It is the obligation of every person to ascertain truth as revealed in the Bible! In the time of Moses, God said through him: “And ye shall teach them (words of God, frw) your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up”(Deut. 11:19). The old law being the lesser law, It should go without saying, but it shall be said anyway; how much more do you suppose the need to study and learn the New Testament? Speaking of Jesus it is said: “he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises” (Heb. 8:6). So it should go without saying, but it shall be said anyway; if the lesser law demanded that it be taught, when the children “sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up,” how much more so the better law?
But, the question remains, how do we ascertain truth? Do we just look for commandments? After all Jesus did say: “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:16). John also wrote: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3). The importance of keeping; to continue to keep on keeping on, as obeying the commandments is a demonstration, the proof, of our love for God. This cannot be over stated! Yet, it does not answer our question, in ascertaining truth; do we just look for commandments? The answer is no! Think about the words of Jesus to the Samaritan woman: “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). These words are not in a command form, yet, the word “must” expresses a definite requirement in worship acceptable to God. No worship is acceptable to God that is not “in spirit and in truth!” Thus, we have ascertained part of the truth on the subject of worship!
John 4:24 does not reveal all there is in worshipping God “in spirit and in truth,” however; therefore, we have not ascertained all truth on the subject as revealed in the New Testament. A complete reading and study of the New Testament is required to ascertain all truth on the subject of worship acceptable to God. Yet, we must keep in mind; it may not be in the form of commandments! Jesus introduced us to what Paul calls “Lord’s Supper” in First Corinthians chapter eleven, on the night he was betrayed (Matt. 26:26-28). The Corinthians had so corrupted it that Paul had to rebuke them in the following words: “When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s Supper” (1 Cor. 11:20). Paul then wrote what he had received, which is the Lord’s Supper: “that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come” (1 Cor. 11:24-26). Here we have the Lord’s Supper, the only two physical elements in it are “bread” and what here Paul calls the “cup.” Have we ascertained any truth? Yes, but it was not by means of a commandment! It still remains that we have not ascertained all truth on the subject of the Lord’s Supper!
The questions remain: 1) what kind of “bread”; and 2) to what does the word “cup” refer? My friends, in all honesty, we all know you cannot drink a cup, but you can drink what is in the cup; therefore, let us look at what Jesus did on the night he was betrayed. It was the Jewish Passover, as it is said: “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine,…” (Luke 22:17-28). Did you notice it? Jesus said as he gave them the “cup,” “and divide it among yourselves?” Just how do you divide a cup? You do not, but you can divide “the fruit of the vine” which was in the cup. In order to ascertain truth about the “bread,” as to what kind it was, a brief study of the Passover is required, but space will not allow it just here. However, it would be learned that it was unleavened bread; therefore, in the Lord’s Supper we have learned, without a commandment, all the physical items, and the kind of items which are authorized, and may be rightfully called the Lord’s Supper!
It must be understood that truth is ascertained by a study of all the New Testament has to say on the subject. Of course, this cannot be done in one article; thus, a series is needed, even then it is confessed by this humble writer, that more will need to be written. However, as you read these articles, it is hoped that the reader will learn more about how to ascertain truth.
— Frank R. Williams