“You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” – John 8:32.

THERE IS A world of difference between knowing about the Truth and knowing it. One of the great blessings the Church possesses is reformed theology, but it can also be a curse and a stumbling block to those who do not truly believe. Many assume that because they adhere to great leaders and authors such as John Owen, Steven Charnock, A.N. Martin, A.W. Pink, Gresham Machen, to modern-day John MacArthur and Paul Washer (whom are among my favourite), they are regenerate. My friends, even the demons believe Jesus is the Son of God and they are still destined for hell; their knowledge is not a saving one. Somehow, for quite a few, reformed theology itself has become the saviour instead of Jesus Christ Himself. The full moon, as bright as it may light up our night sky, only reflects a percentage of the sun’s light and so we never rely upon it as we do upon the sun that gives us pure daylight; we are to wisely look straight to the Son rather than the sons (men) of God. The Pharisees, don’t forget, were given the very oracles of God and were still blind to the Messiah in their very midst, so what makes any one of us think that because we have the history of the Church and its greatest creeds at our finger tips we can say, like the Jewish leaders who boasted of Abraham being their father, “We have our Church fathers”? “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and  it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life” (John 5:39-40).

What makes any one of us think that because we can ‘discern’ false teaching we are genuinely saved? Just because we have the capacity to expose heretics such as Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Todd Bentley, Joel Osteen and the likes does not mean we are possessed by the Truth; some who make a profession of faith only possess a knowledge of the Truth while not being set free by it. I have met several in my lifetime who, while highly esteeming the reformers and being able to recite the Westminster Catechism of Faith, show no evidence of the fruits of the Spirit in their lives. It is never, “You shall know them by the truths they speak”, but, “by their fruits” that embodies Truth. To root out the spiritual frauds on Christian broadcasting networks is no arduous task; there are numerous non-Christians who can easily identify them.

Don’t be deceived; we do not have to be regenerate to ‘love’ reformed theology. There are those who idolise sound doctrine while being unaffected by its power which one of the greatest subtleties of Satan today. Paul Washer recently addressed a group of theological students and soberingly stated, “Some of you here in this room will spend eternity in heaven, some of you in hell.” Not everyone who has a very good understanding of the Scriptures is necessarily saved; not all who understand the Gospel are regenerate. This is where many get confused in regard to awakenings and revival; they are not one and the same thing. Many who have been awakened without regeneration are those who have tasted the heavenly gift, the goodness of the Word of God and the powers of the age to come (Hebrews 6:4-5). A revival is the Church regaining the life of God that has been waning; it is the Church returning to her first love; it is the Church being empowered to be effective witness unto Christ before the world; it is God making known His glory and presence to unusual degrees. A.W. Tozer’s definition of revival is New Testament Christianity. Awakenings do not always lead to salvation and we see that clearly in the parable of the sower.

One of three occurrences will happen to us when after having heard the Rock of Truth: either we will be crushed by it, be dashed upon it, or be saved by it. However which way, we will all give an account as to how we handled such Truth; none of us will be without excuse. The safest place for any man or woman is to lean heavily on the mercy of God, “Nothing in my hands I bring; simply to Thy cross I cling…wash me Saviour or I die” and to carry on relentlessly until we encounter His mercy. Throughout our pilgrimage here on earth we are to not just continue with such a mindset but increase in our awareness of our desperate need of Christ. That is one of the sure evidences of ongoing sanctification. The regenerate Christian will gladly accept the ‘cruel’ (but medicinal) blow to his or her self-righteousness so long as Christ is gained – “I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean of Jesus name.”

Most of us no doubt can recite that notable passage in John chapter ten, ‘I Am the Good Shepherd’ to include Psalm twenty-three, but do you know the Shepherd; more importantly, do you know that He knows you? “I know my own and My own know Me” – this is the witness of the Spirit with our spirit that we are children of God. There is no truth more precious to the reborn soul, than knowing you belong to God. When God personally makes known to you that He is your Shepherd, you can never read those passages casually; they are life, manna from heaven, that induce great assurance, comfort and hope in the blackest of times; they are words of freedom within ‘prison’ walls. This is knowing Truth and the incredible aspect of the Christian life is that it is ongoing – “being changed from glory to glory” and “our inward self being renewed day by day.” We may have read the Scriptures through hundreds of times, but each time we read and meditate upon them we see new treasure as the Holy Spirit unfolds the glory of God’s Word to our understanding. We first tasted true liberty on the day of our conversion, but our spirits continue to soar higher towards Him as His Truth increases our awareness of the freedom we have in Christ.