The Strife Part IX
How Christianity, from the first century, deviated from the Holy Scriptures by S.V.M. originally written in Dutch in 1931, translated from Dutch by Aristarkos.
IX. Closing remarks
The reader may have probably gotten the impression that we disdain the Reformers, indeed almost all Christians. We wish to emphasize here that we value them as highly as anyone else. We also try to understand our position in this matter. We admire many people for the truthfulness, courage and other qualities they have shown by going against current thoughts and customs.
We would like to emphasize once again that the question above all is: What has God said? What is His will? Even if we are blessed by something, does that make it Scriptural? Do we hold on to our blessings more than to God's Word? Do we sometimes fear a loss of our feelings at the expense of the truth? Those who fear loss may be reminded that such a position is dangerous. Because then one places oneself on subjective territory, then everything depends on what we believe to be a profit. Perhaps something is apparently a gain for us, but at what cost? Can we estimate how much of a crime we are committing against creation if we hold something unscriptural? So let us continue in faith, not knowing where we will come, not looking to gain or loss, but to things above, guided by Him. Then in the end it is a gain for us, even if it means suffering.
It should not actually be about ourselves, whether we know something or know better, whether we lose or gain something. It is about Christ, what He is and does. It is about His glorification, about the riches of His grace. Nor is it against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, world rulers of this aion, against spiritual powers of wickedness. Let us help each other stand against the devil's methods and learn to use the sword of the Spirit. Not that we should fear Satan. He is a conquered enemy, but we must remain in our position, otherwise he can hit us. That is why it is so important to know that position well.
One day God will be all in all. How can we best be used by God to work toward this goal? What are we moved by Christ to do? Let us assist each other, in whatever position we are placed, and press ever forward, reaching for that which is in front, for the higher revelations.
If we carefully survey the aions and dispensations, we can bring to each the good tidings commensurate with its particular condition. Otherwise there may be fear of confusing things and speaking of the position and conduct of a dispensation or group to which our hearers do not belong.
Some have spoken the word « hobby horse » in view of those who draw attention to the special nature of our dispensation. It has been regretted that people did not devote more of their energies to the « simple gospel. » The reader judges whether the knowledge of God's purpose and the distinction of the dispensations is not fundamental. If this is missed, a system can be completed more or less well, many parts will be correct, but the broad outlines are wrong and the consequences are incalculable, both for the believers and for God's glory. The course is then set at a point other than the one at which we should aim, and the run and its end point are not seen. One cannot thus walk according to God's will.
It has also often been said that we only have a few Letters left of the entire Bible and that ultimately no one knows anymore what is and what is not addressed to us. That is not correct. We keep everything, but by distinguishing specifically what is specifically addressed to us, this part has more value for us than for others, who mix it with the rest and thus lose the particular. They lose sight of God's manifold wisdom and arrive at a uniform view, which is even more distorted, because they appropriate everything, including what is for others.
We need all Scripture « for our learning... », 2 Tim. 3:16, 17. As a sinner, born again and justified, a lot was addressed to us, which now, as a member of the church of the Mystery, no longer concerns us.
Furthermore, nothing is easier to discern, in our case, that what is addressed to us: all that was written by Paul after the rejection of Israel, so Eph., Phil., Col., 2 Tim. On the other hand, has anyone ever thought about how difficult it is, with today's views, to know what is addressed to today's believers? Take for example 1 Cor 10 to 12. When verse 1 speaks of « our fathers », may we take that as aimed to us? Is verse 19 etc., which speaks of sacrifice to idols, addressed to us? Shouldn't our women pray with their heads uncovered? Is there now an immediate judgment as in 11:29, whereby one can even die by eating the Lord's meal unworthily vs. 30? Do we have the gifts of chapter 12? It is clear that by no means everything is addressed to us and who can say with certainty what does and does not concern us? While according to traditional views one has to look everywhere, according to our point of view everything is concentrated in a few Letters and the others remain as a substructure always just as useful for learning and indispensable to learn to see the dispensation and to lead to it. Will Israel then remain under the law or will it come under grace? So we. By distinguishing the other dispensations and groups, we are led to the clear understanding of which dispensation we are now living in. So everything that has been written before is necessary for us, but is not about us.
The way of salvation is described in all of Scripture and as such it is entirely for us. But when we are at the end of the road, is what speaks from the beginning still addressed to us? What God says to a « child », does that also apply to the « adult man »?
Let us then follow Paul when he says: « One thing I do; Forgetting what is behind, and reaching forward to what is ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the calling of God above (not from above) in Christ Jesus » (Phil. 3:14). Can we glorify Him by looking to other dispensations and not actually taking our place? Do we grow in Christ, who is above all, when we live in dispensations which are for earth and heaven? Does one come to the place of God's right hand and thus pass through the heavens, when one looks at the generation of the heavens, where we may obtain a heavenly place?
We take this opportunity to point out God's abundant mercy toward all people.
When He delivered Israel from Egypt and gave this people the opportunity to enter the promised land, they did not enter through unbelief. Did the Lord now leave them to their fate? Was it all or nothing? No, He cared for them, even in those situations that were not actually according to His will.
So we also see His compassion in the existence of all current Churches, sects and groups, insofar as they hold on to His Word. All have this Word, all truth. But through unbelief no one fully understands that truth. Depending on his condition, each can now be helped and even blessed by some Church or group. We can be grateful that they exist under the circumstances, now that Satan is the God of this aion. We do not want to fight them in this sense. Only if those who are part of it claim to have the truth and regard themselves as THE Church or group where one should be, then we cannot accept that. But this will not prevent us from rejoicing that Christ is being proclaimed to many, even if it is under a veil. (Phil. 1:15-18). It should not be imagined that we ourselves require someone to be with us.
Is it helpful for a sincerely humble believer to remain there as long as he has no further light? If he finds blessing in a form, he retains that form. That is probably still necessary for him in his condition and it could be wrong if he failed to do so. But in the meantime his duty is to diligently investigate God's word and not to stop at a system, confession, etc. If he has a true and pure desire for more truth, he will also be further taught by God. Through God's Spirit the Scriptures will speak more and more to him. He did not expect to immediately gain a correct insight into everything, but he investigated patiently and walked according to what he knew. All this only to glorify the Lord's Name and not for your own satisfaction or even blessing. He must thus continually purify his views in the living water, go on and grow.
It is possible that he will then pass from church to church, or from sect to sect, as he has more light. It is not considered a bad thing for him if this is really the result of a more correct insight. In the present dispensation the end of that run is the coming to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we should no more be children who, like the flood, are tossed about, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, through the deceitfulness of men, through craftiness, craftily to lead astray, but practicing the truth in love, would in every way increase in Him who is the Head, Christ. Speaking in human terms, they are virtually alone, but on the other hand they have the closest communion with Christ. They no longer rely on visible things, on forms, on human teaching, but only on Him and His Word.
Therefore, the existence of so many sects in this present evil world (aion) can also have its good side. Each of these can have something to say to a group of believers and can be a temporary help to them on the path to the truth. Too sudden a transition can sometimes be harmful. This help can sometimes be useful and in this sense we must be careful not to fight those sects; but they should not be regarded as the end goal. If we then survey this present evil age, in regard to the struggle against the spiritual beings of evil, we see that Satan's action is most directed against sound doctrine and not against morality, etc. In that struggle we can overcome by to hold fast to the truth in love and to grow in all things unto Him who is the Head. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood.
One need not fear Satan if one adheres to the position in which God places us. The roaring lion of 1 Pet. 5:8 and the prince of the power of the air of Eph. 2:2, nothing can prevail against those who are in the over-heavenly, at the right hand of God. Woe to us if we do not take our position and that happens so often.
Throughout the history of Christianity, we see how many have not stood firm against the wiles of the devil and have been tossed and carried about by every wind of doctrine. Over and over again victories were won by the principalities, powers, world rulers and spiritual beings of evil. Where apparently the loftiest thoughts were held to, where man strove for the best and noblest, one often finds the greatest deviation from the truth. The question is therefore not whether one is religious, pious, ethical, « spiritual », but whether one stands in the truth, i.e. is Scriptural. When Paul says that Satan himself takes the form of an angel of light, it is in connection with those who preach « another Jesus » and « a different kind of gospel. » And in the meantime, God remains silent and apparently lets everything go. In a covert way, Satan uses Christianity to carry out his plans. Will he succeed? We know the answer from the book of Revelation. Yet Christ is preached « under a veil » and Paul's teaching is gradually becoming more and more understood. Notwithstanding everything, even the great mystery is becoming more and more known and believed. God Himself has taken care of that. Those « holy and faithful ones » (Eph. 1:1. Trans. Voorhoeve) need not be numerous, and can only form a small number of almost isolated believers, among those who believe in Christ. This mystery is not intended to be proclaimed to the public with much ado and success. Rather, it must be entrusted to « faithful » people (2 Tim. 2:2), who are not found in large amounts, because now is not God's time. This preaching does not, of course, prevent the proclamation of other good tidings concerning the earthly and heavenly spheres, which are therefore more generally intended for sinners and saints.
Just as we see with Paul that there is little visible « blessing » on making the great mystery known, this will also be the case with us.
After the last known to us aion, when God is all in all; The time has also come that no longer a few chosen ones, but all people, will share in the privileges of the members of the present Church of the Mystery. Satan has long since been cast into the lake of fire and has been used by God throughout the aions to carry out His purpose.
The existence of the Church now and in the aions to come is evidence of the complete victory of Christ and of God's omnipotence, all-wisdom and all-love. That is why it is so important for all members of the Church to be aware of their position and to walk worthy of their calling. It is not so much about themselves, what they have to gain or lose, but about God's honor and glory. They will be despised not only by the world, but also by their fellow believers, just as Paul was. But the Lord will deliver them from every evil work and preserve them for His heavenly kingdom (2 Tim. 4:18). To Him be the glory in the aions of the aions.
Aristarkos