God has lovingly provided for us all the truth we need to know for our Christian walk and for living His Word together in this Grace Administration in which we live. It began with the promise Jesus Christ made to his disciples shortly before his arrest and crucifixion.
John 16:12,13:
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit [the gift of holy spirit] of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
During this difficult time, Jesus Christ was preparing his disciples for what was to come. He told them that the time was approaching when the gift of holy spirit would be available and that this spirit of truth would guide them into “all truth.” How was this promise fulfilled? What is the “all truth” Jesus Christ spoke of? And what does this mean to us today?
Let’s consider how this promise was fulfilled. On the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts, chapter 2, a new administration began, governed by new spiritual truths and new policies. We now know this as the Grace Administration, also called the Age of Grace. Years after Pentecost, God committed the new truths and policies for this administration—as well as the responsibility for communicating them—to the Apostle Paul.
I Corinthians 9:16,17:
For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation [administration] of the gospel is committed unto me.
This responsibility entrusted to Paul is similar to the responsibility Moses had for the Law Administration and Jesus Christ for the Gospel Administration. Ephesians 3 shows that by the gift of holy spirit in operation God revealed to the Apostle Paul the “all truth” that Jesus Christ had promised would come.
Ephesians 3:1-5:
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
If ye have heard of the dispensation [administration] of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
Paul was guided by the spirit of truth into the “all truth” (John 16:13), the revelation concerning the Grace Administration.
What is the “all truth” Jesus Christ spoke of? And what does this mean to us today? The “all truth” is the revelation that Paul received from God and recorded in the seven Church Epistles—the Books of Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians. God is the Author of these Epistles, but Paul was the writer. God gave them by revelation to Paul. They are addressed to the Church of the Body. That includes you and me! There are other parts of the Bible, such as the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the Book of Revelation, from which we can learn many valuable truths; but they are addressed to other groups of people, not to us—the born-again believers. Those parts of the Bible are for our learning, but the Church Epistles are written directly to us today. They are specific to believers in this Age of Grace in which we live.
This “all truth,” the seven Church Epistles, is a complete and remarkable package of revelation, for it provides us with all the truth we need to live God’s Word together in this wonderful Grace Administration. These Epistles show us today how to walk and conduct ourselves.
Let’s devote ourselves to reading, studying, and practicing the principles contained in these Epistles—the Word of God written to us and specifically for us. This will enable us to manifest God’s power and His glory in our lives. If you would like to learn more about the “all truth” of the seven Church Epistles, enjoy reading the chapter entitled “The Church: The Great Mystery Revealed” in Volume IV of Studies in Abundant Living, God’s Magnified Word.
Jesus Christ’s promise in John 16:13 was fulfilled when God revealed the “all truth” to the Apostle Paul following the day of Pentecost, the start of the Grace Administration. The seven Church Epistles—addressed specifically to us, the Church of the Body—are the “all truth” Jesus Christ spoke of. How thrilling it is that the promised “all truth” into which the spirit would guide has been revealed and that we have access to it in our day and time! In these Epistles, God has truly provided all the truth we need to know to walk with Him and one another in the Age of Grace.