steps to christ-第17部分

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the　word　of　God。

The　Bible　unfolds　truth　with　a　simplicity　and　a　perfect　adaptation　to　the　needs　and　longings　of　the　human　heart；　that　has　astonished　and　charmed　the　most　highly　cultivated　minds；　while　it　enables　the　humblest　and　uncultured　to　discern　the　way　of　salvation。　And　yet　these　simply　stated　truths　lay　hold　upon　subjects　so　elevated；　so　far…reaching；　so　infinitely　beyond　the　power　of　human　comprehension；　that　we　can　accept　them　only　because　God　has　declared　them。　Thus　the　plan　of　redemption　is　laid　open　to　us；　so　that　every　soul　may　see　the　steps　he　is　to　take　in　repentance　toward　God　and　faith　toward　our　Lord　Jesus　Christ；　in　order　to　be　saved　in　God's　appointed　way；　yet　beneath　these　truths；　so　easily　understood；　lie　mysteries　that　are　the　hiding　of　His　glorymysteries　that　overpower　the　mind　in　its　research；　yet　inspire　the　sincere　seeker　for　truth　with　reverence　and　faith。　The　more

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he　searches　the　Bible；　the　deeper　is　his　conviction　that　it　is　the　word　of　the　living　God；　and　human　reason　bows　before　the　majesty　of　divine　revelation。

To　acknowledge　that　we　cannot　fully　comprehend　the　great　truths　of　the　Bible　is　only　to　admit　that　the　finite　mind　is　inadequate　to　grasp　the　infinite；　that　man；　with　his　limited；　human　knowledge；　cannot　understand　the　purposes　of　Omniscience。

Because　they　cannot　fathom　all　its　mysteries；　the　skeptic　and　the　infidel　reject　God's　word；　and　not　all　who　profess　to　believe　the　Bible　are　free　from　danger　on　this　point。　The　apostle　says；　〃Take　heed；　brethren；　lest　there　be　in　any　of　you　an　evil　heart　of　unbelief；　in　departing　from　the　living　God。〃　Hebrews　3：12。　It　is　right　to　study　closely　the　teachings　of　the　Bible　and　to　search　into　〃the　deep　things　of　God〃　so　far　as　they　are　revealed　in　Scripture。　1　Corinthians　2：10。　While　〃the　secret　things　belong　unto　the　Lord　our　God；〃　〃those　things　which　are　revealed　belong　unto　us。〃　Deuteronomy　29：29。　But　it　is　Satan's　work　to　pervert　the　investigative　powers　of　the　mind。　A　certain　pride　is　mingled　with　the　consideration　of　Bible　truth；　so　that　men　feel　impatient　and　defeated　if　they　cannot　explain　every　portion　of　Scripture　to　their　satisfaction。　It　is　too　humiliating　to　them　to　acknowledge　that　they　do　not　understand　the　inspired　words。　They　are　unwilling　to　wait　patiently　until　God　shall　see　fit　to　reveal　the　truth　to　them。　They　feel　that　their　unaided　human　wisdom　is　sufficient　to　enable　them　to　comprehend　the　Scripture；　and　failing　to　do　this；　they　virtually　deny　its　authority。　It　is　true　that　many　theories　and　doctrines　popularly　supposed　to　be　derived　from　the　Bible　have　no　foundation　in　its　teaching；　and　indeed　are

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contrary　to　the　whole　tenor　of　inspiration。　These　things　have　been　a　cause　of　doubt　and　perplexity　to　many　minds。　They　are　not；　however；　chargeable　to　God's　word；　but　to　man's　perversion　of　it。

If　it　were　possible　for　created　beings　to　attain　to　a　full　understanding　of　God　and　His　works；　then；　having　reached　this　point；　there　would　be　for　them　no　further　discovery　of　truth；　no　growth　in　knowledge；　no　further　development　of　mind　or　heart。　God　would　no　longer　be　supreme；　and　man；　having　reached　the　limit　of　knowledge　and　attainment；　would　cease　to　advance。　Let　us　thank　God　that　it　is　not　so。　God　is　infinite；　in　Him　are　〃all　the　treasures　of　wisdom　and　knowledge。〃　Colossians　2：3。　And　to　all　eternity　men　may　be　ever　searching；　ever　learning；　and　yet　never　exhaust　the　treasures　of　His　wisdom；　His　goodness；　and　His　power。

God　intends　that　even　in　this　life　the　truths　of　His　word　shall　be　ever　unfolding　to　His　people。　There　is　only　one　way　in　which　this　knowledge　can　be　obtained。　We　can　attain　to　an　understanding　of　God's　word　only　through　the　illumination　of　that　Spirit　by　which　the　word　was　given。　〃The　things　of　God　knoweth　no　man；　but　the　Spirit　of　God；〃　〃for　the　Spirit　searcheth　all　things；　yea；　the　deep　things　of　God。〃　1　Corinthians　2：11；　10。　And　the　Saviour's　promise　to　His　followers　was；　〃When　He；　the　Spirit　of　truth；　is　come；　He　will　guide　you　into　all　truth。　。　。　。　For　He　shall　receive　of　Mine；　and　shall　show　it　unto　you。〃　John　16：13；　14。

God　desires　man　to　exercise　his　reasoning　powers；　and　the　study　of　the　Bible　will　strengthen　and　elevate　the　mind　as　no　other　study　can。　Yet　we　are　to　beware

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of　deifying　reason；　which　is　subject　to　the　weakness　and　infirmity　of　humanity。　If　we　would　not　have　the　Scriptures　clouded　to　our　understanding；　so　that　the　plainest　truths　shall　not　be　comprehended；　we　must　have　the　simplicity　and　faith　of　a　little　child；　ready　to　learn；　and　beseeching　the　aid　of　the　Holy　Spirit。　A　sense　of　the　power　and　wisdom　of　God；　and　of　our　inability　to　comprehend　His　greatness；　should　inspire　us　with　humility；　and　we　should　open　His　word；　as　we　would　enter　His　presence；　with　holy　awe。　When　we　come　to　the　Bible；　reason　must　acknowledge　an　authority　superior　to　itself；　and　heart　and　intellect　must　bow　to　the　great　I　AM。

There　are　many　things　apparently　difficult　or　obscure；　which　God　will　make　plain　and　simple　to　those　who　thus　seek　an　understanding　of　them。　But　without　the　guidance　of　the　Holy　Spirit　we　shall　be　continually　liable　to　wrest　the　Scriptures　or　to　misinterpret　them。　There　is　much　reading　of　the　Bible　that　is　without　profit　and　in　many　cases　a　positive　injury。　When　the　word　of　God　is　opened　without　reverence　and　without　prayer；　when　the　thoughts　and　affections　are　not　fixed　upon　God；　or　in　harmony　with　His　will；　the　mind　is　clouded　with　doubts；　and　in　the　very　study　of　the　Bible；　skepticism　strengthens。　The　enemy　takes　control　of　the　thoughts；　and　he　suggests　interpretations　that　are　not　correct。　Whenever　men　are　not　in　word　and　deed　seeking　to　be　in　harmony　with　God；　then；　however　learned　they　may　be；　they　are　liable　to　err　in　their　understanding　of　Scripture；　and　it　is　not　safe　to　trust　to　their　explanations。　Those　who　look　to　the　Scriptures　to　find　discrepancies；　have　not　spiritual

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insight。　With　distorted　vision　they　will　see　many　causes　for　doubt　and　unbelief　in　things　that　are　really　plain　and　simple。

Disguise　it　as　they　may；　the　real　cause　of　doubt　and　skepticism；　in　most　cases；　is　the　love　of　sin。　The　teachings　and　restrictions　of　God's　word　are　not　welcome　to　the　proud；　sin…loving　heart；　and　those　who　are　unwilling　to　obey　its　requirements　are　ready　to　doubt　its　authority。　In　order　to　arrive　at　truth；　we　must　have　a　sincere　desire　to　know　the　truth　and　a　willingness　of　heart　to　obey　it。　And　all　who　come　in　this　spirit　to　the　study　of　the　Bible　will　find　abundant　evidence　that　it　is　God's　word；　and　they　may　gain　an　understanding　of　its　truths　that　will　make　them　wise　unto　salvation。

Christ　has　said；　〃If　any　man　willeth　to　do　His　will；　he　shall　know　of　the　teaching。〃　John　7：17；　R。V。　Instead　of　questioning　and　caviling　concerning　that　which　you　do　not　understand；　give　heed　to　the　light　that　already　shines　upon　you；　and　you　will　receive　greater　light。　By　the　grace　of　Christ；　perform　every　duty　that　has　been　made　plain　to　your　understanding；　and　you　will　be　enabled　to　understand　and　perform　those　of　which　you　are　now　in　doubt。

There　is　an　evidence　that　is　open　to　all；the　most　highly　educated；　and　the　most　illiterate；the　evidence　of　experience。　God　invites　us　to　prove　for　ourselves　the　reality　of　His　word；　the　truth　of　His　promises。　He　bids　us　〃taste　and　see　that　the　Lord　is　good。〃　Psalm　34：8。　Instead　of　depending　upon　the　word　of　another；　we　are　to　taste　for　ourselves。　He　declares；　〃Ask；　and　ye　shall　receive。〃　John　16：24。　His　promises　will　be

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fulfilled。　They　have　never　failed；　they　never　can　fail。　And　as　we　draw　near　to　Jesus；　and　rejoice　in　the　fullness　of　His　love；　our　doubt　and　darkness　will　disappear　in　the　light　of　His　presence。

The　apostle　Paul　says　that　God　〃hath　delivered　us　from　the　power　of　darkness；　and　hath　translated　us　into　the　kingdom　of　His　dear　Son。〃　Colossians　1：13。　And　everyone　who　has　passed　from　death　unto　life　is　able　to　〃set　to　his　seal　that　God　is　true。〃　John　3：33。　He　can　testify；　〃I　needed　help；　and　I　found　it　in　Jesus。　Every　want　was　supplied；　the　hunger　of　my　soul　was　satisfied；　and　now　the　Bible　is　to　me　the　revelation　of　Jesus　Christ。　Do　you　ask　why　I　believe　in　Jesus？　Because　He　is　to　me　a　divine　Saviour。　Why　do　I　believe　the　Bible？　Because　I　have　found　it　to　be　the　voice　of　God　to　my　soul。〃　We　may　have　the　witness　in　ourselves　that　the　Bible　is　true；　that　Christ　is　the　Son　of　God。　We　know　that　we　are　not　following　cunningly　devised　fables。

Peter　exhorts　his　brethren　to　〃grow　in　grace；　and　in　the　knowledge　of　our　Lord　and　Saviour　Jesus　Christ。〃　2　Peter　3：18。　When　the　people　of　God　are　growing　in　grace；　they　will　be　constantly　obtaining　a　clearer　understanding　of　His　word。　They　will　discern　new　light　and　beauty　in　its　sacred　truths。　This　has　been　true　in　the　history　of　the　church　in　all　ages；　and　thus　it　will　continue　to　the　end。　〃The　path　of　the　righteous　is　as　the　light　of　dawn；　that　shineth　more　and　more　unto　the　perfect　day。〃　Proverbs　4：18；　R。V。；　margin。

By　faith　we　may　look　to　the　hereafter　and　grasp　the　pledge　of　God　for　a　growth　of　intellect；　the