King's Business - 1928-09

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T h e

K i n g ' s

B u s i n e s s

September 1928

not be reiterated here. In our day, the discovery of the miraculous numerical phenomena o f the Biblical writings has supplied scientific evidence that no critic has been able to explain away. As to Jesus Christ, He certainly came with adequate credentials, and the Word which He said should not pass away has not passed away. He has given us the supreme revelation of God. He Himself has demonstrated, in the vital experience of millions, that He is “ the way, the truth and the life,” - But our skeptical f riend wants to know why the whole o f mankind has“not‘fceeri impressed. Simply because setae men do not want to be impressed. “Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.” The revelation God has been pleased to give of Himself brings man down into the dust as a helpless sinner. He is not pleased with his first impressions and determines to have no more of it. “ The natural man receiveth not the things o f the Spirit; they are foolishness unto him.” But the honest seeker after God still finds the Gospel “ the power o f God unto salvation.” T HE Psalmist instructs us out of his own experience that the only way out o f the anguish o f a sinning Christian’s condition is by a sincere and unreserved con­ fession of our sin to G od : “ I acknowledged [ “ made known” ] my sin unto Thee, And mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my [or “ concerning my” ] trans­ gressions unto Jehovah; And Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah." (Ps. 32). “ He that covereth his transgression shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and’ forsaketh them .shall obtain mercy” (Prov. 2 8 :13). “ I f we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our s:ns, and to cleanse us from all unright­ eousness” - (1 John 1 : 8 , 9 ). What an apparently simple process, yet what a won­ derful and far-reaching transaction is recorded in these words! Blessed indeed is the point in the sinner’s expe­ rience when he is brought to say, “ I will confess,” and to see the folly o f trying to “ hide” away his iniquity and shame from the all-seeing eye of God or his own con­ science; but such a resolution presupposes faith in God as He has been pleased to reveal Himself, namely, a God full of compassion and gracious, slow to anger and plen­ teous in goodness and truth . . . . forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and who, although “ by no means clearing the guilty,” has Himself devised a way by which sinners may return and live. “ Let God cover thy wounds,” said Augustine; "do not thou. For if thou wish to cover them being ashamed, the Physician will not-pome. Let Him ctyyfj ; for by the covering of the Physician the wound is healed; by the covering o f the wounded man the wound is concealed. And from whom? From Him who knoweth all things.” Or, as another has said: “ He only has his sins covered who does not himself cover them. Forgiveness of sin from God is in proportion to the confession o f it to Him.” Covering Our Own Sins B y D avid B aron

* B.B.B.B .“1 With no apologies to The A. A. A. A.

BUSY BAND OF BIBLE BOOSTERS

Has God Revealed Himself? 0 god has ever revealed himself to the human race,” says an Atheistic paper, “ and even grant­ ing the existence o f a God, if he has ever re­ vealed Himself why has not that revelation been perfect enough to impress the whole of mankind?” W e will not concern ourselves in this article with the question o f whether or not there is a God. In previous articles we have set forth the evidences not only that the entire universe bears the marks of intelligent design, but that the Creator takes an interest in man’s welfare, being both beneficent and righteous. But has man heard directly from Him? There is no doubt but that such a revelation would benefit men who are honestly searching for truth. Man needs divine help, and it would seem most probable that God would in some way extend the needed'information concerning ¡and His purposes to creatures created by Him, It is certain that man is endowed with a'nature that is fitted to receive a revelation. Man has'ever been seek­ ing for and demanding a revelation of God, and when he could not get it, he has tried to imagine one. He is incur­ ably religious. A thoughtful man cannot help wanting to know why he is in'’the world, why he has a free wity. and how it was intended that he should use his freedom. All men long to know what future there is for them, and reason seems to suggest to most men that this life is riot all. Is it likely that God would make creatures with such longings after guidance, and in no way furnish the an­ swers to their questions ? The writer quoted above is rea-i sonable in expecting that if God does anything He will do it well. He would not make a revelation so imperfectly as to leave doubt as to whether or not He had done it, lest it should appear that He either could not or would not fur­ nish sufficient evidence. There are two methods by which He might reveal Himself. The first would be by a written revelation. It could not be expected that the Infinite Creator o f the uni­ verse should speak face to face with creatures so small as man. His only other course would be to miraculously assume human form so as to give Him approach to men, enabling Him to teach them. Judging from His methods in nature, which are slow o f development, we might expect Him to reveal Himself gradually. The first revelations might be expected to be very simple, and such as could be transmitted orally. Having made some acquainted with spiritual laws, He might then proceed to inspire therewith His own thoughts, and so contróf them in thè recording of them as to prevent them from perverting them. In the fulness o f time, we might expect Him to become incarnate and come among men. All that we might reasonably expect has taken place. The proofs o f the divine inspiration of the Scriptures need

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