may be compared to a magnificent - bible student …...may be compared to a magnificent edifice that...

may be compared to a magnificentedifice that took seventeen centuries to

build. Its architect and builder is God.Like this beautiful world, the work of the

Author, it bears on it everywhere theimpress of a Divine hand.

This majestic temple contains66 chambers of unequal size –

66 books of the Old and New Testament.Each of the 31,173 verses is a stone,

a beam, a panel of the building which isa Temple more glorious by far than that

of Solomon or of Zerubbabel.

Would you have fellowship with theFather? You will be sure to find Himwithin the precincts of His holy house.

– Selected

1 ♦ HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE AND HAVE IT MAKE SENSE

How to Study 7/10/98 5:20 PM Page 1

3 ♦ HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE AND HAVE IT MAKE SENSETable of Contents

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION 1An Age-Old Conflict 1Men Need an Authority 1What is the Bible? 2

Chapter 2: METHODS OF STUDY 3Five Separate Interlocking Approaches 3

Exhaustive Topical Examination 4Study of Symbolic Language 11Study by Time-Frame 13The Importance of Context 16Study by Type and Antitype 20

A Review 21Messengers to the Church 22

Chapter 3: THE PURPOSES AND REASON-INGS

BEHIND CREATION 23Unresolved Questions 23God’s Plan 24The Scriptural Summary 29

Appendix: OTHER LITERATURE AVAILABLE 31

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION 5♦ An Age-Old Conflict 5♦ Men Need an Authority 5♦ What is the Bible? 6

CHAPTER TWO

METHODS OF STUDY 9♦ Five Separate Interlocking Approaches 9

1. Exhaustive Topical Examination 102. Study of Symbolic Language 183. Study by Time Frame 224. The Importance of Context 265. Study by Type and Antitype 33

♦ A Review 34♦ Messengers to the Church 35

CHAPTER THREE

THE PURPOSES AND REASONINGS BEHIND CREATION 37♦ Unresolved Questions 37♦ God’s Plan 38♦ The Scriptural Summary 46

BIBLE STUDY ESSENTIALS 48

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99

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37373846

48


5

♦ HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE AND HAVE IT MAKE SENSE

An Age-Old Conflict

The Bible has for centuries been a sourceof confusion to men everywhere. Many peo-ple have concluded that it cannot be a reliablesource of information because so many con-tradictory theories claim to be based upon itscontents. The purpose of this booklet is toshow that the Bible, carefully studied, can bea consistent, reliable source of information.

Men need an Authority

It is in the nature of man to want a goodauthority for his thought and his behavior. Inreligious thought, especially, it would seem



desirable to have sound evidence as a basis forconclusions. Yet, today man faces a chal-lenge in the field of religious thought: Isthere a religious authority? Or is every manto believe what he believes with no more evi-dence than his own personal preference?Actually, there is an authority. In practice,few men recognize one.

In this booklet an effort will be made todemonstrate that the Bible can answer rea-sonably and consistently any question — pro-vided the student learn how to use it. Thisbooklet will endeavor to show that the Bibleis, indeed, the ultimate authority which menhave been seeking.

What is the Bible?

If the idea is accepted that a personal Goddoes exist, then the student must next decideif he has access to knowledge relating to God.The Bible claims within its covers to be thesole source of information about God andabout what He is doing.


7INTRODUCTION ♦

This booklet, therefore, is based on a veryimportant assumption. It is assumed from thebeginning that the Bible is what it claims to be— the Word of God. Even if every studentdoes not also make this assumption, it is sug-gested that he temporarily accept it as suchwhile examining the Bible. If its contents donot live up to its claim, he is not obligated toaccept it as anything more than another book.If its contents do reveal the answers beingsought, he has found what few have found:THE TRUTH.

The initial hypothesis that the Bible is theWord of God is made because there is greatstrength in studying any matter from a posi-tive rather than a negative point of view. Sucha position of study allows a person to see intri-cate beauties which another person mightquickly dismiss as contradictions.

It has been for some time the practice oftheological seminaries to study the Bible uti-lizing various kinds of criticism (text, form,etc.). This approach, however, has been nega-tive. It has, in essence, begun the study of



Scripture by saying, “What can we findwrong?” The method of study presented inthis booklet will be totally different from thatwhich is commonly being practiced, but itshould give a positive confirmation of thevalidity of this great Book, the Bible.


9

Five Separate Interlocking Approaches

Because man’s mind is not capable ofretaining and cross-referencing all of the pas-sages in the Scriptures, study which examinesone book of the Bible at a time is somewhatfruitless. How can one be certain that con-clusions are correct on any question unless hehas examined ALL that the whole Bible saysrelative to that question? After all, if the Bibleis the Word of God, its testimony on a givensubject should be consistent and revealingfrom Genesis through Revelation.

In order to know ALL that the Bible sayson a given subject, therefore, it becomes nec-essary to study a single TOPIC at a time.



The study of many topics, one at a time, then,can be carefully molded into a larger, compre-hensive picture of what the Bible is about.

The first of the five important methods ofstudy, therefore, must be the examination ofone topic at a time.

METHOD ONE

Exhaustive Topical Examination

Examination of every Scripture on asingle subject was once an impossibil-

ity. Now it is relatively easily accomplished.The necessary help is available in either oftwo large books:

STRONG’S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE andYOUNG’S ANALYTICAL CONCORDANCE

Each of these books lists every word in theKing James translation of the Bible, some-times called the Authorized Version. Alsolisted are the Hebrew and Greek words fromwhich they come (with definitions) and other


11METHODS OF STUDY ♦

ways in which these same words are translat-ed. Libraries and good bookstores regularlyhave copies of Strong’s and Young’sConcordances.*

As an example of the kinds of benefitsreaped from exhaustive topical comparison,note what happens when the traditionallycontroversial subject of hell is examined. Onthe following page is the listing of “hell” asfound in Strong’s Concordance.

Note immediately that every occurrence ofhell in the Old Testament is a translation of asingle Hebrew word (sheol) as represented bynumber 7585 in the right-hand column. Notethe definition as reproduced from the lexiconof Strong’s Concordance shown on page 13.

* Exhaustive Concordances are now available for anumber of translations and are frequently also availableon computer programs. Some newer versions havebeen abridged and are therefore missing some impor-tant information. Be sure to obtain an “unabridged ver-sion” to make the most of your studies.



Strong’s Concordance list continues

OL

DT

EST

AM

EN

T


13

Following the colon and dash (:-), Strong’sConcordance lists the other ways that thissame Hebrew word (sheol) is translated inthe King James version. It is interesting tolearn that the translators occasionally ren-dered this word “grave” and “pit.” Findingthis information, it is now important to lookup grave and pit to see the Scriptural usage ofthese words since they are still a definite partof our topical study on hell.

METHODS OF STUDY ♦



Strong’s Concordance lists the usages of graveand pit as follows: [look for number 7585]


➤

➤




➤

➤



Look in the right-hand column for number7585. (This, remember, means that theHebrew word sheol is the word being used.)This reveals the interesting fact that good menexpected to go to hell! Genesis 37:35 showsthat Jacob expected to go there and that hethought his favorite son was there! Job 14:13shows that Job actually prayed to go to hell toescape God’s wrath!

Is the value of this kind of study becomingclear? Without pursuing the matter further, itshould be becoming clear that the teaching ofhell as a place of eternal torment is contraryto the Scriptures — when they are studiedexhaustively and impartially!

If this matter is studied to its logical con-clusion, it will be found that the word “obliv-ion” is the best synonym for the Hebrew wordsheol and its Greek (New Testament) counter-part, hades. Hell is not eternal torment; it isoblivion. It is not only for the wicked; it isalso for the good. It is not permanent; it is atemporary oblivion, or non-existence, ordeath-state. (For a detailed examination of


17

every Scripture on Hell, see our publicationWhere are the Dead?) It is interesting to notethat such an old and large denomination asthe Church of England has recently acceptedthe validity of this definition of hell.

Another Example

Arranged below are three columns ofScriptures which contain the word “earth.”These samplings are purposely listed in threecolumns to point out the seeming contradic-tions. One column contains Scriptures whichstate that the earth will be destroyed. The sec-ond column contains texts which show thatthe earth will not be destroyed. The last col-umn entries imply that there will be a newearth. Read these texts before proceeding:

EARTH DESTROYED

Matthew 24:35Hebrews 1:10, 11Zephaniah 3:8

EARTH REMAINS

Matthew 6:10Ecclesiastes 1:4Matthew 5:5Isaiah 45:18Psalm 104:5

NEW EARTH

2 Peter 3:13Revelation 21:1




This listing is still based on the idea thatan examination by TOPIC is of foremostimportance. From this chart, however, it isclear that topical study by itself is not alwaysadequate to eliminate contradiction. Note theimportance of two more methods of Scripturestudy: study of symbolic language and studyby time frame.

METHOD TWO

Study of Symbolic Language

It is clear that a literal interpretationof the foregoing texts about the earth

results only in confusion and contradiction.When topical study by itself does not clear upinterpretation, it becomes necessary to discov-er the presence of symbolic meaning in thewords being used. How is this done?

Perhaps the first test is to apply the obvi-ous possibilities to all of the texts involved. Inthis case (with the word earth), suppose:

♦ All words “earth” suggesting good thingsmust be symbolic of heaven.


19

♦ All words “earth” suggesting bad things must be literal and really mean the earth.If this doesn’t work (and it doesn’t), try

the opposite:♦ All words “earth” suggesting good thingsmust be literal and really mean the earth.♦ All words “earth” suggesting bad things must be symbolic and must mean some-thing else.This does work. Then, a diligent compari-

son of prophetic texts containing the word“earth” used symbolically reveals that its sym-bolic meaning is “the political-social order.”Once the correct symbolism is found, it alwaysworks. This is, indeed, a comforting reassur-ance of the accuracy of interpretation.

To show the richness of the informationfound by utilization of proper symbolisms, itwill be beneficial to examine 2 Peter 3 whichmakes multiple use of this word “earth.”

In this chapter, Peter makes reference to:♦ the “world that then was” (vs. 6)♦ “the heavens and the earth which are now” (vs. 7)




♦ and “a new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness” (vs. 13)Peter here introduces words which we have

not yet considered, and the careful student willsubmit these words — world, heaven, fire —also to exhaustive topical investigation.

Our conclusions, based on the topical andsymbolic study methods, clarify this chaptereasily:

The “world (political-social order) that thenwas (before the flood) perished.” (But the liter-al earth itself remains.) Peter, as he continues,wishes to differentiate between rulers and theruled and, hence, divides the symbolic “world”into “heaven” (the ruling powers) and “earth”(the social order). Thus “the heavens and theearth (entire political-social arrangement)which are now (ever since the flood) are reservedunto fire (destruction — of the order, not the peo-ple: the earth still remains). Nevertheless, we,according to His promise, look for a new heav-ens (new government ruled by Christ) and a newearth (social arrangement) wherein dwellethrighteousness.” 2 Peter 3:6, 7, 13


21

Now (with the proper symbols to eradi-cate contradictions) the promises of theBible relative to the earth take on newmeaning:

♦ The meek shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)♦ Thy will be done in earth. (Matthew 6:10)♦ On earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:14)♦ The earth abideth forever. (Ecclesiastes 1:4)The Bible tells a comprehensive picture

without contradiction. Though it seemed tosay both that the earth would be destroyedand that the earth would not be destroyed, acareful study shows that it was cleverlytelling a consistent story. It was using thekind of symbolism President WoodrowWilson used in World War I when he stated,“The world is on fire!” What he meant waseasily understood. The Bible symbolism isjust as obvious if it is not approached withpreconceptions.




METHOD 3Study by Time Frame

This third chapter of Peter’s secondepistle gives an interesting clue

about efficient Bible study. We can diagramPeter’s reference to the three worlds thus:

WORLD THAT HEAVENS and EARTH

"World without end"(Ephesians 3:21)

THEN WAS TH

AT NOW ARE

FLOODold social

order destroyed

SYMBOLIC FIRE

present social order destroyed

NEW HEAVENSand EARTH of

RIGHTEOUSNESS

This basic division of man’s history intothree parts helps in resolving difficulties in


23

texts not clarified by topical or symbolicinvestigation (the first two study methods).

As an example, note the words of Paul in 2Corinthians 12:1-4. He was caught up intothe “third heaven” — an arrangement whichhe characterizes as “paradise.” Paul was notseeing heaven in three layers, but was mani-festly seeing, as Peter saw, a third period inman’s history under the perfect government(heaven) of Christ (Isaiah 9:6). How beauti-fully the Bible is its own interpreter!

Further Time Divisions

As the three “worlds” clarify some texts, amore detailed division of time helps the under-standing of other Scriptures. For instance,divide the “heavens and earth that are now”(the second world) into three ages based onScriptural history. One period, from the floodto the death of Jacob, sees God dealing withthe Patriarchs — men like Noah, Shem,Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — whose descen-dants became the Jewish nation. The next




Scriptural division of time is the period duringwhich God deals exclusively with Israel(Amos 3:2). Following the rejection of Israel(Matthew 23:38) is the age of Christianity. Todiagram these three time divisions, see thechart opposite (page 25).

Added to the time-frame chart is the 1,000-year period which apparently begins the “newheavens and new earth wherein dwellethrighteousness.” This 1,000-year age is basedon Revelation 20 and 2 Peter 3.

This time-frame chart can become a cher-ished possession. It will clarify manyScriptures and seeming contradictions. Studyreveals that some Scriptures apply only duringcertain periods of time. Attempting to applythem at the wrong time results in the age-oldconfusion and contradiction which cannot bea part of a Bible which is truly God’s Word.

Example of Age-Restricted Verses

One example of a text which is applica-ble only during a specific period of time is



SEC

ON

DW

OR

LD

ISRAELI

TISH

CHRIS

TIAN

1000

YEAR

SFI

RST

WO

RLD

THIR

DW

OR

LD

AGE

AGE SY

MB

OLI

C

FIR

EFL

OO

DAGE

OF

THE

PATR

IARC

HS



John 12:47. In it the Lord states that anyonenot believing him would not be subject to judg-ment — that his judgment would be for a laterage. This verse applies only to the ChristianAge. A comparison with Acts 3:20-23 readilyshows that conditions of judgment will changewhen the 1,000-year age of Christ’s secondadvent is in operation. At that time the rule is“every soul which will not hear that prophetshall be destroyed from among the people.”These two texts would be at odds with eachother without a time-frame reference for each.Thus, this chart dispels all contradiction andadds greatly to the understanding of theprogress of God’s plan for man.

METHOD FOUR

The Importance of Context

The fourth rule for successful Biblestudy is the necessity for consider-

ing context — large context and small context.1 Timothy 4:10 is an example for developingthis rule of study.


27

In this text Paul tells us that God “is theSavior of all men, specially of those thatbelieve.” It is manifest from this Scripturethat there is more than one salvation.Therefore, all texts mentioning salvation can-not be lumped together, but must, by context,be divided into groupings dependent uponwhich salvation is meant.

A topical study of resurrection yields someadditional help in this matter.

Note:♦ Revelation 20:6 speaks of a “first resur-rection.”♦ Hebrews 11:35 speaks of a “better resur-rection.”♦ Acts 24:15 speaks of a resurrection evenof the unjust.These are in obvious agreement with 1

Timothy 4:10 when it states that there is morethan one salvation.

To simplify the matter greatly, summarizesalvation into two major divisions based on 1Timothy 4:10:




♦ the world of mankind — “savior of all men”♦ the church — “specially of those that believe.”The contexts of Scripture can be studied

more carefully when the two salvations arerecognized. For instance, most of the epis-tles of the New Testament are clearlyaddressed “to the saints . . .” (the church).Therefore, to apply the laws, promises,admonitions, warnings, etc., contained inthese epistles to everyone in the world isfolly. The world are those who “believenot” and are, therefore, not now underjudgment as learned from John 12:47. Thiseliminates many problems. This is anexample of large context.

Small context is a simpler matter. Eventhough the epistles are written to thechurch, they contain references to thosenot in the church. A few verses before andafter any text under consideration shouldclearly indicate if an interpretation makescontextual sense.


29

Finer Distinctions in Context

In some cases a seemingly definitiveScripture is not really as complete as itmight seem. Note Matthew 7:13, 14 as anexample. This text on the surface impliesthat there are only two paths open to men:a broad road to destruction (affecting themajority), and a difficult road to life(affecting merely a few).

This is in disharmony with other textsalready examined. God is not the Savior ofa few and loser of all others! Why, then,does this text not mention the fact thatthere will ultimately be an easy road — ahighway — when all men (even fools) willbe able to make it, as Isaiah describes in35:8-10?

This problem is not uncommon. TheScriptures often make mention of only apart of God’s plan because a specific pointis being made.

In Matthew 7:13, 14 the context shows thatthe Lord is speaking to those following him.




He is pointing out to them that their choicethen (at the beginning of the Christianage), was either to follow him as believers(and thus be heirs of the special salva-tion), or to follow the path of the rest ofthe world as they had been doing. Thatchoice would merely result in theirdestruction, as it would have had theynever heard of Jesus. They were alreadydoomed to destruction as are all men sinceAdam. But Jesus was in no way saying thatthis was their last opportunity for choice!No, not at all. As shown in John 12:47, 48,if any man did not believe (during theChristian Age), he was not under judg-ment; his judgment was reserved for a laterdate — for the 1,000 years of Christ’sKingdom — for the highway that will leadto holiness at that time.

These fine distinctions in contextdemonstrate the importance of applying allof the methods of study available — notrelying upon one or two. Each serves as across-check for the other.



SEC

ON

DW

OR

LD

AGE

OF

THE

ISRAELI

TI

SH

CHRIS

TIAN

1000

YEAR

S

FIRS

TW

OR

LDTH

IRD

WO

RLD

PATR

IARC

HSAG

E AG

E

SY

MB

OLI

CFI

RE

FLO

OD

BR

OA

D R

OA

D T

O D

ES

TRU

CTI

ON

(Mat

t. 7

:13-

14)

SUPER HIG

HWAY

(Isaia

h 35)

Man

per

fect

ed a

s A

dam

was

-Le

ads

men

up

from

dea

th to

perfe

ct li

fe o

n ea

rth

Spiri

t life

for t

he C

hurc

h

To s

pec

ial

salv

atio

nfo

r th

efe

w w

hob

elie

ve n

ow.

Mat

t. 7

:13-

14Y AW

WORRAN

Adam

Fell



A more complete visual aid is obtained ifwe add to the chart the “three roads’ fromthe Scriptures just examined. (See chart,page 31) This shows that large context“secret” of the Bible: There is more than onesalvation. Not all men travel the same road!All roads do not lead to the same place. Allroads are not open at the same time.

The broad road of Matthew 7 has exist-ed since Adam plummeted to it when hedisobeyed. The narrow and difficult roadfor the true Christian, leading ultimately tolife as spiritual beings, has existed onlysince the cross. Thus the Christianreceives his lifting up out of the broad waybefore the rest of men. But in the 1,000-year Kingdom of Christ, the highway(Isaiah 35) will be opened and will bringup from destruction the rest of mankind sothat they, too, can learn righteousness.God “is the Savior of all men (on earth) —specially (in heaven) of those that believe.”Thus, in the end, His will shall “be done inearth as it is in heaven.”


33

METHOD FIVE

Study by Type and Antitype

One final method of Biblical investi-gation must be mentioned at least

briefly. In the Old Testament are manyevents which actually happened but whichhave significance above and beyond theiroriginal import. For example:

Exodus describes the institution of thePassover which involved the slaying of alamb, the deliverance of the firstborn atnight, and the deliverance of the rest of thepeople in the morning. The miracle wouldhave been great in itself. But in 1Corinthians 5:7 Paul states, “Christ, ourPassover, is sacrificed for us,” indicating thatGod meant to make an informative picture ofthe Passover event. This conclusion is fur-ther corroborated by the Scriptural refer-ences to Jesus as “the Lamb of God.”

A careful consideration of this Passover typeand its symbols indicates a remarkable corre-spondency with what has been demonstrated in




the application of the other four methods ofstudy. Jesus (the lamb) dies. His death savesthe firstborn (the church) during the night(the Christian Age). The rest of the world aresaved in the morning (the 1,000 years) fromthe enslavement under sin (represented byPharoah’s enslavement of Israel).

This subject of typical/antitypical rela-tionships opens whole new concepts inBible study!

A REVIEW

Five methods of Bible study have beenbriefly examined:

1. Study by complete topical investigation.2. Study of symbolic versus literal statement.3. Study of time-frame placement of Scripture.4. Study considering large and small context.5. Study of typical-antitypical relationships.

Any one of these methods is helpful. No oneof these methods is complete. All taken together


35

will result in Biblical interpretation entirely freefrom self-imposed prejudice, preference, etc.The Bible will become reasonable, consistent,adequate, and inspiring: The Word of God.

If the student will approach the Bible hon-estly, it will change his mind — and his heart.It is well worth such an honest approach.

In the next chapter is a brief outline ofGod’s plan as revealed by the foregoing meth-ods of study. It is recommended as the mostsublime philosophy ever spoken among men.It is boldly suggested as uncontestable —provable point by point by the Scriptures andin contradiction to no text in the Bible.

In short, it is too good not to be true.

Messengers to the Church

One of the greatest aids to Bible study isthe help received from teachers which Godhas used from time to time. (Ephesians 4:11;1 Corinthians 12:28; Revelation 2:1, 8, 12, 18;3:1, 7, 14) Among these are such men asArius, Waldo, Wycliffe, Luther, and Russell.




Each brought to light at least one Scripturally-documented major truth.—Ephesians 4:8, 11, 12

Excellent teachers are an asset, and thestudent who profits from the teachers’ experi-ences can avoid much stumbling through theBible. This does not, of course, relieve eachindividual of the responsibility of proving allthings (1 Thessalonians 5:21) with carefuland complete study techniques such as areoutlined in this chapter of the booklet.

Because good teachers are an asset, thenext chapter purposes to present an in-a-nut-shell summary of the best thoughts of theseteachers. This summary is in the form of anexplanation of what God started out to do,what He is now doing, and what will be theultimate result of His plan for man. This epit-ome of the contents of the Bible is in harmonywith the results of careful study as previouslyoutlined. Detailed explanations of thisplan and its parts are available in the bookThe Divine Plan of the Ages offered at theback of this publication.


37

Unresolved Questions

In the second chapter of this booklet,samples of study subjects have been used toillustrate study techniques. These samplesmay have caused questions to arise in themind of the reader. Some of the conclusionshave been:

♦ there is no eternal torment♦ the earth will not burn to a cinder, but beforever inhabited♦ the judgment day lasts 1,000 years♦ the unbelievers will have a “secondchance” — actually their first real chance



These conclusions are as startling asthey are wonderful. They reflect a God whohas a character well worth worshipping.Since these conclusions have been some-what disconnected and abstract in the sec-ond chapter of this booklet, it is the purposeof this third chapter to create a unifiedword-picture of the implications of thesevarious conclusions.

God’s Plan

The Bible begins with the words, “In thebeginning God created.” Many have askedWHY God created? — WHY he ever bothered?The answer to this question is fundamental toan understanding of the Scriptures.

“God is love.” (1 John 4:16) This thoughtis the key to God’s purpose in creation. If loveis characterized by any one attribute, thatattribute is the desire and necessity of giving.God is love; God must give. But God was alonein the universe! There was no one to whomHe could give anything! Thus was born both


39THE PURPOSES AND REASONINGS BEHIND CREATION ♦

the concept and the need for creation. Godwould create so that He could give.

God’s creation, according to Scripture,involves more than the earthly realm.Nevertheless, man is an important part ofthat creation and has a special place andpurpose in God’s design. This chapter willconcentrate primarily on God’s dealingswith men, as the Scriptures concentrate pri-marily in this area.

Decisions in Making Man

The decisions in creation were based muchon God’s attribute of love. When the creationof man was due, God’s initial decisioninvolved a problem something like this:

“Will I make man like a machine — pro-grammed so that he cannot make a mis-take? Or will I make man with freedom ofwill and choice?”

The answer to this initial question was read-ily dictated by God’s love. If man were a robot,a machine, he could not receive God’s love.



Machines don’t experience love. For man tobe the appreciative recipient of God’s love, hemust be free, not programmed.

God knew the dangers of creating beingswith the freedom of exercising their ownwills, but there was no legitimate alternative.God would, indeed, create man with the free-dom of choice.

The Nature of Freedom

Freedom is a strange word. Freedom can-not exist without limits. If one man’s freedominfringes upon the freedom of another man,freedom no longer exists. Freedom by its owninherent definition must contain limits. Butwho shall define the limits of freedom? Itseems manifest that God, who created man inthe first place, is best equipped to tell man hislimits.

Thus it was. God created man in His ownimage — free to reason and choose. And Godinformed man that he was free with only onecertain limitation.


41

Why Die for Eating an Apple?

Of all possible restrictions to freedom,why did God tell Adam that he could not eatthe fruit of a certain tree? (There is no evi-dence that it was an apple.) It seems Godcould have chosen a better limitation to free-dom than that! Not so! This choice wasexcellent for one compelling reason: Godwanted man to learn the lesson of obedience.

Obedience: The Key to a Peaceful Universe

Had God told Adam that he could not killEve, the inherent moral power of that com-mand would have been obvious. Adam wouldnot have known, however, that obedience evenwhen he doesn’t understand is what God wants.Therefore God gave man a simple test of obe-dience — one in which, on the surface, mancould not clearly perceive evil.

God knows that disobedience anywhere inHis creation will cause chaos in the universe.God reserves the right, therefore, to extinguish

THE PURPOSES AND REASONINGS BEHIND CREATION ♦



the life of any creature who disobeys. Thiswas the point which He wanted to make:Disobedience results ultimately in death; onlythis will preserve order in the universe.

How We Learn

God knew that His creatures (since theywere not programmed machines) could learnin only three ways: by information, by obser-vation, or by experience. Thus the lessonwhich all of God’s creatures had to learn (obe-dience) must be learned by one or all of thesethree methods. God is a good instructor; Heuses all three.

God gave Adam instruction by information;He warned Adam of the consequences of dis-obedience. God, of course, was sufficiently far-sighted to know that a free, inexperiencedbeing would not learn from information alone.Adam sinned; and subsequently he died. God’sjustice is as strict and unchanging as His loveis broad. He had to make His point: disobedi-ence will cause death (no exceptions)!


43

So man is now learning by experience.The angels and other orders of creation arelearning by observation. All creation is learn-ing. The lesson is being forcibly impressedupon us all: disobedience will cause death —even disobedience in the simplest, seeminglyinnocent matter of eating a piece of fruit.

Has Creation Failed?

It was shown that God, out of love, desiredto create free beings upon whom He couldshower blessings. It was also shown that thenature of freedom requires the practice of obe-dience to God’s directions, and that God per-mitted evil (disobedience) to enter His uni-verse as being the only method by which freebeings can learn.

But man is dead! God purposed to have aperfect earth populated with perfect men —men who would love Him because theyrespect Him. God’s word never returns untoHim void. His original purpose will, indeed,be accomplished. Once the earth’s population




has reached the size God determines to be cor-rect, the learning experience with evil will beterminated. Man will cease to die. Man willbe resurrected — his original sin paid for (notexcused) by the sacrifice of “the Lamb of Godwhich taketh away the sin of the world.”

Meanwhile, A New Creation

Through the Scriptures God tells us thatHis creative effort would include the creationof a special group of beings — an intimate fam-ily of His own. This family would be like Himin that they would be indestructible.

The Scriptures clearly differentiatebetween mortal beings and immortal beings.At one time, only God was immortal.Immortality is that condition where death isan absolute impossibility. (John 5:26) It isthis quality which God wants to give to Hisspecial creation, His intimate family. Allother beings will be mortal — not dying, butsubject to extinction by God, should theyever disobey.


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As God contemplated this immortal, inti-mate family of His own, He fully realized thatto create immortal free beings without somesafeguard would be to invite the possibility ofeternal disobedience in the universe — a pos-sibility which God could not accept.

But God saw a great opportunity in theaffairs of the earth. He determined that Hecould deal with some people while they wereexposed to the terrible influences of evil andthus test their characters and obedience fully.If He could find people who would be fullyobedient under evil circumstances, He couldtrust them under all circumstances. Goddecided He would make His New Creation,His intimate family, from the human race.

Thus in the Scriptures is an offer to men tofollow Christ and to seek immortality. God iscalling out of the earth the few people whowill be His New Creation. He calls them Hischurch. (This is from the Greek word ekkle-sia which means “a calling out.”)

In this process God saw another advantage.Since His church, once glorified as spirit




beings, will have been human, they will bevery sympathetic toward the experiences ofmankind. The church will be well suited forthe purpose of helping mankind — raisingthem from the dead, instructing them up thehighway of holiness (Isaiah 35:8-10), and deal-ing with every problem as the effects of evil arewashed away.

It is for this purpose that God determinedthat His church would rule with Christ dur-ing the thousand years of the Kingdom(Revelation 20:6).

How much greater now is the significanceof 1 Timothy 4:10? “God is the Savior of allmen, specially (with immortality) of those thatbelieve.” How much greater now is the signifi-cance of Matthew 6:10? “Thy Kingdom come,Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.”

The Scriptural Summary

Yes, God intended, and will have as theresult of creation, a perfect earth populatedwith perfect, ever-living men who will worship


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Him because they love and understand Him.He will also have an intimate, personal,immortal family of spirit beings like Himself,taken from among men where they will havebeen fully tested for their immortal inheri-tance. What a Plan! What a God!

The Apostle Paul summarizes this entirematter in just two verses of Scripture(Ephesians 1:9, 10). We quote from Dr.Weymouth’s Modern Speech translation:

“. . . He made known to usthe secret of His will . . .God’s merciful purpose

for the government of the worldwhen the times are ripe for it— the purpose which He hascherished in His own mind

of restoring the whole creationto find its one Head in Christ;

yes, things in heavenand things on earth,

to find their one Head in Him.”



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