"LEARNING THE TRUTH"  
 
"Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed Him, if you abide in My Word, then are you truly my Disciples; and you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free. They answered unto Him, we are Abraham's Seed, and have never yet been in Bondage to any man: how sayest Thou, You shall be made free? Jesus answered them, truly, truly, I say unto you, everyone that committeth sin is the Bondservant of sin. And the Bondservant abides not in the House forever: the Son abides forever. If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed". (John 8:31-36) 
 
"You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stands not in the Truth, because there is no Truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof". (John 8:44) 
 
"You have not known Him: but I know Him; and if I should say, I know Him not, I shall be like unto you, a liar: but I know Him, and keep His Word". (John 8:55) 
 
"Jesus said unto him, ‘I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life". (John 14:6)  
 
"The Spirit of Truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholds Him not, neither knows Him: you know Him; for He abides with you, and shall be in you". (John 14:17)  
 
"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceeds from the Father, He shall bear witness of Me". (John 15:26)  
 
"For the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of men, who hold the Truth in Unrighteousness". (Romans 1:18)  
 
"For that they exchanged the Truth of God for a lie...". (Romans 1:25)   
 
"If so be that you heard Him, and were taught in Him, even as Truth is in Jesus". (Ephesians 4:21)  
 
"Put on the New Man, which after God has been created in Righteousness and Holiness of Truth". (Ephesians 4:24)  
 
"These things says He that is Holy, He that is True". (Revelation 3:7) 

"These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness". (Revelation 3:14)  
 
In our previous considerations, we were speaking together about ‘the School of Christ’, and we were saying that every ‘true Child of God’ is brought into ‘the School of Christ’ under ‘the Hand of the Holy Spirit’, ‘the Spirit of the Anointing’, and that there ‘the first great Work of the Holy Spirit’ is to present ‘Christ’ to the heart as ‘God's Object’ for all ‘the Holy Spirit's dealings’ with us.  
 
And so ‘Christ’ is first of all presented and attested by ‘God’ as ‘the Object of His Pleasure’, and then ‘the Holy Spirit’ makes known ‘the Divine Purpose’ in connection with that ‘inward Revelation of the Lord Jesus’, namely, that we should be ‘Conformed to the Image of God’s Son’. 
 
Then we were speaking about ‘two’ or ‘three’ basic Lessons in ‘the School’, things which underlie our ‘Education’.  
 
Firstly, ‘the Holy Spirit’ takes pains to make all who are under this ‘Discipline’ (for that is the meaning of a ‘Disciple’) to know in experience, in an inward way in their own hearts, the altogether ‘Other-ness of Christ’ from themselves.

Then He also works to bring us to the place where we realize how impossible the situation is apart from ‘Miracles of God’, that of ourselves we can never be like ‘Christ’. 
 
And so, the only conclusion we can draw from all this is that this must be something outside ourselves which is ‘God's own doing’.  
 
Well, this is all preliminary in ‘the School of Christ’, although it seems to me that this ‘preliminary Education’ goes on to the end of our days.  
 
At any rate, it seems to be spread over a great deal of our Life, although there should be a point reached which represents a definite Crisis in the matter, at which a 'Foundation' is laid, wherein these ‘three things’ are recognized and accepted, and we shall not get very far until it is so.  
 
The person who really does begin to move is the person who has had his ‘final Despair’ over himself, and has come to see quite clearly by ‘the Holy Spirit's Illumination’ that it is "No longer I,...but Christ"- not what I am, Lord, but what You are, that, alone, can be my soul's true Rest: Your Love, not mine; Your Peace, not mine; Your Rest, not mine; Your Everything, nothing of mine; ‘Yourself’ alone.  
 
That is ‘the essential Foundation’ of ‘Spiritual Growth’, ‘Spiritual Knowledge’, ‘Spiritual Education’.  
 
"I Am The Truth"  
 
Now, in this meditation, we come to look at ‘the Lord Jesus’ more closely as ‘God's Object’ and ‘Standard’ for ‘the Holy Spirit's Work’ in us, this ‘Other-ness’ which ‘He’ represents, and we have read a number of Passages, all of which, as you noticed, bear upon ‘Truth’.  
 
Surely those ‘Passages in the Gospels’ must have played a part in ‘the Disciples Education’.  
 
In the first place, there was the Statement or Declaration made to the Jews - a tremendous thing to be said in the hearing of those Disciples.  
 
There were Jews, who made a profession of believing.  
 
‘The Lord Jesus’ raises the question of ‘Discipleship’ with them.  
 
He said to those Jews who had believed Him (notice: it does not say they had believed on Him), "If you abide in My Word, then are you truly My Disciples; and you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free".  
 
They answered back at once with the counter claim, "We are Abraham's Seed, and have never yet been in Bondage to any man".  
 
But He presses this matter of ‘the Truth’, ‘Truth’ in ‘relation to Himself’.  
 
"If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed".  
 
"You shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free".  
 
The question of whose ‘Seed’ they were arose, and associated with that ‘the statement’ "If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed".   
 
Do you follow that?  
 
Knowing ‘the Truth’ is ‘knowing The Son’.   

Freedom by ‘the Truth’ is by ‘the Knowledge of Him’. 
 
Then to the Jews, - I presume of the more violent type - He said these words of unparalled strength: "You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stands not in the Truth...He is a liar, and the father thereof...when he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own". 
 
This is tremendously strong language, and all on this question of ‘the Truth’, ‘the Truth’ as bound up with ‘Himself’.  
 
Then, when we come to Chapter 14, He is with ‘His Disciples’ alone; and ‘Philip’ says to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied". 

His reply is, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father;...". (John 14:8-9)  
 
Another question in ‘the School’: "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how do we know the way?"  
 
"I am the Way, and the Truth".  
 
"I am the Truth".  
 
Notice: ‘The Truth’ is not some thing, ‘The Truth’ is a Person.  
 
Well, all this is in 'the School of Christ', bearing upon 'Christ' as 'the Truth'.  
 
I do not know how strongly you feel about the matter, but 'our Object' certainly is that we should come to feel very strongly about these things.  
 
How do you feel about the Importance of having a 'true Foundation'? And after all, 'the Supreme Feature’ in a ‘Foundation' is 'Truth',- that the thing should be well and truly laid.  
 
You see' this 'Foundation' has to take a fairly ‘heavy Responsibility’,- no less a ‘Responsibility’ than our ‘Eternal Well-being’ and ‘Destiny’, - No, 'the very Vindication of God Himself'.  
 
Therefore it must be absolutely true and ‘the Truth’, and it surely behoves us to make very sure of where we are; - in other words, to have done with all our unreality, to finish forever with anything that is not genuine and utterly true in our position.  
 
It is just this that we are going to press and analyze for a little while.  
 
Oh, listen, so great are the consequences that we cannot afford to have anything doubtful in our position.  
 
It is like this, - you and I are going to face ‘God’ sometime.  
 
We are going to come face to face with ‘God’ literally in ‘Eternity’ and then the question is going to arise, has ‘God’ at any point failed us?  
 
Now, such a position is unthinkable, that ever any Being should be able to lay a charge like that at ‘God's Door’, to have any question as to ‘God's Truth’, ‘Reality’, ‘Faithfulness’. 
 
'The Holy Spirit' has been sent as 'the Spirit of Truth' to guide us into all 'the Truth', so that there shall be no shadow whatever between 'God' and 'ourselves' as to 'His absolute Faithfulness' up to the hilt, 'His Truth' to 'Himself', and to all 'His Word'.  
 
'The Holy Spirit' has come for that.  
 
If that is true, then 'the Holy Spirit' will deal with all 'Disciples' in 'the School of Christ' to undercut everything that is not true, that is not genuine, to make every such 'Disciple' to stand upon a 'Foundation' which can abide before 'God' in the day of 'His absolute and utter Vindication'.  
 
"The Need for a True Foundation"  
 
But in order that this may be so, you and I under 'the Holy Spirit's teaching', have to be dealt with very faithfully, and have to come to the place where we are perfectly adjustable before ‘God’, where there is all responsiveness to ‘the Holy Spirit’, and nothing in us that resists or refuses 'the Holy Spirit', but where we are perfectly open and ready for the biggest consequence of 'the Holy Spirit' pointing ‘His Finger’ upon anything in our lives needing to be dealt with and adjusted. 

He is here for that.  
 
The alternative to such a 'Work of the Holy Spirit' being allowed to be done in us is that we shall find ourselves in a 'false Position', and it is far, far too costly to find ourselves in a 'false Position', even though it only be on certain points.  
 
This is a ‘false World’ we are living in, a ‘World’ that is carried on upon lies; have you noticed that?  
 
The whole constitution of this ‘World’ is a lie, and it is in 'the very nature of man', although multitudes do not know it, but think they are true.  
 
And they are trying to build 'the World' on a 'false Foundation'.  
 
But as for 'the Kingdom of God', it is altogether other.  
 
It is built upon 'Jesus Christ', 'the Truth'.  
 
Well now, my emphasis at the moment is upon the need for a 'true Position' where we are concerned. 
 
Oh, for men and women in whom 'the Truth of Christ' has being wrought and who will go on with 'God', no matter what it costs.  
"Who shall ascend into the Hill of the Lord?" (Psalm 15)
 
"He that speaks Truth in his heart...he that swears to his own hurt" - that is, who takes the position of verity, that is, the state of being true, although it costs him dearly.

We are influenced by all sorts of ‘false considerations’, influenced by what others will think and say, especially those in our 'religious circles', of our 'tradition'; and they are false considerations and false influences.  
 
They bind and keep many men and women from going right on with 'God' in 'the way of Light.'  
 
The issue is a 'false position' at last.  
 
Listen, will you accept it when I say that there is no 'Truth' in  us.  
 
This is one of the things we are going to find out under ‘the Holy Spirit's Dealings’ with us, that there is no 'Truth' in our minds ‘naturally’.  
 
We may be most strongly convinced, and we may be prepared to lay down our lives for our convictions and to put everything into ‘the Crucible’ for what we believe with all our Beings is right, is true, and in that very thing we may be utterly wrong.  
 
Such was the case with 'Saul of Tarsus' - "I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the Name of Jesus of Nazareth". (Acts 26:9)  
 
Again, "The hour comes, that whosoever kills you shall think he offers God service" (John 16:2); so zealous for their conviction - that it is God's will! - God's will! - convinced it is God's will; - some to give their own lives on the strength of their conviction, and some to take other people's lives on the strength of their conviction.  
 
Oh, how far we will go on ‘the strength of conviction’ and be wrong, utterly wrong, as utterly wrong as we are in earnest.  
 
A ‘false conviction’; and there is not 'one human mind' incapable of getting into that state.  
 
The seeds of that are in 'human nature', in every one of us; - in 'the mind’ as to conviction, ‘the heart’ as to desire.  
 
We may think our desire is a perfectly pure and right one and it may be utterly false; and so with our ‘will’, it is just the same.  
 
In us by 'nature' there is no 'Truth'.  
 
Lord willing, we shall continue next Sunday. 

‘The School of Christ' is what occupies us at this time, and all of us should know that we are in this 'School' for the purpose of ‘learning Christ'.  
 
We are to be 'Conformed to the Image of Jesus Christ' - He is 'God's Object' and 'Standard' for 'the Holy Spirit's Work' in us.  
 
From the 'Scriptures', which we read last week we saw that 'the Lord Jesus' in pressing the matter of 'Truth', relating 'Truth' to 'Himself'.  
 
"You shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free".  
 
"If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed".  
 
Notice: ‘Freedom by the Truth’ is by the 'Knowledge of Jesus Christ'.  

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life...”. 
 
"I am the Truth", says 'the Lord Jesus'.   

And so, we see that 'the Truth' is not some thing, 'the Truth' is a 'Person', and all this is in 'the School of Christ', bearing upon 'Jesus Christ' as 'the Truth'.  
 
'The Holy Spirit', as we have seen, will deal with all 'Disciples' in 'the School of Christ' to undercut everything that is not true, that is not genuine, and bring everything into 'Conformity to Jesus Christ'. 

‘The Holy Spirit’ has come for that!   
 
Let me repeat what I stated last week - you and I have to come to the place where we are perfectly adjustable before 'God' where there is all responsiveness to 'the Holy Spirit', and nothing in us that resists or refuses 'the Holy Spirit' - but where we are perfectly open and ready for the biggest consequence of 'the Holy Spirit' pointing 'His Finger' upon anything in our lives needing to be dealt with and adjusted.  
 
Now as we continue, we shall consider:  
 
"Living by The Truth"  
 
And I am going to get right down inside this thing.  
 
What is a Christian?  
 
A Christian is one who was not a very good-tempered person, but is now good-tempered; not a very congenial person, but is now very much more congenial; - a person who is different in disposition from what he was formerly.  
 
Is that a ‘true definition of a Christian’? 

You know, drugs can change a man's temper in a few hours; - in two or three hours he will be a very good-tempered man; - but does that make him a ‘Christian’? 
 
From being a lethargic, careless, indifferent person, you become alive, energetic, active; - from being miserable, discontent, morose, melancholy, disagreeable, irritable, you become amiable, pleasant, relieved from all that 'nervous strain' which was making you like that, and all that 'disordered digestion' which was making you such a Boor to live with.  
 
And so, for a little while, you have made a Christian with 'drugs'!  
 
Do you see the point?  
 
Oh no, that is not it!  
 
A Christian may be suffering agonies inside himself and have a keen consciousness of his irritability, the strain that is on his 'nervous system' making him feel inside himself almost like a devil: that may all be physical, all be nervous; all may be 'disorder in his system', and yet right down deep inside that man or that woman ‘the Eternal fact’ that he or she is a Christian remains.  
 
There is a 'born-from-above Child of God' and 'Christ' is within altogether other, and what 'the Child of God' is feeling like in his body and in his soul makes absolutely no difference: 'Christ' is other.  
 
But where is 'the Truth'?  
 
Listen, if ‘the Truth’ about my ‘Salvation’ lies in the realm of my feelings’, my 'digestive system', my 'nervous organism', I am going to be a poor Christian; because that will be changing from day to day according to the weather or to something else.  
 
Oh no!  
 
'Truth'; - where is 'the Truth'?  
 
"Not what I am, but what You are."

That is where 'the Truth' is, "You shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free".  
 
‘Free’ from what?  
 
‘Bondage’! - what ‘Bondage’?  
 
‘Satan’ putting his ‘chains of condemnation’ upon you because today you are not feeling up to par.  
 
You are feeling bad in your constitution, and you are feeling depressed, you are feeling Death all around, you are feeling irritable, and ‘Satan’ comes along and says, 'you are not a Christian'! - a fine 'Christian’ you are! - and you go down under it.  
 
Is that 'the Truth'? - Is it a 'lie'? - He always lies!

The only answer for Deliverance and Emancipation is, "it is not what I am, it is what He is"; 'Christ' abides the same.  
 
He is not as I am, varying, changing, here in this 'human life' from hour to hour and day to day: - but He is other.  
 
I ask you to forgive me for being so strong in my emphasis, but I do feel this is the only way in which we are going to be 'Saved' really.  

'Jesus', you see, says, "I am the Truth”. 
 
What is 'the Truth'?  
 
It is that which stands up to all ‘arguments of Satan’ who is "A liar and the father of it".  
 
It is that which delivers us from this 'false Self' which we are; and we are a 'false Self'.  
 
We are a 'bundle of contradictions'.  
 
We can never be sure that we are going to be of 'the same mind' for long, that our 'convictions' are not going to do a right-about-turn.  
 
Oh no, it is not ourselves at all; - it is 'Christ'!  
 
You see what a 'false Position' we would be in if we were on that other 'level of nature'.   
 
What a game ‘the devil’ could play with us.  
 
I am using these illustrations to try to get to the heart of this.  

What is 'the Truth'? - what is true?  
 
Well, we saw last week, that it is not found in us.  
 
We are not true in any part of ‘our Being’.  
 
'Christ' alone is ‘Truth’, and you and I have to learn how to live by 'Christ', and until we have done that 'the Holy Spirit' cannot do ‘the other thing’.  
 
Perhaps you are saying, is not a ‘true Christian’ less ill-tempered?  

Is there no difference at all?   
 
Is a Christian right to be irritable and all that? 

I am not saying that, we are not getting off on that; I am saying in 'the School', until you and I have learned to hold on to 'Christ by Faith', 'the Holy Spirit' does not have ‘the ground’ upon which to work to bring us into 'Conformity to Christ'.  
 
If we are going to live upon ‘the false basis’ of ourselves, 'the Holy Spirit' leaves us alone.  
 
When we come to 'live by Faith' on 'the basis of Christ', then 'the Holy Spirit' can come in and make 'Christ' good in us, and teach us Victory, and teach us Mastery, and teach us by 'Deliverance' how not to become a prey to good or bad feelings in ourselves, but to live on another level altogether.  
 
In other words, I mean this, that you cut the ground from under a great deal when you really get on to 'the ground of Christ'.  
 
Take 'Irritability', for example.  
 
Some of you, of course, may never suffer in that way at all, but others of us do know what a battle that is. 
 
Well, let us take such a case.   
Today we feel like that, all nervous, strained and short, and on edge.  

What are we going to do about it?  
 
Are we going to make that our 'Christian Life', or the negation of our 'Christian Life’? 
  
If we come on to that ground then 'Satan' is always swift to make the most of it and bring us into terrible 'Bondage' and really try to kill all 'Spiritual Life'.  
 
But if you will take the position, 'yes, that is how I feel today, that is my 'Infirmity' today, but ‘Lord Jesus’, You are other than I am, and I just rest on You, hold on to You, make You my Life', do you see what you have done? 
 
If you have cut the ground from under the feet of 'the Devil' altogether, you will find that you have 'Peace' along that line, and 'Rest', and although you may still be feeling bad in the other part of you, in the inner part you are at 'Rest.'  
 
Listen, the enemy is shut out from 'the inner part' of you, he has no place there.  
 
There 'the Peace of God' stands Guardian over your heart and mind through 'Christ Jesus'; the Citadel is safe! 
 
Notice: What Satan is always trying to do is to get into 'the Spirit' through 'the Body' or 'Soul' and to capture ‘the Stronghold’, 'The Spirit', and bring it into ‘bondage’. 
 
But we can remain 'free' inwardly when we are feeling very bad outwardly.  
 
That is 'Freedom by the Truth'.  
 
That is 'the Truth'!  
 
Not a 'thing', not an 'affirmation', but a 'Person'.  
 
It is what 'Christ' is, and He is altogether different from what we are.  
 
Well, 'the Holy Spirit' would teach us, as 'the Spirit of Truth', that it is 'abiding in Christ' that means everything.  
 
The alternatives are to get into ourselves, or into other people, or into the world, in a 'mental way’. 
 
"Abide in Christ" and there is ‘Rest’, there is ‘Peace’, there is ‘Deliverance’.  
 
But do not forget that, if we mean business with ‘the Holy Spirit’, He is not going to allow us to be deceived.  
 
I mean that ‘the Holy Spirit’ is going to expose our ‘true Selves’.  
 
He is going to uncover us and show us thoroughly that there is nothing sound in us, nothing to be relied upon in us, in order that He may make it equally clear that it is only 'in Christ', 'God's Son', that there is ‘Security’, and ‘Safety’, and ‘Life’.  
 
Somehow, I have a sense of failure in trying to convey to you what I have in my heart.  
 
You know, so many people think that ‘the Spiritual Life’, ‘the Life of a Child of God’, is a matter of ‘things’.  
 
It is a thing called ‘the Message of the Cross’.  
 
It is a thing called ‘Sanctification’.  
 
It is a thing called ‘Deliverance’.  
 
It is a thing called ‘Death with Christ’ - some ‘thing’. 
 
They are trying to get hold of it, and there is no ‘Deliverance’ in that way at all.  
 
It does not work; it does not work!  
 
It is all a matter of 'the Person', 'the Lord Jesus Christ', and 'the Holy Spirit' will never ‘save us’ by an it.   

He will always bring us to 'the Person', and make 'Christ' the basis of 'our Life', of 'our Deliverance', of 'our Everything'!  
 
And so, the Word is "Christ Jesus...was made unto us Wisdom from God, both Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption". (1.Cor.1:30)  
 
"The Abiding Need of Faith"  
 
The Work of 'the Holy Spirit' is to ‘Conform us to Christ’, to cause us to take ‘the Form of Christ’, to ‘form Christ in us; but ‘Christ’ will always remain other than we are, so that there will never cease to be a ‘Call for Faith’. 
 
Let me ask, do you expect to reach a point in this 'Earthly Pilgrimage' when ‘Faith’ can be dispensed with?  
 
It is a 'false Hope'.  
 
‘Faith’ will be required as much as ever in our last moments in this ‘Life’, if not more than at any other time.  
 
‘Faith’ is an ‘abiding thing’ for ‘the duration of this Life’.  
 
And if that is true, that in itself dismisses ‘any Hope’ whatever of our having 'the thing' in ourselves. 
 
Of course, that was 'the first Sin' of 'Adam', that ‘choice of his’, not to have ‘everything in God’, but to have it in himself in ‘Independence’, to get rid of ‘the Idea of Faith’.  
 
So he sinned by ‘Unbelief’, and all the sin that has come in since it is traceable to that 'one thing' - "Unbelief".  
 
'Faith' is the great factor of 'Redemption', of 'Salvation', of 'Sanctification', of 'Glorification'; - everything is through 'Faith'!  
 
It undoes 'the work of the devil'.  
 
And 'Faith' simply means that we are put into the position where we have not got it in ourselves, we only have it in ‘Another’, and we can only know it and enjoy it by 'Faith' in that ‘Other’.  
 
And so Galatians 2:20 always comes with renewed force - "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me: and that life which I now live in the body I live by Faith, the Faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself up for me".  
 
I live the Life in the body by 'the Faith of the Son of God'.  
 
Well, may 'the Lord' interpret ‘His Word’ to us!