Church of Christ Studies

Rightly Dividing The Word Of Truth (Continued)

 

The text for to-night is 2 Tim. 2:15: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

 

I shall spend just a moment in review of some things said last evening, that some of you who were not here may get the line of thought I endeavored to present. I called your attention to the fact that after the days of direct inspiration of the Spirit had passed, Paul gave instruction to his son, Timothy, and through him likewise to all the rest of us, to study God's word; that Paul told Timothy thus to study that he might show himself approved unto God—not only to show himself approved unto God, but "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." I tried to emphasize the fact that, due to improper division, much of the confusion extant to-night can certainly be traced, and in the lack of the application of this text many of our differences have their origin.

 

Without arguing the question at all, I presumed that no one denies the fact that the Bible is divided into two great parts—the Old Testament, given by Moses, and the New, that came by Christ. And then I raised the point further as to whether or not these had subdivisions. Such are learned from the Savior's own declaration in Luke 24: 44, where he said to the disciples: "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses' and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me." I also stated, as you will recall, that at that time the New Testament Scriptures were not written, and we have no doubt but that the Savior referred to the Old Testament, with its thirty-nine volumes.

 

When you commence, therefore, to read the Bible, as to just where you should turn and what part you should study depends altogether on what you want to know. If some one were to ask me with reference to the creation of the earth, the origin of things in general, I certainly would not refer him to Acts of Apostles, because he might read that, perchance, time and again and learn but very little of these matters. If you wanted to know something about the great baptismal flood, I would be far from referring you to Paul's letter to the Romans—not that it is not good scripture, understand, but it does not propose to talk about anything of that kind. If you wanted to know something of the new Jerusalem, "the city that bath foundations," I would never think of asking you to read the book of Numbers or of Leviticus. And so let us proceed with the same good sense that ought to characterize our investigation of any other matters, upon the principle that God understands our intelligences, and wrote this book not for his own guidance, but to serve as a directory for man in his journey through this life from the cradle to the grave, from time to eternity.

 

I believe I raised the question as to whether or not there is anything in the term "law" that indicates its application, its universality, or the extent of its duration. I think there is not a person present who will not agree with me that no such attributes or characteristics are inherent in the very term itself, but these things must be learned from other sources.

 

Then in passing still further, I suggested that this law of Moses was given unto the people that had come out of bondage in Egypt. "The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers," said Moses, "but with us, even us, who are all of us here [under sacred Sinai] alive this day." (Deut. 5: 3.) It was intended only to last until the seed should come unto whom the promise had been made. It was given because of transgression. The Lord's attitude toward it was not to violate nor to destroy it, but to fill it full; and this he did at the close of his eventful career, for while hanging suspended between heaven and earth, he bowed his head and said, "It is finished ;" and thus, having yielded up the ghost, the law of Moses was ended.

 

When I raise the question as to what became of it, Paul frankly and flatly declares that Jesus Christ blotted it out, took it out of the way, nailed it to the cross, and tore down the middle wall of partition between us. The law, the Ten Commandments, contained in ordinances, was given only to the Jews, and not to the Gentiles. But the new law made of the twain, Jew and Gentile, one new man. Christ reconciled both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.

 

But some one raises a question after this sort: "What part of the law was thus nailed to the cross?" Do you know, ladies and gentlemen, that the Bible does not talk about parts of the law? When you hear such terms as "the judicial part," "the moral part," "the ceremonial part," just remember that that is not the book of God, but it came from the phraseology of some man who does not speak as the word of God directs. Paul said, "blotting out." Blotted out what? The law. What law, or what part of it? All of it, and nailed to the cross.

 

These are the facts in the case, opinions to the contrary notwithstanding. "But," says one, "I want to file an objection. First, I want all of the Bible; and if that statement be true, that casts out a large percentage thereof." My friend, had you not better wait just a minute? Suppose I make the prediction to you Nashvillians that there is a tremendous flood coming to wipe out all humanity, and everything in whose nostrils is the breath of life, from the face of the earth; and I suggest that some of you go out into the forest and fell timber and begin preparation for the building of an ark, that will be launched upon the bosom of an ocean that has no shore, for the salvation of yourselves and your families. Some good brother says, "Brother Hardeman, that thing has already happened; I will not make preparation for anything of that sort"—thereby admitting that you do not want that part of the Bible. But you say, with reference to worship and serving God: "I want it all." Still, if that be true, my friends, we have no business with meetinghouses and places of worship in the city of Nashville; for all of us would have to take the train, go to some Eastern port, and then board a steamer and sail across the mighty Atlantic, and, reaching old Joppa, march up thirty-two miles to Jerusalem to worship God. But even then we are not ready; for after reaching that point, we would have to find a priest of the tribe of Levi, of the house of Aaron, to offer up our sacrifices unto God. You may say: "But this is past." Indeed so. We live under a system of government and religion to-night that knows no special place, that asks no sacrifice of animals, that demands no Jewish priest.

 

Many there are who object to my declaration that the law of Moses, the basis of which was the Ten Commandments, has been obliterated and taken away. We fail to understand how such can be true. And yet we have no trouble in understanding other things parallel. Let me use as an illustration to-night our own beloved Tennessee. This State has had three separate and distinct Constitutions. The first one was when it was admitted into the Union—on the first day of June, 1796. Based upon this, the statutory laws were enacted, and for a number of years every good citizen respected and recognized and had due regard for the laws of the State. Then when the State grew, its resources developed, and the opportunities widened, the people said: "Our Constitution is inadequate to the growth of the State." So in 1834, under the administration of Governor Carroll, delegates were selected, a convention was called, and a second Constitution was adopted for the "Volunteer State." How do you think that delegation acted? They read very carefully Constitution number one. Every statement therein found that had proved a success, that was considered applicable, was adopted. They brought it over from Constitution number one and made it a part of Constitution number two. Some of the articles, however, were left out. From 1834 on down for thirty and six years the people observed the laws based upon the second Constitution, and not those resting upon the first that had been established and done away. But in the year 1870 the people, through their representatives, met again and inaugurated and adopted a third Constitution, taking parts of the first and second—those things ​that had proved worth while and made such a part of the Constitution under which we now live. Every law-abiding citizen within the borders of our State respects and observes and lives in accordance with the laws based upon Constitution number three. I observe and respect them tonight, not because they were founded in 1796, not because they were back in the Constitution of 1834, but because they are resting upon the Constitution that is now living, which proposes to exercise authority over us.

 

Just so in the legislative dealing with humanity by Jehovah himself there have been three separate and distinct constitutions, or dispensations, prevailing upon the earth. The first one, known as the system of Patriarchy, lasted for twenty-five hundred years—from Eden to Sinai. Then God, having called his people out of bondage and having led them to the foot of Mount Sinai, drafted and inaugurated a second constitution. Many of the things found in the first were brought over and made a part of the second. And the Jews observed these principles. Why? Not because they found them back in Patriarchy, but because they had been made a part of Judaism that lasted for fifteen hundred years more from Sinai to Calvary. These were but preparatory, however, to the giving of that constitution that was unlimited and unrestricted. All those principles adapted to Christianity as found in the old were incorporated in the new and became effective from the day of Pentecost.

 

Suffice it to say that of the original Ten Commandments, nine of them were accepted by the Savior, brought over, and made a part of the New Testament dispensation; and every law-abiding citizen under the flag of high Heaven tonight respects them and is living in obedience "hereunto. Other principles have been added, and hence we live under the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

 

But one of them—number four—which saith, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy," was left out, with other records of the Jewish dispensation; and in its stead God has given us a day with sweeter memories, character ized especially by the triumphant resurrection of our Savior from the dead.

 

This New Testament, dedicated, not by the blood of animals, but by the blood of Christ himself, likewise is divided. But before I pass to these I want to call your attention to the eighth chapter of the book of Hebrews: "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed thee in the mount. But now bath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people and they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." And then he said: "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Heb. 10:9, 10.) Hence, there is granted and given us tonight a system, a covenant, based on better promises and offering greater rewards.

 

Does this covenant, therefore, thus inaugurated, have its subdivisions? Naturally and quite easily understood, the New Testament is likewise divided into three parts, the first—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—properly called the Books of Evidence, or the books of Testimony, the specific purpose of which is to cause men and women to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. In John 20: 30, 31 is the following, equally applicable unto the other books mentioned: "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

 

The second division of the New Testament is properly called the Book of Conversions—the acts and doings of the apostles, the record of thousands that rendered obedience to the gospel of Christ and were able to pass out of darkness into light by the acceptance of his word.

 

The third part is the Epistles, addressed unto the churches, telling Christian people how to live, serve, and worship God that at last the crown may be won.

 

If you, therefore, to-night be an alien and a stranger and disbeliever in the Lord Jesus Christ, and wanted that part of the book addressed to you, I would not direct you to the book of Jude nor Revelation nor the Colossian letter, but to the first part of the New Testament, dealing directly with the life, character, tragic death, and final announcement on the part of the Son of God.

 

Just to illustrate: Let me imagine, with all kindness and courtesy to those of whom I speak, that a Jew to-night believes the Old Testament in tote, but denies the Sonship of the Lord Jesus Christ. Suppose that kind of a person would consent to make investigation and search the Scriptures. I fancy that I can see him as he turns to Matthew, first chapter, and there is greeted by a long line of genealogies, carrying him back to the days of Abraham and down to the birth of Jesus Christ. I doubt not but that he halts and says: "This is exactly like the record back in the Scriptures I call my own." He reads the second chapter, which gives the decree of Herod, of the flight into Egypt, the coming back to Nazareth that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. As he reads chapter number two, he knows every statement therein respecting the Child of Nazareth has been foretold in his own Scriptures. Then his interest is aroused, and, with encouragement, he continues throughout the book of Matthew the story of the wonderful deeds and miracles wrought by him and that he is proclaimed to be the Son of God. Still interested, he passes on to Mark, only to find the former statements corroborated and emphasized; and then on to Luke, still interested, still aroused, and reads of the mighty deeds of him, until at last, like old Nicodemus, he bursts forth: "No man can do these things, except God be with him."

 

As that story is thus read, link after link, statement after statement, perfectly harmonious, absolutely corroborative, forming a chain of evidence complete, he is almost forced to admit that Jesus Christ is what he claims to be. He follows on until the arrest is made, the various trials are hurried through, sentences passed, and death comes, then the burial. He sees the tomb and the stone placed at the mouth thereof, and waits and watches to see the final outcome. He learns on the third day that the bars have been torn asunder and that Christ is risen indeed. He follows as the Savior leads the apostles into Galilee and gives unto them a commission that is world-wide in its scope, heaven-born in its origin, and bought with the priceless blood of the Son of God himself. He hears the Savior bid these twelve men to go to Jerusalem, and is interested to such an extent that he says: "Let me go with them." At last the spirit comes and fills the house wherein all are seated, and he hears the disciples speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. And then he listens to the first gospel sermon in the name of the risen King, when Peter explained the miracles and said: "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain." And next he says: "Whom God bath raised up.  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God bath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

 

No wonder, then, the record declares: "When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart." They were cut to the heart; conviction had been brought; faith had been engendered; and he had, together with the others, become a believer in the fact that Christ had tasted death, that he had been buried, and that he had risen again, and had brought salvation unto the sons and daughters of men. Hence, they all said: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Still further he waits, and hears the splendid response by the Apostle Peter, unto whom the keys had already been given; and as that multitude knocked for entrance, Peter injected the key, turned the bolt, and flung wide the door, saying unto those believers that were thus affected: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children; and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." The concluding verse (47) says: "The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

 

Follow through the book of Acts of Apostles, and you find the disciples starting at Jerusalem, spreading through Judea, then to Samaria, thence to Galilee, thence to the uttermost parts of the earth, and in which record there is the account of those that yielded obedience unto the gospel of the Son of God.

 

Having, therefore, been led from a disbeliever into a faithful believer in the word of God, having been led from the believer's state into that of a child of God by further obedience, now what? Then comes the letters to the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessolonians, addressed unto Christian men and women, unto sons and daughters of Abraham and of Sarah.

 

My friends, there are just three classes of humanity, wherever you may chance to go. Unbelievers constitute one class, believers a second, and Christians represent a third. God's book, the New Testament, is applicable and adapted in a specific manner unto each class therein found. Unto the unbeliever I would say: Study the first four books thereof, that faith may be yours, that conviction of the truthfulness of the claims of the Son of God may be established in your heart, life, and conscience forever. I would bid him render perfect that faith in obedience to the gospel of God's Son by meeting every stipulation and requirement laid down in the book of Acts. After having done that, heaven is still not reached, and you have but been introduced into the straight and narrow path. Then take up your line of march; continue along the path already blazed out, until by and by all shall be well.

 

May I suggest that all along this pathway in which humanity is to travel there are signposts on every side? Soon you come across one that suggests to you to add to your faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity.

 

You find another just a little further on: "Pray without ceasing." It is impossible to live that kind of life, to travel that road, unless prayer flows forth from the innermost recesses of the soul.

 

On another signpost I see: "Abstain from all appearance of evil." Mortify therefore your members which are learn the earth. "

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On still another I see the sign in glittering terms bidding Christian people to practice and live the principles laid down in the Christian religion; and, still further on, the final admonition: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

 

I appreciate the fact, as has been indicated and mentioned especially in the prayer of the evening, that the aged brethren are among us. They have borne the heat and burden of the day for these many years. Their forms, perchance, are already bending back toward Mother Earth. Upon their brows hoary hairs are found, and on their cheeks the finger of time has marked out furrows. I appreciate the fact, my friends, that they are nearing the goal, the eternal shore, and that sea upon which all of us by and by must launch out. But, let me tell you, if you will but place your hand in that of the Savior, with a firm resolve to submit to his will, be governed, guided, and directed by his authority, he will lead you gently along the pathway of time, down its gentle slopes to life's decline, until at last your feet begin to be bathed in the waters of death; and then, somewhat shocked thereby, you stop and say: "Master, what is this?" Christ says in response, "My child, be not afraid; follow me ;" and as you march still further on, you begin to recognize that the waves are soon to leap over your silvered locks; but Jesus says: "Be thou faithful; still hold fast thy hand in mine." And after a while, when the breakers burst about you and the whitecaps overleap your brow, Jesus, with a firmer grasp, initiates you into the grandeurs of our Father's home, into that "city that bath foundations," that blessed home of the soul across which the shadows never fall. Let me encourage you that have buckled on the armor of the Lord by suggesting that it is not in vain.

 

I would to-night that I could cause every one that is not as yet a volunteer for service under the blood-stained banner of Prince Immanuel to buckle on the armor of the Lord and to fight bravely the battles of life, until by and by the great Captain of our salvation shall bid us to stack arms on the glad plains of a never-ending eternity, there to lay aside our battle-scarred armor and to hang our swords upon the jasper walls of that eternal city. Then, with psalms of victory and with crowns of glory, we will hymn his praises while eternity rolls her endless ages on.

 

Therefore, if in this audience to-night there are any disposed in heart and in mind to accept the terms of salvation tendered in the New Testament, in that covenant sanctified by the blood of Christ, if you have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, if you repent of all your sins, if you publicly confess that faith before this splendid company to further your obedience in the name of the sacred three, I bid you come.