When the Spirit of Truth Comes
(Jn 16:13)
God is the God of truth(Ps 31:5; Is 65:16).
He reveals Himself through the truth(Jn 1:14, Jn 1:18), and
He guides into all the truth(Jn 16:13).
Faith is believing Him, and
The life of this faith is being guided into the truth.
Worldly studies observe constant principles and
Religions attempt to arrive at truth through asceticism, self-mastery and self-cultivation.
Truth, however, cannot be known through any human effort or method, for
It is in God alone, and
It can only be known by God alone.
After Adam sinned,
All men became cut off from God(Ge 3:24).
But God called Abraham and instructed him,
Through which God's guidance continued once again(Ge 12:1).
God gave the Law to the Israelites through Moses(Jn 1:17), as
A tutor which held them in custody and guided them until the truth came(Ga 3:22-23), which was
Reminded by the sanctuary where God instructed them from.
Furthermore, God prophesied through the prophets and
Introduced to them the One who was coming after(Mt 3:11; Jn 3:29).
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days(Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would revealed that He is the Truth who had now come
To guide all souls to eternal life(Jn 17:3), for
He is the God the One and Only, full of grace and truth(Jn 1:14, Jn 1:18)
Testified by Moses and the Prophets(Lk 16:16; Ac 26:22).
But because He said that He was the truth, the way and the life(Jn 14:6),
That whoever believes in Him will live even though he dies and
Whoever lives by believing in him will never die(Jn 11:25), and that
Those who believe in Him will later go to where He was going(Jn 11:15, Jn 13:37),
The Jews conspired to put Him to death(Jn 11:47-53).
As He died, however, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Died according to the revelation of the Law and the prophecies of the Prophets, and fulfilled the Father's will(Mt 11:29; Jn 10:18);
2. Condemned the father of lies, the devil(Jn 8:44); and
3. With His blood redeemed those under the law of condemnation and set them free so that they may have eternal life(Rm 8:1-2).
According to His own prophecy, He rose and ascended to heaven(Mt 16:21), and
According to His own promise, He sent the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth(Ac 1:4-5, Ac 2:33).
The Holy Spirit lets truth be known(1Co 2:11), and
Lets believers walk in the truth.
The truth is:
1. Jesus Himself -- the glory of the One and Only(Jn 1:14, Jn 14:6);
2. The word of Jesus -- the word of the Father(Jn 12:49, Jn 17:17); and
3. The life of Jesus -- the true way of life(Jn 14:6).
The Christian believes Jesus and has
Made eternal life the goal of his life.
The Spirit of truth guides him to
Believe the word of Jesus and
Emulate His life by reliving it -- that is, the path of self-inflicted suffering, sadness and lowliness.
O Lord,
Help us all and guide us into all the truth.
Let us know the truth and be filled with it!
Amen.
