p. 7 | Our Bible Reading

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 13, 1909

Our Bible Reading

The Eternal Word.

The One through Whom the Scriptures Are Given.

1. Who was the active agent in creation? Christ; "for in Him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible; . . . all things have been created through Him." Col. 1:16, 17.

2. When man fell, in whom was redemption promised? "Knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, even the blood of Christ: who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of the times for your sake." 1 Peter 1:18-20.

3. The angel who appeared to Moses was Christ, the Lord. "An Angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. And when Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold, there came a voice of the Lord." Acts 7:30, 31.

4. Who was the actual leader in the Exodus? "Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee by the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared." "And He said, MY PRESENCE shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." "In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His presence saved them." Ex. 23:20; 33:14; Isa. 63:9.

5. How were the children of Israel to regard the "Angel of His presence"? "Take ye heed before Him, and harken unto His voice; provoke Him not; . . . for My name is in Him." Ex. 33:21.

6. What is the name given Him by John? "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him; and without Him was not anything made that hath been made." John 1:1-3. "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war, . . . and His name is called The WORD OF GOD." Rev. 19:11-13.

NOTE.—Christ is called the Word because through Him God revealed all His truth; thus were all things created and given through Him. The record of creation and all the other revealed words of God through Christ is given in His word, the Scriptures.

7. Wherein lies the power of the Word? "In Him was LIFE; and the life was the light of men." John 1:4.

8. What is the effect of that light? He "is the true light, even the light which lighteth every man." "As many as received Him, to them gave He the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on His name." John 1:9-12.

9. How may that life be found? "Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life." John 5:39.

10. What is the authority of the Scriptures? "Every scripture is inspired of God." 2 Tim. 3:16. "Men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:21. "The prophets sought and searched diligently, . . . searching what time or what manner of time the SPIRIT OF CHRIST WHICH WAS IN THEM did point unto. . . . To whom it was REVEALED, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the Gospel unto you by THE HOLY SPIRIT SENT FORTH FROM HEAVEN." 1 Peter 1:10-12.

NOTE.—From these scriptures it is evident that Christ is the great central figure of all the ages—the Creator, the Deliverer, the Redeemer, the Revealer. To Him all prophecies point; about Him all history centers. He, the Word, spoke the worlds into existence; by His word they exist. Inspired by His Spirit, holy men spoke and wrote the Scriptures; His Spirit directs in their study; His Spirit gives understanding. Old Testament and New Testament are alike from Christ, and are therefore "Christian." "In them ye think ye have eternal life," said Jesus. And why?—"They are they which testify of Me," of Christ, the Source of life, whom to know is life eternal. O that with the psalmist all might truly say, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path."