Lesson 2 January 9, 2022

BELIEF IN GOD AND HIS WORD

As was noted in Lesson 1, the Bible is the Word of the one and only true
and living God. It tells us all we need to know about God. The Christian
tends to assume that everybody knows this, even if they make no open
profession of faith. The Bible has little meaning to those who do not believe
in God as the Christian does. To them, it reads like fiction or fantasy.
In the New Testament context, a “believer” is one who believes in Jesus
Christ as God’s Son; more particularly, one who has accepted Christ as
Saviour and Lord. (See Philippians 2:9-11 and Acts 4:10-12.) Of course, no
one will believe in the Son unless he first believes in God the Father. But in
the overall context of the whole Bible, an “unbeliever” is one who does not
believe in God as the Creator of all.
God’s definite works of grace are for those who believe in God. We are
greatly limited in what we can do for those who do not believe in the God
who acts in the affairs of men. Knowing how an “unbeliever” thinks
should help us to understand how to appeal to “potential believers”; how
to persuade “potential believers” to become “active believers,” or believers
indeed.
GOLDEN TRUTH: (Heb. 11:6)
“…he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek him.”
LESSON COMMENTARY

I. FALSE BELIEFS ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE

A. GOD MANIFEST IN HIS CREATION
Romans 1:19, 20
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath
shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and
Godhead; so that they are without excuse.
While it is true that the fall of man in Adam resulted in a deterioration of
men’s knowledge of God, it was because men chose to have it so. “The
image and likeness of God” in mankind can never be totally obliterated,
even when men try to ignore and deny it. This is stated as an amazing
paradox — “invisible things…clearly seen.” Professedly brilliant scientific
minds seem blind concerning the relating of the creation to the Creator.
Only a fool will say, “…There is no God…” (Psalms 14:1. Read the entire
Psalm.).

B. BELIEFS OF THE REPROBATE MIND

Romans 1:28
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them
over to a reprobate mind….
“Reprobate” means rejected of God. The “reprobate mind” is the
judgmental result of man’s deliberate choice. Fallen men thus exercise their
“free moral agency,” and God would not compel them to believe in Him.
Of course, the consequences accompany the choice!
Some “beliefs” of “unbelievers” include: (1) the atheist believes there is no
God. (2) The agnostic thinks it is impossible to know about the existence of
God. (3) The infidel does not believe in any religion.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Acts 17:22-27
22 …Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this
inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship,
him declare I unto you.
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven
and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing
he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the
earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their
habitation;
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him,
though he be not far from every one of us.

Paul wrote to the Romans (10:17), “So then faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God.” Belief in God comes by way of hearing His
Word delivered with Holy Ghost unction, or reading what has thus been
written: “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). Of course, the hearer or reader may or may not accept the message.
The Athenians left the door ajar by suggesting there might possibly be a
God unknown to them.
Paul introduced them to Him. Some wanted to hear Paul again. Some
mocked; but some believed.

III. HOW THE SCRIPTURES WERE GIVEN

2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God…
2 Peter 1:21
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God
spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The Christian has already settled the issue of belief in God and the
acceptance of His Word. He understands that all Scripture was “God
breathed,” and was so written; that the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of truth (the
Word), moved on holy men chosen by God to record it. If one does not
embrace this fact, a doubt is cast upon the credibility of his professed
experience of God’s saving grace.
Some people say Paul and Peter were referring to the Old Testament
Scriptures; that the New Testament was not yet written. But it was being
written, even if the writers (like Peter and Paul) were not aware of their
being so used of God. Now, their writings carry the same authentication.
Once more, we must realize that the non-Christian either does not believe
that the Bible is God’s Word, or he has not accepted it as God’s message to
him and to all men everywhere.
CONCLUSION

The Church of God member, by way of the Church covenant, accepts the
Bible as the Word of God, and sincerely promises to “believe and practice
its teachings rightly divided.” The principal explanation of “rightly
dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15) is that biblical doctrines and
practices are studied and interpreted by the Church’s official General
Assembly in theocratic order. Of course, Paul was writing to an individual
minister, giving him this instruction. In matters which are not monumental
issues, a minister should search for all the references on a given subject,
bring them together, and interpret them objectively. Personal opinion
should not override uncertainties. “It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and
to us” and then the General Assembly has “the last word” in resolving
individual interpretations.
The New Testament is the Church’s “rule of faith and practice, government
and discipline.” This does not mean the Old Testament is no longer
accepted as the Word of God. It is rich in types, shadows, and analogies, as
well as history and prophecy yet to be fulfilled. Christ fulfilled the Law by
being and doing all the Old Testament order typified. He did this in a
literal manner by which it could not have been done until He came. He
positively declared that He did not come to destroy (do away with) the
law, but to fulfill it. (Read Matthew 5:17-20.)
In a sense, the New Testament explains the Old. Again, matters of
interpretation of the New Testament “government and discipline” are to be
left to the General Assembly.
Doctrinal matters to be studied in the on-going lessons of this series are in
line with the Church’s authorized teachings. It is expected that these
teachings be taught and expounded consistently, lest they lose their sacred
meaning, and by spiritual laxity cause the Church to suffer reproach.