Truth Magazine

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

By Jimmy Tuten, Jr.

Introduction:

I. Background of the Psalm: Asaph, chief of the Levites assigned to the ministry of the praise before the Ark, by David (1 Chron. 16:4-5).

a. Announces the appearance of God “out of Zion” in judgment upon the wicked. Heaven and earth are called to witness (vv. 1, 4).

b. Twofold address:

1. Righteous exhorted to worship (vv. 14-15), and warned against too much trust in sacrifice (vv. 8-13).

2. Wicked are reproved for hypocrisy, hatred for instruction, sins in action and speech, and their base idea of the nature of God (vv. 16-21).

II. The thought that stands out in the address is that God has kept silent, but He will speak out!

a. Many sermons on “God hath spoken,” etc., but little said about the silence of God.

b. We know that when God speaks, things begin to happen. Natural laws began and ceased; by His word things were created (2 Pet. 3:5, 7; Heb. 11:3); by His word the dead shall be raised (1 Thess. 4:16).

Body:

I. God Has Spoken Unto Us Today (Heb. 1:12}-Inherent authority.

A. Christ-Authority given (Matt. 28:18). In fulfillment of prophesy (Deut. 18:18-19; Lk. 4:16-21). Hence, Jesus spake for God (Jn. 12:48-49).

B. Apostles-delegated authority. Promised the Spirit (Jn. 16:7-8, 13; 14:25), Commissioned (Matt. 28:18-20), and spoke (1 Cor. 2:12-13; Gal. 1:11-12).

1. Put into writing the New Testament (2 Pet. 3:1-2; 2 Thess. 2:15; Eph. 3:3-5).

2. Completely confirmed (Heb. 2:1-4), no more miracles (Jn. 20:30-31).

C. He now remains silent. Hence, there are “revealed” things and “secret” things (Deut. 29:29). Some things belong to God, and some to Man. Man is out of place in attempting to teach on , or about things God has not made known (Example: Wm. Miller and time of Christ’s Coming). He is not allowed to “go beyond the things that are written” (1 Cor. 4:6).

II. What The Silence of God Indicates:

A. The infallibility of the Scriptures (Jude 3). This is sufficient, no need for another. Stress “once” and “delivered.”

B. Infinite Wisdom. He speaks of authority, an, arguing parent or teacher has no control. When they speak, and hush, it is time to act!

C. Infinite Mercy (2 Pet. 3:9) cf. Psa. 50:21.

III. When God Remains Silent, Men Sin:

A. Offered bad sacrifice (Psa. 50:14-15); failed to keep vows (50:14); take covenant in their mouths (v. 16); think God to be as they are (v. 21); hate instruction (v. 17); become partakers with adulterers (v. 18); frame deceit (v. 19) and have hatred against brother (v. 20).

B. Men presume to speak for God: (Deut. 4:2). When God says nothing, man must keep silent (Heb. 7:14).

1. Moses spake nothing about priests being permitted from the tribe of Judah. God did not allow, nor permit it; he said nothing! We are not left to guess what is right. Silence does not give consent; hence, Jesus could not have served in the temple while living (Heb. 8:4).

a. Since God specified priests from the. tribe of Levi, and said nothing about the others, they were prohibited from so functioning.

b. It is this “prohibition of silence” that is taught in 1 Cor. 4:6.

2. Where the Scriptures stop, our practice should stop. We are to do what God teaches, not what He has not taught. But look what man has done:

a. Washing hands (Mk. 7:1-13). Erred in directing to God an act which he had not called for, thus they went beyond what was written.

b. Sprinkling babies—countless babies are christened (sprinkled with water) as a religious act each year, though the scriptures do not call for it.

c. Mechanical music-God tells us to sing (Col. 3:16), but is silent about instruments, just as he was silent about Judah. Not wrong as such, but in worship it is unauthorized.

d. Societies, Guilds and institutions-God specified only one organization for saints to function in the doing of the work of the Lord-the congregation (Act`s 14:23; Phil. 1:1; Rom. 16:16). Just as silent about these as Judah! Jesus spake nothing concerning human institutions.

e. Extend oversight of one eldership-God specified the work of elders to be over “the flock which is among you” (1 Pet. 5:1-4; Acts 20:28). When such supervision is broadened to include area-wide and nationwide functions requiring financing of many churches, it is going beyond that which is written. No examples in Scriptures of churches pooling resources under one eldership to do a general work for all.

Conclusion: Brethren, we must respect reverently what God has not said!

Truth Magazine XXII: 22, pp. 364-365
June 1, 1978

By Larry Ray Hafley

For better or for worse and probably some of both, the grace-fellowship issue is on the front burner again. Frankly and personally, I would rather be attacked by a Campbellite-shouting Baptist accusing me of water salvation. Perhaps the readers of this journal would like it better, too. But an assault by a faith only Baptist is about as rare as an Indian attack on a covered wagon. Today, we skirmish with diplomats and make faces at one another with our missiles. It is not as exciting as the calvary coming to the rescue, but it is the reality of our modern age. So it is with the unity-in-diversity movement. The conflict is not as easily dealt with, but it is the reality of our day.

Some of you are tired of reading and hearing about “imputed righteousness” and similar expressions. You are weary of reading about Carl Ketcherside and his satellites. Well, welcome to ‘the club! There are those who are as tired of writing about such things as you are of reading them. However, that is where the struggle is in many places. It must be and it will be tended to. Subscriptions are not the point of concern. Scriptures are.

No, you are not against scriptural studies, but you deplore and detest the injecting of personalities into the fray. There may be too many personality conflicts, but remember this, false doctrines do not spring from the ground. They spring from men, and often men must be cited and indicted as they are closely tied and identified with a given controversy (3 Jn. 9; 2 Tim. 2:17). Sometimes Paul called names; sometimes he did not (1 Cor. 15:12). Good judgment may not always abound in this regard, but consider that your judgment may be the one that is not the best. This business of naming names is a two-edged sword. Being called a “legalist,” a “witch hunter,” and being accused and accursed as part of a political power structure for personal advantage has its sting, too. That is not a whimper, but articles appearing in Truth Magazine do not have a monopoly on the name calling market.

The present strife is not a mere “heretic Calvinist” versus “party power politics” shouting match. The issues are fraught with intense, serious consequences. The role of the sacrifice of Christ in the scheme of redemption, the nature of the church, the conditions of pardon from sin, the scope of fellowship in the truth, the purpose of the New Testament, these and other subjects are at the core of the current grace-fellowship discussion. Spoken kindly but candidly, if you do not recognize that these factors are at the heart of the very faith in and of Christ, then you do not know enough to pass judgment on those who are carrying on the fight.

Truth Magazine XXII: 22, p. 364
June 1, 1978

By Wayne Walker

Evolution is a subject which is still being taught in our schools and a topic that is still controversial and worthy of discussion, even though it is not so much talked about now as maybe a few years ago. In this short article I cannot hope to present all, or even many, of the problems which evolution poses to the Bible believer, and which the Bible poses to evolutionists. But I would like to consider one major fault that can be found in the presentation of evolution in academic circles.

My major contention is that evolution, as it pictures the stages of human development from a primeval unicellular organism to man, is based solely on assumption and has never been demonstrated to be true. Thus, it cannot be considered as a fact, although it is many times taught as such to students in the classroom. In order for their theories to be proven, evolutionists would have to find evidence of one long line of gradual changes from organism to organism until finally the level of man had been reached. This has not been done, however, and therefore, these hypothetical changes are referred to as “missing links.” All the evidence that has, been found can easily be explained from a creationist viewpoint as well as from an evolutionary one.

True science, which is simply a systematic body of observable, factual information about nature, and the Bible never contradict each other because the same God established both. Man’s fallible and often faulty interpretation of the facts – science falsely so-called (1 Tim. 6:20) including evolution – often contradict both. The scientific axiom of cause-effect states that something cannot come from nothing. The Bible complements this by revealing that the prime cause of this universe and all that is in it is God. However, evolution teaches that original matter must have appeared out of nowhere or existed eternally. In reference to the eternal matter theory, the second law of thermodynamics affirms that the universe is slowly running down to a total cessation of activity, and indicates that there must have been a starting point from which to do so. The Bible speaks of “the beginning” (Gen. 1:1) and the end (2 Pet. 3:10-11) of the physical order of things. The evolutionary assumption, on the other hand, is that all things are growing bigger and better and will continue to do so eternally by the natural processes now at work.

Furthermore, there is the scientific law of biogenesis, that life can come only from pre-existing life. The Bible informs us that all living organisms were originally created by a living God (Gen. 1:11, 20, 24). To the contrary, evolutionists believe that original life must have come from non-living materials. Finally, a simple observation of the law of reproduction, leads to the. conclusion that like begets like – one does not plant a corn seed and reap a tomato plant. The Bible reveals that it was God who ordained each organism to produce after its own kind (Gen. 1:12, 21, 25). Yet the evolutionist teaches that at some time, some organisms must have borne offspring radically different from themselves in order for the variety to exist that evolution requires to be true. And so it goes.

Organic, naturalistic, atheistic evolution teaches that man is merely a descendant of animal ancestors, though more highly developed, and totally a product of his physical heredity and environment. What does the Bible teach? “God created man in his own image” and “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (Gen. 1:2627; 2:7). This is what Christians believe. We cannot prove by factual data that the Biblical record is the way it happened. But, neither can the evolutionists prove by factual data that what they believe is true. It is important for all Bible believers to remember, when considering evolution, that it takes just as much faith, if not more, to believe in the evolutionary theory of man’s existence as it does in the Bible account of the creation of God. “By faith, we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God” (Heb. 11:3).

Truth Magazine XXII: 22, p. 363
June 1, 1978