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This passage is a citation from Isaiah 45:23, a passage preceded by a
sixfold declaration that there is `None else'.
`I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside Me'.
`There is none else, there is no God'.
`For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself
that formed the earth and made it ... I am the Lord; and there is none
else'.
`I the Lord? and there is no God else beside Me; a just God and a
Saviour; there is none beside Me'.
`Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am
God, and there is none else'.
`I Have Sworn By myself ... That Unto Me Every Knee shall Bow, Every
Tongue Shall Swear' (Isa. 45:5,14,18,21,22,23).
It is utterly impossible to read these words without coming to the
conclusion that Paul intentionally quoted Isaiah 45:23 of the Lord Jesus
Christ, knowing that the passage so quoted would necessarily lead the reader
to perceive that He was the Lord (Jehovah) of the Old Testament. That to Him
must be ascribed both Creation and Salvation, such a passage as Hebrews 1:10
confirms, and it is impossible for any one to `keep the unity of the Spirit'
which places this same `One Lord' in the centre, who cannot at the same time
recognize that He is also the `One Lord' (Deut. 6:4) of the older economy.
We have confined ourselves in these pages to these epistles namely
Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, and by acknowledging that the words
employed are `Words which the Holy Spirit teacheth' and by them `comparing
spiritual with spiritual' we have demonstrated the rich harvest that follows
the application of this most important and valuable principle of
interpretation.
We commend this study to
all true Bereans, hoping that they will not
remain satisfied with what has
been here exhibited, but that they will
continue the blessed work both
to their own edification and the blessing of
those who may come under their
ministry:
`Words ... which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things
with spiritual' (1 Cor. 2:13).
WORSHIP
Worship belongs neither to doctrinal nor dispensational truth.
Specifically, it belongs to the believer in every department of his life and
witness, whether he be Jew or Gentile, whether his sphere of blessing be
heaven or earth. While it will not be possible in this analysis to devote
the space necessary for a full canvass of this mighty theme, the following
notes may be of service.
The first occurrence of the word `worship' in the A.V. is in Genesis
22:5, the significance of which will be appreciated by all who realize how
near to the heart of all doctrine is the great offering therein set forth in
type. While the word `worship' does not appear earlier, the student of
Scripture is very conscious as he reads Genesis 3 that the words of the
Serpent, `ye shall be as gods (God)', would have been no lure to our first
parents had true worship and its central significance been understood by
them. Moreover, had Cain entered into the meaning of worship, as did his