Present Truth

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By what means are men sanctified?

 

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17.

 

To what knowledge would God have all man come?

 

“Who wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4.  

 

After receiving a knowledge of the truth, what must one do in order to be sanctified by it?

 

“But you ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” 2 Thessalonians 2:13. 

 

And what besides a mere belief in the truth is necessary?

 

“Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling of blood:”

1 Peter 1:2. 

 

What effect does obedience to the truth have?

 

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.” Verse 22.

 

How should the truth be cherished?

 

“Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding.”

 Proverbs 23:23. 

 

Note – That is, buy the truth at whatever sacrifice or cost, and sell it under no consideration.

 

Special Messages For Special Times

 

Does the Bible recognize what may be called “present truth?

 

“So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you have now.” 2 Peter 1:12.

 

Note – Some truths are applicable in all ages, and therefore present truth for every generation; others are a special character, and are applicable to only one generation. They are nonetheless important, however, because of this; for upon their acceptance or rejection depends the salvation or loss of the people for that generation. Of this kind was Noah’s message of the coming flood. To the generation to whom it was preached that message was present truth; to later generations it has been past truth, and not a present testing message.  Similarly, had the first advent message of John the Baptist, of the Messiah at hand, been proclaimed in the generation either before or after John’s time, it would not have been applicable – would not have been present truth. The people of the generation before would not have lived to see it fulfilled, and to those living after, it would have been wrongly timed. Not so with general truths, such as love, faith, hope, repentance, obedience, justice and mercy. These are always in season, and of a saving nature at all times. Present truths, however, always include all these.

 

What was the special message for Noah’s day?

 

So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make for yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.” Genesis 6:13,14. 

 

How many were saved in the ark?

 

“Who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water.”

1 Peter 3:20.

 

Note – Doubtless many who were lost in the Flood held in a nominal way, to faith in God; but the test as to the genuineness of this came with Noah’s special message; and the difference between their faith and his was made plain when they rejected the saving truth for that time – the warning message concerning the coming Flood.

 

Jonah and Nineveh

 

What special message was given to Jonah for Nineveh?

 

“Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Nineveh was a very important city – a visit required three days. On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.” Jonah 3:3,4.

 

What saved the people from the predicted overthrow?

 

“The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.  When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.” Verse 5, 10. (See Jeremiah 18:7-10.)

 

Note – So likewise would God have spared the antediluvian world had they received Noah’s message and turned from their evil ways.

The Preaching of John the Baptist

 

What was the special mission of John the Baptist?

 

“There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him all men might believe.” John 1:6,7. 

 

What answer did he return when asked concerning his mission?

 

John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, “Make straight the way for the Lord.” Verse 23.

 

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