An Alphabetical Analysis
Volume 6 - Doctrinal Truth - Page 107 of 270
INDEX
there are many passages pertaining to other times and other callings that
present insuperable difficulties which we should be humble enough to admit,
but at the same time such conditions should prevent us from applying all such
passages indiscriminately to all sorts and conditions of men at the present,
or in other differing times.  It should be kept in mind that the lake of
fire, the everlasting fire of Matthew 25:41 was 'prepared for the devil and
his angels', even as we find that the Beast, the False Prophet and the Devil
are there, before the setting up of the Great White Throne (Rev. 20:10,11).
Only some of mankind, and in the most extreme circumstances, will share this
terrible fate, let us, therefore, by all means, keep to Scriptural terms, and
not hand over the bulk of mankind to that which is so evidently exceptional.
When the devil comes down in great wrath, and the issues are sharpened as
they will be in the day of the Lord, the prospect of the second death may be
very salutary and save some from apostasy.  (See Lake of Fire in Millennial
Studies9).
DEITY OF CHRIST
Whenever we treat of the nature of God, we should remember that we are
utterly unable to examine and investigate the nature of God Himself.  We are
necessarily limited to the examination and belief of just so much as He has
been pleased to make known to us and no more.  Of God, considered absolutely,
we know nothing (1 Tim. 6:16).  All that can be known is of God, considered
relatively, i.e. God as related to Creation, to Redemption, to the Purpose of
the Ages, etc.  The teaching of the Scriptures deals with God Manifest.  The
subject before us, however, is the Deity of Christ, in other words God
manifest in the flesh.
There can be no doubt that the Creator of heaven and earth is God:
'For every house is builded by some man; but He that built all things
is God' (Heb. 3:4).
These words, written in Hebrews 3 follow what has already been written and
read in Hebrews 1:
'And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the
earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands: they shall perish;
but Thou remainest ... Thou art the same' (Heb. 1:10 -12),
a blessed theme that reappears at the close of the Epistle:
'Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever' (Heb. 13:8).
If He Who created all things is God, and if He Who created all things
is the Lord Jesus Christ, then we have established the doctrine of His Deity.
Another passage which teaches this same truth is that of Colossians 1.  Verse
13 speaks of the Son, verse 15 the Image and the Firstborn of all creation,
and then proceeds to explain:
'For by Him were all things created' (Col. 1:16).
Hebrews 1 spoke of the heavens and the foundation of the earth, Colossians 1
goes on to speak of 'All things ... that are in heaven, and that are in
earth, visible and invisible', and not only so, but that all were created by
Him and for Him.