WHAT IS TRUTH?

By: J. C. Philpot

Let us come to the question which I have undertaken to answer, “What is truth?” When Pilate asked that question (John 18:38) of Him who was the Truth itself, he had a reference to the Lord’s preceding words: “Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.” The Lord’s own words, therefore, afford the only true key to the question and give a clue to the right answer.

By “truth” the Lord meant, beyond all doubt, Divine truth, Heavenly truth, religious truth – not natural, or scientific, or even moral truth, though the last would be included, but the special truth which He came from Heaven to teach, reveal and exemplify by His life, death and resurrection. Now in this sense ask yourself, What is truth? Can you define it in your own mind? Have you ever thought what truth is? Have you any distinct idea, which you can express in a few words, of its peculiar nature, its distinguishing features, or its essential character? Perhaps not; for few persons really think or examine any subject for themselves, even in these important matters.

Let me then define it for you. According to my view of it, truth, that is Divine truth, is a gracious revelation given by God Himself of His character, of His mind and of His will. This is as short and as clear a definition as I can give.

But where has God been pleased to give it? For He has given it that we may know, believe and enjoy it. He has lodged it in three sacred depositories. He has lodged it primarily in the Person of His dear Son, who is the truth itself (John 14:6). He has lodged it, secondly, in the pages of His Holy Word, which is called “the Scripture of truth” (Dan.10:21). And He has lodged it, thirdly, in the hearts of His believing people, whom He sanctifies by His truth (John 17:17).

These then, are the three depositories of Divine truth; so that out of the Son of God, out of the Scriptures, and out of the hearts of God’s people, there is no Divine truth to be known, believed or enjoyed.

(From: ‘Sin and Salvation’ – Selections from J. C. Philpot)

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“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32)

THE SIMPLE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST

J. C. Ryle
If we love our souls and would keep them in a healthy state, we must endeavour to adhere closely to the simple doctrine of Christ in every jot, tittle and particular. Once add to it or take away anything from it and you risk spoiling the Divine medicine and may even turn it into poison. Let your ruling principle be: “No other doctrine but that of Christ; nothing less and nothing more!” Lay firm hold on that principle and never let it go.

1. Let us settle this principle firmly in our minds, that there is no way of peace but the simple way marked out by Christ. True rest of conscience and inward peace of soul will never come from anything but direct faith in Christ Himself and His finished work. Peace by auricular confession or bodily asceticism, or incessant reception of the Lord’s Supper, is a delusion and a snare. It is only by coming straight to Jesus Himself, labouring and heavy laden and by believing, trusting communion with Him, that souls find rest. In this matter, let us stand fast in “the simplicity that is in Christ”.

2. Let us settle next in our minds that there is no other priest who can be in any way a mediator between oneself and God but Jesus Christ. The priesthood is Christ’s peculiar office and it is one which He has never deputed to another.

3. Let us settle next in our minds that there is no sacrifice for sin except the one sacrifice of Christ upon the cross. Listen not for a moment to those who tell you that there is any sacrifice in the Lord’s Supper, any repetition of Christ’s offering on the cross, or any oblation of His body and blood, under the form of consecrated bread and wine. The one sacrifice for sins which Christ offered was a perfect and complete sacrifice and it is nothing short of blasphemy to attempt to repeat it. “By one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10:14).

4. Let us settle in our minds that there are no other means of grace in the Church which have any binding authority, excepting those well-known and simple ones which Christ and the Apostles have sanctioned. Let us regard with a jealous suspicion all ceremonies and forms of man’s invention, when they are invested with such exaggerated importance as to thrust into the background God’s own appointments. It is the invariable tendency of man’s inventions to supersede God’s ordinances. Let us beware of making the Word of God of none effect by human devices.

5. Let us settle it in our minds that no teaching about the sacraments is sound which gives them a power of which Christ says nothing. Let us beware of admitting that either baptism or the Lord’s Supper can confer grace ex opera operato – that is by their mere outward administration, independently of the state of heart of those who receive them. Let us remember that the only proof that baptised people and communicants have grace is the exhibition of grace in their lives and not the mere reception of the sacraments.

6. Let us settle in our minds that no teaching about the Holy Ghost is safe which cannot be reconciled with the simple teaching of Christ. Let us not listen to those who assert that the Holy Ghost actually dwells in all baptised people, without exception, by virtue of their baptism, and that this grace within such people only needs to be “stirred up”. The simple teaching of our Lord is that He dwells only in those who are His believing disciples and that the world neither knows, nor sees, nor can receive the Holy Spirit (John 14:17). His indwelling is the special privilege of Christ’s people and where He is He will be seen. On this point also let us stand fast in the simplicity that is in Christ.”

Finally, the simple doctrine and rule of Christ – nothing added, nothing taken away, nothing substituted – this is the mark at which we ought to aim. This is the point from which departure ought to be dreaded. Above all, we must beware of asserting anything to be needful to salvation of which Christ has said nothing at all. I only see one answer to such questions as these. We must beware of anything which has even the appearance of departure from the “simplicity that is in Christ.”

The plain truth is that we cannot sufficiently exalt the Lord Jesus Christ as the great Head of the Church and the Lord of all ordinances, no less than as the Saviour of sinners. I take it we all fail here. We do not realise how high and great and glorious a King the Son of God is and what undivided loyalty we owe to One who has not deputed any of His offices or given His glory to another.