Chapter 22—A Girdle of Truth
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth.
Ephesians
6:14
.
There is absolutely no safeguard against evil but truth. No man can stand
firm for right in whose heart the truth does not abide. There is only one
power that can make and keep us steadfast—the power of God, imparted to
us through the grace of Christ.
There are many in the church who take it for granted that they understand
what they believe; but, until controversy arises, they do not know their own
weakness. When separated from those of like faith and compelled to stand
singly and alone to explain their belief, they will be surprised to see how
confused are their ideas of what they had accepted as truth....
The Lord calls upon all who believe His word to awake out of sleep.
Precious light has come, appropriate for this time. It is Bible truth, showing
the perils that are right upon us. This light should lead us to a diligent study
of the Scriptures and a most critical examination of the positions which we
hold.... Believers are not to rest in suppositions and ill-defined ideas of what
constitutes truth. Their faith must be firmly founded upon the word of God
so that when the testing time shall come and they are brought before councils
to answer for their faith they may be able to give a reason for the hope that is
in them, with meekness and fear....
The erroneous teachings of popular theology have made thousands upon
thousands of skeptics and infidels. There are errors and inconsistencies
which many denounce as the teaching of the Bible that are really false
interpretations of Scripture.... Instead of criticizing the Bible, let us seek, by
precept and example, to present to the world its sacred, life-giving truths, that
we may “show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness
into his marvellous light” (
1 Peter 2:9
).
The truth stands firmly established on the eternal Rock—a foundation
that storm and tempest can never move.... Do not lower the banner of truth ...
in order to unite with the solemn message for these last days anything that
will tend to hide the peculiar features of our faith.
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