In the well-known and oft-quoted words of John 14:6, the Master proclaimed: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. Popular sentiment relegates Christ to being the Way and the Life only; his death and resurrection opening the way to eternal life. But he is also “the Truth”. He is “Faithful and True” – the embodiment of Truth – and therefore “his name is called The Word of God” (Rev 19:11, 13). He is “the Word … made flesh,” bearing “the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth” (Jno 1:14). Being the Word incarnate, the law of Truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips. To this end was he born, and for this cause came he into the world, that he should bear witness to the Truth; everyone that is of the Truth hears his voice (Jno 18:37). Being the Light of the World (Jno 9:5), there was in him no variableness, nor shadow of darkness. All in him was Truth and Light, as he shone forth with the brilliance and glory of El Shaddai (Heb 1:3).
But the Master being “the Truth”, his Household – which is the ecclesia (Heb 3:6) ought to comprise those who “walk in the Truth”. The Ecclesia is ordained to be “the pillar and ground of the Truth” (1Tim 3:15), holding forth the word of life as a beacon of light in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. And how can it be the “ground”, or “foundation” of Truth, unless its members are men and women of Truth, who eschew every evil way, and seek after only those things which pertain to the Truth?
THE SECOND EPISTLE OF JOHN
John’s second epistle is addressed to an ecclesia, styled “the elect lady” (cf 2 Cor 11:2), the individual members thereof, being “her children”. Thus he writes:
“The elder unto the elect lady, and her children, whom I love in the Truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the Truth; for the Truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever … I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth as we have received a commandment from the Father” (2 Jno 1-2, 4).
Notice the emphasis being placed here on the Truth. John loved them in the Truth. He loved them for the Truth’s sake – and that Truth dwelled in them all, and would be with them all “for ever”. He rejoiced to see of the elect lady’s children walking in Truth. This ecclesia certainly was the pillar and ground of the Truth!
“The Truth” which dwelled in them, was in the first instance, the “Comforter”, or Holy Spirit with which the early believers were endowed. In John 14:16-17, we read the words being alluded to in this second epistle:
“I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of Truth; which 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”
The Holy Spirit with which the early believers was endowed, dwelt in them, abode with them “for ever” (that is, “for the aion”, or “age” – the dispensation when the Spirit gifts were present), and was the Spirit of Truth. It was the Spirit of Truth, for one of its effects was to give the ability to perfectly recall all of the words that Jesus spoke: “he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (verse 26).
This “Spirit of Truth” was necessary to establish the early ecclesia upon righteous principles, in order that it might grow and develop into maturity. The apostle Paul accordingly wrote of the gifts it provided, that they were “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a man of full age (Gk), unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:12,13).
THE WORD OF TRUTH
In our day, however, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are no longer present, being “done away” with (1 Cor 13:8-10) when the ecclesia came to maturity, at the second generation (Acts 2:39) since their bestowal. But the principles remain the same. We also must have the Truth dwelling richly within us – that is to say, we must be filled with the good word of Yahweh. “Sanctify them through thy Truth: thy word is Truth” said the Master, in prayer to his Father (Jno 17:17). The Word of Yahweh then, is a sanctifying power – and it is Truth.
If the Word dwells within us, the Truth dwells within us – but if the Word does not dwell within our hearts, then neither does the Truth. The Word is the Truth, for it is of the Father. “Let not mercy and Truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart” exhorted Solomon, “so shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man (Prov 3:4). In order to be viewed favourably by Yahweh therefore, we must have the qualities of Mercy and Truth written upon our hearts – and these principles can only come from diligently studying, reflecting upon, and assimilating the written Word of Yahweh. Only by labouring in the word and in the doctrine can we appear before the Father as “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed” (2 Tim 2:15), and find favour in His Sight.
FELLOWSHIP IN THE TRUTH
The apostle John rejoiced that he found of the elect lady’s children “walking in Truth”. This phrase is expressive of a unique oneness found amongst the true brethren of Christ. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” asked Yahweh through his prophet Amos (Am 3:3) – the answer being patently obvious. Those who walk in agreement of the principles of the doctrine of Christ, walk in the Light of Truth. “if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 Jno 1:7).
Those who walk in the Light have an affinity with one another, for they are fellow seekers of the Kingdom, and searchers after Truth. They have similar affections and interests, for all their desire is to follow after the things of the Spirit. They therefore love one another as brethren – they experience a unity in fellowship. Indeed, to love one another has been the commandment of Christ from the beginning: “this is the commandment that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (1 Jno 3:11; 2 Jno 1:5).
There is much nonsense that has been written regarding love in these last days. The love that the world knows is little more than shallow sentiment at the fleshly level. But the love that Christ’s brethren possess for each other is a true love, an agape love, which greatly surpasses the love of women (2Sam 1:26). The Greek word agape signifies the greatest form of love; a sacrificial love: “Greater love (agape) hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (Jno 15:13). This is the love which brethren have for one another: “Hereby perceive we the love of Christ, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our loves for the brethren” (1 Jno 3:16).
This sacrificial love is no mere sentiment. It is a deep affection, based upon a mutual love and appreciation of the spiritual things of the Word. It is founded upon the love of Christ for his brethren. This love involves a willing obedience for Yahweh’s precepts of Truth: “This is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, that as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it” (2 Jno 1:6). The love of saints then, is a love that delights in the law of Yahweh after the inner man (cp Ps 1:2; Rom 7:22), and which seeks to walk in the Truth which was heard from the beginning. Where there is not a sincere desire to walk according to the commandments of Christ, there is no agape love, for this love is a love of obedience and subservience to the Will of God. Saints with a common goal and interest share in this love, and are kindly affectioned one towards another.
But being as this agape love is founded upon an appreciation of the Truths revealed by Christ and his apostles, where there is a departure from Christ’s precepts, there can be no such love. “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son” (2 Jno 1:9). There is a growing sentiment amongst some who ought to know better, that to have love is more important than “doctrinal correctness”. That love for fellow man is the all-important thing, and that good deeds of beneficence towards men is what matters. So, a social religion is preached, where the emphasis has shifted from proclaiming the Name of Yahweh amongst the heathen, to seeking the welfare for fellow man. The shift is a subtle one, for doing good to all men is a Divine command (Gal 6:9,10; Luke 6:27-38). However, the distortion comes when good deeds almost become an end in themselves, rather than being reflective of the love of Christ. And when love is set against doctrine, as if it is in some way independent of doctrine.
But abiding in the doctrine of Christ, according to the inspired Apostle, is essential for salvation. Whosoever abideth not in the doctrine of Christ “hath not God” – sobering words indeed. A departure from the Truth is not merely the adoption of a “differing viewpoint,” it is alienation from God. So the Apostle warns, “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have worked for, but that we receive a full reward” (2 Jno 1:8). Remaining steadfast, to be found walking in the Truth, is essential if we would receive the reward of the Father by grace. Again, the apostle warns against association with those who have departed from the doctrine of Christ: “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed (Chairo – greeting) For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds (2 Jno 1:10). There can be no association between light and darkness. There can be no fellowship between the saints, and those who have fallen by the wayside. To greet such an one into the House of God is to accept the waywardness of the one who no longer believes the Truths of God – it is to partake of his evilness. So, ecclesias are instructed to withdraw themselves from such, for their own sake.
A FULL REWARD
The expression “full reward” is a citation from the book of Ruth, and is descriptive of the final blessing of Ruth by the hand of Boaz:
“Yahweh recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of Yahweh Elohim of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust”. (Ruth 2:12).
Ruth had begun her work, gleaning left-over sheaves from Boaz’ field in order to sustain herself and her mother-in-law. She received benefit from Boaz, in receiving the good of his field – but a greater reward than this would come. Because she continued in faithfulness, she was to become his bride and bear his children – and in so doing, she became part of the ancestry of the Master, Jesus Christ (Mat 1:5). Her “full reward” came to her in due course, for her faithful continuance in well doing, and her love for Naomi’s God. Even so, the apostle admonishes the believers to continue in the Truth, lest they lose the things which they had initially laboured so hard for.
There is a feeling amongst some circles that once a man becomes a believer in Christ, that his salvation is guaranteed, come what may. That he is “predestined” to be saved, and nothing that can happen will alter that fact. However, although there is a Bible doctrine of predestination (which is very different; cp Rom 8:29,30) it does not teach the unalterable salvation of men. Men are fallible, and are quite capable of falling from Grace. “Look to yourselves”, says the Apostle, lest ye lose that which ye have laboured for. Again, the Master admonishes: “Behold, I come suddenly; Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Rev 3:11). It is possible to lose that crown of glory, which is laid up for the faithful followers of Messiah, by departing from the principles of the doctrine of Christ, and by turning away from his Ways.
But, by the same token, for those who remain faithful, there can be no doubt that they will inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the World. “The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted” is the Divine way (Prov 10:24). The Master shall reward every man according to his deeds: “to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the Truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath. Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil … but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good” (Rom 2:7-10).
Messiah is “the way, the Truth and the life”. He is not the Way and the Life only, but he is also the Truth. Let us therefore continue our walk in the way of Truth, not departing to the left hand nor to the right, but walking straight on along that way, that we might inherit glory at the appearing of our Master in the days yet to come.
Christopher Maddocks
