IT is not an uncommon thing to find Christians greatly perplexed because of the great diversity of opinion among Christian teachers and writers; and, after a little time they seek escape from this distressing state by settling down into being satisfied that they are saved, and that all these "non-essentials" will be settled when we reach heaven. They think that it is vain to attempt to arrive at certainty about anything but a few points that must be known or we cannot be saved. Perhaps besides this, some favorite dogma is insisted upon as proved to demonstration, and made a separating principle and the basis of a particular denomination.
With some it is simply a matter of no importance as to the denomination they are with; it so happened they were converted where they are, and they are happy in their associations. As the foundations are sound, they think there cannot be much else very wrong; besides, who is to decide which is right, for all take the word of God as their guide?
Any one inquiring after the truth, finds thus that each denomination claims the word of God as an authority for its peculiar form, and this claim is made and urged by earnest pious Christians. In the face of this, the inquirer feels at once the difficulty of setting up his judgment in opposition to such persons whom he really esteems, and if whose sincerity he has not a shadow of doubt. And when he finds these eminent ones widely differing among themselves he begins to judge it must be presumption for him to think it possible even to arrive at any certainty; that the most he can do is to hope he has found the truth, but after all he may be mistaken.
Then the next step into which, alas, numbers have fallen, is to lose confidence in the word of God as sufficient to settle every question. This very often exists in a very subtle form, the mind being really under the power of this doubt while not daring to own it even to itself. But it shows itself plainly in declaring on some disputed point. " Well, after all, one has no right to be certain about it when so many good and wise men differ." What then is the remedy for such a state of things? Have we to leave souls floundering about in doubt and uncertainty, either to be tossed about with every wind of doctrine, or in blind bigotry cling to the dogmas of his ancestors? Surely not. The word of God, the " all Scripture given by inspiration of God, 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. 3:16,1716All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16‑17)).
Now, first of all it is of the utmost importance that each Christian should feel his own responsibility to know the truth. God has given a ministry to teach, etc., but in no wise did He intend the ministry to relieve the Christian of his responsibility to learn for himself the mind of God in His word. Paul, an apostle, thanked God that the Thessalonians received the word not, as the word of men; but, as it is in truth, the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (See 1 Thess. 2:1313For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13).) The ministry may, and it is given for this, help you to get God's word about this and that; but it is God's word you get, and that word effectually works in him that gets it. How can that word effectually work in you if you have only got it as the word of a man? The Thessalonians received it as God's word, and so must you if you are to profit by it.
It must be an individual question, your own matter, between you and God. You must not shift the responsibility upon another, and say I accept it as God's word on this or that matter, because the minister or any one else says so.
The Lord Jesus explains the unbelief of the Jews by their ignorance of the word; and mark this, all ought to have known that word; it was the duty of every Jewish parent to teach his children that word; but they had made the word of God of none effect by their traditions, and thus it was true as Jesus said, " Ye have not the word abiding in you; for whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not " (John 5:3838And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. (John 5:38)). He then appeals to the Scriptures and says (ver. 39), " Search the Scriptures." And this addressed to all, each one for himself must search. Again, the Bereans are evidently commended for searching the Scriptures daily whether these things be so, and therefore many believed. (See Acts 17:11,1211These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. (Acts 17:11‑12).)
Timothy knew the Scriptures from a child. I need not multiply proofs of the fact that the Scriptures are for each one, and that no council, synod, church or minister can take the place of interpreting Scripture authoritatively. It speaks to all, and is the guide for all, and each one is responsible to listen to it and learn for himself what it says. Others may help in the search and explain its meaning, but this is only valuable when it leaves the inquirer face to face with the word itself, and in the confidence that he has God's mind as revealed in that word, and not the thoughts of a man, perhaps more learned than himself. This point I think is fairly established, viz., the responsibility of each believer knowing the truth. I need not dwell on the second point, for I write now for Christians who accept it, viz., that we have the complete Scriptures The Bible contains the whole word of God. We have the " all Scripture given by the inspiration of God."
I pass on to a third point, viz., the all sufficiency of Scripture. Perhaps few would dare to deny this, and most would be ready to say, you need not try to prove this, for we all believe it." Alas, it is just here where the Christian's faith has from various causes become so weak, To what source are most Christian denominations looking for their ministry? Is it not to the colleges and universities, and while Scripture has a place in them all, what has the largest share of attention, who is the most noted among the students at these places? Is it the spiritual minded man of God, full of the word of God? But I will not dwell on this; yet is there not too much dependence on "learning," as if Scripture were not sufficient without it? I would not despise learning. It has its place, and no parent should willfully neglect the due education of his children; but listen to the testimony of the word to the sufficiency of Scripture. In view of declension from the truth coming in after his departure, Paul commends the elders of Ephesus to God, and the word of His grace, which is able to build up. (See Acts 20:28,3228Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)
32And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. (Acts 20:32).) In view of perilous times coming, Paul speaks of the holy Scriptures as able to make wise unto salvation (2 Tim. 3:1515And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15)). Not salvation in the limited sense often used in speaking to sinners about their souls, but deliverance from the evils of these perilous times. In this same chapter the Scripture is declared to be "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." How complete this is. Nothing is lacking. If you would be a man of God, here is your armory where you may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Are not the Scriptures enough? If we must look to something else to complete the outfit, then they are not enough, and we make the statement of Paul a false one, a very serious thing to do. Hear also the testimony of the Spirit in the Psalmist. (See Psa. 119:98,99,10098Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 99I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. (Psalm 119:98‑100).) " Thou through Thy commandments Nast made me wiser than mine enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more 'understanding than all my teachers, for Thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients; because I keep Thy precepts."
But I imagine I hear a Christian say, "I admit my responsibility, and that we have the whole Scripture, and it is sufficient ' but look at the number of godly men who have differed in their views of what Scripture does teach; look at the variety of commentaries and books that have been written, and what great opposition of thoughts there is, and, as far as I can tell, one man as earnest and sincere and as good as another, and all love the Lord Jesus, and own Him as their Savior, for I do not include heterodox teachers in my list. How am I, in the face of such diversity, to presume that I can determine what is the truth? " Now that is the very point at issue, and we have come back, as if traveling in a circle, to the very point we started from. This shows that there is still something lacking, and if we look at 1 Cor. 2, 14 we shall find out the secret: " But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they area spiritually discerned." Just like the man in the seventh of Romans who strove to fulfill his responsibility in the flesh, but found himself powerless; so shall we, if we strive to know the things of God by the study of His word merely with our intellectual faculties, however much cultivated. We may be conscientious, and own that the word alone is our guide, yet feel our powerlessness to arrive at the truth; and the reason is we are not spiritual. This lies at the root of the whole difficulty. Ponder well the first three chapters of 1 Cor., and you will ' find a divine exposure of the cause of differences among the saints of God, There the apostle sums up the condition of soul among the Corinthians, saying, in chapter 3:3, "For ye are yet carnal, and walk as men."
Thus, dear reader, if you find yourself in this difficulty, it behooves you to look well to your own condition of soul, and especially as to this point: Are you glorying in the flesh? Are you counting upon Christianity, with its light and gifts, etc., as an elevator of humanity and improver of man in the flesh? If so, you are carnal, walking as men. The Spirit of God works not in this direction. The things of God are spiritually discerned. But let us look a little more closely into these chapters. Take the latter part of chapter i., from verse 19. Man's wisdom and man's greatness are completely set aside, not improved. Instead of being blended with further wisdom of a divine source, it is strongly contrasted with it, and then swept away in this expression, No flesh should glory in His presence," and chapter 2:9 declares that the things which God had prepared had never entered the heart of man. They were altogether beyond his conception. They can only be revealed by His Spirit, and have been so revealed, and are now written in words which the Holy Ghost taught, and these words can only be intelligently understood by those who have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them and acting as the spring and power of all their thoughts and affections. Such is the spiritual man. It is not merely the fact of the Spirit being in us that constitutes us spiritual, but His being ungrieved, and by His gracious operation leading our hearts and minds, and filling them with Christ.
All this diversity, then, that has become so perplexing has arisen from the worldly, carnal state of soul that Christians have fallen into. What then? Shall we accept this state of things as inevitable, and say it is impossible to find truth with certainty? Far be the thought. This is to say carnality is inevitable, and we must remain in it.
If there is to be power to learn the mind of God in His word there must be self-judgment. The flesh that has had liberty must be mortified, and the heart and mind must take the place of dependence on the Lord and subjection to the teaching of His Spirit. There is no other way. The letter of truth may be picked up intellectually, but it will have no power over the heart.
How inexcusable we are for our ignorance and divisions. We have one infallible word, given by inspiration of God, and one Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, to lead us into all truth. What a privilege I What a rich source of spiritual wealth! Yet we willingly sacrifice an immense portion of it, taking care to be safe from hell, rather than give up our own wills and be nothing. We are willing to confess our sins and get forgiveness, but to count ourselves dead-dead with Christ-and bear about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, we are slow to do. But it must be done if you want deliverance from perplexity and to have power for good and for communion with the mind of God as revealed in His word. One more practical word before I close. With all that I have said as to finding the truth, there must be a constant diligence in reading the word, for it is manifest that so long as we leave the word to be an almost unknown, scarcely read book, we are not likely to be skillful in its use. " The soul of the diligent shall be made fat." G. G.