I believe Scripture to be the Word of God; it is a revelation from God of His mind, His thoughts, His purposes and His counsels. We have in the Scriptures the truth written, and in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ we have truth incarnate. The result is that the man who receives the truth of Scripture in the power of the Holy Spirit will invariably be brought into contact with Christ who is the Truth.
First then, you may ask me, “What is truth?” Truth is the exact, the perfect and the absolute expression and delineation of that which is. Scripture does not say that God is the Truth. God is true, but of the Lord Jesus Christ it is said, “Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:1717For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)). He Himself has said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)). He was the Truth, and He was the truth about everything — the truth about God, the truth about man, the truth about the heart of God, the nature of God, and the claims of God, and the truth, moreover, about man in every possible relation of his being.
He was no mere man, for He was also truly God. Nevertheless, He was a real, true, perfect man, and as man He was in this world to declare God and to meet man divinely. “To this end,” He says, “was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth” (John 18:3737Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (John 18:37)). None could reveal God and none could unveil the love of God or declare the heart of God other than He who came from God. There was none who knew the claims of God and could meet those claims, except the One who came from God. He must come from God if He is to bring God to us, and He must be a man, a veritable man, to bring us to God, because we are men and sinners. Sin carries its consequences and merits judgment, and the truth as to this alone is seen fully in Christ.
The Absolute Truth
In the Lord Jesus Christ, the absolute truth about everything is beautifully blended. The perfect and whole truth about everything is seen in every part, and not one side of the truth more than another. We get the truth that “God is love,” for instance, and we see the reality of the truth of God’s love in Christ’s self-sacrifice, for He gave Himself that He might unveil the heart of God to us and bring us to God by His death.
Jesus said that He was the Son of God. Only the Son could make the Father known. Surely, as He Himself says, “No man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven” (John 3:1313And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. (John 3:13)). This claim must either be accepted or rejected. I must either own what He says, I must acknowledge the truth that He came from heaven, or I must refuse absolutely to believe it and proclaim Christ to be One who knowingly spoke what was not true. If He said a single word which was not true, then He cannot be the Truth. I do not mince matters, for I must either own Him to be what He said He was or else deny Him every right to the allegiance of my heart and conscience.
He Is Who He Said He Was
Although I thus speak, I delight to acknowledge and heartily believe that He is who He said He was. I have proved Him to be what He said He was — a Savior. If you have never known Him as your Savior, but accept the truth of what He says concerning Himself, then you will find out that you need a Savior and that He is that Savior, and He alone. I know well that men would like to set aside His claim on the ground that they do not need saving. But we have to go into eternity! We have to meet God, and how are we going to meet Him? Are you fitted to meet Him? The Lord said, “Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.”
I come therefore to the question, an important one for you and for me: Have I got the truth? If I am not of the truth, I have not heard His voice. The man who has not heard the voice of the Son of God does not possess the truth. You can hear other voices, for there are plenty of voices these days. The voice of the truth is that of Him who could say, “I am the truth,” and who could say to the man who told Him he had power to put Him to death, “Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered Me unto thee hath the greater sin” (John 19:1111Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. (John 19:11)). He it is who says, “Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.” Have you heard His voice?
W. T. P. Wolston (adapted)