Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

soul"word,"sure"SABBATH SCHOOL, LESSONJanuary 2, 1955THE BIBLE OUR AUTHORITYRev. W. J. McBurney(Lessons based an International Sunday SchoolLessons ; the International Bible Lessons forChristian Teacning, copyrighted oy the International Council of Relieious Education.Lesson Text; John 20:21; Romans 15:4;H Timothy 3:14-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2Peter 1:16-21Thomas was an investigator. He madeexamination and knew that Christ wasdead on the cross. He repeated theexamination to prove His identity afterHis resurrection. John chose severalwitnesses out of many, to strengthenthe faith of believers in the deity ofJesus Christ, the Son of God, that theymight have life through His Name.Thomas, the Investigator, was a mostvaluable witness. This is the purposeof the Bible, to show the way of EternalLife, through Faith.Romans 15:4:The Scriptures were written for ourlearning. They encourage us in Patience,and lead us to Hope. A worldly hopesoon turns to ashes, and leaves no hopeat all. Are there sadder words thanthese, "Without Hope?" "Why art thoucast down, O mywhen you havethe Holy Bible to inspire patience, andencourage Hope? Hope in a wrongobject is Satan's most deadly snare. ButHope in God as revealed in JesusChrist will set us free. Hope is a spurto endeavor. Hope in God gives comfort and assurance both in prosperity,and in adversity, and it gives the incentive to greater hopes, and morenoble endeavors.2 Timothy 3:14-17It is the privilege and duty of parents to instruct their children in theScriptures, that they may be preparedto fill wisely their place in this life,and that they may have the assurance of Eternal Life. Others have a dutytoward our children, and should befaithful in it. But we, as parents, cannot delegate our duty to any other. Ifwe shirk, we cheat our children, andloose our blessing.Paul reminds Timothy that the children also have their duty to take heedto the instruction they receive fromparents and teachers. Wild oats may beforgiven, the wound may heal, but thescar remains. Paul rejoiced that, in amiraculous moment, God graciouslymade him a New Creature, and usedhim valiantly in defence of the truth.But henever ceased to regret thatthrough a perverted ambition, he hadspent his early years warring againstthe truth. Two groups are especiallyblessed; Godly Parents, and their Obedi-December 15, 1954ent Children. "Hope springs exulting onTriumphant Wings," to those who receive it through the Living Word, andare not carried away bystrange doctrines. The printing press, as a meansof spreading the Gospel, is of greatvalue in the hands of Christ's servants.It can help, but cannot do what Christhas assigned to His people. We mustuse "especially the preachingners.of theas a means of convincing sinHebrews 4:12"For the Word is zoon and energas,"living and moving with power. Lifecomes from life. Every element neededfor the nourishment of our bodies, isin the soil around us. We cannot useone atom directly for our physical life.A grain of wheat organizes those elements into life and by them we live.The Bible contains every truth neededfor spiritual growth and we receive itas it has been lived into life by JesusChrist, the Living Word.It was a long job turning the grindstone while Father sharpened the knivesfor the big beef, our yearly supply ofmeat. How those sharp knives cutthrough the flesh till the strong jointsfell apart! Those knives would separatejoints because they were sharp andskillfully used.Some boys in service found that theleaves from their India paper NewTestaments made splendid cigarettepapers. Occasionally they comparedtheir progress by the book and chapterthey had reached. One of the boys began to read the chapters before he torethem out. When he reached John, hekept on reading, but quit smoking. TheWord of God, had cut through.2 Peter 1:16-21The Word of God is fact, not fable.Two Mormon missionaries visited me.They had to confess that there was nowitness to the correctness of ProphetJoseph's translation of the goldenplates. In fact no witness except Josephthat there was more than one plate,for only one had been seen. They gaveme a copy of the Book of Mormon.It purports to give the history of thissect for 2600 years. Not once does ittouch on known history in a way thatcan be checked up. It tells of a journeyfrom Babylon to America in such vaguedetail, that their prophets cannot saywhether they landed on the East orWest coast. There is nothing that can beinvestigated. In striking contrast, theBible gives a full record of dates andplaces, inviting examination. All alongthe way it touches contemporary history in a way that makes examinationfor truth very easy. After three thousand years, geographic locations areeasily identified, and proven. Masons arenot allowed to discuss the truth of theirclaims. Christian Scientists are not allowed to continue discussion with thosewho would deny the claims of Mrs.Eddy. The Bible has no need to fearinvestigation.A booklet by Roman Catholics, claimsthat they are fortunate over Protestants in having no need to discuss themeaning of the Bible. For them, thatis decided by the Roman See. Thatlooks like "Private Interpretation."The Apostles wrote of what had beenseen and heard by many witnesses.Their writings bear the stamp of Truth.Are Fairy Stories more valuable or evenmore interesting than the True Storiesof the Bible?Old Testament prophecies are made"moreto us by their fulfillmentas recorded in the New Testament.Moroni (a Mormon angel) is supposedto have hid the golden plates about400 A.D. In the translation that wenow have, Moroni is made to tell howthe plates would eventually be foundand translated. That proves their truth!No one denies that the Old Testamentwas written centuries before the eventsof the New Testament.Peter says that we do well to takeheed. The Bible is a Light in a darkworld. That Light will lead us to thefull day, and to Him who is the Lightof the World. And He will come intoour hearts.Since the Bible is proven true inevery field open to human investigation,is it not reasonable to believe that itsoft repeated declarations are true? Notone of the three score writers makesany claim to be the ultimate author ofthe book that bears his name. It isnot the work of man, but Holy menof old spake as they were moved bythe Holy Ghost.That makes the Book supremely important to us.Psalms:PRAYER MEETING TOPICJanuary 5, 1955TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONSJames 1-4, 12-15; 5:7-11M. K. Carson, D.D.1:1-3, page 2119:1-5, page 29437:3-6, page 9140:1-4, page 102References: Col. 3:12; Romans 5:3-5;I Peter 2:19, 20; Hebrews 10:34-36;Matt. 5:11, 12References in the discussion.Christianity cannot be defined as asystem of ethics, but it does have ethicalimplications. This Epistle of James whichthe Prayer Meeting Committee has se-379