TRUTH OR ERROR? HOW CAN WE KNOW?
By G. W. Bartle
THAT there is a powerful psychical movement being carried on in various parts of the world at the present time, and especially in the United States, must be admitted by all candid, thinking people. Indeed, this psychical movement is so apparent that even the more careless and unthinking ones are forced to believe that a powerful spiritual force is at work. To claim that these unusual manifestations are simply brought about by a few ignorant and overly-nervous people, will not stand actual investigation. Men and women of culture and of recognized character are being brought under the influence of this power; and, seemingly, the "wise and pru-7dent" are as often affected and smitten down as are the ignorant and careless ones. Strong men are often stricken down, and lie quivering on the floor; while others, who are wholly ignorant of foreign languages, speak in unknown tongues. Is this thing of God, the Creator of heaven and earth? or is it of the devil, that old rebel—the "god of this world," the "prince of the power of the air" and of "darkness"? Is this wonder-working movement now taking place, and soon to sweep the whole earth, the everlasting Gospel? Is it being given by the angels of Rev. 14:6-12, and backed by God, the everlasting Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace? And is this power that is smiting down strong men and swaying great congregations like a mighty storm, the Holy Spirit? Or is it the "spirits of devils [Spiritualism] working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." Rev. 16:14. Friends, do not be deceived; a mighty false spiritual movement is to sweep over the whole earth, just before the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, which will be so close a counterfeit of the genuine that it will surely deceive the whole world, every soul except the "very elect." Thank God, His elect can not be deceived. Upon what, then, brethren in Christ, should Christians base their belief? Should it not be upon the Bible, the Word of God alone, regardless of tradition? Those who take the plain, simple, and yet all-powerful, Word of God as the standard of faith, will not be deceived. God has not left His faithful followers in darkness. He has given sure signs by which we can know to an absolute certainty the true from the false. "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8:20. Did you ever think what an awful thing it is to break God's holy law? Did you ever think that the awful consequences of the breaking of God's commandments could only be atoned for by the death of the Son of God? Did you ever take it to heart and consider that after being "redeemed by the blood of the Lamb," and being "reconciled to God" by the death of His Son Jesus, you are obliged to "go and sin no more"? And is it not written, "Thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins"? He saves not only from the consequences of having sinned, but from sinning, or from breaking God's law. For it is written, "Whosoever committeth sin, transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law." Friends and brethren, God's whole universe is ruled by His holy law, the Ten Commandments. The first four teach the absolute sovereignty of God, the terrible results of sin, and the mercy and loving-kindness shown to those who keep His commandments. It is also shown in the fourth commandment that our God is the Creator; while the last six teach love, courtesy, and justice to our fellow creatures. Altho the Ten Commandments are a law of condemnation to sinners, praise God they are a law of promise to the child of God. Is this so? Let us see. The commandment that sounds forth in thunder of condemnation to a murderer, "Thou shalt not kill," to a saved man in Christ Jesus becomes a promise. My son, thou shalt not kill; and so with every commandment, for it is Jesus who gives His promise that "sin shall not have dominion over you." Are We Saved to Sin or Righteousness?
My brother or sister, are you saved by the grace of God? If so, you will not willingly transgress one of God's commandments; you will not teach for doctrine the commandments of men. Neither will you deny the words of Jesus: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 5:17-19. Heaven and earth have not passed, and dare you teach men to break one of these commandments? "The wages of sin is death." Jesus said to one who was inquiring the way of eternal life, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Matt. 19:17. So if you would be perfect in character, and strengthened in wisdom, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." Ps. 19:7. "We are not justified by the deeds of the law," for that we have already broken. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Rom. 3:23, 24. And now, brethren, taking God at His word, for that is faith, and accepting Jesus, our sins are forgiven for His dear sake, praise God. And we who are rebels, and in a lost condition, are cleansed from that unrighteousness brought about by sin, the transgression of the law. 1 John 1:9. And yet, faith does not make void the law, nor lessen our obligation to keep it. Rom. 3:31 and 8:3, 4. Surely, we who love Jesus and desire to follow in His footsteps, will do as our Lord and Master did. "The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness' sake; He [Christ] will magnify the law, and make it honorable." Isa. 42:21. "Magnify, to increase the power or glory of; to exalt; to extol; to sound the praise of."—Webster. Now let us see what the Word has to say about these "spiritual gifts" that many are claiming to possess. Are they of God? Are they the promised outpourings spoken of in Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:16, 17? For what purpose are spiritual gifts given, and does the all-wise God give these choicest gifts to men as a spectacle, or for their amusement? And are they given to any save holy people? And are they holy who wilfully trample God's law underfoot? Let us see. "God is no respecter of persons," so all may obtain them by putting away sin and seeking them for the purpose of service. "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant." 1 Cor. 12:1. "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." Verse 7. How many gifts does the apostle enumerate? "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues." Verses 8-10. What effect is the exercise of these gifts to have upon the church? See Eph. 4:11-13. Where did God place these gifts, and in what order?—1 Cor. 12:28 tells us that first in order is apostleship, and then the gift of prophecy, and that the gift of tongues is last. Have these people, through whom a supernatural power has manifested itself, those gifts, and in their proper order? The gift of the Holy Spirit was not conferred upon man to make him wild and incoherent, but to give a deeper knowledge of God's Word, and to be a comforter, a helper, a healer, and to lead us closer to Him by giving us a true knowledge of His character. Being sent from Christ, the Holy Ghost will surely uphold God's law; for Jesus came to "magnify the law, and make it honorable." Isa. 42:21. But many will say, "Do not these people of whom you write actually speak in unknown tongues?"—No doubt of it; I think that can not be doubted. And do they not sing and pray and shout praises to God?—Yes; but when the Lord Jesus comes, He will set a people on His left hand who have done all of those things in His name, and will say unto them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." That this peculiar movement is not of the true God, the Creator, I submit three reasons: First, it does not appeal to common sense; its adherents do not improve in wisdom and good judgment, but on the contrary, become wild, incoherent, and fanatical. Secondly, because these gifts which they hold up as the sign of God's power and approval are not given in God's order, as layed down in His Word, neither are they given to any purpose or profit to mankind. And thirdly, they will not stand the final test of the Word, "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8:20. These people are not magnifying God's law and making it honorable; but they continually dishonor God by breaking the fourth commandment and keeping the first day of the week, the day substituted by the Roman Catholic Church, and for which there is no authority in the Word of God. It is a historical8fact that the primitive Christians honored God by keeping His law; and neither the apostolic church nor those later Christians who upheld its teachings ever kept any day as the Sabbath save the seventh day of the week. Centuries before Christ's time, Sunday, the "venerable day of the sun," was kept by the worshipers of Baal, of Ra, and of Molech. To all who incline to fall in with the delusive movement herein referred to, I would earnestly appeal: If you will turn back from trampling the Sabbath of the Lord under your feet, and earnestly "covet the best gifts," and prayerfully seek for them, God will grant you your desire, "according to the richness of His grace." But, friends, I say unto you with boldness that you never will have any spiritual gifts in God's measure until you have the "testimony of Jesus" ("Now the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy," Rev. 19: 10); for that is the first gift promised after the gift of the Holy Ghost and of apostles. "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." 1 Cor. 12: 28. The outpouring of the Holy Ghost upon the primitive Christians was no new thing. God's holy saints always possessed it. "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1: 21; 2 Sam. 23: 2. Blind belief in the teachings of any man can not save any one. We must hold to the Father's Word, for that is the Son's Word also. He and His Father are one in all things; the Son, who kept His Father's commandments and so abode in His love, would never set up a code of laws in opposition to that of His beloved Father. God has given the most solemn warning against the worship of the "beast," or his image" (Rev. 14: 9, 10); and I would that God might burn this fact into your hearts, that the remnant people will be commandment-keepers, and have the spirit of prophecy. Rev. 12: 17. And now, friends, think of the glorious reward that all may have who are not "forgetful hearers," but "doers of the Word." "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the City." Rev. 22: 14.
G. W. BARTLE.