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“He that saith, I know Him,
and keepeth not His commandments,
is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
1 John 2:4

God’s purpose in sending the Spirit of Truth is that we would grow from a confession of truth to an expression of truth. Paul in his exhortation to Titus instructed him to discern and know the difference between those who were true believers and those who merely professed to know God.

“They profess that they know God;
but in works they deny him…”
Titus 1:16

The Light of Christ pierces the heart and mind with the penetrating revelation of truth. This truth must “divide asunder” (Hebrews 4:12) so that we may comprehend the necessity of Him freeing us from all that we are by nature. Our need for Him will always be in corresponding measure to our seeing of Him. We can only know ourselves by our seeing of Him who is the truth.

The greater our apprehension of Him the more we will hunger and thirst for His righteousness.

Confession and Expression

May our confession become the expression of the life we now live. Authenticity is the fruit of truth.

“So speak ye, and so do…”
James 2:12

This concise scripture has been a vision for my walk before Him and a protection from pride and high-mindedness.

Jesus with His disciples contrasted the religion of His day with the purpose of His coming. The Pharisees of the day spoke the right things and were proud of their learning; Jesus strenuously warned the disciples to be free of Pharisaical works of saying and not doing. Many times in my own life I have fallen prey to the comfort and contentment of this deceptive attitude (see James 1:22).

“Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sat on Moses’ seat. All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do.”
Matthew 23:1-3 (WEB)

In the crucible of doing that, we discover the need for His wonder and resources. Humility is a fruit of the Spirit. Humility is a temper of heart that grows and resonates in those who intrinsically know their inability to walk in truth apart from Him. When considered through the eyes of faith, the despair of our inherent inability becomes the basis of an indomitable and invigorating hope. A hope that is strong and undeniable because it is born out of a trust in the God who cannot lie.

“Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet appeared. We know that if He appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone having this hope in Him is purifying himself, just as that One is pure.”
1 John 3:2-3 (DNLT)

There are many expressions of hope found within the broad spectrum of religious teachings, and most carry some elements of truth. There is one hope that motivates our participation in the cleansing and purifying work of the Holy Spirit. The hope born of faith considers the enormous contrast between who He is and what we are, yet remains undaunted to “earnestly contend for the faith.”

Wherever the flame of Hope burns purity of heart is known.

(Continued in Paul’s Prayer for the Church)

Related Post: City of God – The Pursuit

“In all matters of eternal truth, the soul is before the intellect; the things of God are spiritually discerned. You know truth by being true; you recognize God by being like Him.”
— F. W. Robertson.

“Blessed are the pure in heart:
for they shall see God.”
Matthew 5:8

Brian Troxel

 

3 Comments

  • pcviii03 says:

    Living what we believe should be the outcome of our understanding. The expectation of teaching our children is thatthey can understandingly apply what they have learned. Why are we so different? James said that faith works and does, faith isn’t just knowing, but doing.

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