and to His tabernacles - indeed to God, our exceeding joy. The light and truth of God will bring believers together in love and worship and service to God, when they are led by the Spirit of truth. The early believer'; were joined together in churches of God (1 Thess. 2:14), and all the churches of God together formed the house of God (Heb. 3:6). Over the house of God was the Son of God, for in all things He must have the pre-eminence (Col. 1:18). This is the pattern for believers today. This is the way in which the Spirit of truth guides each willing heart.

To be led by the Spirit of truth, we must be willing and obedient. We must not allow any pride on our own part, nor any importunity on the part of our friends to hinder us in our search for the truth of God, knowing that in our search the Spirit of truth Himself is leading us with calm assurance. He has come for this very purpose. "The meek will He guide in judgement: and the meek will He each His way (Psa.25:9).

"We buy the truth" said Christian and Faithful in Vanity Fair (in Pilgrim's Progress). This cost Faithful his life! It is not in learning the truth that our chief difficulty lies, but in obeying it. In our obedience to the truth we purify our souls (1 Pet. 1:22), and in our love to the brethren also, for mercy keeps company with truth. Sometimes the truth separates between friends, and this is costly. Down the ages godly men and women have bought the truth, some of them at the cost of their lives. They would not sell it (Prov. 23:23). What they learnt of the truth, they did, as we do, by the gracious ministry of the Spirit of truth.

The work of the Spirit of truth is also to declare to us the things that are to come. This He has done through the apostles of the Lord. He has revealed the coming of the Lord Jesus for His own, when we shall see Him in His glory (1 Thess. 4:13-18). After His coming will be the dark days of judgement and tribulation in the earth, so awful, that unless the days had been shortened of the Lord, no flesh would have been saved (Matt. 24:15-22). Yet even in those dark days a great multitude will be saved, to the praise and glory of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14). He has revealed also the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of Man to set up His kingdom, when the kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ (Rev. 11:15). The revelation continues on through those glorious millennial days, until sin is finally judged, and we see the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:11).

How much then must we love the truth (2 Thess. 2:10)! We thank God for those Spirit-led men who have passed on to us what they have learnt of the truth. This we must tell to others, so that they in turn can teach it (2 Tim. 2:2).

G. Jarvie, Glasgow | Aug 1974
General