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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
April 1925
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TKe Scriptures are United in tKeir Testimony The fo u rth in an unusually in teresting and helpful series of articles on “The Bible,” by Dr. F . E . Marsh, of London, E ng land, ed ito r of The P rophetic Witness,, au th o r and well known Bible Teacher. Some of th e pBases of th is them e already discussed by Dr. Marsh have been: “The Importance of Bible Doctrine” ; “T h e Scriptures Unique in Their D etails” , etc. The series will continue th roughou t th e en tire year. W hile you w ill n o t w an t to miss any of them , yet each article is complete in itself. H HERE is one phrase which expresses th e unity of the Scriptures and th a t is th e expression which occurs thirty-five times in Psa. 119, namely, “Thy W ord.” This is in th e singular num ber and Christ’s quotations from th e Book in meeting S atan ’s temp tations. The book of Jo shua is connected w ith Ephesians by the contrast between Israel’s earth ly inheritance and the believer’s riches in heavenly things i n , Christ. Daniel’s sealed book is explained by th e Book of th e Revelation, and the apostasies recorded in th e Book of Judges are repeated in the second Epistles of P eter and John, and. in Jude. Unity of T ru th
accords w ith a common usage in the Book. There are th ree times th irte en books in the Old Testam ent; and th ree times nine books in the New Testam ent— sixty-six books in all, or th ree times twenty-two books. The tim e extends through sixteen hundred years in w riting the Book, from Moses the prophet to John th e Apostle; and th ere are no less than thirty-six au tho rs or human instrum ents through whom th e Spirit wrote. Men of all grades and conditions were the hum an means of communication. The Book was w ritten in th ree different languages, and in many different places; and yet th ere is a unity which is perfect in its testimony. There is a progressiveness in its revelation, but no contradiction, as may be seen in the names by which God gradually reveals Himself. In Creation He is God (Gen. 1 .); to Abram He is th e A lm ighty God (Gen. 1 7 :1 ); to Israel He is Jehovah (Ex. 6 :3 ) ; in Christ He is F a th e r (John 1 4 :9 ); and yet One Lord. I can only indicate th ree lines of unity: namely, unity of prophecy, un ity of books, and unity of tru th . Unity of Prophecy Among the many prophecies relating to Christ, tak e the following: To Adam was made known Christ’s m iraculous b irth , being called, not th e “seed of m an” b u t the “ seed of the woman” (Gen. 3 :1 5 ); to Abraham was revealed th e nation w ith which He would be identified (Gen. 12:3; Acts 3 :2 5 ); to Jacob, it was made known th a t He would be of the trib e of Jud ah (Gen. 4 9 :1 0 ); to David, it was com municated th a t He would be of his fam ily (2 Sam. 7 :1 2 - 1 4 ); to Daniel was unfolded th e time He would appear (Dan. 9 :2 5 ); to Micah was declared the town in which He would be born (Micah 5 :2 ) ; to Malachi, it was stated th a t He would be preceded by a fo rerunn er (Mai. 3 :1 ) ; to Zech- ariah , it was shown th a t Christ would, be betrayed fo r th irty pièces of silver (Zech. 11:12) and th e way He would en ter into Jeru salem (Zech. 9 :9 ) ; to the P salm ist, was made known the m anner of His death by crucifixion (Psa. 22: 16) ; th a t not a bone of Him should be broken (Psa. 34:20) and th a t He would rise from the dead (Psa. 16:10) ; and to Isaiah was revealed God’s p a rt in Christ’s d eath (Isa. 53: 10) and th a t He would be identified w ith transgressors and pray fo r them (Isa. 5 3 :12 ). Unity of Books Jo h n ’s Gospel is associated w ith Genesis by th e corres pondent expression “ In th e beginning.” Hebrews is joined w ith Leviticus by the parallel tru th s of worship based on the ground of atonement. Romans is united to Exodus by th e sim ilar blessing of redemption by faith. The pilgrim life of th e believer emphasized by Peter, is illu strated in Numbers. The sp iritu al n atu re of th e law laid down in Christ’s teaching as recorded by Matthew finds its coun terp art in Deuteronomy, and a fu rth e r correspondence is seen in
The “ eight feasts of Jehovah” are typical of the three-fold cord of the Gospel, nam ely:— Grace, Godliness, and Glory, The Sabbath (Lev. 23:1-3) is typical of God’s re st in C h rist,,as expressed in th e Spirit of God abiding (resting ) on Him and the F a th e r’s acknow ledgment of Him as th e One in whom He was well pleased (Matt. 3:16-17; Jo h n 1 :3 3 ). The P assover (Lev. 23 :5 ) is typical of Christ’s death for sin, and is expressive of the protection th e re is in H im who was “sacrificed for u s” (1 Cor. 5 :7 ; Rom. 8:1-4, R. Y .). The F e a st of Unleavened B read (Lev. 23 :6 ) represents the outcome of faith in Christ. He, by His indwelling presence, purges out th e leaven of legality (Gal. 5 :9 ), malice and wickedness (1 Cor. 5 :7 -8 ). The F irs t F ru its (Lev. 23:9-14) is typical of Christ’s resu rrection from th e dead, as th e first fru its of those who sleep in Him (1 Cor. 15 :20 ). P en teco st (Lev. 23:15-21) is typical of th e coming and dispensation of th e Holy Spirit (Acts 2 :1 ). He is gath er ing ou t from Jew and Gentile (two loaves) tho se who shall make up the mystical body of Christ (1 Cor. 12 :12 ; Eph. 4 :1 6 ). The F e a st of T rum pets (Lev. 23:23-25) is typical of the tim e when th e trum p et of Christ’s re tu rn shall be heard, as He gathers His own people to H imself in the Glory (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15 :52 ). The Day of A tonem ent (Lev. 23:26-32) is typical of Christ’s m anifestation to Israel as th e ir Messiah when they shall “ look upon Him whom they have pierced” (Zech. 12:10; Rev. 1 :7 ). The F e a st of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:33-34) represents the m illennium when the scene on th e Mount of T ransfiguration (Mark 9:2-7) shall be known over th e whole earth , for th e glory of th e Lord will cover it (Hab. 2 :1 4 ). There is yet one o th er tru th , the most im po rtan t of all, and th a t is,— all approach to God and all blessing from God is based upon vicarious sacrifice. F rom Genesis to Reve lation th is scarlet line is seen, and like th e unseen b a r In th e Tabernacle (Ex. 36:33) holds all the Book, w ith its relative tru th s, together. L et us briefly embody New T esta m ent statem en t w ith Old Testam ent type as found in th e first th ree books in th e B ible:— Abel’s approach to God and acceptance on th e ground of sacrifice (Gen. 4:4-5; Heb. 10:19-20; 1 1 :4 ). Isaac’s life spared by th e sub stitu tion of th e ram (Gen. 22:13; 1 Pet. 2 :2 4 ). Judgm en t averted by th e slain paschal lamb (Ex. 1 2 :6 ; 1 Cor. 5 :7 ). (Continued on page 187)
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