John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.
This passage of scripture teaches us that the truths of God's word constitute one of the golden chains that bind together the hearts of all true believers, being the means whereby those who are saved are sanctified. The Holy Spirit is described as being The Spirit of truth, and the work that He accomplishes in our hearts is done through the use and implementation of the truths God has given us to live by. In every denomination of Christianity there are true followers of Christ, who may differ on certain concepts, ideas, and interpretations, but when it comes to hearing and accepting the truth, they will manifest a disposition to let God's word have its way, for if God says it, they believe it, and that settles it.
The truth is used in the dissolving of doubts and the resolving of disputes so that we can be united in heart and mind, in other words, when differences of opinion arise amongst ourselves, we resort to the truths of the Bible for sound resolution, and thus, whatever our preconceived ideas may have been, they should be willingly surrendered in favor of the truth. As Christians we have agreed to let the Bible be the source of doctrine, faith, and practice, and because of this, any questions that arise within the community of believers can be resolved by referencing the golden chain of truth.
This is what was done when a dispute arose amongst the early Christians who were being roiled by the question of whether the Gentiles should be be accepted into the community of new believers, a question that at times drew intense scrutiny and arguments, especially from those who clung to the old ceremonial system that was nailed to the cross at Christ's death. The issue of circumcision, as required in the law of Moses, caused much agitation, to the point where it became necessary to convene a general assembly to resolve the matter. Let's read:
Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
What is worthy of note is that on both sides of the argument there were obviously very strong feelings as to how the issue should be resolved, and each side had their points which they held very dear to themselves. But then we observe that they resorted to the truths of God's word as the basis for their conclusions, and through the adoption of this method, and the guidance of The Spirit of truth, they were enabled to come to a sound scriptural agreement as to how they should move forward. Let's read:
Acts 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets" ....
This statement made by Peter was drawn directly from the old testament scriptures in which God declared through the prophet Isaiah that the Gentiles were also to partake of the benefits of the kingdom of grace, and therefore should not be excluded on the grounds of circumcision, which had now become obsolete by the death of Christ on Calvary. Let's read:
Isaiah 42:6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Isaiah 56:6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
In our day, the same system of resolution through the truth should be implemented in the resolving of many differences that have sprung up amongst us as Christians, some of which have caused a root of bitterness to arise, by which many have been defiled. The issue of the God-ordained institution of marriage between one man and one woman has come under fire recently, and some Christians are now in a quandary as to how the church in general should move forward, given the seismological shift in public opinion on the matter. This question can be easily resolved if, like the early church, we were to take the Bible as the rule and guide of life, for its utterances on this sensitive issue are as clear as clear can be. Let's read:
Genesis 2:21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Let us therefore be guided in the ways of God's choosing by a strict adherence to the golden chain of truth, because sanctification is only possible when the word of God is made supreme in our thoughts, decisions and practice. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which confirms this very point, and it is the will of God that any questions pertaining to faith and doctrine be resolved through the truth, and The Spirit of truth. Let's read:
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those" ....."which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night' and God bless!