Scripture Is As Sufficient for Testimony in the World As for Standing Before God
The message declared in the Scripture and the Claim it makes upon man have now been considered. The only ground of blessing there given is testifying to what the message is, and believing it. There are those who have done this, and proved God's word true, though they have never found truth in their own hearts or in the world.
As to their standing before God, from believing the gospel of God, they have received divine assurance that they know is from God. The Scriptures have been proved sufficient for this. By what they contain, they prove themselves in the present day, as-much as they have ever done, able to speak with divine power to the souls of men, to give peace with God, and to answer every question of unbelief that is the consequence of the natural fallen state of ignorance of God. Are they also, it may be asked, sufficient to give the same divine certainty and assurance to those who turn to them for instruction as to the position and testimony in the world that are honoring and pleasing to God? In spite of all the dangers and snares about the fed: of the believer, can he be' divinely assured as to his path?
The Scriptures Claim Sufficiency to Meet Every Need of Faith
The Scriptures themselves afford the answer to the question of their sufficiency. The claim they make in respect to meeting the need of faith is just as clear and unequivocal as that which declares God's way of peace and justification. " All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable fire doctrine for reproof, for correction for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God mat be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
Divine grace and power have anticipated every possible need the heart or conscience can know during time of the trial of its faith, and have provided the word to guide and assure.
Hence the believer who does not take all the needs and difficulties that arise because of his faith and knowledge of God’s truth, to the Scriptures, is, in principle, by his indifference, dishonoring their sufficiency as much as the unbeliever who neither listens to nor considers What God has to shy in His Word with respect to the difficulties that arise from his unbelief and ignorance of Him.
The Ground of Assurance the Same in the Standing As in the Path
The personal and separate details of the path of every believer not of course to be looked for in the Scripture, but there are principles given which will apply to all. Circumstances about the path will each believe, but the ground of the path of the believer as such must be common to all. It must be the ground upon which God has placed his feet. This ground he has learned from believing the Gospel.
All we have to examine, then in any particular case, is the question of what is the only course consistent with what the believer has learned from God es His truth, which constrains him to be faithful in witnessing against all that has deceived him and is still deceiving others; but in turning to the scriptures there is no longer left any doubt as to what position he is to take in Christendom. The position is definitely and explicitly stated.
The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His, and, Let everyone that, nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity." “in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and vessels of silver, hut also of wood and of earth, and some to honor and some to dishonor."
Again, “Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and.... h will receive you."
There is no uncertainty about these injunctions. All that denies or undermines faith in the Gospel and in Christ's finished work, Its well as all open wickedness, has been learned to be iniquity, and separation from it in position is enjoined; as well as the annulling of every bond or association that links believers with unbelievers—" vessels to honor" with "vessels to dishonor "—in a common position and testimony. The believer, in allowing such a bond, is as unfaithful to the unbeliever, —who needs to realize his true condition of ruin and separation from God,—as he is disobedient to the Lord.
What the Christian is responsible to consider before the Lord is the question whether his standing is on ground that every believer himself knows to be divine, and whether his position, testimony and doctrine conform to it.
This may be considered under (1) his position in Christendom, (2) his testimony as to the unity of the Spirit, (3) his judgment in doctrine.