Every Christian should make a business of endeavoring to grow in knowledge in divinity. - Jonathan EdwardsWhen Daniel Whitby published his Discourse on the Five Points, it prompted well-known and reputable reformed theologians Jonathan Edwards and John Gill to write essays defending the classical doctrines of Christianity. It was a fervent love for the truth that caused these two lauded theologians to write their discourses rebutting Whitby’s. In fact, Jonathan Edwards spent much of his life rebuking Unitarianism and other heresies in general that had begun to permeate the Puritan New England churches. This same fire drove the original reformers to defend and disseminate the truth of the Gospel and the contents of the Holy Scriptures abroad.
If one lesson can be gleaned from their efforts, it is that the truth matters. Today, studiers of God’s Word can read these men’s documents and grow in knowledge of theology and be aided in the search of Biblical truth. Because of their fervent desires to defend the truth at all costs, Christians today can read about true theology and have better arguments for quelling heresies. It is for this reason that the truth is utterly important.
Our Lord and Savior, in John 14:6, made a bold claim that elicits a response: “I am The Way, and The Truth, and The Life, no man comes to The Father but through me” (New American Standard Bible). That is the charge. Jesus’s way is the only way. He is the truth. There is no other way except His. God set the standards. He announced the way, and He holds all with no excuse. The choice is clear: either obey and follow the truth, or do not, there is no middle ground.
It is for this reason that knowing the truth is important. Jesus stated in John 8:32: “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” The difference between being free and enslaved is to continue in Jesus’s Word, and How can we possibly do so unless we come into contact with and learn it? Therefore, knowing the truth requires studying the truth.
A good number of methods have arisen for studying the truth, and the most fruitful are blanketed together under the field of Hermeneutics. However, all the study in the world will not matter unless one comes to God and asks for understanding, unless they ask for the Holy Spirit to teach them the Scriptures and lead them into all truth. One must come to God, confess with his mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in his heart that God raised Him from the dead. They must “believe in the Lord Jesus Christ” and they will be saved. There is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph. 4:5-6). Without trusting in God to be the teacher, one will undoubtedly fall into heresy, for the reason of man will only lead him so far.
Therefore, “buy truth, and do not sell it, get wisdom and instruction and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23), “for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction” (Matthew 7:13).
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