Jn. 6:69 π Jn. 8:32
There is a fundamental principle involved in the freeing power of truth from the deceptions of the devil. Deliverance from believing lies must be by believing truth. Nothing can remove a lie but truth. "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" ( Jn. 8:32; top ), is applicable to every aspect of truth, as well as the special truth referred to by the Lord when He spoke the pregnant words.
In the very first stage of the Christian life the sinner must know the truth of the gospel, if he is to be saved. Christ is the Saviour, but He saves through, and not apart from instruments or means. If the believer needs freedom, he must ask the Son of God for it. How does the Son set free? By the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit does it by the instrumentality of truth; or we may say, in brief, freedom is the gift of the Son, by the Holy Spirit working through truth.
There are three stages of apprehending truth:
- Perception of truth by the understanding.
- Perception of truth for use, and personal application.
- Perception of truth for teaching, and passing on to others.
Truth apparently not grasped may lie in the mind, and in the hour of need suddenly emerge into experience, and thus by experience become clear to the mind in which it has been lying dormant. It is only by continual application, and assimilation of truth in experience, that it becomes clarified in the mind in order to teach others.
The great need of all believers is that they should eagerly seek truth for their progressive liberation from all Satan's lies; for knowledge and truth alone can give victory over Satan as deceiver and liar. If the hearers of truth should resist it, or rebel against it, truth can well be left to the care of the Holy Spirit of Truth. Even in the case of resistance to truth it has at least reached the mind, and at any time may fructify into experience.
There are three attitudes of mind in regard to knowledge, i.e.,
- Assumption of knowing a certain thing.
- Neutrality toward it, i.e., "I do not know."
- Certainty of real knowledge.
This is instanced in the life of Christ. Some said of Him, "He is a false prophet," with an assumption of knowledge; others said, "We do not know" - taking a position of neutrality until they did know; but Peter said, "We know..." and he had true knowledge. ( Jn. 6:69; top )
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