We have said before that Christianity is in perfect accord with the Bible.
The Word of God reveals Christianity to us. It is an infallible expression
of its doctrines and duties. Jesus is the way to everlasting rest; the
Bible is the guide. Some one has said, “Both are equally certain, equally
divine. Let us be thankful for such unspeakable gifts. Next to the mercy
of a Savior, able and ready to save to the uttermost all who come unto God
by him, is the book of inspiration of God, which as a lamp to our feet,
and a light to our path, conducts us to such a Friend, and teaches us the
way of salvation.”
The Word of God is a lamp and a light to guide to everlasting bliss, “The
entrance of thy word giveth light.” The word is written in the Christian’s
heart. In his conduct he adorns the doctrine of God our Savior and thus
reveals the light of the gospel. Christianity is therefore a light,
because it is a product of the truth. We can understand at once then that
anything that is in opposition to the Scriptures can not be a light. The
nearer the life accords with the whole truth the greater the light. The
Scriptures contain all that is necessary for the formation of a perfect
Christian. Whosoever submits heart and life to the Word of God and walks
in obedience to its commands will be transformed into the glorious image
of the Son of God and made ready for that better land. The apostle says,
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
that the man of God may be perfect [a perfect Christian], thoroughly
furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.
Tradition is unnecessary for the production of a true Christian character.
The Scriptures contain all the doctrine, reproof, correction and
instruction needful. The Scriptures have but one true interpreter, and but
one interpretation. All who rightly understand the Bible understand it
alike. We are aware this is contrary to much of the present day teaching.
Many are now saying that “we can not understand the Word of God the same,
therefore just as we understand it so it is unto us.” This is very loose
and robs the “two-edged sword” of all its sharpness and power. It leaves
man to interpret it in a manner that will not condemn his sinful life. A
class of grammar students, if allowed to analyze sentences and parse words
each according to his understanding, would never become perfect
grammarians. One may parse a word as a “verb,” another the same word as an
“adverb,” another as a “participle,” and if each were right according to
his understanding, how could we have any fixed rules of grammar? All would
be confusion and no one would know what is proper speech. Students to
become efficient scholars must understand mathematics, astronomy, botany,
etc., alike. Every volume written by man if understood rightly must be
understood alike by all.
To allow every man his own private interpretation of Scripture, or every
religious society its interpretation is to admit of no certain, no fixed
rules governing a Christian life. We can illustrate it better in this way.
A certain rich man has a number of circulars printed. These circulars he
distributes among the poor of a certain neighborhood. On these circulars
he tells them that at the end of twelve months he will give one thousand
dollars to each one complying with the conditions given below. The
conditions are these: You must not steal. “Lie not one to another.” Do not
render evil for evil. Love your enemies, and pray for those who
despitefully use you. “If thine enemy hunger, feed him; and if he thirst,
give him drink.” “Speak evil of no man.” “Return good for evil.” “As ye
would that others should do to you, do ye even so to them.” If a man smite
you upon the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Prefer others before
yourself. “Do all things without murmuring.” Do not wear gold or pearls or
costly array. Pray when you are afflicted. Do not jest or talk foolishly,
but have a sound speech. Greet one another with a kiss. Wash one another’s
feet. You must all speak the same thing. You must be of one mind. If ye do
these things you shall receive the inheritance, but he that offends in one
is guilty of all.
Now who of a sound mind could not understand as plain and simple language
as this? But suppose one man or woman does not want to lay off their gold
and pearls, so they decide he meant that for women of ancient times and
not for us. Another thinks the command to greet with a kiss means to shake
hands. Another thinks to visit my neighbor when he is sick is washing his
feet. To pray when we are afflicted is meant for the people of olden time.
One man whose heart is full of hatred against a neighbor decides no man
can love his enemy, therefore this command does not mean what it says, so
he will go on hating his enemy, but expects to get his inheritance. One
man decides one command means one thing, another that it means something
else, each one making each command to mean that which is most pleasing to
do. Who would receive the one thousand dollars at the time appointed? You
can at once see the folly of their entertaining hopes of receiving the
inheritance.
Thousands are thus treating the Word of God, saying this and that
commandment does not mean what it says, but means thus and so, or, it was
for a people of some other time, etc. At this present day there are many
who are taking the traditions of men and customs of some religious society
for their rule of life and duty.
Recently while passing through a strange part of the country we stopped at
a farmhouse to inquire our way. It became convenient to tell the lady, who
came to answer our inquiry, that we had come into her neighborhood to hold
a few religious meetings. She invited us into her house to see her four
weeks’ old baby which was sick. While talking with her she said that she
became afraid that her child was going to die, so she sent for the
minister and had it christened. I asked her if she believed that if the
babe had died without being christened that it would have gone to hell.
“No,” she said, “I do not believe that, but I believe that it would have
gone to heaven.” I then asked her, Do you not believe that if your little
child lives that it will go into sin and some day will have to repent and
be converted in order to get to heaven just the same as if it never had
been christened? She said that she believed it would. I then asked her
what good the christening had done her child. She answered, “I do not
know.” I then asked her to give me one commandment in the Bible obligating
her to christen her child. She said, “I know of none.” I then asked her
why she had her babe christened. She said, “Because most all the people do
around here.”
She like thousands of others was taking the custom of the neighborhood, or
religious order, and never searched the Scriptures to know what are the
commandments of God. We need to be doers only of the Word of God. “Not
every one that saith, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” The God of
heaven has given laws and fixed rules and recorded them in the Holy
Scriptures to govern our daily life. These laws we are positively
commanded to obey. To disobey is a sin. 1 John 3:4. Sinners do not go to
heaven. There is not one text in the whole Bible encouraging us to hope of
going to heaven if we are knowingly disobeying any commandment of God. In
this present day a mighty concourse of people are passing on down the way
to an eternity, professing to be children of God, but living careless and
negligent, doing many things they should not do, and failing to do a great
many things they should do.
This greatly reminds me of the way the people regarded a certain stock law
that was passed by the legislature of our district in my boyhood days.
This law forbade the running at large of cattle, hogs, sheep, etc. Now
there was in our neighborhood much of what was called “commons.” It was
unfenced land, and was used as a common pasture land for all. Consequently
the enacting of such a law was obnoxious to nearly all of the citizens of
this neighborhood, and it was almost unanimously violated; and because it
was violated by so many it was never enforced. Cattle, sheep, and hogs
continued to run at large the same as if there was no law prohibiting the
same. After a time most people had forgotten there was such a law.
The same is true respecting the Word of God. People have gone on in their
own ways, violating those holy laws until many are doing things, and do
not know there is a law of God forbidding it. God’s laws are not held in
the high esteem they should be. They are his power unto salvation to all
that believe. They are able to save the soul. They are to be kept in
remembrance, to be kept in the heart, to be obeyed. They are to search, to
meditate upon, to trust in, to rejoice in, to delight in, to taste, to
long after, to stand in awe of, to esteem as a light, and to be let dwell
richly within us. It is the Word of God that shall judge us in that great
judgment-day. They that love God and keep his words, “against such there
is no law;” consequently they will “have boldness in that day.” God’s law
is eternal; it shall never pass away. The Lord Jesus says, “Heaven and
earth shall pass away, but my words shall never pass away.” “The word of
God which liveth and abideth forever.” 1 Pet. 1:23.
The earth and all that therein is shall pass away,
But God’s pure Word shall live and stand for aye and aye:
Man runs his race of life, then, passing from the scene,
Returns to dust, and is as though he ne’er had been—
This is not spoken of the inner man, the soul—
This, says the Word, shall live while ceaseless ages roll.
The city with its walls and towers of granite stone,
Shall be to dissolution brought by rain and sun;
The ships which round the world on crested wave have flown.
Go down amid the storm, and never more are known;
The daring mountain peak, all covered o’er with snow,
Shall mid terrific blast descend to depths below;
The proud empire whose scepter sways o’er land and sea,
Shall fall and pass away ere dawns eternity;
And haughty finite sovereign power no more shall be,
The stars in firmament above shall quit their place;
The waning moon shall cease her still nocturnal race,
And earth no more sail through immensity of space.
Because of sin all these shall pass fore’er away,
Shall melt with fervent heat in that avenging day,
But God’s pure Word shall live and stand for aye and aye.