Apr 1985 - Editorial

Editors of this magazine have consistently maintained that Holy Scripture is the final court of appeal in all matters relating to faith and doctrine, and throughout the years they have sought to provide helpful Bible-based teaching for the benefit of the readers. It has been felt necessary this month to use our regular feature, Focus, for a further critical review of certain theories that have been put forward in recent years and to restate our own belief in the absolute authority of the Sacred Writings and their complete inerrancy.

In our continuing study in the Book of Joshua helpful lessons are drawn from a consideration of the new generation entering Canaan under the leadership of Joshua to take possession of the inheritance promised to them by God if they went forward in faith to possess it. Unbelief had prevented their fathers from entering into the inheritance in Canaan.

What. God had in store for them in Canaan is described in Hebrews as God's rest (Heb. 3:18). God also made known to Israel that He would choose a particular place in the land and that place would be the centre for their worship and service (Deut. 12:13,14). In David's day the place of divine choice was shown to be Zion. There the house of God, the place of God's rest, was built (Isa.66:1; 2 Chron. 3:1). God's rest today is associated with His house and its service, and we are exhorted to "give diligence to enter into that rest" (Heb. 4:11). This requires continuing exercise on our part.

In the further exploration of some of the great truths featured in the Lord's ministry our attention is directed to the delightful way in which He dispensed divine mercy in His dealings with men and thus revealed to us more of the character of God who is "rich in mercy" (Eph. 2:4).

unknown | Apr 1985
Editorial