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Communicating God's Truth with Clarity and Authority

Communicating God's truth involves both clarity in its message and authority in its delivery, stemming from the conviction that the message originates from God himself [10, 4]. The Bible is referred to as the "Word of God" because its writers were instruments through whom God communicated His will to humanity [5]. This divine origin means that whatever the inspired writers declared to be true and binding, God declares to be true and binding [5].

The concept of God's truth is foundational. God is described as a God of truth, and Christ is identified as the truth, full of grace and truth [8]. The Holy Spirit is likewise called the Spirit of truth, guiding believers into all truth [8]. The word of God itself is truth [8]. This truth is not merely a record of revelation but is the revelation itself in written form, ensuring its accurate preservation and propagation [6].

Ministers are called by God, qualified by Him, and commissioned by Christ, with authority derived from God [9]. They are entrusted with the gospel, which is described as good tidings of great joy, exhibiting the grace of God, and bringing life and immortality to light through Jesus [7]. This gospel is the power of God unto salvation and is everlasting [7].

The manner of communicating this truth is emphasized in various biblical texts. Paul, for instance, declared the testimony of God "not with excellency of speech" or rhetorical arts, but with a focus on the message itself [15]. Ministers are to speak "as one conveying the words of God" [4]. This means delivering God's message sincerely, "as men sent from God," rather than "peddling the word of God for profit" [3]. The message should be delivered with boldness and without hindrance, as seen in the preaching of the Kingdom of God and the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ [1].

Clarity in communication is paramount. Proverbs 22:21 speaks of showing "true and reliable words" so that one may "soundly answer those who sent you" [2]. John Gill interprets this as making known "the certainty of the words of truth," referring to the doctrines of the Gospel, which are certain because they are from the God of truth and contained in His infallible word [13]. These doctrines are "the words of truth" because they come from God, concern Christ who is the truth, and are guided by the Spirit of truth [11].

Authority in communication comes from the understanding that the message is from God. Ezekiel was instructed, "Thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord," so that the people would receive the message with reverence [10]. Adam Clarke emphasizes that every preacher must ensure it is God's message they deliver, not merely something aligned with their own creed or confession [10]. The Gospel is to be preached "fully and faithfully, with great authority and power, and with much vehemence, zeal, and fervency" [12].

The communication of truth should also be characterized by love. Ephesians 4:15 encourages "speaking the truth in love" [16]. Adam Clarke explains that this "truth" is the entire system of Gospel doctrine, which, being the doctrine of God's eternal love, must be preached in love [16]. Scolding or abuse in religious communication is considered "truly monstrous," as the truth of God does not require such means for its defense or propagation [16]. The apostles, being under the influence of God's Spirit, could do nothing against the truth but only for it, propagating and establishing it [14].

Sources

  1. Acts “preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance. -- Acts 28:31”
  2. Proverbs “Proverbs 22:21 (BSB) — to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?”
  3. II Corinthians “II Corinthians 2:17 (BSB) — For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.”
  4. I Peter “I Peter 4:11 (BSB) — If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.”
  5. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Word of God — (Heb. 4:12, etc.). The Bible so called because the writers of its several books were God's organs in communicating his will to men. It is his "word," because he speaks to us in its sacred pages. Whatever the inspired writers here declare to be true and binding upon us, God declares to be true and binding. This word is infallible, because written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and therefore free from all error of fact or doctrine or precept. (See [670]INSPIRATION; [671]BIBLE.) All saving knowledge is obtained from the word of God. In the case of ”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation — An uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times (Heb. 1:1) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. (See WORD OF [532]GOD.) The Scriptures are not merely the "record" of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate presevation and propagation of the truth. Revelation and inspiration differ. Rev”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Gospel, The — Is good tidings of great joy for all people -- Lu 2:10,11,31,32. Foretold -- Isa 41:27; 52:7; 61:1-3; Mr 1:15. Preached under the old testament -- Heb 4:2. Exhibits the grace of God -- Ac 14:3; 20:32. The knowledge of the glory of God is by -- 2Co 4:4,6. Life and immortality are brought to light by Jesus through -- 2Ti 1:10. Is the power of God to salvation -- Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:18; 1Th 1:5. Is glorious -- 2Co 4:4. Is everlasting -- 1Pe 1:25; Re 14:6. Preached by Christ -- Mt 4:23; Mr 1:14. Ministers have a stewardship to preach -- 1Co 9:17. Preached before”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Truth — God is a God of -- De 32:4; Ps 31:15. Christ is -- Joh 14:6; 7:18. Christ was full of -- Joh 1:14. Christ spoke -- Joh 8:45. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of -- Joh 14:17. The Holy Spirit guides into all -- Joh 16:13. The word of God is -- Da 10:21; Joh 17:17. God regards, with favour -- Jer 5:3. The judgments of God are according to -- Ps 96:13; Ro 2:2. Saints should Worship God in. -- Joh 4:24; Ps 145:18. Serve God in. -- Jos 24:14; 1Sa 12:24. Walk before God in. -- 1Ki 2:4; 2Ki 20:3. Keep religious feasts with. -- 1Co 5:8. Esteem, as inestimable. -- Pr 23:”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ministers — Called by God -- Ex 28:1; Heb 5:4. Qualified by God -- Isa 6:5-7; 2Co 3:5,6. Commissioned by Christ -- Mt 28:19. Sent by the Holy Spirit -- Ac 13:2,4. Have authority from God -- 2Co 10:8; 13:10. Authority of, is for edification -- 2Co 10:8; 13:10. Separated to the gospel -- Ro 1:1. Entrusted with the gospel -- 1Th 2:4. Described as Ambassadors for Christ. -- 2Co 5:20. Ministers of Christ. -- 1Co 4:1. Stewards of the mysteries of God. -- 1Co 4:1. Defenders of the faith. -- Php 1:7. The servants of Christ's people. -- 2Co 4:5. Specially protected by God -- ”
  10. Ezekiel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ezekiel 2:4: Thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord - Let them know that what thou hast to declare is the message of the Lord, that they may receive it with reverence. Every preacher of God's word should take heed that it is God's message he delivers to the people. Let him not suppose, because it is according to his own creed or confession of faith, that therefore it is God's word. False doctrines and fallacies without end are foisted on the world in this way. Bring the creed first to the Word of God, and scrupulously try whether it be right; and when this is done, leave ”
  11. 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 6:6: By the word of truth,.... By preaching the Gospel, truly, sincerely, without any adulteration of it, which comes from the God of truth, has for its subject matter Christ, who is the truth, and into which ministers are guided by the Spirit of truth, and every doctrine of which is truth: by the power of God; accompanying the word to the conversion and salvation of multitudes of souls; or by the signs, wonders, and miracles which were wrought for the confirmation of it: by the armour of righteousness, on the right hand, and on the left: meaning, either the whol”
  12. Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 14:7: Saying with a loud voice,.... These ministers shall lift up their voice like a trumpet, and cry aloud, and deliver out the Gospel fully and faithfully, with great authority and power, and with much vehemence, zeal, and fervency: fear God; or "the Lord", as some copies, the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions, read: not the antichristian beast and his followers, as men formerly had done; but God the Lord, and him not with a servile fear, or a fear of punishment, of wrath, hell, and damnation; nor with a distrust of his grace, love, power, and providence, much less ”
  13. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 22:21: That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth,.... Such are the doctrines of the Gospel; they are "the words of truth"; are written in the Scriptures of truth; come from the God of truth; the subject matter of which is Christ, who is the truth, and which the Spirit of truth leads into: there is a "certainty" in these; they are in the sure word of prophecy; are contained in the inspired and infallible word of God, and are no other than the Gospel of God; nothing is more sure than that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and truly and pr”
  14. 2 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 13:8: For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth - As we are the apostles of God, we cannot bring to you any false doctrine; and, as we profess to be under the influence of God's Spirit, we cannot do any thing that is opposed to that truth, or which might be prejudicial to it. On the contrary, what we say and do is for that truth, to propagate and establish it. The Gospel of Jesus is truth; and my testimony concerning it is truth also. In my coming, and in my rod, you have nothing to fear, if you retain and abide in this truth.”
  15. 1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 2:1: When I came to you - Acting suitably to my mission, which was to preach the Gospel, but not with human eloquence, Co1 1:17. I declared to you the testimony, the Gospel, of God, not with excellency of speech, not with arts of rhetoric, used by your own philosophers, where the excellence of the speech recommends the matter, and compensates for the want of solidity and truth: on the contrary, the testimony concerning Christ and his salvation is so supremely excellent, as to dignify any kind of language by which it may be conveyed. See the Introduction, Section 2.”
  16. Ephesians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ephesians 4:15: But, speaking the truth in love - The truth recommended by the apostle is the whole system of Gospel doctrine; this they are to teach and preach, and this is opposed to the deceit mentioned above. This truth, as it is the doctrine of God's eternal love to mankind, must be preached in love. Scolding and abuse from the pulpit or press, in matters of religion, are truly monstrous. He who has the truth of God has no need of any means to defend or propagate it, but those which love to God and man provides. Grow up into him - This is a continuance of the metaphor taken”
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