Taken from the from the series. . .
AS IT READS:
A Plea for us to accept the Plain Word of our Creator
PART 1: Believing the Simple, Plain-Language, Divine Record
[ https://itlministry.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/3/1/123133434/as_it_reads_pt_1_-_believing_the_simple_plain-language_divine_record_1.pdf ]
INTRODUCTORY TEXT(S):
Proverbs 30:5-6 (KJV)>> "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. "
The Integrity of God’s Word, the Divine Record....................................
1. What has our Creator said to us about the words he has preserved in the Bible?
Psalms 12:6 (KJV)>> "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."
Psalms 18:30 (KJV)>> "As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him."
Psalms 89:34-35 (KJV)>> "My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David."
Proverbs 8:8-9 (KJV)>> "All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward[Heb.twisted] or perverse[Heb.distorted] in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge."
Testing our belief in God’s record..........................................................
2. So, therefore, do you truly believe the record God has left as the greatest assurance for your life? Will you believe every clear, plain word of it?
a) Do you believe this record?
John 14:1-2 (KJV)>> "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."
Those are precious and encouraging promises. Promises that, knowing their guarantee, none would be hesitant to accept. Who would not want a mansion? Yet who is it that is giving us this pledge? It is Jesus Christ that is here speaking, assuring us that what he says, he means every word of it. If he did not truly mean many mansions, he says he would not have told us. If he did not truly mean they were in his Father’s house in heaven, he says he would not have told us. Furthermore, if Christ did not truly mean the mansions were in the house of his Father, he says he would not have told us.
In just these few, simple words there is so much life and hope. Jesus Christ gives us the reassurance that we ought not to be troubled or worried in our hearts: that is, if we truly believe in God, we should believe also in him. If we truly believe it when he calls God his Father, we shall truly believe the logical fact which pierces the conscience: that Jesus Christ is actually the Son of God. Ultimately, if we truly believe in the Father and the Son, we have nothing to worry about; rather than worry, we have every one these precious promises to hope for and receive. And there are many more, even myriads of these promises in the divine record.
b) Now, do you believe this record?
John 3:16-17 (KJV)>> "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
1 John 5:10-11 (KJV)>> "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
Accepting the record means to take it as it reads..................................
Now, taking God’s record as it reads, knowing that if he meant otherwise, he would simply have told us, let us reason together from the aforementioned scriptures. As it reads, is John 3:16 saying that God the Father had an only Son? Yes! As it reads, is this Son is identified as such because, by the very definition of Son, he is one begotten or born? Yes! As it reads, given that this Son is described as God’s only-begotten Son, does this mean then that this Son had to be specially and singularly born from God at some point? Yes!
Is scripture saying that this Son was given to or sent into the world, i.e., the earth? Yes! If the only begotten Son was given or sent, does it not mean that this Son had to be altogether born from God before he was given or sent to the earth? Yes! Notice the scripture did not say, “God so loved the world that he gave another to the world, and this other only became his Son while in the world.” No! The scripture said, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.” The common sense of the statement makes it clear that God indeed had to have a Son in order for that Son to be given to the world.
Illustrations which vindicate God’s record............................................
3. Try and apply this illustration personally. . .
What if, for some reason, you are accommodating me at your home for a few days? Being appreciative, I tell you I am bringing you a specially-baked loaf of bread as a gift for your hospitality. On the day of my arrival I then show up at your door, not with that bread I pledged, but rather with a bag of flour. You would certainly ask, “Where is the bread?” And then I say to you, “That’s why I brought the flour, it will become that special bread once I borrow your kitchen and bake it.” How would you feel about that? If I said I’m bringing a special bread as a gift and, and at the accepted time to present the gift I bring flour? Was I true to my word? (Certainly not!) Even if I intend to make that bread thereafter? (My original word was still misleading.) Wouldn’t my actions seem immature, or maybe insulting, or maybe downright deceitful?
4. Our God does not play mind games. He says what he means, and means what he says.
If we do not expect such conduct from flesh and blood whom we trust, how much more do we know that such is not an attribute of the God of heaven? God would never tell us a plain fact when he never intended us to understand it as a plain fact. Did not Jesus assure us of this when he asked the following?
Matthew 7:9-11 (KJV)>> "Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"
The Unmistakable Gift identified in the divine record..........................
Our God infinitely knew how to give the greatest gift which was needed by this world. And he said this gift was his Son. If God says his Son was being given or sent to the world, he meant just that. He was not giving us something other than his true Son: not a stone, not a serpent, not even another co-eternal God, but his truly only-begotten Son. Sincerely taking God at his word, we cannot receive the interpretation that the “Son” which God said he gave only became the Son after he was given, whether at Bethlehem or otherwise. This would mean the gift was not a Son before he was given, hence God did not give a Son. Such interpretations are clearly not what God’s word and character declare. Such interpretations are contradictory. Such interpretations must be of men.
Let’s go a little further. The next verse, John 3:17, declares, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world.” The scripture language clearly states again that this Son was already the only begotten Son before he was sent into the world.
The implications of believing or disbelieving the divine record..........
Now think on this. If God dwells in heaven and had this Son before he was sent into the world, then this Son must have been born from God in heaven, and then at some point after, this Son was sent into the world. Overall, is scripture saying that this literal Father-Son relation already existed in heaven, and then afterward the Son was sent down to the earth to redeem humankind? If we take the scriptures as they read, this is exactly what the verses say! This is the gospel – the good news within the divine record!
Can these verses be plainly understood any other way? If we try to interpret them any other way, are we not twisting or distorting them, making them froward or perverse, as Proverbs 8:8-9 rebukes? If we accept fanciful explanations beyond the clear reading of the scripture text, are we not adding to the word of God, as Proverbs 30:6 warns? If we do not believe the plain import of God’s words, are we not making God a liar, as 1stJohn 5:10-11 declares? Let us give heed to the ultimate result of the decision we make on this issue:
John 3:18 (KJV)>> "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Conclusion...............................................................................................
5. So then, in a few select, profound words, what does it mean to believe the divine record and its gospel?
John 20:31 (KJV)>> "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."
2 Timothy 3:15 (KJV)>> "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 1:13 (KJV)>> "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise."
1 John 4:8-9 (KJV)>> "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him."
John 17:3 (KJV)>> "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
APPEAL....................................................................................................
Do you believe the divine record, the same which we call today the Bible, Holy Scripture, or Word of God? Do you believe this divine record contains the gospel, the most important message of good news you could ever hear? A gospel which is to be taken as plainly as the Word reads? A gospel that reveals a divine Father and His literal divine Son?
Friend, this is a gospel that promises our eternal life on the condition that we believe this record exactly as it is set forth in the Word of God. It is a gospel which tells us that the only true God had an only begotten Son, and then sent that Son to save us? Do you believe this one true gospel, friend, from the one true divine record? We pray you say yes, for then all God’s precious promises – promises for all your current circumstances, and promises pertinent to the future eternal life – all these shall be available to you. May the Father and Son bless you, through the Spirit, according to your faith.
AMEN.
Shared with you out of love, in the service of the gospel,
Br. C. S. Lawrence
Email: cslawrence.itl@gmail.com
AS IT READS:
A Plea for us to accept the Plain Word of our Creator
PART 1: Believing the Simple, Plain-Language, Divine Record
[ https://itlministry.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/3/1/123133434/as_it_reads_pt_1_-_believing_the_simple_plain-language_divine_record_1.pdf ]
INTRODUCTORY TEXT(S):
Proverbs 30:5-6 (KJV)>> "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. "
The Integrity of God’s Word, the Divine Record....................................
1. What has our Creator said to us about the words he has preserved in the Bible?
Psalms 12:6 (KJV)>> "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."
Psalms 18:30 (KJV)>> "As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him."
Psalms 89:34-35 (KJV)>> "My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David."
Proverbs 8:8-9 (KJV)>> "All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward[Heb.twisted] or perverse[Heb.distorted] in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge."
Testing our belief in God’s record..........................................................
2. So, therefore, do you truly believe the record God has left as the greatest assurance for your life? Will you believe every clear, plain word of it?
a) Do you believe this record?
John 14:1-2 (KJV)>> "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."
Those are precious and encouraging promises. Promises that, knowing their guarantee, none would be hesitant to accept. Who would not want a mansion? Yet who is it that is giving us this pledge? It is Jesus Christ that is here speaking, assuring us that what he says, he means every word of it. If he did not truly mean many mansions, he says he would not have told us. If he did not truly mean they were in his Father’s house in heaven, he says he would not have told us. Furthermore, if Christ did not truly mean the mansions were in the house of his Father, he says he would not have told us.
In just these few, simple words there is so much life and hope. Jesus Christ gives us the reassurance that we ought not to be troubled or worried in our hearts: that is, if we truly believe in God, we should believe also in him. If we truly believe it when he calls God his Father, we shall truly believe the logical fact which pierces the conscience: that Jesus Christ is actually the Son of God. Ultimately, if we truly believe in the Father and the Son, we have nothing to worry about; rather than worry, we have every one these precious promises to hope for and receive. And there are many more, even myriads of these promises in the divine record.
b) Now, do you believe this record?
John 3:16-17 (KJV)>> "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
1 John 5:10-11 (KJV)>> "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
Accepting the record means to take it as it reads..................................
Now, taking God’s record as it reads, knowing that if he meant otherwise, he would simply have told us, let us reason together from the aforementioned scriptures. As it reads, is John 3:16 saying that God the Father had an only Son? Yes! As it reads, is this Son is identified as such because, by the very definition of Son, he is one begotten or born? Yes! As it reads, given that this Son is described as God’s only-begotten Son, does this mean then that this Son had to be specially and singularly born from God at some point? Yes!
Is scripture saying that this Son was given to or sent into the world, i.e., the earth? Yes! If the only begotten Son was given or sent, does it not mean that this Son had to be altogether born from God before he was given or sent to the earth? Yes! Notice the scripture did not say, “God so loved the world that he gave another to the world, and this other only became his Son while in the world.” No! The scripture said, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.” The common sense of the statement makes it clear that God indeed had to have a Son in order for that Son to be given to the world.
Illustrations which vindicate God’s record............................................
3. Try and apply this illustration personally. . .
What if, for some reason, you are accommodating me at your home for a few days? Being appreciative, I tell you I am bringing you a specially-baked loaf of bread as a gift for your hospitality. On the day of my arrival I then show up at your door, not with that bread I pledged, but rather with a bag of flour. You would certainly ask, “Where is the bread?” And then I say to you, “That’s why I brought the flour, it will become that special bread once I borrow your kitchen and bake it.” How would you feel about that? If I said I’m bringing a special bread as a gift and, and at the accepted time to present the gift I bring flour? Was I true to my word? (Certainly not!) Even if I intend to make that bread thereafter? (My original word was still misleading.) Wouldn’t my actions seem immature, or maybe insulting, or maybe downright deceitful?
4. Our God does not play mind games. He says what he means, and means what he says.
If we do not expect such conduct from flesh and blood whom we trust, how much more do we know that such is not an attribute of the God of heaven? God would never tell us a plain fact when he never intended us to understand it as a plain fact. Did not Jesus assure us of this when he asked the following?
Matthew 7:9-11 (KJV)>> "Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"
The Unmistakable Gift identified in the divine record..........................
Our God infinitely knew how to give the greatest gift which was needed by this world. And he said this gift was his Son. If God says his Son was being given or sent to the world, he meant just that. He was not giving us something other than his true Son: not a stone, not a serpent, not even another co-eternal God, but his truly only-begotten Son. Sincerely taking God at his word, we cannot receive the interpretation that the “Son” which God said he gave only became the Son after he was given, whether at Bethlehem or otherwise. This would mean the gift was not a Son before he was given, hence God did not give a Son. Such interpretations are clearly not what God’s word and character declare. Such interpretations are contradictory. Such interpretations must be of men.
Let’s go a little further. The next verse, John 3:17, declares, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world.” The scripture language clearly states again that this Son was already the only begotten Son before he was sent into the world.
The implications of believing or disbelieving the divine record..........
Now think on this. If God dwells in heaven and had this Son before he was sent into the world, then this Son must have been born from God in heaven, and then at some point after, this Son was sent into the world. Overall, is scripture saying that this literal Father-Son relation already existed in heaven, and then afterward the Son was sent down to the earth to redeem humankind? If we take the scriptures as they read, this is exactly what the verses say! This is the gospel – the good news within the divine record!
Can these verses be plainly understood any other way? If we try to interpret them any other way, are we not twisting or distorting them, making them froward or perverse, as Proverbs 8:8-9 rebukes? If we accept fanciful explanations beyond the clear reading of the scripture text, are we not adding to the word of God, as Proverbs 30:6 warns? If we do not believe the plain import of God’s words, are we not making God a liar, as 1stJohn 5:10-11 declares? Let us give heed to the ultimate result of the decision we make on this issue:
John 3:18 (KJV)>> "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Conclusion...............................................................................................
5. So then, in a few select, profound words, what does it mean to believe the divine record and its gospel?
John 20:31 (KJV)>> "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."
2 Timothy 3:15 (KJV)>> "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 1:13 (KJV)>> "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise."
1 John 4:8-9 (KJV)>> "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him."
John 17:3 (KJV)>> "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
APPEAL....................................................................................................
Do you believe the divine record, the same which we call today the Bible, Holy Scripture, or Word of God? Do you believe this divine record contains the gospel, the most important message of good news you could ever hear? A gospel which is to be taken as plainly as the Word reads? A gospel that reveals a divine Father and His literal divine Son?
Friend, this is a gospel that promises our eternal life on the condition that we believe this record exactly as it is set forth in the Word of God. It is a gospel which tells us that the only true God had an only begotten Son, and then sent that Son to save us? Do you believe this one true gospel, friend, from the one true divine record? We pray you say yes, for then all God’s precious promises – promises for all your current circumstances, and promises pertinent to the future eternal life – all these shall be available to you. May the Father and Son bless you, through the Spirit, according to your faith.
AMEN.
Shared with you out of love, in the service of the gospel,
Br. C. S. Lawrence
Email: cslawrence.itl@gmail.com