"The Holy Scriptures."

 •  13 min. read  •  grade level: 7
 
Prayer should ever accompany the study of the word of God, that the Holy Spirit might produce a full and right understanding of its meaning, and an acceptable ministry of it to others. Peter says, “We will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:44But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. (Acts 6:4).) Paul says to Timothy, “Give attendance to reading.” (1 Tim. 4:1313Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (1 Timothy 4:13).) And when Paul is taking his leave of the saints at Ephesus, to whom does he commend them? To the elders? No! “I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up.” (Acts 20:3232And 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).)
And surely, beloved, nothing but “God and the word of His grace” can keep us steady in these perilous times, and indeed at any time. In the study of Scripture we must be careful never to disconnect it from God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To do so is to find ourselves in the region of “the letter” which “killeth.”
At this point I would like to put a question to my young brethren and sisters in Christ. How do you read the Holy Scriptures—the word of God? The answer that I almost invariably get to such a question is, “Oh, I have no rule; sometimes I read in one part, and sometimes in another, and sometimes just where it opens in my hand!” If some dearly-loved one wrote you a long letter, how you read it? You know that you would begin at the beginning, and read carefully through to the end; otherwise you would fail to see the connection of its parts. How are you treating that blessed volume of inspired letters, that our God and Father has so graciously given us, known as “the Holy Scriptures,” the word of God? Is it not, to say the least, a dishonor to the Holy Author of those letters, and a shame to ourselves, that we should be in such lamentable ignorance of their contents and connection? It required divine illumination to write “the Holy Scriptures,” and it requires divine illumination to understand them, or to read them intelligently; thus it becomes us when we approach the word of God to look up in felt need and dependence, saying, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy word,” and He will open our understanding to understand “the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:4545Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, (Luke 24:45)).
I would be far from putting any saved soul under bondage, but I would affectionately suggest the orderly reading of the word of God. If three chapters of the Old Testament and one of the New Testament were read every day, the contents of the divinely inspired volume would be compassed in the course of a year. The Lord preserve us from the terrible looseness of the day in which we are living. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” (1 Peter 2:22As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (1 Peter 2:2)).
But to return to the Scripture at the head of this paper; in it we have presented to us “a child” and “the man of God,” and the Holy Scriptures are said to be sufficient to make “a child” wise unto salvation, and for the throughly furnishing “the man of God.” How important, then, to be diligent in a duty which has been too much neglected by us—the careful instructing of children in “the Holy Scriptures.”
Whether I am a man or a child, I can have no certain and true knowledge of the Savior or His salvation apart from the Scriptures. I am not saved by faith in the Scriptures. To say or think such a thing would be giving the Scriptures the place of the Savior. The Holy Spirit convinces a sinner of sin by the Scriptures, and then from the same blessed source He reveals the Savior, and gives that faith in Him who alone saves the soul forever. Thankful as we ought to be, and most surely are, for simple gospel tracts for children, we must be very careful never to allow them to supplant the Holy Scriptures, which the Holy Spirit most plainly teaches are able to make even “a child” wise unto salvation. But more: all Scripture being God-inspired, “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” If a man, professedly a teacher, bring a doctrine, a reproof, an instruction, and is unable to produce Scripture for them, we should be warranted in rejecting such teaching without hesitation. It will not do to infer, deduce, and conclude. We cannot build a doctrine upon inferences, deductions, or conclusions. No; nothing less will do, and nothing more is needed, than “the Holy Scriptures.” Oh, beloved, there is sad departure from the simple Scriptures! Beware how you receive anything that is not directly from the word of God. If you accept a doctrine founded only upon inferences, deductions, and conclusions, your premises are upon a wrong foundation, and God alone knows where they may land you.
There is much religious literature abroad in our day, and it is being largely read; but if these things take us from the word of God, the only source of light, truth, and blessing, in that same measure they do our souls a very serious wrong. If “pamphlets” and “notes” do not lead me to an increased appreciation of the word of God, then, instead of benefiting me, they are doing me mischief. Why is it that so many dear children of God are being tossed about by the many and false doctrines of the day? Simply because they do not know the Scriptures, are not established in them. Job could say, “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” (Job 23:1212Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. (Job 23:12).) Is it so with us, beloved? I am sadly afraid that we care much more for our necessary food, than we do for the words of His mouth. Jeremiah could say, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them: and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” (Jer. 15:1616Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16).)
“Every word of God is pure.” (Prov. 30:55Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. (Proverbs 30:5).) “For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” (Ps. 138:2.) It is by “the word” that we are born again.” (John 3:55Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5); James 1:1818Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:18); 1 Peter 1:2323Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1:23).) It is by the Word that we are made clean and are kept clean. (John 15:33Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. (John 15:3); Eph. 5:2626That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Ephesians 5:26).) The feeble Philadelphians were commended because they had kept His word. (Rev. 3:88I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. (Revelation 3:8).) The noble Bereans, because “they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily.” (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).) And the blessed Lord Himself said that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:44But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)); and He Himself, when tempted of the devil in the wilderness, used this “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” against the tempter, and with an “IT IS WRITTEN,” thrice repeated, He overcame and worsted the enemy of God and man. (Matt. 4:4, 7, 104But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)
7Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. (Matthew 4:7)
10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Matthew 4:10).)
The blessed Lord never in a single instance of His blessed, holy, wondrous life down here, took His stand upon the baseless foundation of inferences, deductions, or conclusions, but ever upon the sure, infallible, unalterable, and eternal word of His God and Father, and He is our pattern; He has left us an example that we should follow in His steps, and he that says he abides in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked. (1 Peter 2:2121For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (1 Peter 2:21); 1 John 2:66He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (1 John 2:6).)
The good and gracious God bring us back to Himself and His word, give it its proper place in our hearts, lives, worship, and service, make us very jealous for it, and cause us to remember that it is God-inspired to make even “a child” wise unto salvation, as well as for the thoroughly furnishing “the man of God.”
MISSING PAGES 150-151
is blessed to know that they cannot touch or shake God’s foundation. And whilst thousands of poor deceived souls are resting upon the shifting sand of ordinances and religious performances, it becomes us to see to it that we are on the foundation that nothing can prevail against. Jehovah Jesus says, “Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation.” (Isa. 28:1616Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. (Isaiah 28:16).) Are you on this only “sure foundation”? Do you answer, “I wish that I knew I was”? Then listen to the words of Jesus: “Whosoever cometh to Me, and heareth, My sayings, and doeth, them, I will show you to whom he is like: he is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock.” (Luke 6:47-4947Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: 48He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. (Luke 6:47‑49).) Have you come to Jesus? Have you heard His words? and are you doing them? If you can answer these questions in the affirmative, then you can surely sing
“On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.”
“We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth.” (Rom. 2:22But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. (Romans 2:2).) Are you quite sure of this? Can you look back to the cross and see Jesus suffering untold agonies, and hear Him cry, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Ps. 22:1), as He groans and expires beneath the weight of a holy God’s judgment against sin, and say, “I am sure that the judgment of God is according to truth”? If you do not bow to the judgment of God against sin at the cross, you will have to bear it in your own person throughout eternity in the everlasting flames of the lake of fire, when you will be obliged to own “that the judgment of God is according to truth.” Do it now, before it is too late.
“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.” (Heb. 6:1919Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (Hebrews 6:19).) How many thousands there are who say, in this day of earnest personal dealing with precious souls, when asked the important question, “Are you saved?” “I hope so.” Have you got Christ? for Paul says, “Lord Jesus Christ, our hope” (1 Tim. 1:11Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; (1 Timothy 1:1)); and He being “our hope,” if you lack Him you most certainly have no hope.
When a captain of a ship gives orders to his men to drop anchor, what would he think of them if they dropped it in the hull of the vessel? And yet this is just what many simple souls are doing—dropping their anchor into their own hearts: no wonder they are all adrift. Where is Christ? He is at the right hand of God. Accept Christ for your hope, and then you will be in Christ, anchored to the very throne of God, and you will know that your anchor, being outside of yourself, is “both sure and steadfast,” and you will be able to say, “I have Christ; what want I more?”
“Thy testimonies are very sure.” (Ps. 93:5.) Yes, they are not only sure but “very sure,” whether He speaks about man’s condition by nature as being lost and guilty, as “all we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way.” (Isaiah 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)), therefore the whole world is “become guilty before God” (Rom. 3:1919Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19)); or whether He speaks about His own rich provision for the blessing of such, as “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)); or whether He speaks of the present portion of the believer and the unbeliever, as “He that believeth, on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)); or whether He speaks of the destiny of the believer, or the doom of the unbeliever, as, “And these” (the unbelievers) “shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matt. 25:4646And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46).) Yes, depend upon it, God’s “testimonies are very sure,” and “he that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true” (John 3:3333He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. (John 3:33)); and “he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar.” (1 John 5:1010He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (1 John 5:10).) Have you set to your seal that God is true, by receiving His “very sure” testimonies? or are you making Him a liar by calling them in question and doubting them?
“Give diligence to make your calling and election sure.” (2 Peter 1:1010Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: (2 Peter 1:10).) I am amazed at the audacity of people in saying, “You cannot be sure you are saved in this world,” when God says I am to be sure. “Yes,” you say; “but I do not know if I am one of God’s called ones.” Well, turn to 1 Cor. 1:26-2926For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence. (1 Corinthians 1:26‑29), and look at the persons whom He calls: “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence.” Now, do you answer to this fivefold description of God’s called and chosen ones? Have you ever confessed to God that you are “foolish, weak, base, despised, and nothing”?
If so, you are most certainly one of God’s called ones. Has God’s gospel come to you, not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance? if it has, and you have answered to the fivefold description of God’s called ones, then you have made “your calling and election sure.” (1 Thess. 1:4, 54Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 5For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:4‑5).)
“Be sure your sin will find you out.” (Num. 32:2323But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23).) We have now come to the last Scripture I wish to call your attention to where the word “sure” occurs, and a most solemn one it is for a certain class of sinners. Oh, ye hypocrites, ye deceitful and secret sinners, ye may go on undiscovered for weeks, months, and even long years, but your sin will hound you and find you out in the long run! Oh that it might find you out now, and cause you to come to Jesus, the sin cleanser and the sinner’s Saviour! “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7).)
I have done, and must now leave God’s word to do its own work, earnestly praying that all who may read this paper may be led of God truthfully to say, “We believe and are sure.”