In the previous posting I made reference to God’s “light.” The importance of understanding God’s “light” relative to His “gospel” cannot be overstated. An indication of how important that light is to God, Jesus called Himself the “…. light of the world” (Jn. 8:12). This self-description is not surprising in that in the Old Testament we are told that light shined in the darkness and the darkness rejected it (Jn. 1:5). Obviously, that light was Jesus Christ–the only Messiah. However, in Matthew 5:14 the Light of the world told His disciples that they were the light of the world. They were not miraculously born, resurrected messiahs. How could they be what He was in terms of light of (to) the world? Something Jesus and His disciples had in common made them the all the same “light.” What was it? It was the gospel of God which they all shared in its pure, unalterable form–the light His ministers had been preaching and teaching from the days of Noah, the light being ministered to the Children of Israel long before the birth of Christ (Heb. 3:9-4:2–emphasis on 4:2). THE GOSPEL/WORD IS GOD’S LIGHT IN WRITTEN FORM. THOSE WHO OBEY THAT GOSPEL ARE HIS LIGHT IN HUMAN FORM. That same gospel/Word/light is being ministered today through t.v., radio, the internet, etc. through the speaking and writing of His ministering saints. The “God of Truth” (Isa. 65:15) foretold that the entire world would one day hear His Truth: “And THIS gospel/word/light of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world as a witness to all men, then the end shall come” (Mat. 24:14). Note that “this gospel” would be preached globally. Note also that, though He knew many would pervert His gospel and preach it throughout the world, He does not mention it directly. He does, however warn us not to be deceived by “doctrines of devils” that would be presented in the church as God’s Truth (1 Tim. 4:1/Heb. 13:9).

In every Biblical instance known to this writer, God uses “Word,” not “Words” when referring to His gospel. This is because He views the Words of the Bible to constitute one singular message. Therefore, to change any part of His Word, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is to extinguish His light to mankind. Without His light, man, including churchman, lives in darkness. Because Churchman has perverted His Word extensively, he has been living in darkness for some 1700 years. Which brings us to the goats. To be continued. L.J.