Fundamental
Evangelistic Association
selected
articles from:
FOUNDATION
©Copyright - All Rights Reserved
A MAGAZINE OF BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALISM
Dennis W. Costella, Editor; Karel Beyer, Production Manager; Matt
Costella,
Copy Editor
M.H. Reynolds, Jr. (1919-1997), Founding Editor
It Is All We Need
Dennis Costella
©FOUNDATION Magazine Editorial, Mar-Apr 2001
Thanks to what transpired in the Garden of Eden, mankind now has an
inherited sin nature with a natural tendency to question the
sufficiently of God's Word. In Genesis 2 and 3, we see that Adam and Eve
knew what they needed to do in order to enjoy God's best in their
perfect setting: they were to walk in communion with their Creator in
the cool of the day and tend to the garden. The Lord also instructed
them concerning what not to do: they were forbidden to eat
of the tree of the of the knowledge of good and evil. How did they know
these essentials? God told them—He gave them His Word! That was all
they needed! But, Satan's strategy then entered in, and so did sin. The
serpent advanced the notion that they were lacking information beyond
what God had revealed: "your eyes shall be opened" (3:5).
Satan convinced the woman that additional understanding awaits the one
who frees himself from the burden of strict conformity to God's Divine
Standard. Eve then questioned the absolute prohibition and finally took
the final step of disobedience: "She took of the fruit thereof,
and did eat, and gave also unto her husband..." (3:6b). The
point is this: God's Word is all sufficient. The serpent's suggestion
that additional information would provide Adam and Eve with the ability
to improve their lives or their capabilities as servants of God actually
led to their destruction.
The church growth experts claim that the principles of psychology
must be integrated into ministry in order to meet the needs of the
people. Deliverance ministry leaders say that the techniques they have
learned through their experiences in "spiritual warfare" must
be taught if the enemy is to be defeated. "Christian
evolutionists" teach that supposed scientific "facts"
require selected Biblical texts not to be taken literally. The popular,
innovative ministries today invariably say, "Yes, we believe the
Bible, but you also need to know..." !
The Bible is our absolute Standard of faith and practice, our perfect
Counsel. The Word provides us with "all things that pertain unto
life and godliness ... Whereby are given unto us exceeding
great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers
of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in
the world through lust" (2 Pet. 1:3-4). If we are to be what
God wants us to be and live and minister according to His will, then we
must find the grace and knowledge to do so in the Written Word of the
Living God. Notice also that the Word provides the instruction
concerning how to gain victory over the "corruption that is in the
world" (the age-old world system and the god of this world) and
over our enemy that is within-the lust of our own sin nature. Remember, "All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God ... for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect [spiritually
mature], thoroughly furnished unto all good works"—the
Bible is all-sufficient, and we must not discount It. The Word of God is
all we need!
DWC
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