Written Truth 3

WRITTEN TRUTH GIVEN SUPERNATURALLY - NOTE THREE

It is left up to the reader, if he wishes, to look up the context, but the following are three verses from the "scripture of truth"(see Daniel 10: 21):

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst , let him come unto me, and drink .

38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) John 7:37,38,39 -

Notice the glorious sounding words, "out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." That does not mean the scriptures declare that such a person will gush forth-great quantities of H₂O. How do we know that? Because verse 39 makes it clear that Jesus is speaking figuratively. (The scriptures interpret the scriptures!) It is recorded earlier in the same Gospel when the Lord was speaking with a Samaritan woman at a well:

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shal1 give him shall never thirst ; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. - John 4:13,14 -

There are other related scriptures of truth, which can help shed 1ight on the ones above (John 7:37,38,39). Following are four more:

4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost:

6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour

7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. - Titus 3:4,5,6,7

It is left up to the reader, if he wishes, to paraphrase John 7:37,38 as is in accord with his understanding. Perhaps he will find further study is needed before he is comfortable with what he believes the verses teach. No problem in that! To discern truth often requires considerable study, obedience, and spiritual maturity. But the above should serve to show one way in which the scriptures of truth are "self-interpreting." That they are to be literally understood does not mean that figures of speech can be properly ignored. A word such as "water" may stand for something else.

The scripture of truly-true-truth speaks of the Lord Jesus in many ways:

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. - Romans 10:11 -

It speaks to those in the past:

For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. - Romans 9:17 -

That verse shows that the scriptures reveal some purposes of Almighty God. Are you listening to what it says? Are you learning the teachings? Here's one:

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. - Romans 4:3 -

(For the context, see at least Romans 4: 1-8.) The Bible speaks, and answers the basic question of how a sinful man can stand justified in the sight of a perfectly holy God. Isn't that in itself worth knowing?

Another question: "Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias?" (From Romans 11:2). If you are interested, look it up and read chapter 11, yea chapters 9,10,and 11 of Romans. Such teachings bring the blessings of God's truth to one's being .

Skeptics sometimes misuse scripture of truth to try to prove something that is wrong with the scriptures. Would you like to see an example? Do you want to learn more? There is more to discuss and more that deserves mention.

RSH , 1999

Review and interchange by mail is welcome.

Robert S. Hathaway, 1522 Beechwood Circle, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44221-3622

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