Solutions to stumbling blocks – God’s divinely inspired book, part 7; John 16:1.

Title: Solutions to stumbling blocks - God’s divinely inspired book, part 7; John 16:1.

 

THE BIBLE’S ENDURING FRESHNESS. As no other literature in the world, the Bible invites and sustains a ceaseless rereading.

 

Its pages are ever flashing new gems of truth to those most familiar with it, and its uplifting moral appeal, like its pathos [a quality to make someone feel pity or sadness], never fails to move the sensitive soul. Of no other book than the Bible could it be said truthfully that its message is perennially fresh and effective, and this, in turn, demonstrates the divine character and origin of the Bible.

 

Great men of all generations, both devout and otherwise, have striven to give expression to their convictions concerning the uniqueness of the Bible. When the Bible is thus contemplated, surpassing thoughts that run outside the normal or the mundane are stimulated. The eminence of God is seen on every page.

 

The structure of the Bible:

 

The sixty-six books, which by divine arrangement make up this incomparable whole, are divided into two major parts—the Old Testament and the New Testament.

 

The Testaments lend themselves to the unfolding of two paramount divine purposes—that which is earthly and that which is heavenly.

 

Be careful of disappointment that results from desiring earthly blessings in the not so distant future that don’t come to fruition. The Company that is spoken to from the NT are never told to look for anything earthly since their purpose and final destiny is not on the earth. This by no means states that we should ignore the earthly, but rather to have the earthly under its proper scale in our value system.

 

The books of the Old Testament are classified as historical— Genesis to Esther—, poetical—Job to Song of Solomon—, and prophetical—Isaiah to Malachi.

 

The New Testament books are classified as historical—Matthew to Acts—, epistolary— Romans to Jude—, and prophetical—Revelation.

 

As bearing on the Person of Christ—He who is the central theme of all the Scriptures—, the Old Testament is classified as preparation the four Gospels as manifestation; the Acts as propagation; the Epistles as explanation; and the Revelation as consummation.

 

While none of the other major faiths actually have a messiah, it is also true that their books do not follow an ordered and linear pattern, but are more web like without chronological or progressive revelation.

 

The essential analysis of each book, each chapter, and each verse, belongs to the discipline of the student of the word of God as taught by his pastor teacher including the science of translation and interpretation as well as the general theme of Systematic Theology.

 

Created beings and their relationships: The Bibleexhibits the origin, present estate, and destiny of four classes of rational beings in the universe, namely, angels, Gentiles, Jews, and Christians.

 

We will study the angels. The Gentiles often refer to the unbeliever in the NT since the Gentile believer is called beloved or brethren or in Christ, etc.

 

THE JEWS. By the call of Abraham and all that Jehovah wrought in him, a new race or stock was begun which, under unalterable divine covenants and promises, continues forever.

 

The importance in God’s sight of the earthly people and all that is related to them is indicated by the fact that about five-sixths of the Bible bears directly or indirectly upon them. In spite of all their sin and failure, the purpose of God for them cannot be broken (cf. JER 31:31-37).

 

Their destiny is traceable on into the millennium and the new earth which follows. However, in the present age, bounded as it is by the two advents of Christ, all progress in the national and earthly program for Israel is on hold and the individual Jew is who believes in Christ is added to the body of Christ along with the Gentiles, both Jew and Gentiles believers being in Christ, for in the CA there is no distinction.

 

THE CHRISTIANS. A new humanity appears on the earth with an incomparable new headship in the resurrected Christ, which Company is being formed by the regenerating power of the Spirit.

 

I am going to present you with a number of facts that you may already know, but I’m going to ask you not to so much learn them but to ask yourself how much you believe them, and faith has its result in the fruit of a prosperous soul.

 

An extensive body of Scripture declares directly or indirectly that the present age is unforeseen and intercalary in its character, and in it a new humanity appears on the earth with an incomparable new headship in the resurrected Christ, which Company is being formed by the regenerating power of the Spirit.

 

It is likewise revealed that there is now “no difference” between Jews and Gentiles generally either as to their need of salvation (ROM 3:9) or as to the specific message to be preached to them (ROM 10:12). It is seen, also, that in this new Body wherein Jews and Gentiles are united by a common salvation, the middle wall of partition— the age-long enmity between Jew and Gentile—is broken down, itself having been “slain” by Christ on the cross, thus making peace, (EPH 2:14-18).

 

In fact, all former distinctions are lost, those thus saved having come upon new ground where there is neither any earthly distinction, but where Christ is all in all (GAL 3:28; COL 3:11).

 

The New Testament also records that the individual Christian, being indwelt by Christ, now possesses eternal life and its hopeconfidence of glory (COL 1:27), and, being in Christ, is possessed with the perfect standing of Christ, since all that Christ is, even the righteousness of God, is imputed unto him.

 

False app: People who don’t get this are dummies and more simple than I am. These truths were not designed to make you arrogant.

 

The Christian is thus already constituted a heavenly citizen (Phil. 3:20) and, being raised with Christ (COL 3:1-3), and seated with Christ (EPH 2:6), belongs to another sphere, so definitely, indeed, that Christ can say of such: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14, 16; cf. 15:18, 19).

 

False app: Standing aloof from the world, not being involved in the world, being lazy or a sluggard.

 

It is likewise to be observed that since this spiritual birth and heavenly position in Christ are supernatural, they are, of necessity, wrought by God alone, and that human cooperation is excluded; the only responsibility imposed on the human side being that of faith which trusts in the only One who is able to save.

 

To this heavenly people, who are the New Creation of God (2 Cor. 5:17; GAL 6:15), is committed, not in any corporate sense but only as individuals’ a twofold responsibility, namely, (a) to adorn by a Christ-like life the doctrine which they represent by the very nature of their salvation, and (b) to be His witnesses to the uttermost parts of the earth.

 

False app: I don’t need a local assembly or a PT (alive) and I don’t have to ever bear another’s burden. I am alone.

 

I can function in my spiritual giftgiveservecomfortbear burdens etc. in a local assembly without depending on others for my spiritual growth.

 

It is similarly believed that the Scriptures which direct the Christian in his holy walk and service are adapted to the fact that he is not now striving to secure a standing with God, but is already “accepted in the beloved” (EPH 1:6), and has attained unto every spiritual blessing (EPH 1:3; COL 2:10).