If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
Anyone who chooses to do God's will shall know whether Jesus' teaching is from God or from Himself. Willing to do means placing the will wholly on God's side in surrendered obedience first, and knowledge of the teaching follows afterward. The will of God to be done is expressed in the Ten Commandments and the laws of His kingdom, which give the standard for understanding teaching and preventing confusion. Obeying the light and duty already made clear brings greater light so the path grows clearer, and this requires honest inquiry with a humble, teachable spirit that seeks in order to obey. Such knowledge does not come by natural talent, learning, or greatness, but by diligent personal searching of Scripture with prayer and by the demonstration of the Spirit through living experience.
Setting and Meaning
Jesus spoke these words in dispute over His work to Jews who did not believe He was the Son of God yet marveled at His wisdom because He had never learned in their schools and had lived in obscurity in circumstances unfavorable for gaining knowledge, answering their unspoken thoughts about how He knew letters. His answer was that His doctrine was not His own but His who sent Him, and willingness to do God's will enables recognition of whether His teaching comes from God or from Himself. Reception of that teaching as the bread of life suited to the needs of the soul does not depend on learned testimonies, eloquent speeches, or deep arguments but on its simplicity and adaptation to hungry souls, and no one needs to be a logician to know for himself whether the gospel is divine or human, true or false. It profits only when received as a message from God into a willing and obedient heart and obeyed, by one who is teachable, opens the heart to the impressions of the Spirit of God, and is ready to obey the truth as he sees it. Doing His will means obeying His Word, eating His flesh and drinking His blood by obedience, having His commandments and keeping them, keeping His sayings and abiding in His love as He kept His Father's commandments. This obedience brings harmony with the Redeemer, gives evidence of love to God in return for Calvary, and gives assurance that the soul is in harmony with God.
One who speaks of himself seeks his own glory, while one who seeks the glory of Him who sent him is true and has no unrighteousness in him, and seeking the sender's glory rather than one's own marks truthful teaching. Knowing whether doctrine is of God depends on doing God's will in heart and true faith united with Christ. Those who do not make Christ their all in all, who have only superficial faith and no spiritual life, cannot understand His words, and those who join Him expecting temporal advantage are offended by gospel requirements. When truth is presented clearly and preciously as it is in Jesus with no uncertain sound, Jesus Himself is in the midst speaking through His servants while hearers marvel, the seed is sown and the Holy Spirit makes the impression so they know whereof is spoken. This knowledge does not depend merely on what the minister says but on what the Lord does in impressing the hearers, for Paul may plant and Apollos water but God gives the increase.
The will of God to be done is expressed in the Ten Commandments, and doing that will by obeying them is how a person shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God. God of heaven has a kingdom controlled by laws that must be obeyed because God is ruler of the universe and stands as head and His mandates must be respected and obeyed. As a father stands at the head of his family and requires obedience to the laws regulating his family, bringing order and happiness when respected and confusion when otherwise, so it is in the government of God. Obedience to God's law gives a standard for understanding doctrine and prevents confusion, while rejecting the law leaves people to form competing standards and doctrines. God does not leave obedient people in darkness, and knowing the doctrine brings happiness.
Willing to do means placing the will on God's side, and those sincerely seeking for light who do not know what they must do to be saved must place their will on the side of God's will as they hear of His love and Christ's sacrifice on Calvary, and the Lord will then open the way before them. Doing God's will comes first, and knowing whether the doctrine is of God follows willing obedience. Christ will have no unwilling sacrifice but requires the entire subjection of the heart in consecration and doing God's will, and without that willing obedience a person is of no use to Him. Only the one who wills to do God's will comes to know whether teaching is from God, which exposes those who suppose themselves in harmony with Christ yet refuse self-denial and use of their talents for God's glory alone, choosing earthly treasure and idols over heavenly treasure like the ruler who would not keep all God's commandments irrespective of consequences. God is the foundation of all faith, all goodness, and all mercy and has demonstrated His love in a marked manner by declaring that all who hear and will to do His will shall know whether doctrine is of God. God desires all to enjoy the blessings of this life and of the future immortal life, but those blessings are received only by complying with His conditions through hearing and willing obedience to His will.
Promise of Discernment
Anyone who wills to do God's will shall know whether Christ's teaching is of God or whether He speaks of Himself. Giving heed to the light already received and doing each duty made clear brings greater light, so that what is still in doubt becomes understood and able to be done. Understanding depends not on the mind alone but on the heart, for truth must be received through grace with pride and sin surrendered and the will conscientiously yielded to God. No knowledge or other advantage brings this discernment to one who refuses truth or clings to practices opposed to it, and those who honestly seek both to know and to do God's will receive truth as saving power and can distinguish a teacher who speaks for God from one who speaks merely for himself. The Pharisees failed to understand because they sought excuses to evade truth rather than to know it.
This knowledge is sure and comes by a clear, definite way, making the soul brave and courageous, eager to sow the seed of truth and reap its harvest in elevated, holy, and continually refreshing joy. It requires implicit faith in God's Word and a teachable, submissive spirit, while resistance to the Spirit and refusal to heed God's voice leave people without discernment. Obedience to God's word is itself the way to recognize its divine truth.
The same willingness enables a person to know whether any doctrine is of God or of human invention, human authority, or the speaker himself. Anyone who earnestly seeks truth and is willing to do God's will can know this, and obedience to light already received leads to clearer understanding as knowledge of the Lord and His truth increases like the rising sun toward full daylight. Knowing the truth is linked to doing God's will, not merely talking about it, and a sincere desire to know truth even at the cost of self-denial and sacrifice cannot be kept from it. Obedience and faithfulness bring understanding, while indulged sin, neglect of personal piety, separation from Christ, and departure from virtue and truth corrupt faith and character and lead to doubt and spiritual darkness. This teachable willingness to obey supports taking Scripture according to its plain meaning rather than assigning it hidden meanings, and doing God's revealed will increases faith and knowledge.
Living in accordance with God's will leads people to recognize the truth about God's Son when He is revealed. The people claimed to know where Jesus came from, but their mistaken ideas about the Messiah kept them from recognizing that He was sent by God and from understanding His true origin and identity despite the prophecies about Him. Their spiritual blindness came from failing to live by God's will.
The promise applies to present duty, for studying the truths of God's word and doing His will leads to knowledge of the doctrine, including the important truths for the present time and Christ's soon coming. This includes the third angel's message, which contains the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Obedient seekers who search for truth as for hidden treasure are led to the light and obtain certain knowledge of the truth. Applied to workers brought from temperance lines, it means keeping the principles of temperance clear and distinct in all their purity in connection with the truth for these last days, learning meekness and lowliness of heart from Christ as the greatest Teacher and cooperating with Him. It means laying aside strife for supremacy and pride of opinion, using mind, voice, and every jot of ability as lent talents to accumulate for God, growing in capability, influence, and power while ever looking unto Jesus and by beholding becoming changed into His likeness.
Obedience Gives Understanding
Doing God's will as it is revealed to the understanding brings knowledge of the truth of the doctrine and safe guidance into the way of life. Those who earnestly seek to learn His will and act on every ray of light they receive, remaining faithful to the light they have and zealously performing their daily duties, are led by God rather than left in doubt and darkness and are guided into all truth. Obeying the duties already made clear brings greater light, so that what is still in doubt becomes understood and enables understanding and obedience in matters still uncertain, and the path grows clearer as the person advances. Finite man cannot fully understand the purposes and ways of the Infinite One, and those who refuse to accept and obey God's word until every objection is removed and no room for doubt remains will never come to the light. Truth and error are set before men with sufficient evidence given to determine the right way, and then each is left to choose for himself, for God does not force knowledge of truth on those who neither seek nor desire it but leaves men free through the Redeemer's grace to obey or disobey while the Spirit continually convicts, making each responsible for receiving or rejecting sacred truth. Connected with God as the source of wisdom, the obedient can attain high moral excellence.
Knowing is gained by living experience in doing God's revealed will, not by merely talking about it. By yielding to God and humbly receiving Christ and His truth and placing even those ignorant of God into connection with Him, a person comes to know the power of the gospel through experience, and as he follows Christ his understanding of truth and his ability to obey it grow. This practical knowledge strengthens the intellect, builds believers up in the most holy faith and into Christ their living Head, unites the soul to God, and brings increasing knowledge of Scripture with its privileges and duties. It is an experiential knowledge of God and His will gained by abiding in Christ and exercising simple faith in His word, available even to those without worldly learning, and true knowledge of this kind leads heavenward. Believing alone is not enough, for faith and works are two oars to be used equally against the current of unbelief, since faith without works is dead; the Christian joins thought and practice with faith rooted firmly in Christ, keeping spirituality strong and healthy by faith and good works, with spiritual strength increasing as he strives to work the works of God. Christ as Head and educator of Israel gave instruction that has come down from generation to generation to this time, and God's covenant-keeping people today given care of His vineyard learn that doctrine by doing His will, as faithful servants who administer His will and judgment in the earth. Though the way is rough with much climbing, those who endure the toil through all obstacles will win the crown of eternal life, a heaven of bliss, and the overcomer's reward.
Abraham's practical obedience revealed his growth in spiritual knowledge, and his trust and oneness of purpose with God were accompanied by revelation of future events. That knowledge comes by following Jesus fully and trusting Him at every step, taking His words and His life of humility and self-denial as light and strength, taking Him as the pattern, living as He lived, denying self as He denied Himself, and laboring with Him to save the lost. This willing obedience leads on to greater learning, to practical belief in the truth, and to sanctification of the entire being, so that what believers shall become does not yet appear. Moses' long training as a shepherd with mental and moral discipline prepared him to understand himself and to humble himself, to remove and unlearn false ideas, and to become a strong thinker and doer of God's word and work. God's workers must likewise have defects purged and seek light perseveringly, while still exercising their highest powers of thought, prayer, hope, and faith.
Heart Prepared to Know
Understanding depends on a heart willing to obey, for willingness opens mind and heart to honest inquiry and diligent study and searching that makes it possible to recognize whether teaching comes from God. Those who sincerely desire both to know and to do His will can discern His teaching, and He guides and teaches the meek because they are willing to be instructed, while guidance is not given to those too proud to learn or set on their own way. A humble, teachable spirit that seeks to learn revealed will and obeys it as it becomes clear belongs together with understanding, with the heart yielded and conscientiously surrendered rather than refusing truth. Natural talent and acquired learning cannot take the place of knowing His will, and this same discernment exposes the difference between one who speaks for God and one who seeks his own glory.
The gospel does not address the understanding alone as mathematics addresses the intellect alone, for human beings are not creatures without moral nature; its aim is the heart, addressing the moral nature and taking possession of the will. Those who yield mind and will are trained in His school to do justice to His divinity and are disciplined to habits of obedience and service, becoming submissive students with the soul emptied of all proud possessions and self so the soul-temple may be the abiding place of the Most High and His image imprinted on the soul. When self is emptied and His way is followed, His Spirit fills and He abides within, while choosing one's own way leaves darkness and sorrow; yielding brings the mind into harmony with truth so it can be taught to live and work in harmony with His word and brings true sanctification into the life. Assurance comes by doing His will in perfect obedience through faith in head, heart, and life, a living, practical faith that justifies and runs like a thread of gold through all that is said and done, believed with heart and mind and soul and exercised in everything undertaken, working by love and purifying the soul. Through education, discipline, and training every current of the soul is brought into helpful, active, self-denying, earnest service to benefit and bless others, without which religion is of no value; walking in light already given with heart opened and submission to the leading of the Spirit allows its transforming power to work and makes the true Shepherd's voice recognizable.
Those willing to obey not only see doctrines in a new attractive light but receive and eat and digest the truth as bread come down from heaven, and cherishing light and evidence brings greater light and abundance of grace. Knowing does not come by human learning, intellectual greatness, wealth, eloquence, deep argument, or worldly wisdom, which cannot see the Truth, the Life, the Light of the world and counts faith beneath notice because it is too high for human intelligence to reach. It comes by divine science, the powerful working and demonstration of the Spirit upon intellects and hearts inspiring implicit faith, by vital connection with Him and by Christian experience alone, revealing the true science of intellectual knowledge, the hidden wisdom which is Christ formed within the hope of glory, the deep, sublime, eternal principles of godliness and treasures of knowledge hidden in His counsels now made known. Reception as the bread of life suited to the soul's need depends not on learned testimonies, eloquent speeches, or deep arguments but on simplicity and adaptation to hungry souls, profiting only when received as a message from God into a willing and obedient heart and obeyed; no one needs to be a logician to know for himself whether the gospel is divine or human, true or false, but must be teachable, open the heart to impressions of the Spirit, and be ready to obey truth as seen. Understanding rests not chiefly on intellectual power but on single purpose and earnest desire for righteousness and to do His will, as shown when uneducated disciples who searched out hidden treasures possessed wisdom that astonished the rabbis, a result that follows for all who diligently study the Word with desire to understand it unto wisdom and richness in faith. Those who close their eyes to truths they do not wish to practice, refuse to practice unwelcome truths, or exalt themselves and cavil over Scripture hinder understanding and cannot see the mysteries of the kingdom, which remain hidden from them. He calls everyone to the very highest kind of thinking, praying, hoping, and believing, yet inspiration is given to those of His appointment who do His will with humble ideas of themselves, never to one who keeps a high idea of his own mental superiority; doing His will never means uselessness, helplessness, or growing more incapacitated for doing it.
Familiarity with sin, selfishness, and dishonesty blunts the moral senses so truth is not discerned and truth and error look alike, until truth is kept before the mind in its clearness, sacredness, and importance with its strong arguments. A mind distracted by worldly concerns cannot discern the deep truths of Scripture, which remain a mystery and stumbling block without the Holy Spirit, and turning toward Him enlightens the mind to understand them and purifies from frivolity. Humbly seeking His will as revealed in His Word and by His Spirit and then obeying it as made plain to the understanding roots and grounds in truth on a solid foundation with faith and devotion and plants the feet on eternal truth so one is not swept away by doubt and skepticism. Doubting, criticizing, and looking to find fault with His Word and the testimony of His Spirit is the work of the adversary and leads to complete bondage to doubt and unbelief where nothing seems sure. Certain knowledge without doubt and hesitancy is received by being right with Him and dealing honestly with the soul, cultivating love for Him, secret prayer and personal piety, separating from selfishness and sin, and studying and imitating a life of self-denial, self-sacrifice, purity, and devotion, while neglect of this obedience leaves darkness, doubt, and unbelief; conscience alone is not a sure guide because it may disagree with His Word, so the mind must be enlightened and the will under the Spirit's control, and obedience may require separation from the world in faith and practice even at cost to worldly success.
Knowledge is not irresistibly forced on those who neither seek nor desire it, for each keeps power of choice and freedom of action to obey through His name and grace or to disobey and quench the Spirit, remaining responsible for receiving or rejecting sacred truth while the Spirit continually convicts and souls decide for or against it. Belief is not forced; people must choose between truth and error with careful judgment rather than impulse or prejudice, comparing Scripture with Scripture and testing evidence rather than reading through human traditions or resting on religious leaders' authority. Willingness to do His will and take up His service lets light and evidence already given lead to knowledge and conviction, but without that willingness even much more light and conviction will accomplish nothing, for He knows when sufficient evidence has already been provided. Each must freely choose loyalty, which His death makes possible by enabling the keeping of His law, yet He forces no one to accept what was secured at infinite cost. Ignorance is voluntary and inexcusable where sufficient means were provided, for sinners perish not for lack of evidence but from unwillingness to use those means; His assurance is plainly given through His word, so those who could have chosen to know it are accountable when judgment comes.
Reading Scripture Aright
Knowing the truth takes more than casual reading; it requires diligent personal searching of Scripture with prayer for wisdom, earnest study and communion with God, and the Holy Spirit's help to distinguish divine teaching from error and human inventions. Those who sincerely seek truth with hearts open to the Spirit and come to Christ for clearer understanding will receive light and have the mysteries of the kingdom made clear to them. Those who search humbly and prayerfully in order to know and do God's will can know the truth of its teaching and their obligations to God, with knowing joined to willingness to obey. God opens the treasures of His love to the willing and obedient, giving divine enlightenment to the one who prayerfully seeks truth in Scripture in order to obey.
Scripture is to be taken according to the plain, obvious meaning of its words except where a symbol or figure is used, forming opinions with divine help and then walking in the light. No hidden mystical or secret spiritual meaning is to be imposed upon the text beyond what its words express, for that course protects error and hides plainly revealed truth in darkness. Truth is learned first from the Scriptures by diligent daily study weighing every thought and comparing Scripture with Scripture. If the Bible were taken as it reads and men were not misled and confused by learned false teachers, thousands now wandering in error would be brought into the fold of Christ, and taking Scripture as it reads helps people avoid error and come to Christ.
Those who come to Scripture ready to follow its requirements find evidence that it is God's Word and gain understanding of its truths, growing wise unto salvation. This requires following the plain word of truth from principle with or without feeling or emotion, and doing what is right in every circumstance. Each person must search Scripture for himself rather than rely on good intentions, personal judgment, a minister's confidence, tradition, prejudice, or religious leaders' authority, testing evidence with careful judgment. When there is opportunity to learn God's will, ignorance does not excuse error or transgression, and seeking light from self rather than from the Sun of Righteousness does not lead to this knowledge.
Understanding means obedience to the commandments, and disobedience closes off knowledge that could be gained from Scripture. Scripture can be understood by those who humbly seek truth in order to obey it and who submit to God in the spirit of Christ, not by those who try to make it fit their prejudices or jealousy. Such submission brings a clearer and more appreciative understanding of God's plan, of redemption, of Christ's incarnation, and of His atoning sacrifice. Faithful obedience enables the watchman to receive truth and warn those in danger and to guard against deception, while the wicked do not understand and wickedness prevents understanding.
Assurance and Faithful Living
Doing God's will gives certain knowledge of whether Christ's teaching is from God, without doubt and hesitancy, and that assurance that doctrine is right and free from chaff and error comes only by daily doing the will of God, not by correct interpretation alone. Doing His will means practicing the truth as it is in Jesus, bringing the spirit of Christ into the heart and into association with others, eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God by weaving His spirit and works into life and character, becoming one with Christ as Christ was one with the Father, and partaking of the divine nature having escaped the corruption in the world through lust. Those who do His will know of the doctrine, see the truth in its sacred beauty, accept it with reverence and godly fear, and the soul in love with God and His work will be as candid as the day. This knowledge is an experiential knowledge of God and His will, gained by abiding in Christ and exercising simple faith in His word, available even to those without worldly learning, and true knowledge leads heavenward, while belief in the truth sanctifies and obedience to God's holy law makes that belief visible in a life shaped by Christ. Knowing what is truth then makes a person able to present it to others without superiority or self-exaltation, and makes the soul brave, courageous, and joyful in sowing truth.
God's promises have conditions, and loving obedience to all His commandments is the condition for becoming personally acquainted with His Word, so that those who do His will do not walk in darkness, because Christ is light and gives His followers the Light of life. When willing to do His will, His strength is available, His promised gift is contained in the promise, and receiving the promise means receiving the gift. Faith receives God's gifts, grows as it is exercised in taking hold of His Word, and is strengthened by frequent contact with that Word. Obedience places God's people where He can bless them and be with them, and when people have a heart to do God's will He causes them to know the truth of the doctrine. When the heart is governed by the divine will the person can honor God and recognize the doctrine, and acting justly, accepting Bible truth, and glorifying God as part of doing His will brings understanding and removes spiritual blindness.
The teacher must teach that obedience to God's will enables people to know the truth and whether a teaching comes from God. Those who sincerely seek to learn God's will and obey it, with reverence, humility, and an inquiring mind, can know whether a teaching comes from God, and obedience prepares the heart to receive further illumination and to understand spiritual truth leading to light and knowledge in Scripture. Those who cooperate with Christ and devote their energies to rescuing the world from corruption can know that their light comes from the divine source of all true light. God's people are to make whether a doctrine comes from God clear and not let human commandments or traditions take its place.
Its lessons must be carried into daily life, applied to loving one another as Christ loved, showing Christ's character in life, and ending backbiting and criticism, and living this way manifests Christ's glory and shows that His followers are not of the world. Following God means heeding His counsel rather than acting on perverted ideas, and trusting Christ as a personal Savior with willingness to follow God's direction enables knowing the Lord's will, which calls for doing what the Lord says. Knowing true doctrine comes by clinging to Jesus by faith and obedience and standing firm for truth, coming out of darkness to grasp the light shining on the pathway and letting that light shine on the pathway of others, as the great light already possessed is to be established in places such as Nimes. Receiving the Bible into the mind strengthens a person to do God's will. Those who seek the Lord wholeheartedly and live humbly according to His Word will know whether the teaching is from God, and obedience to God's will brings evidence that they are His children.
Anyone who chooses to do God's will shall know whether Jesus' teaching is from God or from Himself. Willing to do means placing the will wholly on God's side in surrendered obedience first, and knowledge of the teaching follows afterward. The will of God to be done is expressed in the Ten Commandments and the laws of His kingdom, which give the standard for understanding teaching and preventing confusion. Obeying the light and duty already made clear brings greater light so the path grows clearer, and this requires honest inquiry with a humble, teachable spirit that seeks in order to obey. Such knowledge does not come by natural talent, learning, or greatness, but by diligent personal searching of Scripture with prayer and by the demonstration of the Spirit through living experience.
Setting and Meaning
Jesus spoke these words in dispute over His work to Jews who did not believe He was the Son of God yet marveled at His wisdom because He had never learned in their schools and had lived in obscurity in circumstances unfavorable for gaining knowledge, answering their unspoken thoughts about how He knew letters. His answer was that His doctrine was not His own but His who sent Him, and willingness to do God's will enables recognition of whether His teaching comes from God or from Himself. Reception of that teaching as the bread of life suited to the needs of the soul does not depend on learned testimonies, eloquent speeches, or deep arguments but on its simplicity and adaptation to hungry souls, and no one needs to be a logician to know for himself whether the gospel is divine or human, true or false. It profits only when received as a message from God into a willing and obedient heart and obeyed, by one who is teachable, opens the heart to the impressions of the Spirit of God, and is ready to obey the truth as he sees it. Doing His will means obeying His Word, eating His flesh and drinking His blood by obedience, having His commandments and keeping them, keeping His sayings and abiding in His love as He kept His Father's commandments. This obedience brings harmony with the Redeemer, gives evidence of love to God in return for Calvary, and gives assurance that the soul is in harmony with God.
One who speaks of himself seeks his own glory, while one who seeks the glory of Him who sent him is true and has no unrighteousness in him, and seeking the sender's glory rather than one's own marks truthful teaching. Knowing whether doctrine is of God depends on doing God's will in heart and true faith united with Christ. Those who do not make Christ their all in all, who have only superficial faith and no spiritual life, cannot understand His words, and those who join Him expecting temporal advantage are offended by gospel requirements. When truth is presented clearly and preciously as it is in Jesus with no uncertain sound, Jesus Himself is in the midst speaking through His servants while hearers marvel, the seed is sown and the Holy Spirit makes the impression so they know whereof is spoken. This knowledge does not depend merely on what the minister says but on what the Lord does in impressing the hearers, for Paul may plant and Apollos water but God gives the increase.
The will of God to be done is expressed in the Ten Commandments, and doing that will by obeying them is how a person shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God. God of heaven has a kingdom controlled by laws that must be obeyed because God is ruler of the universe and stands as head and His mandates must be respected and obeyed. As a father stands at the head of his family and requires obedience to the laws regulating his family, bringing order and happiness when respected and confusion when otherwise, so it is in the government of God. Obedience to God's law gives a standard for understanding doctrine and prevents confusion, while rejecting the law leaves people to form competing standards and doctrines. God does not leave obedient people in darkness, and knowing the doctrine brings happiness.
Willing to do means placing the will on God's side, and those sincerely seeking for light who do not know what they must do to be saved must place their will on the side of God's will as they hear of His love and Christ's sacrifice on Calvary, and the Lord will then open the way before them. Doing God's will comes first, and knowing whether the doctrine is of God follows willing obedience. Christ will have no unwilling sacrifice but requires the entire subjection of the heart in consecration and doing God's will, and without that willing obedience a person is of no use to Him. Only the one who wills to do God's will comes to know whether teaching is from God, which exposes those who suppose themselves in harmony with Christ yet refuse self-denial and use of their talents for God's glory alone, choosing earthly treasure and idols over heavenly treasure like the ruler who would not keep all God's commandments irrespective of consequences. God is the foundation of all faith, all goodness, and all mercy and has demonstrated His love in a marked manner by declaring that all who hear and will to do His will shall know whether doctrine is of God. God desires all to enjoy the blessings of this life and of the future immortal life, but those blessings are received only by complying with His conditions through hearing and willing obedience to His will.
Promise of Discernment
Anyone who wills to do God's will shall know whether Christ's teaching is of God or whether He speaks of Himself. Giving heed to the light already received and doing each duty made clear brings greater light, so that what is still in doubt becomes understood and able to be done. Understanding depends not on the mind alone but on the heart, for truth must be received through grace with pride and sin surrendered and the will conscientiously yielded to God. No knowledge or other advantage brings this discernment to one who refuses truth or clings to practices opposed to it, and those who honestly seek both to know and to do God's will receive truth as saving power and can distinguish a teacher who speaks for God from one who speaks merely for himself. The Pharisees failed to understand because they sought excuses to evade truth rather than to know it.
This knowledge is sure and comes by a clear, definite way, making the soul brave and courageous, eager to sow the seed of truth and reap its harvest in elevated, holy, and continually refreshing joy. It requires implicit faith in God's Word and a teachable, submissive spirit, while resistance to the Spirit and refusal to heed God's voice leave people without discernment. Obedience to God's word is itself the way to recognize its divine truth.
The same willingness enables a person to know whether any doctrine is of God or of human invention, human authority, or the speaker himself. Anyone who earnestly seeks truth and is willing to do God's will can know this, and obedience to light already received leads to clearer understanding as knowledge of the Lord and His truth increases like the rising sun toward full daylight. Knowing the truth is linked to doing God's will, not merely talking about it, and a sincere desire to know truth even at the cost of self-denial and sacrifice cannot be kept from it. Obedience and faithfulness bring understanding, while indulged sin, neglect of personal piety, separation from Christ, and departure from virtue and truth corrupt faith and character and lead to doubt and spiritual darkness. This teachable willingness to obey supports taking Scripture according to its plain meaning rather than assigning it hidden meanings, and doing God's revealed will increases faith and knowledge.
Living in accordance with God's will leads people to recognize the truth about God's Son when He is revealed. The people claimed to know where Jesus came from, but their mistaken ideas about the Messiah kept them from recognizing that He was sent by God and from understanding His true origin and identity despite the prophecies about Him. Their spiritual blindness came from failing to live by God's will.
The promise applies to present duty, for studying the truths of God's word and doing His will leads to knowledge of the doctrine, including the important truths for the present time and Christ's soon coming. This includes the third angel's message, which contains the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Obedient seekers who search for truth as for hidden treasure are led to the light and obtain certain knowledge of the truth. Applied to workers brought from temperance lines, it means keeping the principles of temperance clear and distinct in all their purity in connection with the truth for these last days, learning meekness and lowliness of heart from Christ as the greatest Teacher and cooperating with Him. It means laying aside strife for supremacy and pride of opinion, using mind, voice, and every jot of ability as lent talents to accumulate for God, growing in capability, influence, and power while ever looking unto Jesus and by beholding becoming changed into His likeness.
Obedience Gives Understanding
Doing God's will as it is revealed to the understanding brings knowledge of the truth of the doctrine and safe guidance into the way of life. Those who earnestly seek to learn His will and act on every ray of light they receive, remaining faithful to the light they have and zealously performing their daily duties, are led by God rather than left in doubt and darkness and are guided into all truth. Obeying the duties already made clear brings greater light, so that what is still in doubt becomes understood and enables understanding and obedience in matters still uncertain, and the path grows clearer as the person advances. Finite man cannot fully understand the purposes and ways of the Infinite One, and those who refuse to accept and obey God's word until every objection is removed and no room for doubt remains will never come to the light. Truth and error are set before men with sufficient evidence given to determine the right way, and then each is left to choose for himself, for God does not force knowledge of truth on those who neither seek nor desire it but leaves men free through the Redeemer's grace to obey or disobey while the Spirit continually convicts, making each responsible for receiving or rejecting sacred truth. Connected with God as the source of wisdom, the obedient can attain high moral excellence.
Knowing is gained by living experience in doing God's revealed will, not by merely talking about it. By yielding to God and humbly receiving Christ and His truth and placing even those ignorant of God into connection with Him, a person comes to know the power of the gospel through experience, and as he follows Christ his understanding of truth and his ability to obey it grow. This practical knowledge strengthens the intellect, builds believers up in the most holy faith and into Christ their living Head, unites the soul to God, and brings increasing knowledge of Scripture with its privileges and duties. It is an experiential knowledge of God and His will gained by abiding in Christ and exercising simple faith in His word, available even to those without worldly learning, and true knowledge of this kind leads heavenward. Believing alone is not enough, for faith and works are two oars to be used equally against the current of unbelief, since faith without works is dead; the Christian joins thought and practice with faith rooted firmly in Christ, keeping spirituality strong and healthy by faith and good works, with spiritual strength increasing as he strives to work the works of God. Christ as Head and educator of Israel gave instruction that has come down from generation to generation to this time, and God's covenant-keeping people today given care of His vineyard learn that doctrine by doing His will, as faithful servants who administer His will and judgment in the earth. Though the way is rough with much climbing, those who endure the toil through all obstacles will win the crown of eternal life, a heaven of bliss, and the overcomer's reward.
Abraham's practical obedience revealed his growth in spiritual knowledge, and his trust and oneness of purpose with God were accompanied by revelation of future events. That knowledge comes by following Jesus fully and trusting Him at every step, taking His words and His life of humility and self-denial as light and strength, taking Him as the pattern, living as He lived, denying self as He denied Himself, and laboring with Him to save the lost. This willing obedience leads on to greater learning, to practical belief in the truth, and to sanctification of the entire being, so that what believers shall become does not yet appear. Moses' long training as a shepherd with mental and moral discipline prepared him to understand himself and to humble himself, to remove and unlearn false ideas, and to become a strong thinker and doer of God's word and work. God's workers must likewise have defects purged and seek light perseveringly, while still exercising their highest powers of thought, prayer, hope, and faith.
Heart Prepared to Know
Understanding depends on a heart willing to obey, for willingness opens mind and heart to honest inquiry and diligent study and searching that makes it possible to recognize whether teaching comes from God. Those who sincerely desire both to know and to do His will can discern His teaching, and He guides and teaches the meek because they are willing to be instructed, while guidance is not given to those too proud to learn or set on their own way. A humble, teachable spirit that seeks to learn revealed will and obeys it as it becomes clear belongs together with understanding, with the heart yielded and conscientiously surrendered rather than refusing truth. Natural talent and acquired learning cannot take the place of knowing His will, and this same discernment exposes the difference between one who speaks for God and one who seeks his own glory.
The gospel does not address the understanding alone as mathematics addresses the intellect alone, for human beings are not creatures without moral nature; its aim is the heart, addressing the moral nature and taking possession of the will. Those who yield mind and will are trained in His school to do justice to His divinity and are disciplined to habits of obedience and service, becoming submissive students with the soul emptied of all proud possessions and self so the soul-temple may be the abiding place of the Most High and His image imprinted on the soul. When self is emptied and His way is followed, His Spirit fills and He abides within, while choosing one's own way leaves darkness and sorrow; yielding brings the mind into harmony with truth so it can be taught to live and work in harmony with His word and brings true sanctification into the life. Assurance comes by doing His will in perfect obedience through faith in head, heart, and life, a living, practical faith that justifies and runs like a thread of gold through all that is said and done, believed with heart and mind and soul and exercised in everything undertaken, working by love and purifying the soul. Through education, discipline, and training every current of the soul is brought into helpful, active, self-denying, earnest service to benefit and bless others, without which religion is of no value; walking in light already given with heart opened and submission to the leading of the Spirit allows its transforming power to work and makes the true Shepherd's voice recognizable.
Those willing to obey not only see doctrines in a new attractive light but receive and eat and digest the truth as bread come down from heaven, and cherishing light and evidence brings greater light and abundance of grace. Knowing does not come by human learning, intellectual greatness, wealth, eloquence, deep argument, or worldly wisdom, which cannot see the Truth, the Life, the Light of the world and counts faith beneath notice because it is too high for human intelligence to reach. It comes by divine science, the powerful working and demonstration of the Spirit upon intellects and hearts inspiring implicit faith, by vital connection with Him and by Christian experience alone, revealing the true science of intellectual knowledge, the hidden wisdom which is Christ formed within the hope of glory, the deep, sublime, eternal principles of godliness and treasures of knowledge hidden in His counsels now made known. Reception as the bread of life suited to the soul's need depends not on learned testimonies, eloquent speeches, or deep arguments but on simplicity and adaptation to hungry souls, profiting only when received as a message from God into a willing and obedient heart and obeyed; no one needs to be a logician to know for himself whether the gospel is divine or human, true or false, but must be teachable, open the heart to impressions of the Spirit, and be ready to obey truth as seen. Understanding rests not chiefly on intellectual power but on single purpose and earnest desire for righteousness and to do His will, as shown when uneducated disciples who searched out hidden treasures possessed wisdom that astonished the rabbis, a result that follows for all who diligently study the Word with desire to understand it unto wisdom and richness in faith. Those who close their eyes to truths they do not wish to practice, refuse to practice unwelcome truths, or exalt themselves and cavil over Scripture hinder understanding and cannot see the mysteries of the kingdom, which remain hidden from them. He calls everyone to the very highest kind of thinking, praying, hoping, and believing, yet inspiration is given to those of His appointment who do His will with humble ideas of themselves, never to one who keeps a high idea of his own mental superiority; doing His will never means uselessness, helplessness, or growing more incapacitated for doing it.
Familiarity with sin, selfishness, and dishonesty blunts the moral senses so truth is not discerned and truth and error look alike, until truth is kept before the mind in its clearness, sacredness, and importance with its strong arguments. A mind distracted by worldly concerns cannot discern the deep truths of Scripture, which remain a mystery and stumbling block without the Holy Spirit, and turning toward Him enlightens the mind to understand them and purifies from frivolity. Humbly seeking His will as revealed in His Word and by His Spirit and then obeying it as made plain to the understanding roots and grounds in truth on a solid foundation with faith and devotion and plants the feet on eternal truth so one is not swept away by doubt and skepticism. Doubting, criticizing, and looking to find fault with His Word and the testimony of His Spirit is the work of the adversary and leads to complete bondage to doubt and unbelief where nothing seems sure. Certain knowledge without doubt and hesitancy is received by being right with Him and dealing honestly with the soul, cultivating love for Him, secret prayer and personal piety, separating from selfishness and sin, and studying and imitating a life of self-denial, self-sacrifice, purity, and devotion, while neglect of this obedience leaves darkness, doubt, and unbelief; conscience alone is not a sure guide because it may disagree with His Word, so the mind must be enlightened and the will under the Spirit's control, and obedience may require separation from the world in faith and practice even at cost to worldly success.
Knowledge is not irresistibly forced on those who neither seek nor desire it, for each keeps power of choice and freedom of action to obey through His name and grace or to disobey and quench the Spirit, remaining responsible for receiving or rejecting sacred truth while the Spirit continually convicts and souls decide for or against it. Belief is not forced; people must choose between truth and error with careful judgment rather than impulse or prejudice, comparing Scripture with Scripture and testing evidence rather than reading through human traditions or resting on religious leaders' authority. Willingness to do His will and take up His service lets light and evidence already given lead to knowledge and conviction, but without that willingness even much more light and conviction will accomplish nothing, for He knows when sufficient evidence has already been provided. Each must freely choose loyalty, which His death makes possible by enabling the keeping of His law, yet He forces no one to accept what was secured at infinite cost. Ignorance is voluntary and inexcusable where sufficient means were provided, for sinners perish not for lack of evidence but from unwillingness to use those means; His assurance is plainly given through His word, so those who could have chosen to know it are accountable when judgment comes.
Reading Scripture Aright
Knowing the truth takes more than casual reading; it requires diligent personal searching of Scripture with prayer for wisdom, earnest study and communion with God, and the Holy Spirit's help to distinguish divine teaching from error and human inventions. Those who sincerely seek truth with hearts open to the Spirit and come to Christ for clearer understanding will receive light and have the mysteries of the kingdom made clear to them. Those who search humbly and prayerfully in order to know and do God's will can know the truth of its teaching and their obligations to God, with knowing joined to willingness to obey. God opens the treasures of His love to the willing and obedient, giving divine enlightenment to the one who prayerfully seeks truth in Scripture in order to obey.
Scripture is to be taken according to the plain, obvious meaning of its words except where a symbol or figure is used, forming opinions with divine help and then walking in the light. No hidden mystical or secret spiritual meaning is to be imposed upon the text beyond what its words express, for that course protects error and hides plainly revealed truth in darkness. Truth is learned first from the Scriptures by diligent daily study weighing every thought and comparing Scripture with Scripture. If the Bible were taken as it reads and men were not misled and confused by learned false teachers, thousands now wandering in error would be brought into the fold of Christ, and taking Scripture as it reads helps people avoid error and come to Christ.
Those who come to Scripture ready to follow its requirements find evidence that it is God's Word and gain understanding of its truths, growing wise unto salvation. This requires following the plain word of truth from principle with or without feeling or emotion, and doing what is right in every circumstance. Each person must search Scripture for himself rather than rely on good intentions, personal judgment, a minister's confidence, tradition, prejudice, or religious leaders' authority, testing evidence with careful judgment. When there is opportunity to learn God's will, ignorance does not excuse error or transgression, and seeking light from self rather than from the Sun of Righteousness does not lead to this knowledge.
Understanding means obedience to the commandments, and disobedience closes off knowledge that could be gained from Scripture. Scripture can be understood by those who humbly seek truth in order to obey it and who submit to God in the spirit of Christ, not by those who try to make it fit their prejudices or jealousy. Such submission brings a clearer and more appreciative understanding of God's plan, of redemption, of Christ's incarnation, and of His atoning sacrifice. Faithful obedience enables the watchman to receive truth and warn those in danger and to guard against deception, while the wicked do not understand and wickedness prevents understanding.
Assurance and Faithful Living
Doing God's will gives certain knowledge of whether Christ's teaching is from God, without doubt and hesitancy, and that assurance that doctrine is right and free from chaff and error comes only by daily doing the will of God, not by correct interpretation alone. Doing His will means practicing the truth as it is in Jesus, bringing the spirit of Christ into the heart and into association with others, eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God by weaving His spirit and works into life and character, becoming one with Christ as Christ was one with the Father, and partaking of the divine nature having escaped the corruption in the world through lust. Those who do His will know of the doctrine, see the truth in its sacred beauty, accept it with reverence and godly fear, and the soul in love with God and His work will be as candid as the day. This knowledge is an experiential knowledge of God and His will, gained by abiding in Christ and exercising simple faith in His word, available even to those without worldly learning, and true knowledge leads heavenward, while belief in the truth sanctifies and obedience to God's holy law makes that belief visible in a life shaped by Christ. Knowing what is truth then makes a person able to present it to others without superiority or self-exaltation, and makes the soul brave, courageous, and joyful in sowing truth.
God's promises have conditions, and loving obedience to all His commandments is the condition for becoming personally acquainted with His Word, so that those who do His will do not walk in darkness, because Christ is light and gives His followers the Light of life. When willing to do His will, His strength is available, His promised gift is contained in the promise, and receiving the promise means receiving the gift. Faith receives God's gifts, grows as it is exercised in taking hold of His Word, and is strengthened by frequent contact with that Word. Obedience places God's people where He can bless them and be with them, and when people have a heart to do God's will He causes them to know the truth of the doctrine. When the heart is governed by the divine will the person can honor God and recognize the doctrine, and acting justly, accepting Bible truth, and glorifying God as part of doing His will brings understanding and removes spiritual blindness.
The teacher must teach that obedience to God's will enables people to know the truth and whether a teaching comes from God. Those who sincerely seek to learn God's will and obey it, with reverence, humility, and an inquiring mind, can know whether a teaching comes from God, and obedience prepares the heart to receive further illumination and to understand spiritual truth leading to light and knowledge in Scripture. Those who cooperate with Christ and devote their energies to rescuing the world from corruption can know that their light comes from the divine source of all true light. God's people are to make whether a doctrine comes from God clear and not let human commandments or traditions take its place.
Its lessons must be carried into daily life, applied to loving one another as Christ loved, showing Christ's character in life, and ending backbiting and criticism, and living this way manifests Christ's glory and shows that His followers are not of the world. Following God means heeding His counsel rather than acting on perverted ideas, and trusting Christ as a personal Savior with willingness to follow God's direction enables knowing the Lord's will, which calls for doing what the Lord says. Knowing true doctrine comes by clinging to Jesus by faith and obedience and standing firm for truth, coming out of darkness to grasp the light shining on the pathway and letting that light shine on the pathway of others, as the great light already possessed is to be established in places such as Nimes. Receiving the Bible into the mind strengthens a person to do God's will. Those who seek the Lord wholeheartedly and live humbly according to His Word will know whether the teaching is from God, and obedience to God's will brings evidence that they are His children.