Buying the Truth - Charles Spurgeon

Buying the Truth

John Bunyan pictures the pilgrims as passing through Vanity Fair, a place filled with all kinds of merchandise—representing the pomps, vanities, lusts, and pleasures of the present life and the flesh. When the dealers saw these strange pilgrims enter the fair, they began to cry out, just as shopkeepers do: “Buy, buy, buy—buy this, and buy that.” There were priests in the Italian row with their crucifixes and beads, those in the German row with their philosophies and metaphysics, and those in the French row with their fashions and prettinesses. However, the pilgrims‘ response to all the dealers was simple: “We buy the truth; we buy the truth.” Had the men of the Fair not laid them by the heels in a cage, they would have continued on their way, one to go to heaven in a chariot of fire, and the other to pursue his journey alone.

This is a reflection of the genuine Christian at all times. Surrounded by vendors offering all kinds of attractive but deceptive things, the Christian’s only safe path through Vanity Fair is to buy the truth. If, additionally, they follow the advice to never sell it, they will, under divine guidance, make their way to the skies. “Buy the truth, and sell it not.”

The Parable of the Merchant:

The parable we’ve just considered is an expansion of our text. The merchantman travels the world in search of a pearl that has no flaw, a diamond of the purest water fit to glisten in the crown of royalty. After much searching, he finally finds a gem unlike any other. Recognizing its unmatched value, he joyfully sells everything he owns to purchase it. Similarly, the text tells us that truth is the one pearl beneath the skies that is worth having. Whatever else we may choose not to buy, we must buy the truth. And whatever else we may have to sell, we must never sell the truth. It is a treasure that will last when gold has corroded, silver has rusted, and all the riches of men have vanished. “Buy the truth”—here is the treasure. It may cost you everything, but it is worth the price. You may give all for it, but take nothing in exchange, for nothing else is comparable.

I. The Commodity that is Spoken of:

Buy the truth.” Tonight, I shall not speak of the common forms of truth related to politics, history, science, or ordinary life. Yet, I must say that in all these matters, we must buy the truth. Never be afraid to seek the truth, no matter how it might challenge your prejudices. Even if truth proves you to be wrong, accept it. Though it may cost you dearly, pursue it. In the end, those who build upon speculations, fancies, and errors will see their works consumed by the fire. But those who build upon the truth, like gold, silver, and precious stones, will withstand the trying fire of the coming ages.

Religious Truth:

Now, I speak of religious truth. Buy that above all others. There are three aspects of this truth:

1. Doctrinal Truth: Buy the truth in matters of doctrine. Holy Scripture is the standard of truth. Thy word is truth.” If anything speaks contrary to this word, it is not true. We must aim to understand and hold to the true doctrine as taught in the Bible. Do not consider any error as harmless—truth is precious, and even small errors can have significant consequences. Many today believe they are saved because of rituals like baptism or church attendance, yet they are not looking to Christ alone for salvation. Avoid this; buy the truth, which is found in the gospel: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.

We also hear too much of “regeneration without faith”—the belief that infants are regenerated without understanding. Beware of such misconceptions. True regeneration always leads to repentance and faith in Christ. Only this kind of transformation is genuine.

2. Experimental Truth: This refers to the truth experienced within. It is easy to deceive oneself into thinking that one is converted, but true conversion is evidenced by repentance and a changed life. Faith must not be dry or mere talk. It must be heartfelt and accompanied by a deep conviction of sin. If your faith does not change your life, it is not true faith. A living faith struggles with sin and strives to be more like Christ. Beware of a life that lacks spiritual struggles, for true spiritual life involves conflict between grace and sin.

3. Practical Truth: This is about living consistently with the truth in your actions. As Christians, we must not only profess Christ but also live as His followers. Integrity, honesty, and uprightness should characterize our actions. In every sphere of life, there is a truthful way to do things, and there is a deceptive way. We must walk straight, without resorting to dishonesty or deceit. When you act truthfully, whether in the market or in your personal life, you are living out the truth.

II. How this Commodity is Obtained:

Buy the truth.” Some might think that Christ, salvation, and truth can be bought with money. In one sense, they can be bought, but in another, they cannot. Salvation is a free gift—”without money and without price.” You cannot earn salvation. It is the result of God’s mercy, not human merit.

What, then, does the text mean by “buying” the truth? First, it means you must be willing to give up everything that stands in the way of receiving salvation. Every sin must be abandoned. You cannot hold on to sin and still expect to be saved. Whether it is drunkenness, immorality, greed, or pride, you must give it up if you wish to follow Christ. Secondly, you must give up your self-righteousness. Many people trust in their good deeds or religious rituals to save them, but they must let go of these false securities. Trust only in Christ and His finished work.

Additionally, buying the truth may require a deep and painful experience. It might mean sorrow and heart-searching, but it is better to experience this than to be deceived. If the truth costs you pain, embrace it. It is better to suffer now and gain eternal life than to avoid pain and miss salvation.

Lastly, buying the truth means you must be willing to hold to it at all costs, even if it means losing your job, your reputation, or your life. Like the martyrs who were burned at the stake for their faith, you must be willing to suffer for the truth. Stand firm for the right, even if it brings you hardship or death.

III. Paraphrasing the Text:

“Buy the truth.” Here, I say: buy only the truth. Do not waste your life and resources on lies. Many are doing so, spending money and effort to build falsehoods. Do not be deceived by the glittering lies that the world offers. Test everything by the Word of God—if it does not stand the test, reject it.

Buy the truth at any price. If you lose everything for the truth, but gain heaven in return, you have made a good bargain. You may not need to lose your peace of mind, but if you lose everything else for Christ, it is worth it. Do not compromise with Christ. Give everything for the truth.

Buy all the truth. Do not pick and choose the parts that suit you. Accept the whole truth, even if it challenges your understanding or contradicts your personal preferences. The entire Word of God is truth, and every part of it must be embraced.

Buy now the truth. Do not wait. You may not have another opportunity. If you reject the truth now, you may find that it is too late—”Too late, too late! Ye cannot enter now!”

Conclusion:

In conclusion, buy the truth—buy it at any cost, buy all of it, and buy it now. Do not delay in accepting the truth of God’s Word and the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the treasure that will endure forever.

IV. The Reasons for This Purchase

You want the truth, and you will never be received by God at last unless you bring the truth in your right hand. Only the truthful can enter those gates of pearl. You want the truth now. You are not fit to live any more than to die without an interest in the truth as it is in Jesus. Accept Christ to be truly yours, so truly yours as to make you true. You know not how to fight the battle of life at all without the truth. Your life will be a blunder, and the close of it will be a disaster, unless you buy the truth. God grant that you may buy the truth now. You need it. You need it now, and you will forever need it. Oh, I would to God that that hymn we sang should not merely be heard by you, but felt by you:

“Hasten, sinner, to be wise,
And stay not for the morrow’s sun.

Oh, that fatal “tomorrow”! Over the cliffs of “tomorrow” millions have fallen to their ruin. Tomorrow, ay, tomorrow! Here are these put-offs, and these delays, and yet God has never given you a promise of mercy tomorrow. His word is “Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” A better day shall never come than this day. Oh, that you would accept it now.

“If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all.”

And till times are more propitious, if you wait, you will wait forever and for aye. God grant you may buy the truth now, for the text is in the present tense, for now you need it.

V. The Market Where You Can Buy It

These are the words of Jesus Christ when He appeared to His servant John, “I counsel thee, buy of me,” said He. There is no place where truth can be found in its power and life, except in Jesus Christ. Truth is in His blood; it will wash away what is false in you. Truth is in His Spirit; it will eradicate what is dark and vile in you. His love will make you true by conforming you to Himself. Come to Christ. Bring nothing with you. Come as you are, empty-handed, penniless, and poor. The rills of milk and wells of wine are all with Him. He is the banquet-giver, and the banquet too. To trust Him is to live. To look to Him alone for salvation is to find salvation in that look. Oh, that these simple words might point someone to the place where they shall buy the truth! And now let me repeat my text again, “Buy the truth.”

Do not misread it. It does not say “hear about the truth.” That is a good thing, but hearing is not buying, as many of you tradesmen know to your cost. You may tell people where to go, but you do not want them merely to hear; you are not content with that; you want them to buy. Oh, that some of you, my hearers, would become buyers of the truth! I know some of you. I happen to look about, and find here and there one—some of you, whom I know, and respect, and esteem, and pray for. I had thought that you would have bought the truth long ago, and it often staggers me why you have not. Oh, that you were decided for God! I am afraid I am preaching some of you into a hardened state. If the gospel does not save you, it will certainly be a curse to you, and I am afraid it is being so to some of you. Do think of this, I pray you! Why should you and I have the misery of doing each other harm when our intention is on both sides, I am sure, to do that which is kind and good? Oh, yield you to my Master. The Light of the World is with His hand at your door knocking tonight softly. Do you not hear the knock of the hand that was pierced? Admit Him! He comes not in wrath; He comes in mercy. Admit Him! He has tarried long, even these many years, but no frown is yet upon His brow. Rise now and let Him in. Be not ashamed. Though ashamed, be not afraid, but let Him in, and blushing, with tears in your face, say to Him, “My Lord, I will trust Thee; worthless worm as I am, I will depend upon Thee.” Oh, that you would do it now, this moment! The Lord give you grace to do it! Do not hear about it only, but buy the truth.

Do not merely commend the truth by saying, “The preacher spoke well, and he spoke earnestly, and I love what he said.” The preacher had almost rather that you said nothing than that, if you do not buy the truth. How It provokes the salesman when a customer says, “Yes, it is a beautiful article, and very cheap, and just what I want,” and then walks out of the shop. Nay, buy the truth, and you shall commend it better afterward, and your commendation shall be worth the hearing.

And, I pray you, do not stand content with merely knowing about the truth. Oh, how much some of you know! How much more you know than even some of God’s people. You could correct many of my blunders. But ah! he that knows is nowhere unless he also has. To know about bread will not stay my hunger; to know that there are riches at the bank will not fill my pocket. Buy the truth, as well as know it; that is, make it your own.

And do not, I pray you, intend to buy it. Oh, intentions, intentions, intentions! The road to hell—not hell—that is a mistake of the proverb—the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Oh, ye laggards, pull up the paving stones and hurl them at the devil’s head. He is ruining you; he is decoying you to your destruction. Turn your intentions into actions, and no longer intend to buy, but buy the truth.

And do not tonight wish that the truth were yours, but buy it. You say the cost is too great. Too great? It is nothing. It is “without money and without price.” Do you mean, however, to say that it is too great a cost to give up a sin? What, will you burn in hell rather than give up a lust? Will you dwell in everlasting burnings forever, sooner than give up those cups that intoxicate you? Must you have your silly wantonness, and lascivious mirth, or any kind of sin? Must you have it? Will you sooner have it than heaven? Then, sirs, your blood be on your own heads. You have been warned. I hope you are sober, and have not yet gone to madness, and if you be, you will see that no pleasures of an hour can ever recompense for casting yourselves under the anger of God forever and forever. Buy the truth. Do not merely talk about it, and wish for it, but buy, buy the truth.

VI. A Warning as to Losing the Purchase

Sell it not.” My time has gone, and therefore, as I never like to exceed it, there shall be but these few words. When you have once got the truth, I know you will not sell it. You will not, I am sure, at any price; but the exhortation, nevertheless, is a most proper one. There have been some who have sold the truth to be respectable. They used to hear the gospel, but now they have got on in the world, and keep a carriage, and they do not like to go where there are so many poor people, so away they go where they can hear anything or nothing, so that they may be respectable. Ah! I have the uttermost contempt for this affectation of gentility and respectability that leads men to be so mean as to forsake their Christian friends. Let them go; they are best gone. Such chaff had better not be with the wheat, and those that can be actuated by such motives are too base to be worth retaining.

Some sell the truth for a livelihood. I pity these far more. I must have a situation; therefore, I must do what I am told there; I must break this law of God and that, for I must keep my family.” Ah! poor soul, I pity thine unfortunate position, but I pray that thou mayest have grace even now to play the man, and never sell the truth, even for bread.

Some sell the truth for the pleasures of the world. They must have enjoyment, they say, and so they will mingle with the multitude that do evil, and give up their Christian profession.

Others seem to sell the truth for nothing at all. They merely go away from Christ because religion has grown stale with them. They are weary of it, and they go away. I shall put the question painfully to all, Will ye also go away? Will ye to be respectable, will ye to have a livelihood, will ye to have the pleasures of sin for a season, will ye out of sheer weariness—will ye go away? Nay, we can add:

“What anguish has that question stirred,
If I will also go!
Yet, Lord, relying on thy Word,
I humbly answer, No.”

Sell it not; sell it not; it cost Christ too dear. Sell it not; you made a good bargain when you bought it. Sell it not. Sell it not; it has not disappointed you; it has satisfied you, and made you blessed. Sell it not; you want it. Sell it not; you will want it. The hour of death is coming on, and the day of judgment is close upon its heels. Sell it not; you cannot buy its like again; you can never find a better. Sell it not; you are a lost man if you part with it. Remember Esau, and the morsel of meat, and how he would again have found his birthright if he could. Remember Demas; remember Judas, the son of perdition. You are lost without it. It is your life. Skin for skin, yea all that you possess, part with for it, and be resolved, come fair or come foul, come storm or come calm, come sickness or come health, come poverty or come wealth, come death itself in the grimmest form, yet none shall separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus your Lord, and none shall make you part from the truths you have learned and received from His Word, the truths you have felt and have had wrought into your soul by His Spirit, and the truths which in action you desire should tone and color all your life.

God bless you, dear friends, and keep you, and when the Great Shepherd shall appear, may you have the mark of truth upon you, and appear with Him in glory.

Buying the Truth
Charles Spurgeon