1 John 2:21 KJV
[21] I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
I remember a Bible college teacher who often used a particular quote when he wanted to challenge us to study. He would say, “A good Bible student is a student of the Bible to his grave”. This has stayed with me down through the years and has served as a reminder of the importance of learning and relearning what has been written.
I’m sure you have heard the saying, “anything worth saying once is worth repeating twice”. John certainly believed this and states it in our verse. He is not writing something new to these believers, but he is simply reinforcing what has already been said. Repetition is important because it helps to reinforce the truth that we have been given.
True believers who have a love for the truth do not mind repetition. While we are learning new truths in the word of God, it is still good to be reminded of what we have heard and already know. The gospel has been preached over and over in the presence of the saints, but how pleasant it is each time we hear it. The old story never grows old because it is true.
Truth is what makes something worth repeating. Our verse is clear that truth and lies are mutually exclusive. We can repeat the Bible again and again because it is all truth and free from all lies. Those who doubt the truths of the Bible will believe a lie. For there is nothing else to believe if you reject truth. Those who receive it will forever love it and want to hear it time and time again. If you know the truth, then you know you don’t need anything else. You don’t need something new and improved, because you are satisfied by hearing what has helped you down through the years. I close with a quote from an old song that says, “Oh tell me that story, that story so precious”. Truth doesn’t have to be new, it just needs to be repeated.