It is Settled!

A series of lessons from the Bible

by Howell Lasseter

Introduction

It has always been, and continues to be, the intent of the church that everything written will be biblical. There is no place for "I think" when it comes to God's Word. The Lord's church affirms that the Bible, as we have it, is the inspired, inerrant Word of God. By obeying it, mankind will be saved; there is no other way. Nor is there any other message through which we can receive salvation. Our study in this column will come from the Bible - the book that reveals to mankind the way God commands us to go.

The Bible is divided into two sections, known as the "Old Testament" and the "New Testament." It is made up of 66 books (39 in the Old Testament, and 27 in the division called the "New Testament"). About 40 writers wrote the Bible over a period of 1600 years. There are 3 periods of time covered in these 66 books: 1-the Patriarchal age - a period that lasted for 2511 years, from the creation in Genesis 1 to the giving of the Law by God through Moses; 2-a period of 1493 years that lasted from the giving of the Law, through Moses, until the giving of the New Testament law; 3-This law became the "new" law that mankind was, and is, to obey. It has been in force from the time of Acts 2 until now, and will be in force until time shall be no more.

It is the belief of some that the "Old" Testament is still the law that we are to obey today. In this study, we will notice some things regarding the "Old" law, as we reason together, seeking to come to the proper understanding of God's Word. God's Word is uncompromising. You've probably seen the bumper sticker that says, "God says it; I believe it; that settles it." Correctly, the phrase should be: "God says it; that settles it"! The column's title comes from this assurance that, because God says it, it is settled. There is only one way to be acceptable to God: obey His Word.

In future lessons, we will study examples from the Bible of the blessings for those who obeyed God and the punishment for those who disobeyed God. The King James version of the Bible will be used, and the overall theme will be: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16,17).