5
A KEY TO HOLY SCRIPTURE
UNITED, YET DIVIDED
Chapter 1
GOD HATH SPOKEN
The Scriptures are inspired Truth
The following pages are written with a view to help those who already know the blessed fact which heads this
chapter; GOD HATH SPOKEN, and all His words are pure and true. We believe that the Bible not only contains the
words of God, but that it is indeed and in truth, The Word of God itself. We believe that `all Scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness' (2 Tim.
3:16). We believe that this full inspiration applies equally to Genesis as to Revelation; that Moses when he wrote
concerning the creation or the flood, that Matthew when he recorded the life of the Lord Jesus, and that Paul when
he revealed the Mystery which God had kept secret since the foundation of the world, were all equally and fully
inspired.
There can be but one result of a heart belief in inspired Scripture, viz., unconditional and hearty obedience. To
those who believe that `God hath spoken', no argument can be advanced that will excuse disobedience. We
therefore feel that our readers will agree with our first conclusion.
All Scripture being God's truth, becomes the only rule of faith and practice, and demands whole-hearted
obedience.
Chapter 2
SOME COMMANDS WE HAVE NEVER OBEYED!
Are we liable to these penalties?
The conclusion arrived at in the preceding chapter is nothing if not practical. Let us therefore look into the
Word, to see what God has commanded.
We do not read very far into Genesis before we come up against a problem. God enjoined upon Abraham the
covenant of circumcision, and used such words as these to show its importance. `The uncircumcised ... shall be cut
off from his people' (Gen. 17:14). Again, in Exodus 12, the observation of the feast of the Passover is said to be `an
ordinance for ever', and `whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be
cut off from Israel'. Again, in Exodus 20:8, we read as a part of the commandments given by God: `Remember the
Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of
the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work'. If the reader will now turn to Numbers 15:32-36, he will find
that no allowance was made for not keeping the seventh day. The man that gathered sticks on the Sabbath day did
not escape punishment because he intended to observe the first day instead, but the Lord said, `The man shall be
surely put to death'. In Exodus 31:14 regarding the Sabbath, we have the words quoted above, `that soul shall be cut
off from among his people'.
Leviticus 17:14 threatens the same for eating flesh with the blood.
Leviticus 23:29 threatens the same for not observing the day of atonement.
Numbers 19:13-20 threatens the same to any who are not sprinkled by the water of separation, after touching a
dead body, or even a bone, or a grave.
Now it must be evident to all readers that if the conclusion of chapter 1 stands, then we are faced with a series of
facts that are of the most serious character.