SA 1:2{We are in a world in which God has spoken, and spoken plainly " at sundry times and in divers manners in times past through the prophets—in these last days by His Son. God solemnly warns " See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh " (Heb. 1:1,2;12:25).
Now God's word carries its own proof of authority with it, as does every testimony from God: this is a fundamental principle. It does not require proof; it furnishes its own proofs of everything to the soul. We do not bring a light to the sun in order to discern it; it enlightens us. The word of God is not judged; it judges. If God speaks, woe unto him that hears what is spoken, and knows not that it is God who speaks. There are those, assuredly, who will not own that it is He. If this refusal to believe be final, they are lost—sentence has already been passed upon them; the light is come, and the darkness comprehends it not. " The word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." The word of God, whether spoken or written, has to be received as the word of God (see 1 Thess. 2:13).' he who rejects it does so at his peril. If any remain in ignorance of some of its details-if any are mistaken as to some book, they lose just so much of it: "The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.... Moreover by them is Thy servant warned" " The entrance (the one who presumes to judge God's word keeps it outside and will not let it "enter") " of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple " (Psa. 19:7, 11; 119:130) This conviction that the word is its own evidence, is all important; this alone maintains the true character of the word of God, and distinguishes the Bible from every other book. It is written " Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation (judgment, as in v. 22); but is passed from death unto life." " He that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son (John 5:24; 1 John 5:10). The Lord JESUS, in speaking of " The Scriptures, said " They are they which testify of ME (John 5:30).