Gospel News — May-Aug 2013

While the original manuscripts would have been without fault, only copies have come down to us. However, there is now general agreement that the texts we do have do not contain any significant errors, only trivial translation faults, so that we can be sure that God's word is truly available to us.

The Bible: inspired and true

Peter set it forth as a basic principle that the Bible is inspired (2Peter 1:20-21). He declares that we should know "this first that no prophecy of the scriptures is of any private interpretation; for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of men, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy spirit". The words "private interpretation" have been variously rendered: Robert Roberts gives them as "private prophet's interpretation", Weymouth as "prophet's own prompting", and Maenight as "prophet's own invention".

Every confidence, therefore, can be placed in what the Bible proclaims. No genuine critic can show it to be false in any of its historical details. Its worst opponents have been forced to admit that here, at least, it is true. But the remarkable witness of prophecy shows that it is not only factually true, but divine. It demonstrates that God is its author, for only He can so wonderfully foretell the future. The Bible's amazing prophecies have been remarkably fulfilled in every detail:

— Babylon is still in heaps (Isaiah 13:19-21; Jeremiah 51:37).

— Nineveh still lies empty, void and waste (Nahum 2:10)

— Egypt is among the basest of nations (Ezekiel 29:15)

— Ancient Tyre is literally a place for the spreading of nets (Ezekiel 26:5)

— Israel has been scattered among all nations (Deut 28:64) and is being regathered again (Jeremiah 30:11; Exekiel 37:21-22)

— A northern power hostile to Israel, ie Russia, has developed (Ezekiel 38:2-7,15-16)

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The God of the Bible

The Bible opens by concentrating attention upon one person: God (Gen 1:1). Its revelation concludes by showing how one person will be manifested in all creation, "that God may be all in all"(1Cor 15:28). It reveals that each of us can be involved in that glorious consummation. The gospel appeals to us to step aside from the endless procession of men and women who are making their way to an eternal abiding place in the grave. God is "taking out of the Gentiles a people for his name" (Acts 15:14).

A first essential is a correct understanding of who God is (John 17:3; Hebrews 11:6). We must acknowledge the unity of God, that is there is only one God, the Father of all. Consequently we must reject as unscriptural the commonly held idea that God is a trinity (1Tim 2:5; Deut 6:4; Is 45:5: 1Cor 8:6; 2Cor 1:3). In line with this, note that Jesus is set forward as subservient to his Father (John 12:28; 1Cor 15:24-28) and that the holy spirit is described as God's power (Luke 11:35; Acts 3:12).

The Father's Character

There are two sides to God's character and we are called upon to consider both, Paul exhorts: "Consider therefore the goodness and severity of God" (Rom 11:22). These two aspects of God's character were revealed to Moses at Mt Sinai (Ex 34: 6-7) and are revealed in all His dealings with men. Consider, for example, the occasion when God sent Moses to deliver His people from Egypt. He saved Israel at the Red Sea, but destroyed Pharaoh's hosts. Also, the Lord Jesus is coming to judge the world in righteousness. This will entail mercy and redemption for God's elect, but death and destruction for the wicked. The reason for this is man's rebellious attitude: "Let favour be shown to the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness" (Isa 26:10-11). God disciplines mankind for his good and his ultimate salvation.