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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
Jesus Lover of Truth (3/5)
Saving truth is objective. Man's thought processes are incremental due to the way we learn. In order to understand algebra a basis must be formed in fundamental mathematics. In order to understand Solid Geometry, a basis must be formed in Plane Geometry. In order to understand the parts of speech in the English language, a basis must be formed in fundamental grammar.
Truth, like each of the named disciplines, consists of a body of knowledge but it cannot be absorbed instantaneously; it has to be learned incrementally. Jesus loved truth but He also knew that His apostles were human; they could not take in all the truth instantaneously any more than a kindergarten student can absorb Quantum Physics without a foundational basis. However, with saving truth, the situation becomes even more complex; each disciple, in order to be effective, must spiritually and emotionally embrace each truth before it can be taught to others. The apostles were not just teachers of the Theory of Christianity; they were the leaders in the Practicum of Christianity!
Concerning the principles just noted, on the very eve of His crucifixion Jesus said to His apostles, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." (John 16.12-13). There are no shortcuts to truth; precious as it was in the sight of Jesus He was forced to give it to His disciples on the basis of their ability to receive. Any attempt to administer truth that does not take into account the ability of the hearer to absorb it is doomed to fail.
However, the next "phase" of spiritual growth for the apostles was critical because in it, the Holy Spirit was to guide them "into all truth." What Jesus could not do while He was on earth, the Holy Spirit would do after Jesus departed the earth. Once again, remember that the apostles had to embrace each element of truth as it was revealed before they could teach it to others, their ultimate objective. From these brief facts, we can understand that Jesus was a lover of truth and so was the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew that the godhead was equally devoted to truth and so referred to the Holy Spirit as the "Spirit of Truth."
Jesus, devoted to truth, Teacher of truth, and prophet of truth, specified a role for truth in the lives of the apostles and all who would hear His doctrine. Truth was the means by which all would have an opportunity to salvation (1 Timothy 2.4). Previous dispensations had been preparatory to the Christian era; God had spoken in many different times and manners was now speaking through His Son (Hebrews 1.1-2). The culmination of all of God's efforts toward the redemption of humanity was manifested in Christ. What a travesty it would have been had all truth not been revealed through the Holy Spirit just as Jesus had promised! Yet, all truth was delivered to the apostles in the exact manner that Jesus predicted. That truth, that saving, all-inclusive truth, is contained in the New Testament for us to read, understand, and obey today!
Jesus was not about to leave His apostles without a means of knowing all they needed to know relative to mankind's salvation. Jesus is the lover, Teacher, and revealer of all truth!
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