The whole Bible, and the whole of experience, bear witness that by nature we are ignorant of the truth. No doubt there are many truths which an unconverted man does know. He may know the truths of mathematics and arithmetic – he may know many of the common everyday truths; but still it cannot be said that an unconverted man knows the truth, for Christ is the truth. Christ may be called the key-stone of the arch of truth.

Take away the key-stone of an arch, and the whole becomes a heap of rubbish. The very same stones may be there, but they are all fallen, smothered, and confused – without order – without end. Just so – take Christ away, and the whole arch of truth may be there; but they are all fallen – without coherence – without order – without end. Christ may be called the sum of the system of truth.

Take away the sun out of our system, and every planet would rush into confusion. The very same planets would be there; but their conflicting forces would draw them hither and thither, orb dashing against orb in endless perplexity. Just so – take Christ away, and the whole system of truth rushes into confusion. The same truths may be in the mind, but all conflicting and jarring in inextricable mazes; for ‘the path of the wicked is as darkness; they know not at what they stumble.’ But let Christ be revealed to an unconverted soul – let it not be merely a man speaking about Christ unto him – but let the Spirit of God reveal him, and there is revealed, not a truth, but the truth. You put the key-stone into the arch of truth; you restore the sun to the center of the system. All truth becomes orderly and serviceable in that mind.

Now he knows the truth with regard to himself. Did the Son of God really leave the bosom of the Father to bear wrath in our stead? – then I must be under wrath. Did the Lord Jesus become a servant, that he might obey the will of God instead of sinners? – then I must be without any righteousness, a child of disobedience.

Again, knowing Christ, he knows the truth with regard to God. Did God freely give up his Son to the death for us all? – then, if I believe in Jesus, there is no condemnation to me. God is my Father, and God is love.

My friends, have you seen Christ, who is the truth? Has he been revealed to you, not by flesh and blood, but by the Spirit of our God? Then you know how true it is that in him ‘are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge’ – that he is the ‘Alpha and Omega,’ the beginning and the ending of all knowledge. But if you have not seen Christ, then you know nothing yet as you ought to know; all your knowledge is like a bridge without a key-stone – like a system without a sun. What good will it do you in hell, that you knew all the sciences in the world – all the events of history, and all the busy politics of your little day? Do you not know that your very knowledge will be turned into an instrument of torture in hell?

Oh, how will you wish in that day that you had read your newspaper less and your Bible more – that with all your getting you had got understanding – and that with all your knowledge you had known the Savior, whom to know is life everlasting. (Online source)

Robert Murray M’Cheyne

See also:

DR. JOHN MACARTHUR ON SATANIC AL QAEDA IMBEDDED IN VISIBLE CHURCH

DESTINY-DRIVEN DOMINIONISM AND RICK WARREN

EMERGING CHURCH PROPHETS FOLLOWING THEIR OWN SPIRIT

BIG TENT PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY AS LIBERALISM 2.0

LIBERALISM 2.0 THE NEW PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY  

THE EMERGING CHURCH AND THE NEW PROGRESSIVE THEOLOGY ON CHRIST 

THE EMERGING CHURCH AND THE NEW PROGRESSIVE THEOLOGY ON OTHER RELIGIONS