Tell me nothing but the truth – Part 3

From Part 2 we continue here.

Who is the One God we worship according to the Bible?

The only way to prove the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth is to present the evidence and if possible the facts. Evidence and facts are devoid of assumptions, opinions and sentiments. Evidence and facts are statements which speak for themselves directly saying what they are saying in their own words.

So, what then is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about the God we worship? Well the answer is so simple. You do not need nothing more than to read it directly from the Bible. No need for many books, for learned people, for Greek or Hebrew languages. You can simply read it straight as a “THUS SAITH THE LORD”.

A “thus saith the Lord” is very important. Only those statements that are clearly stated by God in the words of the Bible can be trusted. Statements that are created by men, no matter how many men they are, nor how educated they are, cannot be relied on. In fact, the time of Christ’s earthly ministry tells us that the educated people and the leaders of the people are the most likely to mislead the people. Christ referred to them as “Woe unto you, ye blind guides” (Matthew 23:16) and “You fools and blind” (Matthew 23:17).

The Bible shows that to teach the truth, simple language is necessary. Notice what the Bible says.

2 Corinthians 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech.

Except simple words are used to mean what they mean, the teaching of the truth is corrupted. So Paul says to the Corinthians that he was using great plainness of speech. He meant what he said. But today, many theologians make arguments based on claiming that words in the Bible are not plain statements. They say that words in the Bible do not mean what they mean. They claim that the words of the Bible mean what the theologians think they mean.

It is this thinking that God is so mysterious that He cannot simply state that he is three in one but uses certain code words to say so. The devil must be happy with that because with that thinking, one can build just about any doctrine they want, because the actual words of the Bible do not matter, but the construction put on them does.

The inspired writer says this about finding the truth, the whole truth and nothing about the truth.

“History is repeating. With the open Bible in front of them, many religious leaders of our time are destroying faith in it as the Word of God. They dissect the Word and set their own opinions above its plainest statements. This is why unbelief is growing rapidly and iniquity is everywhere.” {HH 113.2} (emphasis added)

An average person now thinks the Bible is so hard to understand. Yes, because they are told that when the Bible says Father, it does not mean Father, when it says Son, it does not mean Son, and when it says ‘one’, that means three persons. When the Bible says “only begotten Son” it does not mean a son born of a father it means “only a special person”. If the words no longer mean what they mean, then where are we getting the meaning from. Yet what we need is the “plainest statements” because only those can be relied on.

“…The Pharisees scoffed at Christ; they criticized the simplicity of his language, which was so plain that the child, the aged, the common people heard him gladly, and were charmed by his words. The Sadducees also derided him because his discourses were so unlike anything delivered by their rulers and scribes. Those Jewish teachers spoke in monotonous tones, and the plainest and most precious scriptures were made uninteresting and unintelligible, buried under such a mass of tradition and learned lore that after the Rabbis had spoken, the people knew less of the meaning of the Scriptures than before they listened…” {CE 142.2} (emphasis added)

Please notice. When we read what Christ said we are reading simple language, plain enough for a child to understand. Is there anyone who says to a child ‘son’ when he does not mean ‘son’? Christ spoke words in their simple meaning as we will see.

The inspired writer continues:

“…In my books, the truth is stated, barricaded by a “Thus saith the Lord.”…—Letter 90, 1906. {CM 126.2} (emphasis added)

“We believe the Sabbath of the fourth commandment because it is written plainly and is the foundation of our religious faith. Let none of us be ashamed of this…. We accept not the authority of men’s councils, but we go further back, even to the councils of heaven. “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89). We take a “Thus saith the Lord.” Here we stand. A DOCTRINE THAT HAS NOT A “Thus saith the Lord” may be accepted by the whole world, but that does not make it truth…. If we want to know the way to heaven we must study the Bible, not man-made theories or man’s suppositions…. We are not at all ashamed of our faith, Seventh-day Adventism, for it is the very best specification we can have. We are waiting for the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Men may scoff and ridicule our faith, but this should not provoke or surprise us. All these demonstrations do not make the truth error, neither do they make error truth. We take our stand firmly and unmovably upon the platform of the Word of God…” {TMK 357.3} (emphasis added)

The doctrine that says the One God we worship is formed of three persons comes from councils of men. It does not have a clear “Thus saith the Lord” to support it. Thus, it is said again “A doctrine that has not a “Thus saith the Lord” may be accepted by the whole world, but that does not make it truth.

If we want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, we cannot take anything that has no “Thus saith the Lord.” We must not speculate or assume. Yet, a we saw, it is clearly stated by churches that the doctrine of a One God made from three persons is an assumption. So, we know it is not truth and nothing but the truth. There is no “Thus saith the Lord” in the three in one god doctrine.

The writer goes further:

“Walk by faith in a “Thus saith the Lord.” Rest your case with the Lord, and believe in His Word. Believe, oh, believe the Word of the Lord, and walk by faith, not by sight. Consecrate yourself anew to God. Be loyal and true to a “Thus saith the Lord,” and stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ doth make you free.—Letter 388, November 19, 1907, to a church member in South Lancaster, Massachusetts.” {UL 337.6} (emphasis added)

“In this age of the world there is no safety in departing from a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” however wise and correct the human assumption may appear. Tradition in names and books is nothing. God’s word is everything. The wisdom of the wisest man that lives is foolishness if it swerves one jot or tittle from the word of the living God. God lives, God reigns, and He declares, “Them that honor me I will honor.” Of those who place their sophistry above a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” God says, “I will make their wisdom foolishness.”” {BTS May 1, 1913, par. 3} (emphasis added)

“Those who disregard a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” are casting off their allegiance to God, and exalting human power in His stead. By thus placing themselves in opposition to the God of heaven, men are failing to receive the mark, or sign, by which the people of the world are to know God’s true followers. There is no justification for those who, having the light, close their eyes and their ears to a plain “Thus saith the Lord.” They have taken up the weapons of their warfare against God, and their guilt is made manifest.” { ST November 22, 1899, par. 5 } (emphasis added)

In simple terms, God speaks in plain language. Even when God speaks in symbols, they are plain language.

TAKE ONLY THE PLAIN “THUS SAITH THE LORD” AND NO FURTHER

What does a “Thus saith the Lord” mean to you? What does a simple reading of the Bible mean to you? Would you agree that it means this?

ONLY WHAT IS CLEARLY PLAINLY STATED

No need for assumptions and reasonings beyond what is simply stated. No ‘if this then that’. Just read it as it says.

With that let us read the simple “Thus saith the Lord” of who the one God we worship is.

Mark 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

The identity of the One God is the part of the first commandment given to Moses.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee [you – just one] the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (emphasis added)

To know the Father of Jesus Christ, is to know the ONE ONLY TRUE God. It is the One True God who sent Christ.

Romans 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The God is the Father of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

There is One God, the Father of all.

Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

There is One God the Father of All

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

The One God can be easily identified. Christ mediates between God and us.

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

To believe in the One God is to do well.

1 John 5: 19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him [God] that is true, and we are in him [God] that is true, even in his [God’s] Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

This passage puts together all the verses before. Notice what John is saying. Firstly, he says we know we belong to God and the world lies in wickedness. How do we know? Because when the Son of God came, he gave us an understanding. What understanding did he give us? That we may know the true God, in whom we are. How are we in him? Because we have his Son Jesus Christ. So, what does this all mean? John says it means this is the true God, and eternal life. And the last verse, if we are not worshipping him, we are in idols.

So, judge for yourself. If we are looking for a clear “Thus saith the Lord”, can we say with confidence:

Thus saith the Lord, “There is One God the Father of all”.

Yes, we can, it is stated several times in exactly those words. We add nothing, we remove nothing, we do not assume, we read and stop there with the plain simple language. This is true in any language the Bible has been translated in. Just pick it up and read and we will all see the same thing.

We can read throughout the Bible and see this. There is always One God, the Father. God the Father has a Son and God the Father has a Spirit as we will see later. The Son of God and the Spirit of God are never said to form the One God, but to belong to the One God. This is the truth, and nothing but the truth.

Continues in Part 4 and Part 5

God’s blessings to you all.

The Rock Fortress Ministries

Email: therockfortress@gmail.com

Website: www.rockfortress.net

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05 September 2020