We Should Ourselves Go to the Fountainhead — We Should Not Depend upon a Fallible Fellow Man
By J. W. LOWE
IN matters of religion and religious doctrines, do not resort to the theories and writings of men for instruction relative to what is truth, but go directly to the Bible itself. To know what the Bible itself says, is worth a thousand times more than to know what any man may say with respect to what the Bible teaches.
WHICH IS RIGHT?
Even the most intellectual and conscientious persons differ widely in opinion concerning Bible doctrines and Bible teaching in general. And if we depend on mere human authority for our religious faith and belief, how can we know for a certainty which of these individuals or classes have the truth?
SCENE IN MILAN, ITALY
The word of God — the Bible — is the truth. And the Bible is its own exposition of the truth. If we believe what the Bible says, and believe it says what it means, we shall have no serious difficulty in coming to a knowledge of the truth. But if we persist in believing that God does not mean what He says, and put our own construction upon as much of the Scriptures as we possibly can, we will be likely sooner or later to possess more error than truth.
BIBLE HELPS
I do not mean to say that Bible helps of every description have no value, for many of them are exceedingly valuable to the Bible student. But the writings of men who spiritualize away the real meaning of some of the plainest statements of God's word are most dangerous to read. These writings are surely indited by the spirit of Satan, and for this reason, are hypnotic in their influence.
Remember there are two separate and distinct spirits at work in the world,— the Spirit of God, and the spirit of Satan. Not all the impressions that men have, come from God. Satan can impress the minds of people, and lead them to believe a lie. We are to test the suggestions and impressions that come to us, by the test given us in the Bible: "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.
THE INFALLIBLE INTERPRETER
It was never given to man to interpret the Scriptures. That is the office of the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit will not lead one person to believe one thing, and another person to believe something different, relative to the same matter. If two persons differ widely concerning some Bible doctrine, one of them at least is not fully taught by the Holy Spirit. They may both be in error, but both cannot be right.
When we take into consideration the great number of religious denominations, and their differences in opinion as to what the Bible teaches, it ought to serve as a warning to us against placing our confidence in mere human wisdom for our knowledge of Bible truth, or even in any line of intellectual thought. God's word is the truth; and it is so very abundant in true knowledge, that it has light and truth for every soul. And if you desire knowledge that is free from adulteration, search your Bible for it.
