Truth Magazine

By Morris W. R. Bailey

Our discussion of the subject of handling aright the Word of truth, has thus far focused on the proper distinction between the Old Testament and the New Testament, with emphasis on the fact that we are under the latter and not under the former. Paul said, “For ye are not under law, but under grace (Rom. 6:14). Because of the possibility of a false conclusion being drawn from this teaching concerning the Law, it is therefore appropriate that at this point we pause to consider the

Proper Use of the Old Testament Scriptures

It is virtually impossible to discuss any subject so thoroughly that no questions will ever be raised, nor objections filed against our conclusions. There are some who draw false inferences and raise objections when it is taught that we are not under the Old Testament. They will ask, “Don’t you believe that the Old Testament is true?” and, “If we are not under the Old Testament, of what use is it? Why study it?”

Well, of course we believe that the Old Testament is true. While we do not believe that we are commanded to build an ark, we do believe that Noah was thus commanded and while we do not keep the Sabbath day, we believe that it is nevertheless true that Israel was commanded to keep it.

Given by Inspiration

In 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 Paul said, “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work” (A.M.S.).

In these words Paul placed the seal of divine inspiration on the scriptures. By the term “scripture” he would, of course, include such books of the New Testament as were written at that time. It would also most certainly include the Old Testament Scriptures which had been in use for some time, and which he elsewhere called the oracles of God (Romans 3:2).

Inspired Scriptures Profitable

Not only did Paul say that the scriptures are inspired of God; but he also said that such scriptures are profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. It is my personal conviction that the matter of reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness more adequately describes the purpose of the New Testament Scriptures. There is, however, one function that is common to Old and New Testament alike. Both are profitable for teaching.

We may say, in fact, that the word, teaching, is broad enough to encompass the whole scope of the purpose of Old Testament revelation as far as we are concerned today. That it serves in the role of teaching is evident from the fact that time after time Jesus and the apostles quoted from the Old Testament as they taught the things relating to the kingdom of God. In the remainder of this article I shall point out some things that the Old Testament Scriptures teach that are indeed profitable.

The Story of Creation

The first thing that we shall notice that is taught in the Old Testament Scriptures, that is of profit, is the story of creation. In fact it is the first thing that we encounter, for the Old Testament begins with the sublime declaration that, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). This, I propose to show, is the only account of creation that has been offered that can be regarded as credible.

That reason, itself, calls for a creator is evident in the very nature of things. Allow me to illustrate.

I drive an automobile. It is a complex machine, composed of a chassis with four wheels for mobility, a body with seats for the comfort of passengers, and a motor to furnish power. It would be nothing short of insanity to suggest that this automobile did not have a maker. We could only pity the twisted mentality of anyone who would tell us that the automobile was the result of an explosion, or who told us that it was the result of a long evolutionary process that began with a tiny piece of metal, and aided only by resident forces and unguided by any intelligence evolved through various forms over millions of years to form the complex automobile of today.

Reason rebels at such a ridiculous suggestion. Reason tells us that someone made the automobile. But that is as far as reason can go. It cannot, tell who the builder was. For that we are dependent on some form of revelation. I lift up the hood of the car. On a nameplate I see the words. “Made By The Ford Motor Company.”

We have a universe. It is far more complex than any automobile. Reason tells us that it did not just happen. Nor is it reasonable to assume that it is the result of a long evolutionary process. Reason calls for an intelligent first cause. But reason cannot tell us who the maker is. For that information we are dependent on some form of revelation. The Old Testament Scriptures provide that information. Just as the nameplate on the automobile identifies the manufacturer, so Genesis 1:1 is the great nameplate that identifies God as the creator of the universe. In like manner Genesis 1:27 identifies God as the creator of man.

Furnish Examples of Outstanding Faith

In the fourth chapter of Romans Paul holds up Abraham as one who, “wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith.” He then said in verses 23,24, “Now it was not written for his sake alone . . . but for our sake also.” Thus from the Old Tes*ament we learn about faith that is pleasing to God.

The writer of Hebrews said, “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place that he was afterward to receive for an inheritance, and he went out not knowing whither he went” (Heb. 11:8). Again, “By faith Abraham, being tried offered up Isaac . . . .” The details are all found in the twelfth and twentysecond chapters of Genesis. From this splendid example of faith, we learn that the faith that avails in the sight of God is a faith that obeys. Moreover, it is unqualified obedience that asks no questions and raises no objections, but does what God commands regardless of the cost.

Inspire Hope

To the Romans Paul wrote, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that through patience and comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.” Thus while hope looks to the future it draws inspiration from the past in the things written aforetime, that is, the Old Testament Scriptures.

Have you ever felt unjustly treated? Then consider the experience of Joseph. Hated by his brothers and sold by them down into Egypt. Then unjustly put in prison by the man whom he had faithfully served, because he dared to do right and refused to do wrong. However he was later able to see in all this the hand of God who can make “All things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28).

Have you ever suffered a series of calamities where it seemed that everything went wrong that could go wrong? Then consider the experience of Job. In one day he lost all his property and his family. As if that was not enough he was smitten with boils. But the end was not yet. He was taunted by friends and ridiculed by his wife. Yet he regarded these calamities as but God’s way of trying him (Job 23:10). His emergence from this trial as gold that had been tried is hope inspiring to all who suffer similar trials.

Have you ever had to stand alone for truth and righteousness? Then consider the experience of the prophet Elijah. In that great contest at Mount Carmel he was outnumbered by the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. Yet the events of that day give us hope that God and one man are sufficient majority to meet any crisis.

The Necessity of Obedience

From the Old Testament we learn that God has always required obedience. In the history of Israel we see demonstrated the undying truth that, “Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).

Disobedience Brings Punishment

From the Old Testament we learn that just as certain as it is that God requires obedience, so it is that disobedience is punished. In the tenth chapter of First Corinthians Paul cited some outstanding examples of disobedience on the part of Israel and its consequent punishment, and then added, “Now these things were our examples, to the end that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.” And, “Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition . . . .” (vs. 6, 11).

From various examples of disobedience we learn that it assumes various forms. Israel disobeyed God in rebelling against his commandment (Deut. 1:43). In offering strange fire, Nadab and Abihu disobeyed by substituting for what God had commanded (Lev. 10:1,2). In partially obeying God’s command to utterly destroy the Amalekites, Saul was reckoned as guilty of total disobedience (1 Samuel 15:19).

Yes, there is much to be learned from the Old Testament. May we ever heed its lessons recorded for our learning.

Truth Magazine XXI: 37, pp. 581-582
September 22, 1977

By Mike Willis

In recent weeks, I have heard several charges made which imply that the Bible cannot be considered the Word of God because it teaches an out-dated set of facts about science. One of the examples of the kind of science one finds in the Bible, according to the one who made this charge, was that the Bible teaches that the universe is geocentric (earth-centered) instead of heliocentric (sun-centered). The one who made this charge has yet to produce the verse which teaches this false science. However, this is an example of some of the kinds of charges that are being made about the Bible. Hence, it is appropriate that we raise the question, “Is the Bible scientifically accurate?”

The Bible Is Not A Book Of Science

Before going into this matter any further, let me hasten to point out that the Bible was never intended to be a science book. It does not describe things in the technological vocabulary of the scientist; rather, it describes things from the standpoint of man (for example, we read in the Bible, and speak of today, sunrise and sunset though neither of these terms is technically accurate). The Bible was never designed to be a revealed textbook on science. It is God’s revelation to man pertaining to salvation.

Yet, the claim that the Bible is verbally inspired cannot be sustained if the passing comments which it makes regarding the universe are in conflict with the facts of science. Hence, in order for the Bible to be inspired of God, it must be a book which harmonizes with the known facts of science. When I say that the Bible is scientifically accurate, I am making a statement regarding God’s superintendence over the writing of the Bible to keep it from making scientific blunders. Dr. Carl F. H. Henry stated this as follows:

“No claim is made that the sacred writers, as Individuals, were personally exempt from the naive world-view of their own day, nor that their writings articulate a classified and systematized science involving general laws. What is claimed is that, as the messengers of holy revelation, they were lifted beyond their own capacities, and that their declarations bearing upon nature and upon man are as reliable as their teaching about God and His activity” (Contemporary Evangelical Thought, “Science and Religion;” p. 269).

That is a good statement of what I believe happened with reference to the science which is in the Bible.

The superintendence of God in the writing of the Bible is seen by the absence of contemporary sciences of the various writers of the Bible. Although Moses was schooled in all the knowledge of the Egyptians (Acts 7:22), he did not incorporate into his writings the science of the Egyptians. Though Daniel was “skillful in all wisdom. endued with knowledge and understanding science” (Dan. 1:4), he did not record any of that Babylonian science in the Bible. Why? Because God superintended the writing of the Scriptures to prevent the “sciences” of the ancients from being placed in the Bible.

Conflicts Between The Bible And Science

There are a number of conflicts between the science of 1977 and the Bible. I am personally thankful to God that there are such conflicts. For the Bible to totally agree with the science of 1977 would be disastrous for this simple reason: the science of 1980 will be in conflict with the science of 1977. Hence, we should be thrilled to see the conflicts which presently exist between science and the Bible. When conflict occurs between the Bible and modern science, I am personally very willing to believe the Bible. The philosophies of science will change with each new generation but the word of God will endure forever.

The real conflicts occur between science and the Bible “whenever a scholar makes a pronouncement outside his own field of learning. When science becomes a religion, or religion dictates scientific thought, there is trouble” (Edson R. Peck, “Does Science Contradict The Bible?”, Can I Trust The Bible?, Howard F. Vos. editor, p. 51). I have witnessed these kinds of conflicts on a number of occasions. I have set in classes in English under a man who had a doctorate degree in that field. On some occasion, he would pronounce that the Bible was in conflict with modern science. Here was a man who had a degree in neither science nor the Bible but was making pronouncements about both. I saw no evidence that he had studied either science or the Bible. Yet, the fact that he was a Ph.D. gave weight to what he had said.

Other conflicts occur between the Bible and science when the theories of science are brought against the Bible. For example, the theory of evolution is definitely in conflict with the Bible. Yet evolution is not scientific; it cannot be proven or tested by the techniques of science. Rather, it is a philosophy of how the world came to be. The Bible is in conflict with that unproven philosophy.

Sometimes faulty Bible exegesis causes conflict between the Bible and science. Some understood the phrase “the four corners of the earth” (Isa. 11:12) to be biblical proof that the world was flat during the days when the explorers were first trying to sail around the world. Yet the phrase is still used to refer to the four points of the compass (north, south, east and west). Here was a case in which faulty Bible exegesis conflicted with the facts of science.

However, when the Bible is correctly interpreted, it is not in conflict with proven facts of science. The God who created this universe is the same God who wrote the Bible. We should not be surprised, therefore, to see a remarkable harmony between His creation and His revelation.

Biblical Comments About Nature

To read some of the comments which the Bible makes about nature will show God’s superintendence over the writers of the Bible. The writers of the Bible made comments about things which they could not possibly have known without divine revelation having guided them to make those statements. Consider some of these statements:

1. “He . . . hangs the earth on nothing” (Job 26:7). That statement does not sound strange to those of us who live in 1977. We have been privileged to watch the pictures which those in the space ships have sent back to the earth. As the men in the space ship traveled toward the moon, they would get about halfway there and turn to show us a picture of the earth. There the earth was, sitting in space, and resting on nothing. But, tell me how Job knew that. This statement was written thousands of years ago. Some think that the book of Job is one of the earliest writings in the Bible. He was living during the time that men, thought that the earth was on a turtle’s back or that Atlas was holding it up. (Why those men never questioned regarding what the turtle or Atlas was resting on puzzles me.) Yet, Job did not reproduce the “science” of his day; instead, he wrote the radically different statement which has later been confirmed by modern science that God “hangs the earth on nothing.” This is a wonderful example of the scientific accuracy of the Bible.

2. “He made from one (blood-KJV) every nation of mankind” (Acts 17:26). (The reading “one blood” of the KJV adds nothing to the statement as its reads in the NASB. If all men descended from one man, they would all have the same blood.) Today, we know that there is no difference in the blood of the black, red, white, etc. men. Their blood is interchangeable. Transfusions can be given from one race of men to another without trouble. But, how did Paul know that hundreds of years before the microscope was invented? We see, again, the wonderful superintendence of God in the writing of the Bible which caused this statement which harmonizes with the known facts of science to be placed in the Scriptures rather than the thoughts of scientists who were contemporary with Paul.

We could cite other instances of the harmony between the known facts of science and the Bible (such as 1 Cor. 15:39-“all flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish”) if given the time and space. These, however, suffice to show that the facts of science and the revelation of God are not in conflict.

Conclusion

That the scholarly world is still discussing whether or not the Bible is scientifically accurate is a wonder in itself. The science which is mentioned in the Bible is 2000 years old, at the least. Most books have a life-span of 20 years. Any book which survives that length of time is extraordinary. Most of the books which discuss science are out-dated by the time they go to the press. Yet, here is the Bible, a book which is over 2000 years old and still considered to be scientifically accurate by a large number of educated men and by the large majority of the populace. Though no one discusses whether or not the writings of Aristotle, Plato, Homer, and other early writers are scientifically accurate because the answer is so blatantly obvious, men are still discussing whether or not the Bible is scientifically accurate which is a tribute to the Book of books in itself.

Truth Magazine XXI: 37, pp. 579-581
September 22, 1977

By Irvin Himmel

The life of an unrighteous person is pointed downward. Descent accelerates with each act of iniquity. Sometimes a child of God allows himself to fall into sin and to get caught in the downhill plunge.

Jonah’s Example

God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh and cry against it. The wickedness of that city was terrible. Jonah attempted to flee from duty and went down, down, down.

First, Jonah went down to Joppa. Knowing that there was a port at Joppa, the prophet thought he could find a vessel destined for some far away place. Sure enough, he found a ship headed for Tarshish, and that was the opposite direction from Nineveh. When a man seeks to evade obedience to God, the next step is down. Satan always has a ship ready to carry us away from the direction God would have us to travel.

Second, Jonah went down into the ship. He paid the fare and went down into the boat to go to Tarshish “from the presence of the Lord” (Jonah 1:3). Did the prophet think he could escape God’s presence by getting away from the land of Israel? Whatever he thought, he did not succeed in running away from God. Anyone who supposes that he can escape the all-seeing eye of Jehovah has lowered himself deep into the snare of the Devil.

Third, Jonah went down into the sea. God sent a storm which threatened to sink the ship. Jonah was fast asleep. How easy it is for one to develop a false sense of security while going down, down, down. The sailors awakened Jonah. After casting lots, they decided that he was the cause of the tempest, and at his suggestion they cast him into the sea. God had prepared a great fish that swallowed the prophet. He prayed to the Lord out of the fish’s belly. He acknowledged, “I went down to the bottoms of the mountains…” (Jonah 2:6).

Other Examples

David went down, down, down when he lusted after another man’s wife. Lust led to adultery; adultery led to murder (2 Sam. 11:1-17).

The prodigal son went down, down, down when he left his father’s house. He wasted his substance in riotous living, found himself in want, and finally was down among the swine so hungry that he could have eaten the husks that served as hog food. His descent was rapid; his plunge was into the deepest degradation (Lk. 15:11-16).

All movement away from God is downward. Disregard for a command or warning can lead in only one direction-down! This may be termed the progressiveness of sin. One wrong attitude or act leads to another, and that to another, and the further down one goes into sin the more vile he becomes!

Sin begets more sin. Once a person falls, the pride of his heart may incline him to attempt to cover up his guilt. He lies and he schemes; he sears his conscience; he deceives his own heart. The trail of sin is slippery and the descent is steep.

The Way Back

God delivered Jonah after he had gone down, down, down. The prophet was repentant and God heard his cry. The Lord spoke to the fish and it vomited out Jonah upon dry land (Jonah 2:10).

God was merciful to David after he had gone down, down, down. Nathan the prophet was sent to convict David of his guilt. David confessed, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Although what David had done was punishable by death under the law of Moses, Nathan said to the king, “The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die” (2 Sam. 12:13).

The prodigal son was restored to his father after going down, down, down. He came to his senses, went home with a penitent heart, confessed his wrong, and was cheerfully forgiven by his father.

God has compassion and stands ready to forgive, no matter how far down into the depths of sin one may have plunged. So long as there is the possibility of genuine repentance, there is a way back. But a word of warning is in order: sometimes people are so thoroughly swallowed up in wickedness and their hearts are hardened to such a degree that it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance. Noah’s contemporaries had gone down, down, down until they could not be brought back. The wicked inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah were beyond hope. Peter gave a vivid description of certain people who, after escaping the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord, became entangled therein and were overcome. They went down, down, down until the latter end was worse with them than the beginning (2 Pet. 2:20).

The High Road

Instead of going down, down, down, let us go up, up, up. Let all who are in sin heed the call of the gospel and move up to righteousness. Lot entreated his sons-in-law, “Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city” (Gen. 19:14). They refused to move up and perished in the overthrow of Sodom.

Let us “go up to the mountain of the Lord,” and be taught concerning His ways and walk in His paths (Isa. 2:3). The Lord’s way is the high road.

Let us “offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5), for one day we shall be “caught up” to meet the Lord in the air and to ever be with Him (1 Thess. 4:17).

Truth Magazine XXI: 37, p. 578
September 22, 1977

By Donald P. Ames

In Acts 20:28 we find, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” This passage, part of Paul’s admonition to the Ephesian elders, is an important passage in dealing with the scope of elders and of the importance of the church to Christ. However this passage has also become the focal point for some Baptist reasoning as well. In quoting this passage, they argue that the church must have already been in existence (usually begun at the transfiguration in their argumentation) for Christ to purchase it. The argument goes like this, “If you go into a store to purchase a coat, it follows the coat must have already existed-else how could you have purchased it?”

Now there are several glaring errors in this reasoning but, first of all, let us note when the church was established. Since the church was promised to be set up by Christ (Matt. 16:18), we know it did not exist before He came into this world! And since the Lord was adding to it in Acts 2:47, we know it existed after Pentecost! Jesus promised his disciples the kingdom (church) would be set up during their life time and that it was to come with power (Mark 9:1). This power was to be revealed when the Holy Spirit was revealed (Acts 1:8). Thus, in Acts 2:1-4, when they received the Holy Spirit, they received power and they received the kingdom. And since Christ was made head of the church when He was raised from the dead, at which time He also abolished the Law of Moses, the church became subject to His authority. This same truth is also revealed in Isa. 2:1-4, Dan. 2:44-45 and Heb. 12:22f.

If the church was set up on Pentecost (as the Scriptures do teach), then how do we answer the Baptist argument on Acts 20:28? First of all, they err in their understanding of what the church is. It is true that something that is purchased exists, but that does not explain what. The church is composed of those “called out” by God. The church is not an organization (though it has organization on the local level), nor is it a building (though it may meet in a building). The church is the people-those called out by God (1 Pet. 2:5-9). The material for that church did exist, and those purchased (redeemed) by the blood of Christ became His church (1 Pet. 1:18-19; Rev. 1:5; Col. 1:13-14).

Secondly, since they contend the church must have previously existed, they are confronted with other problems: (1) If the church can only exist to be purchased historically, then it follows no one can be part of that church this side of the purchase. If those of us today can be part of that church, then it does not require that the church as such had to already exist. (2) If it already existed, then it existed without a head, as Christ did not become such until He was raised from the dead (Eph. 1:19-23). (3) It existed without the authority of Christ as its law (Heb. 9:16-17), else Christ did what He opposed in Matt. 5:17-19 and they were living in spiritual adultery per Rom. 7:1-4. (4) It existed without a foundation (Psa. 118:22-23; 1 Cor. 3:11). (5) It provided no remission of sins (1 Cor. 15:1-4, 12-17; Heb. 10:3-4), which could not be preached yet anyway (Luke 24:46-47). And, (6) “the beginning” (Acts 11:15) could not have been when the apostles received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4); therefore, Peter erred in his statement affirming such was the case.

Baptists find no comfort in this passage nor in their false claim that the church was begun at the transfiguration. This being so, there is no justification for the claim we can be saved like the thief on the cross-nor for sabbath keeping, instrumental music, etc. When Christ died His law went into effect (Heb. 9:15-17) and began to be proclaimed on Pentecost when His church was established in direct fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and His own statements, as He directed His disciples (Luke 24:46-47; Matt. 28:19-20).

Truth Magazine XXI: 36, pp. 573-574
September 15, 1977