VALIDITY OF THE BIBLE
BY J.E.L.
All Scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. -2 Tim. iii:16,17.
What a wonderful
declaration is this! No other book but the Bible gives perfect rules of living,
and vouchsafes to the inquirer a thorough
furnishing “unto all good works.” To a mind unbiased by the “isms” of the
age this Scriptural truth is a comprehensive statement, and a conclusive one as
well.
Its acceptance secures
to us a ready ear and willing mind, and begets within us a strong desire for
the World which is able to make us “wise unto salvation through faith which is
in Christ Jesus.”-(2 Tim. iii:15.) There is no need that any one in this land
of Bibles should remain in ignorance of the mind, the will and purpose of God.
If god’s Word is true we should regard it above all things; if it is not true,
nothing is true.
But I hear some say that
its truths have been corrupted through wrong interpretation and perverted
translation, and, holding this idea, they dare to change some of its sacred
statutes, set others at naught, yea, “cast them out as evil.”
Only a day or two ago I
heard a Bible truth caviled at because it was recorded in but one of the
Gospels, and was no therefore sufficiently corroborated to be received as
truth. I experience intense pain when I behold in many the ready acceptance of
ruinous ideas which fasten themselves so adroitly upon the mind and conscience
as to exclude all further desire to know the truth.
Unbelief on our pat will
never make the truth of God “of none effect.” Howsoever we think it ought to
read, whatsoever we think it out to teach, is nothing to the case as long as
the word of the Lord “standeth sure.” If God permitted the Bible to contain
something of truth and something of error, to whose wisdom should we say, “Let
your judgment decide what the Bible should, and what it should not teach.”
It is an alarming fact
that many are resting present and future interests upon the words of uninspired
men, and are rejecting the “counsel of the Most High.”
The Divine comment upon
the inspired Word as given in our Saviour’s prayer, is: “Thy Word is truth”
(St. John xvii:17); and again He says of the Scriptures, “They are they which
testify of Me.”-(St. John v:39.) God’s word will be forever manifest; trifled
with in time, yet as true in time as it will be in eternity. How solemn the
admonition of our Lord, “He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word
that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”-(St. John
xii:48.)
O, how fearful the folly
of acknowledging a deliberate rejection of the revealed Word; to offer as the
fruit of such privileges as this land of Bibles affords us, a barren doubting
soul! To confess that the “Word of Life,” which is able to make us “wise unto
salvation,” has remained before us all our lives a closed, abandoned Volume;
its teachings disregarded; its truths deemed unimportant!
If any urge the argument
of perverted translation, or take refuge in the supposition that only a part of
the Bible is true, we would answer from the Word itself; “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” “Hear and your soul
shall live.” Can we think that the Holy One ha wrought a work for naught? Can
we think that the Power which moved the pen in the “original” Scriptures,
became too weak to guide a later pen?
“Behold He that keepeth
Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep:” “He that keepeth thee will not
slumber.” “The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy
soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time
forth, and even for evermore.”-(Psa. cxxi.) Such is the mind and language of
God toward His saints; and could there ever be a time when He would be
indifferent to His Word, His truth, His honor and consequently His interest in
the welfare of mankind?
O, our God who is “blessed
for evermore” has revealed His mind
and His will to the “children of men”!
The bible is filled with
the “greatness of His power;” therein He has chosen to reveal Himself in
language “fitly spoken” and unmistakably true. He Who “keepeth” and “preserveth
His saints” has also kept and preserved the representation of His adorable will
and counsel; He has never guarded it with jealous care for His great Name’s
sake.
The Word reveals itself
only to those who come to it with sincere desire and full purpose of heart to
explore its riches. We never gain a thorough knowledge of anything by chance,
and yet there are many who spend years in vain apprehensions and mystified uncertainties
without seeking to gain knowledge of the Bible by continued application. While
this is sadly true I rejoice that many, very many are resting their confidence
in God’s Word just as it is, and are following His dear commands just as they
read.
Christians have no
fears, because the responsibility of the validity of God’s Word rests with Him
and not with us. If we keep His commandments to the extend of our ability we
have “confidence toward God.” We are told that the “willing and obedient,”
shall “eat the good of the land.”
Jesus says, “He that
hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.” Whatsoever
observes God’s commands finds that “in keeping of them there is great reward.”
Surely we know this form our own experience and from the experience of others.
The spirit of constant,
careful obedience to Scriptural commands is not much valued in this “age of
reason,” but it is a jewel that shall count us most when the “Judge of all the
earth” allots their portions to the “children of men.” “Then shall ye return,
and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God
and him that serveth Him not.
