"What is truth?" asks the scientific investigator as he spends a lifetime and vast sums of money to wrestle the secret from reluctant nature. "What is truth?" asks the man on the street as he listens to the hoarse cry of "would be" religious leaders—"This is the way, this is the way." "What is truth?" asks the theologian as he earnestly searches the works on theology available to him, as he mops his brow, and searches again. "What is truth?" cries our youth as they stand at the crossroads of decision, facing the important issues of uncertain human life and the certain issues of eternal destiny. Well might they ask, "Where is truth?" "Where shall I find it?" "Who will show me the way?"
Man, in his search for truth, has often gone astray and sought it in the wrong place. Jesus, the Eternal Word, who was God and was with God, said, "Thy Word is truth." Yes, God's Word is present, eternal, abiding truth. Grace and truth came by Him, who is "the way, the truth, and the life." His life was deity in expression, translating itself into terms understandable by man. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."
The truth of God endureth to all generations, and Jesus declared that those who should know the truth would be made free; that those who were of the truth would hear His voice in obedience and love. The Spirit of God is a Spirit of truth, and "the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth." We are chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, which becomes our shield and buckler and enables us to worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.
In discussing the question, "What is the truth as it is in Jesus?" we note that God is the source of truth. We note further that this divine truth is revealed in the Bible, in the life and teachings of Christ, and by the Spirit through the Church, which is the pillar and ground of the truth. "The truth as it is in Jesus," embraces faith in His eternal oneness with the Father; His Saviour-hood; His saving, sanctifying, keeping grace; and His eternal power and Godhead.
He appeared on earth to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. By a vicarious, substitutionary death, He redeems sinners and waits to trans-form their lives by His regenerating power and grace. Christ not only lived an exemplary life, but He died a vicarious death, ransoming by His blood all who will believe the truth and be saved.
The baptism of John was of water unto repentance, answering to the first work of grace saving from the guilt of sin; but the baptism of Christ was with the Holy Spirit, answering to a second work of grace, sanctifying wholly the Christian believer and purifying his heart. The truth as it is in Christ includes the gracious fact that He engages Himself to keep every soul that commits its all to Him, and raise him up from the grave at the last day to an eternal blessedness and glory in Heaven.
Christ is the Saviour of all men, and the truth as it is in Jesus includes all who will repent and believe upon Him as their Lord, as savable. Not only is He our present Saviour, but He is our coming King. He will yet establish His kingdom on earth and provide a righteous administration over the inhabitants thereof. God speed the day when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ! Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
In conclusion, let it be said that the truth as it is in Jesus includes the forgiveness of our sins, being sanctified wholly, and preserved unto His heavenly kingdom; and to know Him aright is to know the true God and to possess eternal life.
--H.J. Felter "Pilgrim Holiness Advocate, 1938"
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