25
PARABLES OF THE N.T. ..............................FOUR YEARS.
How then can such a criticism be maintained when the Index of the first twenty volumes of this Magazine
contains such evidence of concentrated, patient and lengthy study of so many books of the Bible other than "the four
prison epistles"? Then as to the Fundamentals, the same Index reveals several series dealing with such vital
doctrines as:
THE DEITY OF CHRIST.
SIN.
REDEMPTION.
RESURRECTION.
SANCTIFICATION.
INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE.
THE TYPICAL TEACHING OF THE TABERNACLE.
THE OFFERINGS OF LEVITICUS, and
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.
We suggest that such critics of dispensational truth are guilty, maybe unwittingly, of misrepresentation, and we
believe that all readers with a sense of fairness will not allow such statements to warp their judgment. The limitation
of space in a pamphlet of these dimensions will not permit a lengthy treatment of the subject, but an endeavour will
be made to set forth Scriptural evidence to prove that they who hold closely to the teaching of "the four prison
epistles", will, of necessity, hold the fundamentals of the faith.
Most evangelical believers will agree that, whatever else is omitted, the following fundamentals must be
included if we are to be considered sound in the faith:
(1) THE INSPIRATION OF ALL SCRIPTURE.
(2) THE ALL-SUFFICIENCY OF THE SACRIFICIAL WORK OF CHRIST.
(3) SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, AND NOT OF WORKS.
(4) JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH.
(5) THE DEITY OF CHRIST.
We submit that any difference there may be between believers who hold the above fundamentals cannot arise
from Christian love or faithfulness, but must be attributed to sectarian or other motives.
(1) THE INSPIRATION OF ALL SCRIPTURE.- There is one verse in the New Testament that is supreme in the
fulness of its testimony to this fundamental, and it is in the prison epistle 2 Timothy:
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable" (2 Tim. 3:16).
With this passage ever before the mind, what fear is there that the reader who has discovered the secrets of the
prison epistles will be lax regarding his conception of the truth of all Scripture, or will be neglectful in this respect
when this very epistle declares that the whole Scriptures are profitable? If he reads the context of 2 Timothy 3:16 he
will learn that these same Scriptures make wise unto salvation, and equip the man of God. Should therefore we be
advised that those who follow the teaching of The Berean Expositor will, with the exception of four epistles, be cut
off from the Scriptures, we must remember that prejudice is blinding, and act accordingly.
(2) THE
ALL-SUFFICIENCY OF THE
SACRIFICIAL
CHRIST.- Let us take the testimony of Ephesians and
WORK OF
Colossians: