Truth Magazine

By Johnny Stringer

Men today do not have the original Biblical manuscripts which were written by the inspired men. We have copies of those originals, and it is from those copies that the Bible is translated into English and other current languages. Since the printing press was not invented until many centuries after the completion of the scriptures, the copies had to be made by hand. Consequently, it has been charged that these copies have been so corrupted by the errors of the copyist that it is impossible to determine God’s original message to man.

This charge is one of those rash charges made by people who feel quite free to speak authoritatively upon subjects which they have not thoroughly investigated. Those who make this charge have not investigated the subject enough to be aware that they are setting their own uninformed minds in opposition to the finest, most reputable scholars who have diligently studied the question.

Those who believe that the manuscripts of the Bible which we have today have been hopelessly corrupted so that it is impossible to learn God’s will from them do not have much faith in God and His providence. Is it reasonable to think that God would put forth all the effort of giving a revelation to man, only to let that revelation become hopelessly corrupt and useless within just a few years? It should be obvious to anyone who has faith in the omnipotent God of the Bible that if God was interested in man enough to give the revelation in the first place, then He was interested in man enough to preserve that revelation so that man could benefit from it. Those with faith in God will believe Peter’s assuring promise, “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever” (1 Pet. 1:25).

Scholars who have studied the matter agree that we have substantially the words of God as they were revealed from heaven. One of the most outstanding scholars of recent years was Dr. Edward J. Young. In his work, Thy Word Is Truth, he said, “Are these copies, however, hopelessly corrupt? For our part, we are convinced that they are not. W e believe that the Bible which we have is accurate and that it is a remarkably close approximation to the original manuscripts” (p. 57). Young further affirms, “One cannot but exclaim, after having spent much time in a study of the Hebrew text-and, of course, the same is true of the manuscripts of the New Testament-that these manuscripts have been preserved by the singular care and providence of God” (p. 58).

But what about copyists’ errors? Surely, in almost anything that is copied the possibility of error is present, and there are copyists’ errors in Biblical manuscripts. Textual critics, however, through studying and comparing the many manuscripts and ancient versions which we have, are able to arrive at what was essentially the original words. In his work, Thy Word Is Truth, Young illustrates the matter as follows:

Suppose that a schoolteacher writes a letter to the President of the United States. To her great joy she receives a personal reply. It is a treasure which she must share with her pupils and so she dictates the letter to them. They are in the early days of their schooling, and spelling is not yet one of their strong points. In his copy of the letter Johnny has misspelled a few words. Mary has forgotten to cross her t’s and to dot her Is. Billy has written one or two words twice, and Peter has omitted a word now and then. Nevertheless, despite all these flaws about thirty copies of the President’s letter have been made. Unfortunately, the teacher misplaces the original and cannot find it. To her great sorrow it is gone. She does not have the copy which came directly from the President’s pen; she must be content with those that the children have made.

Will anyone deny that she has the words of the President? Does she not have his message, in lust those words In which he wrote it to her? True enough, there are some minor mistakes in the letters, but the teacher may engage in the science of textual criticism and correct them. She may correct the misspelled words, and she may write in those words which have been omitted and cross out those which are superfluous. Without any serious difficulty she may indeed restore the original (p. 57).

To those who are disturbed that we do not have the original copies of the books of the Bible, it should be noted that we do not have the original copies of Shakespeare’s writing or of most other literary works. Textual critics must study and compare early editions of Shakespeare’s works in order to arrive at what was the original text. Due to the thousands of New Testament manuscripts we have, with some of them dating back to the second and third centuries, it is possible to be very certain about the correct reading of the New Testament text.

In fact, there is much more evidence for the integrity of our New Testament text than there is for the integrity of our texts for other writings. One of the world’s foremost scholars, Dr. F. F. Bruce, in his work, The Books and the Parchments, said, “There is no body of ancient literature in the world which enjoys such a wealth of good textual attestation as the New ` Testament” (p. 178). In citing evidence for this statement, Bruce observes that the earliest useful manuscripts which we have of Herodotus and Thucydides are over 1300 years later than the originals. Additionally, he points out that, although Caesar’s Gallic Wars was written around 50 B.C., the oldest manuscript which we have of that work is around 900 years later than Caesar’s day (p. 180). After mentioning the writings of a number of ancients, such as Herodotus, Thucydides, and Homer, he affirms, “But the textual evidence for the New Testament is abundant beyond all comparison with these other works. The number of extant manuscripts of all or part of the Greek New Testament runs to about 5,000. If the very number of manuscripts increases the total of scribal corruptions, it supplies at the same time the means of checking them” (p. 181).

In concluding his discussion of the New Testament text, Bruce said,

Our century has seen no greater authority in this field of New Testament textual criticism than Sir Frederic Kenyon, who died in August, 1952, and we may take his words to heart with confidence: “It is reassuring at the end to find that the general result of all these discoveries and all this study is to strengthen the proof of the authenticity of the Scriptures, and our con. viction that we have In our hands, in substantial integrity, the veritable Word of God.” And again: “The interval then be. tween the dates of original composition and the earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to be in fact negligible, and the last foundation for any doubt that the Scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed. Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established” (pp. 189-190).

There are certainly some variations among the many different manuscripts of the New Testament scriptures, but the variations are mainly insignificant. The names that stand out among all the rest in the field of textual criticism (restoring the original text) are B. F. Wescott and F. J. A. Hort. Their years of intense and dedicated work led them to conclude that “the great bulk of the words of the New Testament stand above all discriminative processes of criticism, because they are free from variation, and need only to be transcribed.” Affirming that most of the variations that exist are trivial and insignificant, and that the evidence is such that the correct reading can usually be ascertained, they say, ` f comparative trivialities such as changes or order, the insertion or omission of the article with proper names, and the like, are set aside, the words in our opinion still subject to doubt can hardly amount to more than a thousandth part of the whole New Testament” (The New Testament in the Original Greek, pp. 564-565). Similarly, B. B. Warfield declared, “The great mass of the New Testament, in ther words, has been transmitted to us with no, or next to no variations.”

Regarding the Old Testament, it should be pointed out that Jesus and the inspired writers of the New Testament quoted it as being the word of God. Although they did not possess the original manuscripts, they obviously considered the text which they had in the first century, although it was derived from copies, to constitute, in substance, the word of God as it was revealed from heaven. Thus, the text of the Old Testament had not been hopelessly corrupted by the first century. But was it corrupted during the centuries after the first century? No. Scholars agree that it was faithfully transmitted from the first century on by Jews whose reverence for the scripture led them to take great pains to safeguard the purity of the Old Testament text. Using the copies available to them, Jewish scholars produced a standard text around A. I). 100. Succeeding generations of editors, called Masoretes, copies this text and affixed to it many signs to guide readers in the proper enunciation of words. They devised a complicated system of safeguards to prevent errors in coping. These safeguards included counting the number of times each letter of the alphabet occurs in each book pointing out the middle letter of the Hebrew scriptures, and other such measures. Scholars agree that they were successful in preserving the text of the Old Testament.

It is fitting to conclude this article with some remarks o the renowned scholar, Dr. Edward J. Young:

These copies, however, do give the actual word of God. No point of doctrine has been affected. The doctrine shines before us 1n all its purity. Why God was not pleased to preserve the original copies of the Bible, we do not know. Perhaps, In His infinite wisdom, He did not wish us to bow down to these manuscripts as unto images. Perhaps their preservation would have directed towards them veneration as reties and would have deflected one’s attention from their message. One thing is clear. In His mysterious providence, God has preserved His Word. We do not have a Bible which Is unreliable and glutted with error, bat one that in most wondrous fashion presents the Word of God and the teat of the original (Thy Word Is Truth, p. 61).

Truth Magazine XXI: 30, pp. 476-478
August 4, 1977

By Keith Sharp

“We hold these troths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” (The Declaration of Independence).

As young people approach maturity, they think more and more about goals in life. ;Childhood dreams of “What will I be when I grow up?” are replaced by immediate and pressing problems of choosing whether to go to college, trade school or a job, whether to train for one career or another, whether to get married and have a family or to put off such responsibilities. These decisions are both important and difficult, yet they are merely a portion of the greater question all, whether young or old, must answer: “What shall I make of my life?”

I am certain that every normal person would list happiness as a major goal in life. Yet, although all seem to exercise their “unalienable Right” of the “pursuit of Happiness,” relatively few seem to achieve that end. If happiness, both immediate and permanent, is our over-all objective, we need to identify a more concrete goal, a means, that will help us achieve that paramount end. How should one live in order to be happy?

Solomon, the great wise man of old, addressed himself to this problem in the book of Ecclesiastes. Are his observations of value to us? King Solomon “exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom” (1 Kings 10:23). He demonstrated that great practical wisdom by conducting experiments into the various ways a man can live in order to determine by personal observation the true road to happiness (cf. Eccl. 2:3). As the wealthiest man in the world, one whose immense treasures were too vast to accurately count (cf. 1 Kings 10:4-7, 14), he possessed the financial ability to undertake any such trial that he so desired. As a man inspired of God he could infallibly record the results of his great experiments. Thus, Solomon was uniquely qualified to speak authoritatively concerning the way to happiness.

Immediately some young skeptic is heard to sneer, “Solomon may have been smart, but what could he know about how to live today? Why, he’s been dead for almost 3.000 years!” Solomon himself dispensed with this objection by noting the unchangeableness of life (Eccl. 1:9-10). Certainly outward things change. Whereas, only a generation ago, many still used a horse as the fastest means of travel, today giant rockets have taken men to the moon, and people cross the oceans in jet airplanes in only a few hours. But man himself, his basic needs and desires, have not changed one iota since the days of Solomon, or even of Adam. The inspired observations are as apropos in our modern society as they were in ancient Israel.

Many think the road of human wisdom is the way of happiness. They want to garner as much as possible of worldly philosophy and culture, hoping in this way to achieve ultimate self-improvement and thence happiness. Solomon followed the pathway of human wisdom as far as man has ever traveled. Is this the road he would have us walk? First, we must realize that man, through human wisdom alone, is incapable of guiding himself either to God or to true happiness (Jer. 10:23; Isa. 55:8-9; 1 Cor. 1:19-21). All human philosophy will do for the man who makes it his guide is take him as a captive of war away from Christ, the Captain of our salvation (Col. 2:8-10).

Young people, it is a fine thing to get an education in order to help you succeed at some worthwhile career. But use education as a tool, not as an end itself. This world abounds with “educated fools” who imagine themselves to be wiser and better than others because of degrees attained in school. Is human wisdom the road to happiness? According to the great wise man, the more we learn of this kind of wisdom, the more we experience “grief” and “sorrow” (Eccl. 1:17-18). Certainly, human wisdom is not the way to happiness, and the attainment of great philosophical prowess should not be our primary aim in life.

Others think happiness can be found in the pursuit of worldly pleasures. Some give themselves over to a life of sinful abandon, living for the pleasure of the moment. More and more young people, even many who claim to be Christians, attempt to find happiness in such sinful pleasures as dancing, mixed swimming, pre-martial sex, etc. Is this the way to be happy? The sobering truth is, man, being a responsible creature, cannot escape the consequences of his own actions (Gal. 6:7-8). The people in this life who make both themselves and those who love them the most utterly miserable are those who have given their lives over to sinful pleasures. The ultimate consequences of such action is spiritual death (Rom. 6:23), eternal punishment (Rev. 21:8).

But many people today, while not giving their lives over to activities sinful in themselves, have made the pursuit of worldly pleasures their goal in life, thinking happiness can be thus achieved.

“Never in history have leisure and recreation attained the status they enjoy in the U.S. today . . . .

“Year after year, Americans are spending more tine and money on leisure activities than any other people . . . .

“. . . for more and more Americans, self-fulfillment means self. Indulgence and full-time pursuit of pleasure” (U.S. News & World Report, May 23, 1977, pp. 60-61).

How many, both young and old, are simply too busy with ball games, fishing, golfing, boating, hunting, and the relentless pursuit of pleasure in general to have time to simply worship the Lord in the assembly of the saints or to tell a neighbor the wonderful story of the saving power of the Gospel? Such people have, whether consciously or not, made the pursuit of worldly pleasures their goal in life and the means by which they expect to attain ultimate happiness.

This path also leads to despair.! It is the way of wasted opportunity and ability, uselessness and selfishness. It is the road of the short-sighted, who can see only the momentary pleasure and remain unprepared for eternity. It is a path of emptiness, providing no fulfillment of one’s higher spiritual needs and desires. It is, according to the wise man, the way of “vanity” (Eccl. 2:1-2), i.e., that which is empty and void of any good whatever and utterly useless.

There are those who think to find happiness in the road of drunkenness, escaping from reality through the liquor bottle, marijuana cigarette or heroin needle. But drunkenness, while promising happiness, only rewards its slaves by destroying their health, minds and morals (Prov. 23:29-35) and eventually their souls (1 Cor. 6:9-10). The one who “is deceived” by the lying promises of alcohol and other mind altering drugs “is not wise” (Prov. 20:1).

Many there are who make the attainment of earthly wealth and power their goal and means to achieve happiness. Should riches and power be one’s aim? Wealth is deceptive. It promises great security and happiness, but it does not have the power to deliver (Lk. 12:15-21). The love of money, while preventing one from ever being satisfied with the amount of material goods he possesses, will also cause one to lose his soul (1 Tim. 6:6-10). Thus, those who make the attainment of wealth and power their objective in life are fools (Lk. 12:20-21).

Solomon certainly knew this fact. He said that all his work for the amassing of wealth and power was “vanity and vexation of spirit,” because he would leave it to his heir, not knowing whether he would be wise or foolish (Ecc. 2:9-11, 18-19). Poor Solomon. His heir, Rehoboam, was an utter fool, who caused the kingdom to be divided and Solomon’s great wealth eventually to fall into the hands of heathen kings.

If all these roads of life lead to vanity, then what is left? Is there no road to true happiness? Solomon, having examined thoroughly all the pathways of life, advised:

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Eccl. 12:1 ).

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

“For God shaft bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Eccl. 12:13-14).

Young person, while you still possess the strength of youth, before you are too old to enjoy life, due to the troubles, frailties and pains of advancing age, follow the path of true happiness, real joy and peace unutterable. Remember the God Who formed you and for Whose use you were placed here. Turn and serve Him.

This is the way to attain “joy unspeakable” and a reward of happiness that lightens the load of youth, eases the pain of age and is transformed into the immeasurable happiness of a home in Heaven (1 Pet. 1:3-9). Thus living to the glory of God gives you true purpose in life, for this is your very reason for being (Isa. 43:6-7).

What are we to conclude? How can one live in order to be happy? What should be one’s goal and path? Certainly it should not be human wisdom, worldly pleasure, drunkenness or wealth and power. All these are but “vanity” (Ecc. 1:2; 12:8). Which way then?

Truth Magazine XXI: 30, pp. 475-476
August 4, 1977

By 0. C. Birdwell

The family relationship should be the nearest and dearest relationship in this life. This will be or will not be so depending on the guidance one seeks in the relationship. There is no doubting the fact that many, from various places, are trying to destroy the family circle as our society has known it in the past and as it is set forth in the New Testament. More than most wish to admit has been accomplished by their efforts. In fact, many people, unknowingly, are to some degree lending their support to the deteriorating home situation. The husband and wife find themselves away much of the time making a living for the family, and working extra time in order to have the many luxuries of our society. The children in the family, when not in school, find themselves working at a job early in life, or they are with friends, and quite often with them away from home. When they are at home, the television competes with other interests and too often wins out. This gives very little time for the togetherness required for adequate training and influence that should be exerted in the home.

Beyond the internal problems, the outside influence is constantly beating against the family structure. Movies, television, magazines, and other news and entertainment outlets constantly suggest to us and our youth that the home is an unhappy, unworkable relationship that should be avoided. They tell us over and over just how many live together without marriage and how many change mates regularly. Then, there is the “you have come a long way” slogan, and others, which are often not just efforts to improve conditions and bring about the God ordained relationship between man and woman. On the contrary, they are movements to discourage people in the role God has authorized. Women are told that homemaking is demeaning and degrading. Men are led to believe that desertion of wife and children is honorable and acceptable. Man is told that he is not the head of the home and is not obligated as such. All of this is defended with the concept that we live our own lives. “Do your own thing” would, no doubt, be the way the “in” crowd would express it. This concept, however, is foreign to scripture and flies in the face of taught duties and responsibilities enjoined upon every family member.

The way to solve the present family problem we are facing is to get back to the family guidance provided by God. This is all we have to offer. This is all that will get the job done in this or any other society. Sadly, too many, when shown Biblical family guidance, turn away. Some conclude the solution to be too simple. Others are so engulfed in sin and problems of their own making that they feel beyond help. They are not willing to give up what they are doing. Many do not want help. For the benefit of those who are interested, we give consideration to a few areas of family guidance as provided for in the Bible.

Guidance in Marriage

The beginning account goes like this: “And the man said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh” (Gen. 2:23,24). This relationship, brought about by one’s leaving father and mother and cleaving unto his wife, is an honorable and God ordained relationship. The next verse says, “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” This shows the proper attitude husband and wife ought to have toward one another. Such a situation, however, is only honorable in marriage. The Hebrew writer says, “Let marriage be had in honor among all, and the bed undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Heb. 13:4). Only the husband and wife are to be one flesh (Matt. 19:16). Anything more than this is fornication. The modern “live together without marriage” movement must be opposed and rejected.

Biblical Reasons far Marriage

One of the clearly given reasons for marriage is procreation. We would not, as some have seemingly done, leave the impression that this is the only purpose of marriage. Yet, it is important. “God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, . . .” (Gen. 1:28). Paul instructs that the younger be admonished to marry and bear children (1 Tim. 5:14). He said “. . . train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, . . .” (Tit. 2:4). God did not set forth a plan for childbirth and child rearing outside of marriage. Humanity is to continue through the marriage relationship.

Another reason for marriage, as set forth in the beginning record, is companionship. God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone . . .” (Gen. 2:18). This is still one of the good reasons for marriage. Companionship is often a vital part of happiness.

Still another reason for marriage is given by the apostle Paul. He said, “But because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband” (1 Cor. 7:2). The modern concept that sexual fulfillment is acceptable outside of marriage is false. Fornication is a sin and one way to avoid it is marriage. Thus we see that marriage is for procreation, companionship, and to avoid fornication.

Guidance in the Husband-Wife Relationship

Families are too often torn asunder because husband and wife just cannot get along. Innocent children are scarred for life because of foolish and often selfish parents who are not willing to follow Bible guidance in their relationship. The first thing they need to remember is, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matt. 19:6). Chances are good that these words of Jesus were quoted at the wedding ceremony. One preacher was chosen for a wedding “because he ties a knott that will not easily come loose,” according to the one selecting him. In that specific case it did come loose, but not because of the preacher’s failure. The couple refused to be guided by scripture.

Several years ago there was a television comedy program with a brief skit in which one rather seriously and confidentially passed along an old family secret ingredient for making spaghetti. The alleged secret ingredient was oregano! Of course, oregano, to most spaghetti makers, is no secret. The secret ingredient to a successful husbandwife relationship is also known by most. The ingredient is love. Love is an important little word that is too often known only to be overlooked. According to Paul, it is the greatest remaining thing (1 Cor. 13:13). Concern is a part of love, and deep concern for one another cannot be overlooked and there be a proper husband-wife relationship.

False Concepts in the Husband-Wife Relationship

One of the tragic ideas of many in the church is, “I will get married and if it does not work out I have no obligation to live with my mate so long as I do not remarry.” In the first place, they find it difficult to remain unmarried. After a while they become disturbed, find someone they want to marry, and either quit the church or search for a preacher who will tell them they have a right to marry. In the second place, that one has no obligation to live with the partner is not taught in scripture. Jesus did not make any such statement about marriage. Hear him well, my friend. “But I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress; and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery” (Matt. 5:32). Also, Paul tells the believing mate not to leave the unbelieving one if the latter be pleased to dwell with him (1 Cor. 7:12, 13). One who would put away a mate for just any cause becomes an accomplice in the sin that may result because of the putting away. Consequently, one ought to give serious consideration to the obligations of marriage, and to the person to be taken in marriage.

Another mistake is made by those who continue to live with their mate but, though able to do so, refuse to discharge the duties of a companion. Some have expressed the feeling that this is one’s right and seemed shocked when it is pointed out that such is not the case. Notice Paul’s statement on the subject. “Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, . . . .” (1 Cor. 7:3-5a). To wives, Peter said, “be in subjection to your own husbands” (1 Pet. 3:1). To husbands, he said, “in like manner, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, . . .” (1 Pet. 3:7). Both Paul and Peter show clearly the obligation one mate has toward the other.

Parent-Child Relationship

Children are a “heritage” of Jehovah (Ps. 127:3). They should be so regarded by parents. They should be trained and disciplined, but not misused and abused. The Bible guides parents in discharging their duties to their children. (1) Parents should love their children. As already shown, women are to be taught to love their children. Paul tells us that “in the last days grievous times shall come” (2 Tim. 3:1). Among other things, he says that men will be “without natural affection.” The time predicted by Paul has apparently come. Many parents feel no affection and love for their children and can readily abandon them. (2.) Physical needs are to be provided. “But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Tim. 5:8). Dependent children are the obligation of parents. (3) Teach the child obedience. “Withhold not correction from the child” (Prov. 23:13). Many parents miserably fail by refusing to discipline a child and teach him respect for authority. This failure tragically shows up when teachers, civil officials, or elders, find it necessary to discipline such a child. They find that the child not only resents and rejects the correction, but that the parents do also. (4) Teach children to work (2 Thess. 3:10). Too many grow into adulthood and refuse to work because the need was not impressed upon them by parents. (5) Parents should provide spiritual needs. Children are to be nurtured in the chastening and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). Teach children respect for the Bible as God’s revelation. Do not teach children that parents are always right, but rather that the Bible is right. Let the Bible guide in spiritual matters.

Conclusion

The Bible provides guidance in many areas of family life untouched by this article. Above every thing that was said here, remember that the Bible does provide family guidance. Go there for your instruction. Follow its teaching.

Truth Magazine XXI: 30, pp. 473-474
August 4, 1977

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