Saturday, October 31, 2009

CHRISTIAN APHORISMS-W.F. BELL

(Let God's People Think)
Aphorism = a short sentence expressing a general truth; maxim; proverb.

MANY DO NOT REALLY BELIEVE THE BIBLE, ONLY WHAT THEY LIKE IN THE BIBLE.
And usually we only like what we already believe. For example, if church people have been taught a pre-tribulation rapture, they usually have no difficulty accepting that as scriptural. But, if someone comes along teaching differently (with proper exegesis of scripture), suddenly they do not "like" the new teaching. Correct? The same thing can be said for numerous doctrines, including the atonement and the resurrection.

YOU CAN'T TELL ANYTHING TO PEOPLE WHO ALREADY KNOW EVERYTHING.
"A living dog is better than a dead lion" (Ecclesiastes 9:4). But who knows what that means? We make "dead lions" know more than "living dogs," don't we? The same with "dead" people, for we say "They are not really dead." For sure, "The legs of the lame are not equal; so is a parable in the mouth of fools" (Proverbs 26:7). So, if you already know everything, that is, you are correct on all Bible interpretation, why even attend preaching, read books, or listen to radio and television preachers? Why bother with even reading this? Closed-mindedness is a dark sin!

"ALL IS VAIN UNLESS THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLY ONE COMES DOWN."
These lines from an old hymn have truly been forgotten in the modern church. We can meet and socialize, go through forms and ceremonies, feel good about being devoutly religious, and totally forget that true worship is all about bowing in humility and praise before the great God heaven. "O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker" (Psalm 95:6). Is there anyone experiencing this regularly in your church meetings? Does the Holy Spirit still "come down" and melt you to tears, in true confession of sin, and praise of Christ? Philippians 3:3.

TRUE CHRISTIAN JOY IS MORE INJURIOUS TO SATAN'S EMPIRE THAN ANYTHING.
So why should we go mourning all our days? "Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart" (Psalm 32:11). Christians who keep themselves in a morbid state displease God, so let us ever be cultivating "joy unspeakable" in our lives, in true praise and honor of our Lord Jesus Christ, "whom having not seen, we love" (I Peter 1:8).

THE BIBLE MEANS WHAT IT SAYS, AND SAYS WHAT IT MEANS.
It also means what it means, because it is inspired. Some say, "The Bible is our only rule of faith and practice," but that expression came from their Confession of Faith! If we uphold and defend everything in our Confession of Faith, that means we venerate it as inspired also. If we say our Confession of Faith is not inspired like Scripture, then we do not need this additional Confession, do we? The Catholics are usually more honest than Protestants, because they say their authority is more than Scripture.

SCRIPTURE INTERPRETS SCRIPTURE, SO LET IT SPEAK FOR ITSELF.
Once a preacher read Joshua 1:2, "Moses my servant is dead." The preacher said, "We know that Moses is in heaven." Since the text does not say this, the preacher did not believe "The Bible means what it says." Most people do not take the time to correct preachers (out of kindness, maybe), but we should if given the opportunity. Otherwise, we allow man's word to go against God's word. (This goes on craftily all the time even among true Christian people.)

WE NEED AND MUST HAVE FAITHFUL BIBLE TRANSLATIONS.
Those who advocate a certain Bible version over another often forget that their preferred version is just a translation! All translations are versions of the originals. Copies of the original, inspired Hebrew and Greek have been faithfully translated, and we must be thankful that God's Word has been preserved for us in English, German, Dutch, French, Spanish, and numerous languages of the world. This proves the originals were inspired, otherwise they would have passed away! Remember, "But my words shall NOT pass away" (Matthew 24:35).

SOME SAY OUR BELOVED BROTHER PAUL JUST MIGHT BE WRONG.
A man was once asked if he believed in divine election as Paul taught it, and the man said, "No, I don't care what Paul said!" That "election" is a Bible doctrine, hardly no one will deny. But that it is divine, unconditional election is what is quite often vehemently denied. But look again at such clear passages as Amos 3:2, Romans 9:11, and 2 Thessalonians 2:13, to name just three among many, the last two from Paul himself, "an apostle."

"BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND" (Hosea 10:12).
Few farmers are left in our day, and maybe some do not even know what "fallow ground" means, but we will assume you do. Now, to make us think even more, listen to quaint Vance Havner on this verse: "God will not rain showers of blessings on fallow ground, for that would mean only more briars and weeds." Anyway, our hard hearts of unbelief in God's holy Word need "weeding" and "working."

4 comments:

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charles said...

We appreciate your comments. As you said, it was certainly accurate information. So much is important in life, but nothing so important as the Word of God. He tells us clearly that we must be 'born again'. If we are not, then we are "of all men most miserable". Trusting in Christ is our only way out. Please visit throughout our blogs, and comment where you like. God be with you!

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charles said...

Thank you Smart Girl. These articles are written to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. I hope we have done that. He is the Lord. I hope you know Him. Trust Him with all your heart.