The question is not what is truth? rather, Who is truth? There is no doubt whatsoever. Christ’s words spoken to Thomas on the evening before His crucifixion were the essence of the gospel. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). The true Vicar (Preacher) of Christ, who is sent by Him, is the Holy Spirit. “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me” (John 15:26). The Holy Spirit’s testimony of Jesus is from the Word of God. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). Jesus is the truth.
All truth that Jesus taught, lived, and continues to reveal in His role as High Priest in the holiest by means of the Spirit of Truth, can be verified in the written Word. Any spiritual awakenings that are focused on feelings or individual enlightenment are suspect. The Spirit of Truth is not independent of that which He has inspired the prophets to write.
We are told that as the enemy nears the time when his work will be cut short by the coming of the Lord, he will work “with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thess. 2:10). “It is the love of the truth, for truth’s sake, that we must have. ... Christ is the Truth. ... Receiving the love of the truth is receiving the love of Christ.” [1] Satan does not want us to receive agape because he knows his power will be broken. As long as “self” is firmly in place, his power has not been broken in the life. The love of the truth will result in “self” being put out of the way so that one may grow up in the knowledge and stature of a man in Christ Jesus (Eph. 4:13; 3:17-19).
E. J. Waggoner and A. T. Jones broke the centuries’ old Christian synthesis of Hellenistic eros-centered love with the New Testament concept of agape. Ellen White joined them in support. “Great truths that have lain unheeded and unseen since the day of Pentecost, are to shine from God’s word in their native purity. To those who truly love God the Holy Spirit will reveal truths that have faded from the mind, and will also reveal truths that are entirely new.” [2] “At this time the Lord has precious truth to open unto us. It is not new truth, but old, old truth, although to the receiver it is new, grand, inspiring, and glorious truth. It has been rescued from the companionship of error, and has been placed in the framework of truth. Long enough have the Lord’s precious words of truth been perverted to serve the purpose of the enemy.” [3] The Advent movement is a restoration of the agape of the truth as it is in Jesus.