THE NECESSITY OF THE BIBLE.
God’s great love to fallen man is manifest in long-suffering. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9. It is God’s long-suffering, prompted by His love, that led Him patiently to open in man a revelation of His will toward him. “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. He not only gave His Son, revealing Himself through Christ, but has also revealed Himself to man through the Scriptures. Of this revelation He says: “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39. Nature can not do for man what he needs in spiritual things; nor can the Scriptures do for man what he needs in natural things. God reveals Himself in both. The influences of nature, in their manifold variety, are incapable of elevating humanity into a true knowledge of the Creator. Some of the most distinguished philosophers who have confined their studies to the book of nature, have remained in comparative ignorance as to its Author. The world by its wisdom has not known, and can not know, God. It was the purpose of God that man should acquire a correct knowledge of Him through nature. But by falling into sin, man’s moral capacity became too feeble and indisposed to receive correct views of God from this source. Intellectually, man is able to appreciate the influence of nature, and turn it to an intellectual use. But intellectual competency will not suffice for the moral development. The intellectual can grasp the things of nature, but man needs to become acquainted with the God of nature. The eye of the intellect may discover wisdom, power, and goodness in the works of creation, but is unable to discern the Source whence they emanate. In losing innocence, man lost this innate knowledge of his Creator: The light which was in him became darkness. In this darkness he wandered into regions of thought and experience, in which he found no God except such as he evoked from his own vain imaginings and foolish desires. In this condition, man had neither the disposition nor the means within him of creating light which could reveal to him that he had a divine Father, and that he was His lost child, wandering from Him, nor was there any power in nature that could do this. There was a necessity for supernatural light, if man would again find God. This light must not only be such as would reveal God to man, but such as would reveal man to himself. It must reveal his loss of God and of his own integrity. It must open up to him the way of recovering both, as by these alone he could regain the image of his Maker. It must also show that the God whom it reveals, and to whom it guides, is the God who speaks in nature; thus satisfying man that there is but one God, the Author of all things, and the Redeemer of man from his fallen condition. Such light is in the Scriptures. Of the nature of these Scriptures, we are informed that they are powerful, and contain light. “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Heb. 4:12. God’s Word represents Himself, therefore it stands for all there is in its Author. It represents Him, because it is full of life and power. It is a living and a powerful Word. In receiving this Word of life, we are to receive it “not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God.” 1 Thess. 2:13. We are not to put our own construction on the Scriptures, but receive them as words spoken to us. We are not to form our own ideas of what we think God will do, and then select isolated passages to sustain our theories. “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim. 2:15. To do this requires heavenly wisdom, which is promised to all who ask for it.