“There’s no pure gospel in the world.”
Recently, I took a class at an Evangelical seminary when someone made that statement. He continued:
“In fact, I’d be really afraid if someone thought that he had the pure gospel!”
It was not clear what he meant by “pure gospel.” Did he mean “no one really knows how to be born again,” or did he mean “no one can claim to be 100% right in his theology”?
Either way, to me, his statement reflected a growing relativism in Evangelicalism. No one has all the truth, and that’s ok!
Or maybe it was a kind of pessimism—no one can know all the truth, and you shouldn’t want to!
But what did Jesus promise?
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).
Jesus promised you shall know the truth.
That promise is your antidote to both relativism and pessimism.
Jesus’ promise is the antidote to relativism. It tells you there is such a thing as truth (in fact, Jesus is the truth, John 14:6). There is a “pure gospel” that has been revealed to mankind.
Jesus’ promise is the antidote to pessimism. The Lord promises that you not only can know the truth, but that you shall know the truth. However, you must meet the condition, namely, abiding in His word.
Remember what Jesus prayed?
“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17).
God’s word is truth.
That’s your anchor.
That’s what keeps you from floating away on the seas of relativism.
Can you expect to know all of God’s truth? I don’t think so. God is infinite and knows an infinite number of truths. By contrast, you’re finite—you can only know a finite number of truths. But you can know some truth. And you should know some truth. And you should both want and expect to learn more of God’s truth, because that’s what Jesus promised. There is a “pure Gospel”—and you should know it!
If you’ve ever struggled with relativism or pessimism regarding the truth, then listen to Jesus. Believe His promise that you will know the truth if His words abide in you. And let that truth set you free!
