264. The Scriptures Divinely True.

And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. - Revelation 19:9.

THESE words relate to that which immediately precedes them.

· The judgment of the harlot church (verse 2).

· The glorious and universal reign of Christ (verse 6).

· The sure reward and glory of Christ with his saved ones in the glorious period at the last (verses 7-8).

· The existence, beauty, purity, simplicity, and glory of the church.

· The union of Christ and the church in love, joy, glory.

· The blessedness of all who have to do with this union.

The subjects thus referred to make up a summary of what the Lord has said upon future human history.

The words before us we shall use as expressing:

I. A RIGHT ESTIMATE OF HOLY SCRIPTURE.

1. These words which we find in the Old and New Testaments are true. Free from error, certain, enduring, infallible.

2. These are divine words. Infallibly inspired, so as to be, in very truth, "the sayings of God."

3. These words are thus true and divine in opposition to:

· Words of man. These may or may not be true.

· Pretended words of God. False prophets and men with addled intellects profess to speak in the name of God; but they lie.

4. These words are all of them truly divine. "These are the true sayings of God."

· Neither too severe to be true, nor too terrible to be uttered by a God of love, as some dare to say.

· Nor too good to be true, as tremblers fear.

· Nor too old to be true, as novelty-hunters affirm.

· Nor too simple to be truly divine, as the worldly-wise insinuate.

5. These words are a blessing to us for that reason.

· What else can guide us if we have no sure revelation from God?

· How can we understand the revelation if it is not all true? How could we discriminate between the truth and the error on subjects so much beyond us?

II. THE RESULT OF FORMING SUCH AN ESTIMATE.

If you believe that "these are the true sayings of God":

1. You will listen to them with attention, and judge what you hear from preachers by this infallible standard.

2. You will receive these words with assurance.

· This will produce confidence of understanding.

· This will produce rest of heart.

3. You will submit with reverence to these words, obey their precepts, believe their teachings, and value their prophecies.

4. You will expect fulfillment of divine promises under difficulties.

5. You will cling to revealed truth with pertinacity.

6. You will proclaim it with boldness.

III. OUR JUSTIFICATION FOR FORMING SUCH AN ESTIMATE.

In these days we may be accused of bibliolatry, and other new crimes, but we shall hold to our belief in inspiration, for—

1. The Scriptures are what they profess to be — the word of God.

2. There is a singular majesty and power in them, and we see this when the truth of God is preached.

3. There is a marvelous omniscience in Scripture, which is perceived by us when it unveils our inmost souls.

4. They have proven themselves true to us.

· They warned us of the bitter fruit of sin, and we have tasted it.

· They told us of the evil of the heart, and we have seen it.

· They told us of the peace-giving power of the blood, and we have proved it by faith in Jesus.

· They told us of the purifying energy of divine grace: we are already instances of it, and desire to be more so.

· They assured us of the efficacy of prayer, and it is true.

· They assured us of the upholding power of faith in God, and by faith we have been upheld in trial.

· They assured us of the faithfulness of God to his people as shown in providence, and we have experienced it. All things have worked together for our good hitherto.

5. The witness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts confirms our faith in Holy Scripture. We believe and are saved from sin by believing. Those words must be truly divine which have wrought in us such gracious results.

What follows upon this? We believe all the Scripture. We now accept as true sayings of God:

· The proclamation that our Lord is coming.

· The doctrine that the dead will be raised at his call.

· The fact that there will be a judgment of the quick and dead. The truth that saints will enjoy eternal life, and that sinners will go away into everlasting punishment.