Discerning the Truth
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MANNA ISSUE 70 Discerning the Truth The Truth That We Have Received • Care More, Pray More, Serve More • I Grieve with You in Pain The goal of Manna is to inspire MANNA believers“ to live an active faith through ISSUE 70 Vol 37 No. 2 mutual encouragement and the study of Publication date: October 2013 biblical truths.” Discerning the Truth The Prophetic Word Confirmed by Peter Shee EDITORIAL “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which placing Pauline writings on the same level of inspiration you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, as “the rest of the Scriptures” (2 Pet 3:15–16). Paul’s until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your teachings were not new inventions, but truth received hearts.” (2 Pet 1:19) from the Lord (1 Cor 11:23). Speaking of the truth that we have received, a theme The line between truth and error seems to obscure with writer emphasizes the inseparability between God and His time, but only because human understanding changes word—because God Himself is the truth—leading to the over time. Post-modernism seeks to demolish the very logical conclusion that truth is eternal and unchanging. foundation of knowledge—the recognition that absolute The progressive nature of revelation (Heb 1:1–2) cannot truth exists—and is thus incompatible with theistic belief be seen as change in truth as we transition from the and the self-revelation of God. Old to the New Testament, for God and His word are immutable (Heb 6:13–18). Another contributor to the When faith in any of the sixty-six books of the Bible theme warns that false prophets will arise within the true is undermined, man cannot arrive at an accurate church, who will first misrepresent our traditional beliefs, understanding of God. Even though God is revealed in then attack the twisted version thus presented, paving the physical creation (Rom 1:20), without the Holy Scriptures, way to subvert what we truly teach. These are matters that no one can be “wise for salvation through faith which is concern every member of the church. Doctrines regarding in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 3:15). Historically, deviant sects the Holy Spirit, inspiration and finality of the Bible, and like the Montanists denied the Old Testament as inspired, the unchanging nature of truth are but some of the things while the New Testament, especially Pauline writings, was currently under attack. rejected by Judaistic Christians and certain Gnostics. In recent times, Bart Ehrman, an American New Testament Satan’s old trick of causing disharmony and the nature scholar and author of “Misquoting Jesus,” refreshes of Satan himself as a fallen creature are examined in the some of the ancient objections to the New Testament and exhortation section. While the first article posits that love continues with his own disparagement. is indispensable in ensuring harmony, it observes that the love between Adam and Eve was broken as a result of In his second epistle, Peter defended the inspired nature disobedience to God’s word and that fellowship amongst of the New Testament, still in the process of writing workers is based on commonality of faith. The second and compilation, linking it to the inspiration of the Old article, on the fall of Satan, affirms the absoluteness of Testament: because Old Testament Scriptures are inspired, God, expounding on the meaning of the tetragrammaton— they must never be interpreted according to personal YHWH—that God is the only self-existing Being. The age- whim but in light of the revelation given to the apostles old issue of theodicy—reconciling the justice and mercy through Christ. Hence, New Testament teachings are of the Almighty with the existence of evil—cannot be not “cunningly devised fables” but “prophetic word resolved by appealing to the idea of a self-existing devil. confirmed” (2 Pet 1:16–21). In the same spirit, Peter vindicated his fellow apostle Paul at the end of the epistle, EDITOR IN CHIEF: Anna Khoo MANAGING EDITOR: Tzu-Ann Chen REVIEW BOARD: Andrew Chu, Phillip Kong (Australia), K.C. Tsai (Canada), Joel Chong (Malaysia), Lemuel Leong (Sabah), Chung Ling Chin, Simon Chin, Anna Khoo, Peter Shee (Singapore), Philip Shee (UAE), Michael Chan, TK Chin, FF Chong, Vincent Yeung (UK), Stephen Ku (US) Manna (ISSN1528-8617) is published quarterly by the True Jesus Church, IA Department of Literary Ministry, 21217 Bloomfield Avenue, Lakewood, CA 90715 USA. Copyright © 2013 True Jesus Church. All rights reserved. U.S. Postmaster: send change-of-address forms to 21217 Bloomfield Avenue, Lakewood, CA 90715 USA. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. THEME SECTION 3 8 11 The Truth That We Have Every Good Tree Bears Good Steadfast in the Truth Received Fruit What it takes to be steadfast in Definition, consistency, purpose, How to discern. the truth. TABLE OF by Lin Yung-Ji and defense of the truth. by K.C. Tsai by Jonathan Chou CONTENTS EXHORTATION DOCTRINAL STUDY BIBLE STUDY Beware Satan’s Old Trick— 25 Sowing Discord 15 19 22 The Only Church That Is Why We Can and Should The Fall of Satan: A Biblical Saved—True Jesus Church (II) Baptize Our Infants Investigation (I) The true church is always one. God’s promise belongs to you I AM but not I AM? by H.H. Ko and your children. by Luo Ci Yi by Samuel Kuo Articles of Faith 46 TESTIMONY 29 32 34 Care More, Pray More, Serve In the Sweet By and By Journey to the Truth: A More Reassured of a far better place. Chronicle of God’s Abundant Lessons learned from a campus by Lee Chor Sian Grace and Love fellowship. A protestant theological student by Nathanael Kuo converts to TJC. by Li Gai Gai COLUMNS 38 41 43 International Assembly Youths Love@Home A Brief Introduction to the UK So We May Boldly Say: “The I Grieve with You in Pain Churches Lord Is my Helper” How do we sensibly reach out to A faith and zeal rekindled. Relying on God while in the army. people in grief? by Patricia Chen by UKGA by Brian Lee Discerning the Truth Manna 2 THEME The Truth That We Have Received Jonathan Chou—Hillsborough, New Jersey, USA THEME SECTION Truth is absolute, unchanging and times and in various ways committed eternal (2 Cor 1:18–20; 2 Tim 2:13). His oracles to the prophets (Rom The ancient saints adored the truth. 3:2). He also revealed to His apostles For example, the psalmist proclaimed: and prophets that which was not “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will known in other ages: that the walk in Your truth” (Ps 86:11). He Gentiles should be fellow heirs with also said: “Take not the word of truth the Jews, and similarly partake of His utterly out of my mouth, for I have promise in Christ through the gospel hoped in Your ordinances. So shall (Eph 3:5–6). For the grace of God I keep Your law continually, forever that brings salvation has appeared to and ever” (Ps 119:43–44). all men, and this gospel has come to the world and is bringing forth fruit DEFENDING THE TRUTH (Tit 2:11; Col 1:6). When Jesus was being tried, Pilate As Apostle John testified: “And the asked Him, “What have you Word became flesh and dwelt among done? Are You a king then?” Jesus us, and we beheld His glory, the answered, “You say rightly that I am glory as of the only begotten of the a king. For this cause I was born, and Father, full of grace and truth. And for this cause I have come into the of His fullness we have all received, world, that I should bear witness to and grace for grace. For the law was the truth. Everyone who is of the given through Moses, but grace and truth hears My voice” (Jn 18:37–38). truth came through Jesus Christ” (Jn Jesus died protecting the truth. 1:14, 16–17). The apostles were also committed to upholding the truth. Paul charged God’s Word Is Truth (Jn 17:17) Timothy: “Hold fast the pattern of God’s word is settled in heaven and sound words which you have heard lasts for eternity; it is the everlasting from me, in faith and love which are and unchanging truth (Ps 119:89). in Christ Jesus. That good thing which God is the Word, and by the word was committed to you, keep by the of the Lord, the heavens were made. Holy Spirit who dwells in us” (2 Tim For He spoke, and it was done; He 1:13–14). Moreover, he told the commanded, and it stood fast (Ps Galatians: “If anyone preaches any 33:6, 9). Furthermore, He upholds other gospel to you than what you all things by the word of His power have received, let him be accursed” (Heb 1:2–3). (Gal 1:6–9). As previously mentioned, God spoke in the past to the fathers by THE TRUTH AS REVEALED BY the prophets, at various times and in GOD various ways (Heb 1:1). There were God desires all men to be saved and those who harbored an evil heart to come to the knowledge of the of unbelief and departed from the truth (1 Tim 2:4). This is why since living God (Heb 3:12).