We Know the Truth!

As we draw toward the end of 1st John, it is evident John wants us to know certain things. Particularly, John wants us to know for sure that we are saved. 1st John 5:13 says: “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

Everything has built up to this great verse, and we’ve said that we can test ourselves to prove whether we are saved or not. Even Paul encouraged us to test ourselves: In 2nd Corinthians 13:5, he told us to, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.”

We apply the tests. A genuine believer should be able to come to the conclusion that, “Yes, I know that I am saved. Conclusively, beyond a shadow of a doubt, I know.”

“Well, how can you be so sure?” someone might ask;

And the answer is, “I’ve taken the tests, and I’ve passed.”

What tests? Well, John gives us the tests – he gives them here in this book. That’s what this book consisted of, series of tests so we could do self-examination. It is so you can “know that you have eternal life.”

But, what about after we’ve assured our hearts? Assurance leads to more assurance. We gain assurances of other things. I want you to notice something
1st John 5:18, 19, and 20 each begin the same way – “we know. . . and we know. . . and we know.” This Greek word “know” means with absolute knowledge. It expresses unshakeable certainty – the kind you sink your teeth into.
It’s the same assurance we have toward the entire Bible, which Paul said was God breathed. We can trust the whole Bible completely. 2nd Timothy 3:16 says:
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

Every word in the original manuscripts was God breathed – that’s what inspiration means. Inspire, respiration, blowing breath across vocal chords, making sounds that form words and sentences. That’s what God did when he gave the Bible, and men wrote it down and carefully preserved it. It was given without error in the original manuscripts. It is unchanging, because God never goes back on His Word. It doesn’t change with the times or the culture.

Quoting Eric Ludy, “Jesus is a rock. His truth is a rock. . . rocks don’t adjust to each new generation of hikers; rather each new generation of hikers is forced to adjust to them.”

Now that’s graphic. We stand on the rock that will not be moved. We stand on the unchanging truth of the Word of God.

That kind of assurance isn’t very popular in our day which considers it arrogant to be sure of anything. “That’s too dogmatic,” many would say, and we are told to downplay doctrine - doctrine divides, after all.

For many, harmony among the “professed” believers is most important. So we downplay truth, and we tolerate error. We live and let live. And so many churches would rather lure people into their churches with gimmicks than with the truth of God’s Word. And it works, if your aim is to pack the pews. But it fails miserably if your aim is to change lives. I wonder which God considers most important?

Unfortunately, that philosophy isn’t standing on the outside trying to get into our churches. That philosophy reigns king in way too many churches. And it guides their methodology and practice.
The emergent church movement is built entirely on the Post-Modern philosophy that truth is fluid, so they continually try to reinvent church to make it more relevant to culture. And they present a more pleasing view of Jesus. They offer a Jesus less demanding and less narrow minded – less offensive to our modern sensitivities.

In commenting on that phenomena, Eric Ludy remarked, “Marketing and presentation aside, the fact remains that Jesus died covered in blood hanging naked between two thieves.”

People don’t need slick presentations, they need the cold, hard truth. Everything else is powerless to change a life. It takes truth, energized by the power of the Holy Spirit. Only that can penetrate the veil over our blind eyes . Only that can cut through the calluses over our hardened hearts. Yet, what is offered all too often is a sickly, gray pabulum that’s easily digested but can never satisfy.

No, that’s not right – pabulum can provide nutrition to a baby; but if you leave the Bible out, there’s nothing to nourish our starving souls. We are left to spiritually wither away. Instead of nourishment from the Word, we are offered platitudes and helpful hints for our relationships with one another, but never truth – and never with conviction.

But that simply makes a mockery of the Word of God, and it makes us a laughingstock in front of the world. We must believe and proclaim the truth as the truth.