Things That Were Written Aforetime...

In the Old Testament God chose Israel, the seed of Abraham, to be His special people (Exodus 19:3-5). It was God’s Eternal Purpose that through Abraham’s Seed (Genesis 12:3) “according to the flesh” (Galatians 3:13-18; 4:4-5) that Christ should come to bless the obedient Believers of all nations with Salvation. The status of Israel as God’s People was conditioned upon their obeying His Voice and keeping His Commandments (Exodus 19:5-6). The People agree to this Covenant (vs.8). Inasmuch as knowledge is essential to keeping His Covenant, God delivered to Israel through Moses His Law at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 20).

But Israel did not retain God in their knowledge; they forsook Him and worshipped and served idol gods. This resulted in their destruction: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). We learn from this the importance of knowledge of God’s Will as revealed in His inspired Word and of retaining that knowledge.

The church is God’s spiritual Israel in this church Age. (Romans 9:6; Galatians 6:16). Christians are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that they should show forth the praises of him who hath called you into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). One becomes one of God’s People through knowledge of His Word and faithful obedience thereto: “It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me” (John 6:45). In view of this, Jesus commanded, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations...He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16).

It is not sufficient to have been one of God's special People by having been immersed into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). One must “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18), for knowledge is essential to one’s spiritual growth and maturity (1 Peter 2:2). One must desire knowledge just as a newborn baby desires physical food for nourishment. It is written, “Get wisdom, get understanding... Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:5-7). It is the individual’s responsibility to obtain knowledge; he cannot lean upon the knowledge of others, for their knowledge may be inaccurate, and cannot take this risk with his soul.

The Bereans were called “noble,” because “they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Paul urged: “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (I Thessalonians 5:21). Jesus warned: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15). The mere fact that and elder, preacher or teacher is nominally a member of the Lord’s church is not an absolute guarantee that he is sound in the Faith, accurate in his knowledge or that he is teaching the Truth.

Christians must learn to discern between good and evil; between truth and error (Hebrews 5:12-14).

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