Truth (I): Never arriving vs. thinking we have arrived

I have often been asked as a mathematician who does research “Hasn’t it all been invented already? But as was predicted centuries ago, mathematics like any branch of knowledge, is expanding exponentially in these last days (Daniel 12:4). And speaking about  I want to look at two scriptures this morning that are best  understood together. The first speaks about those who are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). The second is “if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know” ( 1 Corinthians 8:2). There is much to say about truth, but for the Christian,  truth is the Word of God,  the Bible (John 17:17), and Jesus is Truth in the flesh (John 14:6). So the first of the two verses is talking about never coming to know Jesus, but also never coming to know Biblical truth. As I say there is much that can be said.

But what is this about arriving or never arriving at a knowledge of the truth? In one sense it is easy to explain. I mean we can have all kinds of intellectual knowledge but never have experiential relational knowledge of Jesus. But what about arriving or not arriving at Biblical truth? It is interesting to me to observe that in teaching comparative religion at the University, many seem to miss the central purpose of the Judaeo-Christian Scriptures which is to teach the gospel, the way to the salvation our souls (John 20:31; 1 Peter 1:9). And part of this, is that we are in intended to know that our election is sure (2 Peter 1:10; 1 John 5:13). If we do not arrive at a knowledge of the truth in these areas, we will not know, with our brother Jesus, that we are God’s beloved sons and daughters, we will likely operate out of an orphan spirit (Hebrews 2:11; Mark 1:11; 1 John 3:1; Romans 8:15), and we will not know our authority in Christ (see 10, 11 April, and 12 June posts).

Coming to the second scripture and the introduction to this post, while we do need to have arrived at the basics, we need to be aware as with the Corinthian reference, that we have not arrived period.  Paul tells us that “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies” (verse 1). The picture I have of this,  is of being as proud as a peacock. He is talking about the need for humility. I myself no long feel the need to correct everyone on every issue. Also,  in traveling far and wide to see and experience what God is doing in the world,  I have often felt like a little boy on the seashore of the vast ocean of infinite knowledge. But again it’s not all about intellectual knowledge. We are intended to experience truth, and  it is clear to me that however much we learn in all the ways that we know (see 17 January post), there is always more!

Father, thank You for  the balance of the statements of faith of para church ministries such as Inter-Varsity and OMF.  Such statements are fashioned through the furnace in inter-denominational dialogue,  and  help us to understand what are the non-negotiable essentials that form the basis of the unity in diversity to which You call us. Give us wisdom and humility Lord, and let Your kingdom come on Earth in these areas in Jesus Name Amen