Truth Magazine

By Donald P. Ames

That “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23) and that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23) is just as true today as when the Holy Spirit first guided the pen of the apostle Paul in writing those words. Mankind has not achieved perfection, and as we look about us, we sometimes are made to wonder if perhaps we have not given up and begun to travel in the other direction instead. But the fact is that sin does exist, and some day there will be an accounting for our actions before our Maker (Acts 17:30-31; 2 Cor. 5:10). The Bible tells us “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). There is no way we can avoid having to face that record when we leave this life.

The Bible thus becomes the only book relevant to man’s spiritual needs in this respect, in that it is the only means we have of learning the mind of God today. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven: but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). If our salvation depends on doing the will of God, then we must learn what that will is (Eph. 5:17); and the only source we have is that which is revealed by God Himself–the Bible. Therein God has given us “everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). Jesus added, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day” (John 12:48; see also Rom. 2:16). This is important to us for two reasons: (1) It shows that the words of Christ will abide to the very end (1 Pet. 1:25), and (2) we are not going to be saved by what “we think” is okay. The only source we have, therefore, that we can turn to for “the will of My Father who is in heaven” is found in the word of God.

There are also other points that illustrate this truth to us and show us man is not qualified to serve as his source of authority (Matt. 15:8-9; Isa. 55:8-9; Jer. 10:23). We are told that Jesus alone is the author of our salvation (Heb. 5:9), and Peter reminds us “There is salvation in no one else” (Acts 4:12). Since Paul refers to the gospel of Christ as “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16), we have the confidence this is why God planned and revealed it as our guide from earth to heaven-above. Certainly if if made “no difference what we believe,” then there would have been no need for the Bible, nor concern whether or not we were doing “the will of My Father who is in heaven.”

Thus salvation is a two-way street. It involves what God has done for man, and it also involves what man must do to please God as well. Some would’have us to believe God has already done it all, and, thus, there is nothing man can do. Others tell us if we live a good enough life, then Christ will take us all into heaven anyway. But neither of these positions can be harmonized with the word of God, which is the real authority. If man could get to heaven without doing “the will of my Father who is in heaven,” then there would have been no need for the Bible, nor for Christ to die on the cross (John 3:16). And also we would not have to worry about being judged by the words contained in the Bible (John 12:48; Rom. 2:16.). On the other hand, if God has done it all, then what is man to obey? Jesus is thv author of salvation “to those who obey Him” (Heb. 5:9). This certainly shows there is that which we must do. We must “do the will of My Father” (Matt. 7:21), and thus we find the Romans and priests were obedient unto salvation (Rom. 6:17; Acts 6:7). We also find Peter on Pentecost urging them to “save yourselves” (Acts 2:40). Thus, while we have been saved by the grace of God (Eph. 2:8), we also see that God’s grace only saves when man is willing to obey.

But, what has God done in preparing the way of salvation for us? Without God’s part, there could be no salvation. David said, “If Thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who can stand?” (Psa. 130:3). God realized man could not save himself, and thus in His love and mercy, God began preparing the way. His love was not such that He could excuse our sins, but rather put into action to provide a way for the removal of our sins. He loved enough that He offered up His only begotten Son as the sacrifice in our stead (John 3:16; Rom. 3:21-30; 5:8; 1 John 4:10). This Christ was willing to do that we might enjoy the riches of His grace (2 Cor. 8:9; John 10:10). Thus, through the shed blood of Christ, the way was provided for the remission of sins (Matt. 26:28; Rev. 1:5). The Holy Spirit was sent into the world to reveal and confirm the sacred truths of God, that we might have “all truth” (John 16:13), and thus everything necessary for our salvation. Thus God’s grace was revealed through the Bible, instructing us how to live that we might inherit the blessings He had designed for us (Tit. 2:11L12). We were amply warned of the consequences of disobedience, encouraged by examples of faithfulness, and exhorted to teach others the pure gospel that they too might be saved (2 Thess. 1:6-8; Heb. 11; 2 Tim. 2:2; 1 Cor. 10:1-13). The church, the kingdom of God, was also set up in the plan and purpose of God, that therein we might encourage and help one another as we serve the Lord (Acts 20:28; Eph. 3:10; Col. 1:13; Gal. 6:1). And, even after obedience, the means was set forth that we might be able to obtain the remission of daily sins in our lives (1 John 1:7, 9). God has done everything possible to make His grace known to us, that we might be saved.

But if God’s grace has given us instructions on what we must do to be saved (Tit. 2:11-12), then what does it reveal that God in turn expects of us? The Bible lists several things men must do, and while no one verse contains all of God’s will, neither can we be saved without doing what is required in any of these verses. (1) We recognize that we must hear the gospel (Rom. 10:17), and this means we must be willing to examine whether or not these things are so (Acts 17:11), as there are also false teachers (1 John 4:1) who do not preach all the truths of God’s word. (2) Then we must be willing to believe in Christ and in God as our supreme ruler as well (John 3:16, 8:24). In fact there is no way to please God without the proper faith (Heb. 11:6). This faith is not based upon what “we think” is okay, nor upon some “experience” that we have had, but. is to be based upon the testimony of the word of God (John 20:3031; Rom. 10:17). Anything else is not acceptable unto God. (3) We are also instructed to repent of our sins (Acts 2:38; 17:30), which involves a change of our will, leading to a change in our way of living. (4) Next, the Bible teaches we must be willing to confess (Rom. 1 10:9-10; Matt. 10:32). W e are not confess “God has already forgiven my sins,” but rather that Christ is now indeed our Lord and Master. (5) Then we are to be baptized, immersed in water, for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38; 8:38-39; 10:47; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4; 1 Pet. 3:21). Though men have devised other “baptisms,” this is the only one in harmony with “the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Then, and only then, have we complied with God’s terms for salvation from our past sins, as Christ commanded, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16).

Since only the Bible contains the mind of God and can accurately tell me what I must do to be saved, why would any man be willing to submit himself to any other standard and thereby risk so great a prize? New Testament disciples were Christians, and Christians only (Acts 11:26; 1 Pet. 4:16, and sought the Bible as their sole guide (Gal. 1:6-8; 2 John 9). They realized the importance of so great a salvation, and longed to grow therein. It is our plea that you also will examine whether or not these things are so (Acts 17:11), and thus prove to be a workman approved unto God (2 Tim. 2:15) by doing the will of God today. God has done all He can to save you. Will you not now do your part: accept His offering, obey His will, and thus enjoy the blessings of salvation throughout eternity when this life is o’er (1 Pet. 1:4; Mark 10:30; James 1:12; Rev. 2:10)?

Truth Magazine XXI: 30, pp. 471-472
August 4, 1977

By Larry Ray Hafley

The terms of our topic and title need little, if any, definition. The word, “sufficient,” means, “enough; equal to the end proposed; adequate to wants; as much as is needed” (Webster). The “Scriptures” are the sixty-six books of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. Actually, our heading could read, “The Sufficiency of the Scriptures.” “All-Sufficiency” represents a “double affirmative,” an attempt to stress the adequacy, efficiency, and competency of the Bible. That is our theme in this brief essay.

Sufficient For What?

Road maps are “all sufficient” in making out one’s route to a specific destination, but they cannot tell one how to make and bake a cake. The Scriptures are complete for their intended purposes. However, the Scriptures are not sufficient for the following:

1. To Teach One How To Be A Protestant Or Catholic. They were not designed for that goal. One will not learn how to be a Protestant by studying the Scriptures. One will not become a “good Catholic” by searching the Sacred Volume. Why not? Because the Bible was not written for those reasons.

2. To Teach One How To Be A Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Etc. Many honest, sincere, but mistaken people want to please God in a denominational church. The doctrines and instructions that “confirm” one in the Lutheran Church do not make that person a Baptist. If one follows and obeys Baptist doctrine, he does not become a Methodist. Methodist doctrine makes Methodists. Baptist doctrine begets Baptists. Presbyterian doctrine produces Presbyterians. How could one learn to become a “Southern” or a “Missionary Baptist” by reading only the Bible? Could one take the Bible alone and find out how to become a member of the United Pentecostal Church? No, the Bible is not sufficient for those ends. It is not written to teach one how to be a member of any denominational church.

3. To Teach One How To Be A Jehovah’s Witness, Mormon, or Christian Scientist. One will not discover how to become a member of any modern cult by, reading the word of God. To be a Mormon, you must follow the doctrines of Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon. It requires Studies in the Scriptures and the doctrines of the Watchtower Society to make one a Jehovah’s Witness. One must accept something in addition to the Bible in order to be what they are. These groups do not believe the Bible is sufficient or complete. Thus, they deny the all-sufficiency of the Scriptures.

The Scriptures Are Sufficient

1. To Teach One How To Be Saved. One can be saved by reading the Bible only. If he never reads the creeds or catechisms of men, he can find what he must do to be saved by reading the Scriptures. “Sirs, what must I do to be saved” (Acts 16:30,31). “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:37,38).

John wrote “that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (Jn. 20:30,31). Are the Scriptures sufficient to that end? Or did John fail? Further, Peter said that God “hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3). So, one can be saved by taking the Bible alone. One can be saved without ever hearing of Joseph Smith or Ellen G. White. Can the same be said about the Bible?

2. To Teach One How To Be Faithful Unto Death. The apostle Peter tells the Christian to add to his faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. He then commands him to “give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall (2 Pet. 1:5-10). The Scriptures, therefore, are complete; they are all that is essential for the child of God to continue in a saved condition.

3. To Equip One Completely Unto Every Good Work. “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. 3:16,17). Surely, no comment is needed on this passage.

The Scriptures Claim To Be Sufficient

If there were no passages that directly affirmed the completeness of the Scriptures, we would be assured by the material above that the Scriptures assume their own innate finality, authority, and sufficiency. The sufficiency of the Bible is necessarily implied and directly stated.

1. Necessary Implication: “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it” (Deut. 12:32). “Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Prov. 30:6). “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8). Also, see Revelation 22:18,19. These statements imply the all-sufficiency of the Scriptures. If the word of God was not enough, the admonitions and prohibitions in the verses above would not have been uttered. The fact that God forbids addition or subtraction relative to His word indicates that it is all that is required.

2. Direct Statement: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul” (Psa. 19:7). “Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”, hide 3). See 2 Timothy 3:16,17, quoted above. The word, “once,” in Jude 3 denotes that which is of perpetual validity. The same term is used in Hebrews 9:26,28; 10:10. Jesus suffered “once,” one time for all time. He was “once offered to bear the sins of many,” i.e., one time for all time. His sacrifice was once for all. It needs no repetition or addition. It is final, complete, sufficient. Just so, the faith, the gospel, has been once for all delivered.

In John 16:13, Jesus promised the apostles that the Holy Spirit would guide them into “all truth.” That truth is the word of God (Jn. 17:17). The Spirit delivered all the truth. If He did not, Jesus was wrong, and the Spirit failed His mission. If He did guide them “into all the truth” (American Standard Version of Jn. 16:13), we have it in the Scriptures and alleged latter day revelations are falsehoods. (Cf. Gal. 1:8,9). As a corollary to this, Peter’s affirmation that we have been given “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3) shows that latter day revelations pertain unto death and ungodliness. If there is another revelation today that has to do with life and godliness, Peter was wrong when he said God “hath given” (past perfect tense) it all.

If We Need More

First, if revelation apart from the Bible is necessary, to whom should we go? Should we listen to the Pope and follow the traditions of Catholicism? Should-we follow Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon? Should we receive the doctrines of Ellen G. White and Seventh Day Adventism? Should we seek revelation from the “prophets” of Pentecostalism? Should we follow Mohammed and receive the Koran? “Lord, to whom shall we go?” Once one turns from the all-sufficiency of the Scriptures, he is obligated to prove to us where we can obtain true revelation.

Second, if the Bible is not sufficient, it is not even a good book because it claims to be all that is necessary.

Third, if we need latter day revelation to be saved, what happened to all who died in centuries past without these modern revelations?

Fourth, if latter day revelations are of God, why do present day prophets, speaking, as they claim they do, by the Spirit contradict the words of the Spirit in the Bible? Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mk. 16:16). Some today who claim to speak by the Spirit deny this (cf. Acts 2:38). The Bible says there is “but one body” or church of Christ (1 Cor. 12:20; Eph. 1:22,23; 2:16; 4:4; Col. 1:18,24). Yet, most all modern day “prophets” and revelators tell us that one can join the church of his choice. Some women preachers say they speak as the Spirit leads them as the apostles did. When they preach, they do the very thing the Spirit in the Bible tells them not to do (1 Tim. 2:11,12; 1 Cor. 14:34,35)! If

they speak by the Spirit of Christ, why do they contradict the Spirit in the Bible?

Fifth, if latter day revelations are being given, why do the speakers contradict one another? Paul, Peter and the other apostles and prophets of the Bible taught the same things (1 Cor. 15:11; Eph. 3:3-6). Can one imagine Peter contradicting Paul, or James denying Matthew, or Luke teaching the opposite of John? No, the Spirit who spoke through them was consistent. However, Pentecostal prophets and others contradict one another. Some say there is one person in the Godhead (United Pentecostals). Others (Assembly of God) say there are three persons. Some say they can and should “take up serpents.” Others say it is wrong to “tempt God” by doing so. If all these folks are speaking by the same Spirit, why do they contradict one another? Is God the author of confusion?

Sixth, if there are inspired prophets today, should we not paste their words in our Bibles and use them as we do the Scriptures?

Conclusion

The Scriptures are all-sufficient. Men who alter or amend them in any manner are accursed. They are the word of God, and, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11).

Truth Magazine XXI: 30, pp. 470-471
August 4, 1977

By Irvin Himmel

For centuries the book called the Bible has been in circulation. It has been translated into hundreds of tongues and dialects. It is read and studied, memorized and preached, discussed and debated, revered and despised. Regardless of one’s personal evaluation of the Bible, it is here and continues to influence thousands of lives in lands far and near. How was this book produced?

The Bible is either the product of the intellect of man or else it came from God. If God had nothing to do with the origin of the Bible, it is strictly a human literary work. If the Bible reflects no greater wisdom than human ingenuity could devise, we must credit it to either good men or bad men. It is absolutely incredible that wicked men could invent a Being so infinitely pure and good as God, or truth so sublime as that which Jesus taught, or a book to exert such wholesome and transforming influence as the Bible wields. On the other hand, honest and good men would not write a work that is fraudulent and then trick innocent souls into thinking’ that it is of divine origin. If how did it come?

The Bible Claims For Itself Divine Inspiration

Paul wrote to Timothy, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness . . . .” (2 Tim. 3:16). This passage(1) teaches that all scripture is God-breathed.

Peter wrote, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” The prophets did not speak or write out of their own impulse to give their human interpretation of things.”For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Pet. 1:20,21). This is an assertion that the prophets of old who wrote scripture were moved by God’s Spirit, not their own wills. Speaking as moved by the Holy Spirit is inspiration.

The apostles claimed to speak and write under supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit. John testified that Jesus promised them that the Spirit would guide them into “all truth” (John 16:13). On Pentecost they spoke “as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). Paul affirmed, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Cor. 2:12). Paul commended the Thessalonians for receiving the apostolic word “not as the word of men, but as it is in truth the word of God” (1 Thess. 2:13). The apostles taught both by word (orally) and by epistle (writing) (2 Thess. 2:15).

Legally, a man may testify in court in his own behalf. When we allow the Bible to speak for itself, it points to inspiration of God as its true origin.

Inspiration Explained

Not wishing to bore the reader with technical theological definitions, I want to explain inspiration in three simple steps. Please study these three points carefully!

1. God is the cause of inspiration. No prophecy of the scripture “came from private interpretation” (2 Pet. 1:20, H. T. Anderson’s translation). “In other words, God moved and the prophet mouthed these truths; God revealed and man recorded His word.”(2) Similarly, God gave the Spirit to Christ’s apostles that they might know His mind. God is the prime mover in inspiration.

2. Men of God are the agents, of inspiration. God spoke .to the fathers by the prophets (Heb. 1:1); “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Pet. 1:21). God spoke by means of men. He spoke to the prophets and through the prophets. David said, for example, “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue” (2 Sam. 23:2). Jeremiah wrote, “And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth” (Jer. 1:9).

3. God’s word in human language is the result of inspiration. The total process of inspiration includes both the speaker and his speech, the writer and his writings. When the prophets and apostles spoke or wrote as inspired of God, the word of God was produced in human language. When the Hebrew writer quoted from Psa. 95:7,8, he credited the quotation to the Holy Spirit (Heb. 3:7,8). What the apostles taught by inspiration was labeled “the word of God” (Acts 4:31). Since all scripture is given by inspiration of God, the Bible is the word of God.

God caused inspiration, holy men of God were the agents of inspiration, and the word of God in human language is the product of inspiration.

Extent of Inspiration

Some people think the Bible contains the word of God, but they flatly reject certain parts of it. This view invariably takes away the authority of the Bible and exalts human wisdom. It denies that all scripture is inspired of God and makes the mind of man the final court of appeal. Man sits in judgment on the Bible to accept the part that he wants and to reject the remainder as myth.

It is a popular view that the Spirit inspired the thoughts but not the words of the holy men who penned scripture. As one preacher put it, “Some people say they believe the Bible is inspired in the sense, but not in the sentence. . .”(3) Such a view leaves us with a serious problem. Since words are the vehicles that convey thoughts, if God did no more in inspiration than to give the thoughts, how do we know that the men who received those thoughts selected the right words to convey them? “Words are the clothes of concepts, and ‘naked notions’ are nonentities when one is giving ex pression to his thoughts.”(4)

Paul made it clear that the Holy Spirit taught the words that he and the other apostles used. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:12, 13). Jesus told the apostles not to be anxious how or what they would speak, “for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you” (Matt. 10:20).

The Holy Spirit exercised miraculous influence over both the words and the thoughts of the writers of the Bible. The God-breathed words fully expressed the thoughts which God wanted to convey to the mind of man. He chose words to fit the personality(5) and style of each writer-words in the language and according to the culture of the people to whom His will was being revealed. Inspiration did not exclude factual information. Paul quoted a heathen poet (Acts 17:28). Luke had investigated before writing (Lk. 1:1-3). Inspiration did not exclude personal references. Paul often sent his warm personal regards to his brethren through his epistles. And inspiration did not exclude different literary approaches-some books of the Bible are historical, some poetical, some biographical, etc.

Importance of Inspiration

Certain questions about the mode of inspiration may remain unanswered, but one thing is certain-the Holy Spirit inspired holy men to convey in words intelligible to man the will of God. It is because the Bible is a God-breathed book that it is authoritative and inerrant. Its divine inspiration puts the Bible in a unique position; there is no other book comparable to it in all the world

Man’s whole attitude toward the Bible turns on whether or not he accepts its divine inspiration. The true Christian molds his life by the scriptures because of his strong belief that the scriptures are in fact the word of God.

Truth Magazine XXI: 30, pp. 467-469
August 4, 1977

By Mike Willis

Though many people have a high regard for the Bible, the greater majority still believes that the Bible is a book so filled with mystery that it cannot be understood. Even in reading simple verses, some have a tendency to look for hidden meanings. Because of the belief that the Bible is a mysterious book which cannot be understood, some people have just given up any hope of comprehending the Bible and do not even attempt to read it.

In addition to this, some men attribute our religious divisions to the inability of men to understand the Bible or to understand it alike. Consequently, there has grown up a disposition in religion which states that if a person thinks something is right for him to do, it is right for him. Each person is entitled to his own belief and no one should try to persuade any other person that what he believes is wrong.

My friends, these sentiments are not so. The Bible is not a mysterious book which cannot be understood; a thing is not right just because a man believes that it is right; God is not obligated to accept a man’s religion just because he is sincere and honest; our religious divisions do not come as a result of man’s inability to understand the Bible. We need to back up and consider some of the very basic facts revealed to us by God in His holy Word.

God Made Man As He Is

Maybe this seems ridiculous to state at this point in this discussion of this subject but it is necessary. We must begin with this fact: God created man. The early chapters of Genesis state, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them . . . . Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7).

In this discussion, we must begin with the proposition that man is a product of divine creation. He is not the product of billions of years of chance evolution; he is the product of divine creation. Hence, God made man as he is. The way we think, eat, sleep, drink, etc. were all designed by God.

God Made The Bible As It Is

The second point which we need to carefully remember is that God made the Bible as it is. The writers of the Bible were working under divine inspiration when they penned their words. Speaking of how Scripture originated, Peter said, “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Pet. 1:20-21). The Bible came into being because God wanted it written and not because some men decided that religion should have a holy book.

“The Old Testament alone affirms 3,808 times that it is transmitting the very words of God” (Rene Pache, The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture, p. 37). On countless occasions, the prophet would begin by saying, “The word of the Lord came to me saying… ” If the Bible is not the product of divine inspiration, it is literally filled with lies. There can be no middle ground; the Bible is either the word of God Almighty or it is a book of lies.

Hence, we are forced to the conclusion that God made the Bible as it is. The Bible is not the chance development of years of religious evolution; it is not a cunningly devised fable. It is the work of God; He made the Bible just as it is.

The Bible and Man

The Bible which was made by God was prepared for man who was created by God. It is designed to be man’s compass to find his way through life (Jer. 10:23; Psa. 119:105); it contains all that pertains to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3-4); it is man’s complete and final guide in all religious matters (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

Inasmuch as God is the author of the Bible and the creator of man, if the two do not fit each other the fault lies with God. Either one of two things is true if man cannot understand the Bible. Either, God was not able to make the Bible understandable to man, in which case He is not omnipotent or He chose not to make the Bible understandable to man, in which case He is not good. Because God has conditioned salvation upon a knowledge of the truth (Jn. 8:32), He is not a good God if man cannot understand the truth. Because I am unwilling to admit either of these propositions about God, I am forced to conclude that man can understand God’s divine revelation.

This is perfectly consistent with the claims of the Bible. Paul said, “. . . understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17). Earlier, he told the Ephesians that they could understand God’s revelation by reading what he had written (Eph. 3:1-5). Hence, one can understand God’s revelation if he will read and study it. I would like to demonstrate that man can understand the Bible by considering some of the facts, promises and commandments of the Bible which are easily understood. Consider the following:

1. Facts to be believed. The author of the book of Hebrews wrote, “And without faith it is impossible to please’ Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (11:6). Faith is the belief of certain facts. First, one must believe that God is. That is not hard to understand or incomprehensible. Anybody can believe that fact. Other simple facts which everyone must believe include the following: (a) God created all of this world (Gen. 1); (b) Jesus is the Son of God (Mt. 16:16); (c) Jesus died for our sins (Mt. 26:28); (d) He was raised from the dead on the third day following His death and burial. No one has any trouble comprehending these propositions; he may not believe them but he has no trouble understanding them. Hence, man can understand the facts which he must believe in order to be saved.

2. Promises to be enjoyed. The promises of the gospel induce men to believe and obey it: The promises of the gospel are easily understood. Jesus said, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mk. 16:16). The promise is easily understood; Jesus promised to save every man who believes and is baptized. The salvation which he promised is from our sins (Mt. 1:21). Furthermore, He has promised everlasting life (Jn. 3:16) in which we will dwell with the Father to the obedient believer (Rev. 21:3). These promises are not hard to understand. Admittedly, many do not believe them but that has nothing to do with their ability to understand them.

3. Commands to obey. The gospel also contains some commandments which must be obeyed. For example, Peter told those believing Jews on the day of Pentecost that there were some commandments which they had to obey in order to be saved; he said, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Who can misunderstand these commandments? Repentance and baptism are commandments from God which must be obeyed before the individual can receive the forgiveness of his sins.

Here is another sampling of Christ’s commandments: “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:25-29).

From these examples, we can easily see that the Bible is easily understood by any man who wants to obey the Father in Heaven. The problems which confront men religiously have nothing whatsoever to do with his inability to understand what God demands of him. Rather, the problems of men religiously stem from lack of faith rather than a lack of understanding. Men simply lack sufficient faith to do what God says.

Truth Magazine XXI: 30, pp. 466-467
August 4, 1977