GOD SAYS IT, THAT SETTLES IT

“If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”
(2 Timothy 2:13)

I was introduced to the following saying as a young Christian – “God says it. I believe it. That settles it.” Many of us among the youth loved this saying very much and wore it as a badge of allegiance to our Lord. Surely our faith in the Word of God is all that matters.

It was only later on that I learnt that the order of this saying was erroneous. The one who instructed us lovingly in this matter was Dr. Raymond Saxe, a Messianic Jew who was a visiting lecturer to the Far Eastern Bible College. The right order should be, “God says it. That settles it. I believe it.”

The problem of the first statement is that it permits the error of neo-orthodoxy. Proponents of neo-orthodoxy teach that the Bible becomes the Word of God only when the Holy Spirit uses it to bring us into an encounter with Christ. In other words, the Bible only becomes the Word of God when a man understands and receives it in his heart. This is a subtle attack on the Bible as the objective truth.

What doth the Scripture teach? 2 Timothy 2:13 says, “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” The Bible abides as the Word of God even if man were to deny and reject it. It is not subjected to our faith. Even if we do not believe in the Words of Scripture, yet they remain true, and we will be judged by it. The Scripture is already settled in heaven (Ps. 119:89). What remains is for man to receive it sincerely in his heart.

Alas, it is so easy for men to follow the “neo-orthodox” spirit in the church. When a doctrine or teaching is palatable to their taste, they will proclaim their faith in it. However, when they perceive something to be a “sour” doctrine or practice, they will reject or ignore it. Some may even attack those who promote that which they hate from the Bible. Such a “pick and choose” and “buffet” attitude to God’s Word will not do.

God says it. That settles it. God demands that we receive all the Words of Scripture as the Truth. Let us all be wholly committed to every jot and tittle of Scripture.

BE SLOW TO SPEAK (An Excerpt)
By Wang Ming Tao
(Edited and Abridged by Pastor)

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19)

Be slow to speak, in many things, you merely see one side. You have not seen several other sides. In many things, you know only a little bit. You have not known the greater part. If, by the little you see and the bit you know, you speak rashly, you will not escape being ridiculed and lightly esteemed by others. And, when you come to see all sides and know the whole matter, you will also regret what you have rashly said today. Be slow to speak.

Be slow to speak. Should you see someone’s badness and conclude that he is a bad person, you should in fact discover that the same person has many good points. Sometimes you might see one with similar good points, and so you think he is a good man, when in fact he has many bad points you have not seen. If you judge a person good or bad by one thing the person has done, will this not result in some bad consequence? Be slow to speak.

Be slow to speak. Sometimes you hear someone praising another how good he is. In fact, he is not that good. It may be a lie or a wild exaggeration concocted by his supporter. If you are not careful and join in the praise, you will fall into the pit of grave error. Be slow to speak.

Be slow to speak. Sometimes you hear someone criticising another how bad he is. In fact, he is not that bad. It is a slander by those who envy him, to destroy his reputation. If you are not careful and join in the slander, you fall into the sin of reviling others. Moreover, you bring great injury to others and may hinder the work of God. Be slow to speak.

Be slow to speak. What you hear consists of many rumours. Although there are many true facts, these facts may have been contaminated when passed from person to person. Unwittingly, you have become a talebearer. Be slow to speak.

Be slow to speak. Sometimes you see someone fail in a certain matter. You never realise how difficult the situation was, neither did you give a thought to establish him, nor consider your own weaknesses. So you ridicule and judge him. You might further add words that should a similar situation confront you one day, you will not fail. Now when you meet with a similar situation one day, and fail likewise, how you would lose face and find no place to hide. Be slow to speak.

Be slow to speak. Sometimes your friend may say or do something unwittingly that hurts your feelings. On his part, he has not the slightest ill will. On your part, you mistake him to take you to task deliberately. So you speak words that cause him embarrassment or damage. Later when you discover that your friend has no ill will, will you not feel you have offended a friend? Be slow to speak.

Be slow to speak. When you are angry, you are quick to say words you should not say. When the anger has subsided, you regret your misplaced words. To avoid this, why not be slow to speak to begin with? Be slow to speak.

Be slow to speak. Do not forget that whatever you say if of great concern to God’s glory, others’ hurt and your own character. Be slow to speak.

Be slow to speak. Satan will tempt you in your speech. Evil man will trap you in your speech. The knowledgeable will judge you by your speech. All around you derive good and bad from your speech. Be slow to speak.

Be slow to speak. God knows all our weak points and causes of our failures. So He teaches us in His Word, “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak.”

Editors’ Note: Thus the Chinese saying, “忍得一时气，免得百日之忧”.
Patience in anger will prevent a hundred days of sorrow.

Yours affectionately,
Pastor Clement Chew