Truth Magazine

By Jerry Parks

One of the most important factors in spreading the gospel is to get people interested in studying God’s word. We are living in a day and time when this is easier said than done. There are distractions on every hand. People have more and can do more in this generation than at any other time in the history of man. There has been a great surge in recreational and sports activities. Often, in order that these activities might be pursued, husbands and wives must work one or two jobs, which makes the pace of life even more hectic. Young people are involved in a thousand and one school activities. All of this tends to make people overly concerned about the material things of life and to minimize the importance of being concerned about the soul.

What this means is that to get people to study their Bible is becoming progressively more difficult. This is a problem that is obviously being felt in the religious world in general and within the Lord’s church in particular. Many have resorted to all sorts of gimmicks and carnal prizes to try to interest people in spiritual matters. Certainly, we should not become so frustrated that we resort to unscriptural methods to try to win souls to Christ. We should, however, be aware of every legitimate method and use them to their fullest potential. I firmly believe that an effectively run Bible Correspondence Course has great potential. The church in Bancroft Canada started as a result of a number of people learning the truth through a Bible Correspondence Course that was offered by another congregation 225 miles away. In two years, over 50 people were baptized and phenomenal growth has continued in that area. Certainly the course was not the only thing that led to the conversion of these people. There were follow-up visits, home studies, etc., but the Correspondence Course method played an important part in leading these people to Christ. This illustrates the potential we are talking about.

Success or Failure?

There are a number of factors that Will help to determine whether a Correspondence Course will be successful or not.

1. It is imperative that you know how to organize and conduct every phase of the work at the time it is started. There is more involved than simply ordering some lessons from the supply house. When a Bible Correspondence Course Program is started without some forethought arid preparation, costly mistakes will be made, students will be lost, and usually the program will die within a few weeks.

2. If a Bible Correspondence Course is to be successful, there must be someone capable and willing to take the helm. When the responsibility for the course is left to everyone, usually, the responsibility is fulfilled by no one. The church in Kettering has a very successful Correspondence Course. At the present time, we have enrolled approximately 1800 students. This has been done in less than three years. There are at least 25 people, members of the Kettering church, who assist alternately with the grading and mailing of these lessons; but without the dedicated efforts of one man (Brother Aubrey Measel) who has taken the responsibility to run the program, it simply would not have been successful. Brother Measel has been very systematic. His responsibilities are manifold. He takes care of such things as:

a. Ordering lessons.

b. Preparing form letters that are mailed with various lessons.

c. Purchasing envelopes and stationary.

d. Advertising (evaluating various forms.

e. Arranging the grading and mailing system so that it is efficient.

f . Maintaining a list of helpers.

g. Motivating others to become involved in the program.

h. Training helpers.

i. Double checking all graded lessons.

j . Presenting monthly reports to the congregation.

k. Answering all questions that are received from B.C.C. students.

1. Putting students in contact with churches in various parts of the country.

m. Seeing that the mail is picked up every day.

n. Seeing that records are kept for all students.

I am sure there are many other things that are involved in the directors’ duties, but these are sufficient to show what an important job it is.

3. The cooperation of the congregation is also important to the success of the Correspondence Course. The program must fit the overall program of the church. If it is simply viewed as a passing novelty rather than a valuable teaching medium, it will not last. When members cooperate, talk it up etc., it will help to recruit new students. The course can and should be used in connection with the personal work program of the church. Following up the leads from the course is imperative. Those who have taken the course make excellent prospects since they have received first principle instruction through the course already. Many who would never come to the building to receive instruction are willing to study through this method.

How To Get Started

When we become convinced that a Bible Correspondence Course is an effective means of spreading the gospel, and determine that we want to be successful with such a program, the neit logical question is “Where do we begin?” “How do we get started?”

1. Secure material. There are a number of good courses available for your use, such as:

a. Visualized Bible Correspondence Course by Jule Miller (5 lessons).

b. Know Your Bible by Gene Tope (6 lessons). This is published by Cogdill Foundation.

c. Studies in the Bible by Monroe Hawley (30 lessons).

d. Foundations in Faith by Monroe Hawley (30 lessons).

These are just a few of the many courses that are available through various book stores. You might prefer to prepare your own material. We use the John Hurt, eight-lesson course and have had good results with it. This course is very popular and does a fine job of presenting first principle truths.

2. The Congregation Can Help. While such courses are thought of as being for those outside the church, the easiest way of getting started is by enrolling as many of the local members as possible and asking them in turn, to enroll at least three others who are not members of the church. This will automatically generate far more interest in the program than would otherwise be possible. Usually, members of the congregation are more than willing to cooperate in this matter when it is made clear that their help is really needed in order to make the program effective. By involving the members in the course, they will be more familiar with the material and the procedures involved. Being familiar with the course makes it a lot easier to tell others about it. By having personally taken the course, you will be able to confidently recommend it to others. You might circulate a paper in the adult and teen classes and let interested people sign their name if they are willing to take the course. With this nucleus the course will soon pyramid. Continue to emphasize the program through bulletins, etc. Keep people informed as to the results that are being achieved. Remember, enthusiasm is contagious!

3. Advance preparation. In addition to the ideas thus far presented, there are a number of other things to do before initiating your Correspondence Course. You need a room or corner where the supply of materials can be properly arranged. Perhaps a rack on the wall or a shelf to hold the various lessons and form letters. This way you can see at a glance if you are running low on any particular lesson or letter. Also, a desk or working area is needed so that those volunteering to help will have a place to do the work with all the supplies at hand. If the materials and supplies are shuffled around from house to house and no standard procedure for grading and mailing is followed, the whole thing will be a hopeless mess in a few short weeks.

Check with the Post Office regarding mailing procedures, weights and restrictions. A good knowledge of postal regulations will save a lot of headaches. Keep plenty of stamps on hand as well as envelopes and other standard supplies. Decide on a convenient mailing address and have a rubber stamp made so that envelopes, etc. may be quickly addressed. In most cases it is best to have the stamp say “Bible Correspondence Course” rather than “church of Christ” to avoid any possible prejudice to the first lesson.

Mailing the Lessons

The following procedure has proven very successful for the church in Kettering.

1. Mail Lesson One and Lesson Two together with a letter of introduction and a small return envelope so that the test sheet can be mailed back to you. Be sure to stamp your address in the center of the return envelope. We also put the postage on the return envelope to try to get a maximum return. It is usually very important to pay the postage both ways on all lessons since many people will otherwise lay the lessons aside, intending to mail them when they get some stamps.

2. We include in the form letter, instructions for the student to finish Lesson One and send it in with the enclosed envelope. While Lesson One is in route, they have Lesson Two in hand. This keeps their interest at a maximum and speeds up their completion.

3. When we receive Lesson One, we grade it and send it back to the student along with Lesson Three and so on. Before we send it back, however, we record the following information on their enrollment card:

a. Date last lesson was received.

b. Grade.

c. Mailing date.

This information is important in order that delinquent students may be contacted before they become completely disinterested. One other helpful hint along this line; give each student a number. Put this number on the enrollment card and also on each lesson mailed out. This eliminates the problem created when students forget to put their names on the test sheets.

4. When we mail Lesson Four we also include another form letter and three enrollment cards requesting the names of other prospective students. This has proven very effective for enrolling new students.

5. When the student has finished the course, a completion certificate is filled out and either sent along with the last graded test or else delivered to the student in person. This personal contact is extremely important for the program to be really effective.

One somewhat discouraging note that needs to be mentioned is that often when we mail the name and address of a student to a local church or preacher in the same area as the student., we find that little effort is made to contact and study with these people. This is sad indeed! We ought to be thrilled to receive the names and addresses of these potential prospects. Some of the students have even indicated a desire to be baptized. I will take a thousand leads like that any day!

Advertising

Without a doubt, the best advertising for a correspondence course is word of mouth. That is why it is so important for the members of the local congregation to get behind the effort and to tell their friends about the “free home Bible study course.”

1. Cards. Encourage members to carry advertising cards with them. You would be surprised how often you will have an opportunity to give someone a card or enroll them in the course. One great place to try to sign up people for the course is at “Garage Sales.” These sales have become as “American” as “Apple Pie and Ice Cream.” If you have a garage sale, why not keep a stack of cards handy? If you are spending an afternoon and all your extra money going to garage sales, why not take along some cards and give them to people that you converse with? This is just one example. There are many ways that you could inform people of such a course. Let us be “fishers of men” and use the many opportunities to evangelize the world.

2. Newspapers. Another form of advertising is through newspapers and magazines. This is a great deal more expensive, but it can be very effective. The church I mentioned earlier in Bancroft, Canada resulted from an ad placed in the local paper. We have received many names from placing an occasional ad in Grit Magazine.

3. Door-to-door. Another method of advertising such a course is door-to-door canvassing. In some areas, this method is probably more effective than in other areas, but usually several interested people can be found.

4. Others. There are a number of other promotional possibilities, such as radio and television, fair booths, Dia1A-Prayer, etc.

What About Cost?

Probably the nicest thing about a Bible Correspondence Course is that you can regulate the cost. As you increase your advertising, your number enrolled will also increase. At Kettering, we try to maintain a budget of $100.00 per month for our course. Having begun the course three years ago, we now have spent approximately $3500.00 total on the course. We have enrolled students in 45 states and also Canada.

Results

While we have not had the phenomenal results such as in Bancroft, we have baptized five and restored one as a direct result of the course. There have been fourteen requests for home Bible studies. Scores of tracts have been sent, several books have been sent as well as dozens of Bibles. Hundreds of letters and notes of encouragement have been written. It is difficult to say how many hours have been spent in answering questions raised by the students, but there have indeed been many. We have a yearly goal of 600 new members.

Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.” A good, effectively run Bible Correspondence Course is truly a wonderful way to reach the lost with the gospel which Paul said is the power of God unto salvation.

Truth Magazine XXII: 23, pp. 374-376
June 8, 1978

By Peter McPherson

Disciples

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Mt. 28:19 – NASB).

Either the lexicographers are mistaken in defining the Greek words for “disciple” as “a learner” plus “a follower” and “an adherent,” or the wording “make disciples” and “baptizing” both refer to the same thing. W. E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says that in Matthew 13:52; 28:19 and in Acts 14:21 the meaning of “disciple” (Greek: Mathetuo) is one “who hath been made a disciple.” He notes that the word used in these verses is in the “transitive sense in the active voice.” But if one “has been made a disciple” before baptism and “disciple” means an “adherent” and a “follower” then one would be so before and without baptism! Hence, he would be saved before baptism! The following foot-note on Matthew 28:19 from Berry’s Greek Interlinear is now both interesting and very important. The word used here for “baptizing,” he notes (as he refers us to Trench), is “having baptized” (See Synonyms Of The New Testament by R. C. Trench-pp. 345, 346). So, if you are still with me, it is not, Step one: Disciple; Step two: Baptize. But rather that “baptizing them” and “make disciples” are equivalent terms. “Having baptized” them is the same as “having made disciples.” Further, is it possible then that the antecedent of “them” refers back to the people of all nations in exactly the same way as “make disciples” refers to the people of all nations.

Anyway, the task is clear. “Disciple” all nations! “Baptize” people everywhere! This we must ever strive to do however great the charge and however enormous the territory. We must begin where we are. We must do what we can..

Learners

Before one can become a “disciple” or a Christian- a baptized believer- that person will have to become a learner. Jesus said, on one occasion, “But go and learn (Greek: manthano). Again, He said, “Learn of Me” (Mt. 11:29). Christianity is a sensible yet spiritual learning process. “No one can come unto Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every one who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me” (John 6:44-45).

Though many people do not want to learn spiritual things or be taught the truth and though many will reject the truth after having learned it, I am convinced that many more would become simple New Testament Christians if only they could learn about the same. But they are being taught everything but “the right ways of the Lord.” The sects are showering them with false doctrines; the cults are clobbering them with so-called new revelations; the denominations are dousing them with error; but, brethren, we need to baptize them with the truth of God. How true it is that “error can get half way around the world while truth is getting its boot straps on.” As it has been said, “Truth plods on leaden feet, while falsehood flies on eagle’s wings!” And how often we are directly to blame!

Sowers

For more and more people to learn the truth and become disciples of Christ, we will have to scatter more and more precious seed. “Behold, the sower went forth to sow,” said the Savior. The sower, you know, has reference to the preacher, the teacher, the child of God- even you. It is self-evident that no one can learn anything unless he is taught. It is axiomatic that a person cannot be taught without teaching. It goes without saying that there will be no crop produced without the seed first being sown.

It is a big mistake for some to think that example is all that is necessary. And their example is to shut-up to say nothing, to sow no seed, to spread no scripture! This keeps them at peace with every one and allows them to stay away from any controversy. It makes every one think of them as “dear gentle souls, so peaceful and quiet” but it will not get the job done. Example is only beneficial when given in addition to teaching. Surely 1 Peter 3:1 does not have in mind that husbands of Christian women would be converted to Christ without any word of the gospel at all ever being sown by word of mouth! Other scriptures make this plain (Rom. 1:16; Mk. 16:15; Rom. 10:17; etc.). Just as God’s character cannot be known through “the heavens” and “the firmament” (these only declare His “glory” and power), God’s will for man cannot be known by a Christian’s example (this only shows the contentment and peace of the Christian life). Example alone will not tell anyone how to become a Christian. Do not be fooled! It is a cop-out for cowardly brethren. They have not converted a person or saved a soul from the error of his way since they shut their mouths and stopped getting involved in open Bible study with their lost friends, relatives and erring brethren.

How much seed are you sowing? How much seed are you spreading? Echo resounds – How Much, How Much, How Much?

Scattering precious seed by the wayside,

Scattering precious seed by the hillside;

Scattering precious seed o’er the field, wide,

Scattering precious seed by the way.

In our next article we will suggest a profitable way of scattering precious seed of the’ kingdom – How you can be a Sower; getting Learners; making Disciples. I hope it excites you to action as we talk about the Know Your Bible correspondence course and give some suggestions as how to use it effectively.

Truth Magazine XXII: 23, pp. 373-374
June 8, 1978

By Mike Willis

The number of unbelievers in America seems to be increasing every year. Whether the greater majority of those who no longer attend worship services are real infidels or only practical infidels, I cannot tell. However, there is always a need to present evidences of the deity of Jesus that men might believe that He is the Christ, the Son of God. We could consider this subject from a variety of viewpoints, such as: the miracles, prophecy, His teaching, or His resurrection. However, a little used evidence of the deity of Jesus Christ is His moral glory. Jesus was the sinless Son of God.

His Relationship To Sin

When we consider the relationship which Jesus had to sin, we are impressed with His moral glory. Jesus condemned self-righteousness in His parable about prayer as He criticized the Pharisee who went up to the Temple to pray (Lk. 18:9-14). Yet, although He condemned self-righteousness, He never once confessed a sin, prayed for forgiveness of a sin, or apologized for any of His conduct. Even when the Jews came to Him saying that He made Himself to be equal with God, He never apologized for it or withdrew the claim.

Indeed, He went a step further; He challenged anyone to point to a sin in His life. He said, “Which of you convicts me of sin?” (Jn. 8:46). No one has yet to lay a sin at the feet of Jesus. He stood above the race as the only sinless man to ever live. He “was tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). Jesus Christ, our High Priest, is “holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens” (Heb. 7:26). He was offered in sacrifice for sin as a “lamb unblemished and spotless” (1 Pet. 1:19); He “offered Himself without blemish to God” (Heb. 9:14). He was guilty of no sin.

Furthermore, He claimed to have the power to forgive sin. The miracle which He performed in healing the paralytic borne of four was done to demonstrate that the “Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Mk. 2:10). He was either the most egotistical person on earth or the sinless Son of God. No one but God alone has the authority to forgive sins. The fact that Jesus claimed to have that authority must be reckoned with; He was either the Son of God or an egotistical blasphemer.

The Testimony of His Enemies

1. The Jews. When the Jews presented Jesus to Pilate for crucifixion, they had so few charges that even Pilate could recognize that Jesus was a just man. This fact cannot be ignored as it points to the moral glory of Jesus Christ.

For three long years the Pharisees were watching their victim. As another writes, “There was the Pharisee mingling in every crowd, hiding behind every tree. They examined His disciples, they cross-questioned all around Him. They looked into His ministerial life, into His domestic privacy, into His hours of retirement. They came forward with the sole accusation they could muster-that He had shown disrespect to Caesar. The Roman judge who ought to know, pronounced it void” (W. G. Morehead, The Fundamentals, Vol. III, p. 47).

2. Pontius Pilate and His wife. The Roman procurator who sentenced Jesus also testified to the innocence of Jesus. The records state:

When he (Pilate) was set down on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him saying: Have thou nothing to do with that just man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him (Mt. 27:19).

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this rust person; see ye to it (Mt. 27:24).

Both Pilate and his wife pronounced that Jesus was a just person. In order to avoid guilt with reference to Jesus, Pilate washed his hands of the matter. Indeed, he washed his hands but not his heart.

3. The Roman centurion in charge of crucifying Jesus. As this Roman soldier witnessed the events of the death of Christ, he uttered these two statements as reported by the evangelists:

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying: Truly this was the son of God (Mk. 27:54).

Now, when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man (Lk. 23:47).

Not even the Roman officer who executed Jesus was able to accuse Him of sin. No doubt, the seven sayings of Jesus while hanging on the cross were impressive to him.

4. Judas. The disciple who betrayed Jesus could not live with himself after committing that horrible deed. Judas had opportunity to be with Jesus day in and day out for three years; he knew whether or not Jesus could be charged with sin. After committing his horrible deed for thirty pieces of silver, Judas returned the money to the Jews who bought him saying, “I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood” (Mt. 27:4). He recognized the innocence of Jesus. Not being able to live with himself, he went out and hung himself.

We could add to this list the testimony of many others who are enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even those today who deny the deity of Jesus testify to His moral glory. The Jews who deny that Jesus is the Son of God recognize Him as a good moral man. The modernists who reject the deity of Jesus say that He was the best man who ever lived. Many of those who have written atheistic books still recognize that Jesus was morally clean.

The Moral Balance of Christ

Jesus was also unique in that His life was’ not morally lopsided. I have seen men so full of love that they had no appreciation for disciplining their children; others with whom I have had contact cared so much for discipline that they manifested no real love for their children, although I am sure they loved them dearly. Jesus did not manifest these lopsided attributes in His moral character.

There have been those who have displayed distinguished traits of character; those who by reason of extraordinary gifts have risen to heights which are inaccessible to the great mass of men. But who among the mightiest of men has shown himself to be evenly balanced and rightly poised in all his faculties and powers? In the very greatest and best, inequality and disproportion are encountered . . . . In Jesus Christ there is no unevenness . . . . His justice and His mercy, His peerless love and His truth, His holiness and His freest pardon never clash; one never clouds the other. His firmness never degenerates into obstinacy, or His calmness into indifference. His gentleness never becomes weakness, nor His elevation of soul forgetfulness of others . . . . “He never speaks where it would be better to keep silence, He never keeps silence where it would be better to speak; and He always leaves the arena of controversy a victor” (Ibid., p. 50).

He is justly compared with the lion in strength, and with the lamb in meekness. He equally possessed the wisdom of the serpent and the simplicity of the dove. He brought both the sword against every form of wickedness, and the peace which the world cannot give. He was the most effective, and yet the least noisy, the most radical, and yet the most conservative, calm, and patient, of all reformers. He came to fulfill every letter of the law; and yet he made all things new. The same hand which drove the profane traffickers from the Temple blessed little children, healed the lepers, and rescued the sinking disciple; the same ear which heard the voice of approbation from heaven was open to the cries of the woman in travail; the same mouth which pronounced the terrible woe on hypocrites, and condemned the impure desire and unkind feeling as well as the open crime, blessed the poor in spirit, announced pardon to the adulteress, and prayed for his murderers; the same eye which beheld the mysteries of God, and penetrated the heart of man, shed tears of compassion over ungrateful Jerusalem, and tears of friendship at the grave of Lazarus (Philip Schaff, The Person of Christ: The Miracle of History, pp. 87-89).

A Cause Without An Effect

Those who deny the deity of Jesus Christ are in the unenviable position of admitting the effect, the moral glory of Christ, without believing in a sufficient cause to have produced it. They deny that Jesus was the Son of God. If the moral purity of the character such as Jesus can be produced without supernatural causes, why has it not been produced in others than Jesus. The truth is that no other man has even touched the hem of the garment of Jesus’ moral perfection. No other man can because no other man is God incarnate.

Conclusion to closing, I would like to append this exceptional tribute to our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

His greatness is singularly unostentatious, modest, and quiet; and, far from repelling the beholder, it attracts and invites him to familiar approach. His public life never moved on the imposing arena of secular heroism, but within the humble circle of every-day life, and the simple relations of a son, a brother, a citizen, a teacher, and a friend. He had no army to command, no kingdom to rule, no prominent station to fill, no worldly favors and rewards to dispense. He was an humble individual, without friends and patrons in the Sanhedrin or at the court of Herod. He never mingled in familiar intercourse with the religious or social leaders of the nation, whom he had startled in his twelfth year by his questions and answers. He selected his disciples from among the illiterate fisherman of Galilee, and promised them no reward in this world but a part in the bitter cup of his sufferings. He dined with publicans and sinners, mingled with the common people, without ever condescending to their low manners and habits. He was so poor, that he had no place on which to rest his head. He depended, for the supply of his modest wants, on the voluntary contributions of a few pious females; and the purse was in the hands of a thief and a traitor. Nor had he learning, art, or eloquence, in the usual sense of the term, or any other kind of power by which great men arrest the attention and secure the admiration of the world. The writers of Greece and Rome were ignorant even of his existence, until, several years after the crucifixion, the effects of his mission, in the steady growth of the sect of his followers, forced from them some contemptuous notice, and then roused them to opposition.

And yet this Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science, and learning, he shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of schools, he spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of any orator or poet; without writing a single line, he set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and sweet songs of praise, than the whole army of great men of ancient and modem times. Born in a manger, and crucified as a malefactor, he now controls the destinies of the civilized world, and rules a spiritual empire which embraces one-third of the inhabitants of the globe. There never was in this world a life so unpretending, modest, and lowly in its outward form and condition, and yet producing such extra-ordinary effects upon all ages, nations, and classes of men. The annals of history produce no other example of such complete and astounding success, in spite of the absence of those material, social, literary, and artistic powers and influences which are indispensable to success for a mere man. Christ stands, in this respect also, solitary and alone among all the heroes of history, and presents to us an insolvable problem, unless we admit him to be more than man, even the eternal Son of God (Ibid., pp. 47-50).

Truth Magazine XXII: 23, pp. 371-373
June 8, 1978

By Wayne Walker

Christians believe the Bible is the “word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (1 Pet. 1:23). A question that is sometimes asked is “How do you know God would reveal Himself to man? And if He would, how do you know the Bible is His method of doing it?” Actually, this question is very old; but recently, it has been raised again as an outgrowth of the interest in oriental religions and occultism. Our purpose in this short article is to show that the Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to man.

If a person grants that God exists, then revelation from God is entirely within the realm of possibility, “for with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). With this understanding, logic and the very nature of God then show the probability of revelation. If God exists, then we are His offspring (Acts 17:28) and He will expect us to give Him an account of our lives someday (2 Cor. 5:10). It is unreasonable that a father would hold his children accountable for something he did not tell them, and the same is true of God. Since sin separates man from God (Isa. 59:1-2) and since God wants all men to be saved (2 Pet. 3:9) from eternal death in hell (Rom. 6:23), then it is only reasonable that He would reveal unto man how to rid himself of sin and live so as to gain eternal life. Jesus said He did-through the word of Christ (Matt. 11:27; John 12:48).

Not only is revelation possible and probable, but it is also necessary. Man cannot save himself-salvation does not come from within man (Jer. 10:23). Human intuition will not bring him to God, for “there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 14:12). Neither will man’s own wisdom (1 Cor. 1:21). Our own works, devised by our own minds, are worthless in God’s sight (Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5). We must turn to something outside ourselves. Many turn to nature. While it is true that nature reveals the existence and deity of God (Rom. 1:20), man left solely to nature for his information concerning God usually degenerates into worshiping and serving “the creature more than the creator” (Rom. 1:25). The reason is that the physical universe does not reveal the mind, the will of God. So a special revelation from God to man is a necessity.

This revelation would, of course, have to be understandable. Some, who claim to believe the Bible is God’s revelation to man, say that it is a book of mysteries. In order to understand it, the ordinary person needs the church to interpret the scriptures, or a trained clergy to explain them, or a special work of the Holy Spirit (such as a vision, experience, or feeling) to open his mind to the word of God. However, logic again refutes this idea. No sensible father would hold his children responsible for doing exactly what he told them when he spoke in ambiguous terms. Neither does God. Since He does expect us to do exactly what He commands (Matt. 7:21-23), then it must follow that He can be understood. This is precisely what the Bible teaches. Paul said that when you read what he wrote, “ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:3-5). Jesus said if a man wants to do God’s will, he can know the truth (John 7:17, 8:31-32) and that being healed (saved) is conditioned upon understanding (Matt. 13:15-23). Everyone who so desires can understand God’s revelation to man-if he gives diligence to examine it (Acts 17:11, 2 Tim. 2:15).

But how does this show the Bible is God’s revelation to man? Well, God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34-35). For God to give a special revelation to one and leave another without that revelation would make Him a respecter of persons, since the apostle declares He has already “given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3). It is only right that He give one standard to all men by which He reveals Himself to them. The Bible is the only record claiming inspiration that purports to be the revelation from God instead of just a revelation from God. It is the only book of religion that is completely consistent and reasonable; the only one that has been irrefutably validated by miracles and prophecy; the only one that is in full harmony with archaeology, topography, and science; and the only one that presents to the world a God who is worthy of the worship and service of mankind. We urge all men to accept the Bible as God’s revelation to man, and search its pages for His will for their lives.

Truth Magazine XXII: 23, p. 370
June 8, 1978