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WRITTEN TRUTH GIVEN SUPERNATURALLY - NOTE FOUR Jeremiah is one of the prophet/amanuenses whom God used to set down scriptures of truth, His words. (Jeremiah himself had assistance in the task. See Jeremiah 36:4, for example.) He also spoke the words of the LORD and underwent great opposition and suffering as a result. Once when Jeremiah was hard pressed and distressed and apparently wanting relief, speaking of the LORD, he reports: Then I said , I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. Jeremiah 20:9 Do God's words burn in your heart so that you cannot refrain from sharing them with others? They can, if you yield to God in love, faith, & obedience. However, not all who quote from Holy Writ (or pretend to) do so in sincerity and truth. The scriptures speak, and sometimes skeptics use them to try to prove something that is true false. In the Bible one can read the following reaction to some of Jesus' words: 40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. 41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? 43 So there was a division among the people because of him. The ignorant can raise questions by taking things out of context and covering the truth with doubt, as the example shows. The serpent cast doubt about what God has said when he talked with Eve before she ate of "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil"(see Genesis 2:16,17;3:1 -5). And the devi1 also tempted the Lord Jesus Himself by taking scripture of truth out of context (see Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13). Further, during apostolic times and throughout the years since, there have been those who try to twist, change, and/or negate the words that our Creator has given to us. How is one to combat their seductive remarks? Let scripture be your guide. Let the scriptures of truth themselves correct the erroneous meanings other may try to impose upon them. With careful study, submission to God, and obedience to His truth, answers can be found to the distortions of those who wrest the scriptures for ungodly purposes. In John 10:35 one can read one way the Lord Jesus put it: Scripture is the measure of scripture. You cannot remove some of it, if you want to be able to search for all of its truth. It is wrong to superimpose upon the Bible, man's analyses based upon his own presuppositions, & inclinations. Man's scientific and philosophical data, notions, and constructs are not perfect, consistent, or normally lasting. They always contain errors, & to try to measure with error the errorless words of God is itself an error. The scriptures are inextricably linked with truth (see Daniel 10:21) and are true . Don't try to destroy the truth with your own finite thinking, and do not let others lead you astray from the truth with their eristic pleadings. Avoid "profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science fa1se1y so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith" (see I Timothy 6:20,21), and: Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossians 2:8 - Trust Almighty God: Father /Son /Holy Ghost and let Him guide and direct you as you: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth"(from II Timothy 2:15). Will you do that? Would you like to continue thinking about the scriptures? There is more to discuss. RSH, 1999 Correspondence questions, comments, and discussion welcome. Robert S. Hathaway, 1522 Beechwood Circle, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44221-3622.
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