Browsing Archive: June, 2014
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Sunday, June 22, 2014,
by Charles H. Welch #1. The primary significance of the passage considered.The words that form the title of this series of articles occur at the close of a very remarkable Psalm; remarkable in that it insists upon Israel’s peculiar earthly mission among the nations, to whom they will extend the privilege of citizenship of Israel, a sentiment far removed from the narrower exclusiveness of Jewish interpretation. Two lines of teaching regarding Israel’s place in the earth are found in the scr... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Sunday, June 22, 2014,
#9. (10) “Go ye and learn what that meaneth,
I will have mercy and not sacrifice” (Matt. ix. 13).Is there a danger in stressing the believer’s full acceptance in the sacrifice of Christ? Is there a danger in emphasizing that salvation is “not of works”? There is, if truth be not presented in all its fullness. We must, however, refrain from putting out our hand to stay the ark of God. We must not minimize by one iota either the completeness of redemption or the believer’s inability... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Saturday, June 21, 2014,
(A series of studies on the importance of, and the comprehension of, “meaning”)
by Charles H. WelchNo.1. MeaningThe Holy Scriptures, even though they had been written in letters of burnished gold would not have been a revelation of God to man, if the meaning of those burnished letters was hidden from man. It matters not how fair the script may be, or whose hand wrote the lines—they may even be engraved by the finger of God Himself as were the Ten Commandments, yet they would still fail o... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Saturday, June 21, 2014,
#8. (9) A synopsis of a year’s testimony.After the initial testimony, covering the first six months’ witness at the Chapel of the Opened Book, summarized in the preceding articles of this series, our next step was to seek some acquaintance with the teaching of the Scriptures concerning the GOD Who gave them, and MAN to whom they were given.We traversed much the same ground as has been covered under the headings “This God is our God” (Volumes XXII-XXV), and “Fruits of Fundamental Stu... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Friday, June 20, 2014,
 No.13. Prophecy and its Fulfillment.Among the subjects that demand the “balance” for their interpretation and the appreciation of their value, must be numbered Prophecy and its fulfillment.The following paragraphs written by Horne, in his “Introduction” are worth reproducing:“The knowledge of future events is that object, which man, with the greatest desire, has the least ability to attain. By tracing cause and effect in their usual operations, by observing human characters, and by ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Friday, June 20, 2014,
#8. Deity of Christ, and the meaning of the Atonement.Before attempting to speak on these momentous themes, a word or two concerning “God” is called for. What do we know of “God” as He is in Himself? The answer must be “Nothing”. Every title He has assumed has been for our sakes. Every manifestation has been a condescension, every name a limitation. God absolutely and unconditioned is unknown and unknowable by finite beings. When we read “God is spirit” we have a statement of ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Thursday, June 19, 2014,
(Suggested by Bro. Dwight Chua) Does God Accept Usefulness in Christian Service at the Expense of Faithfulness?
We reproduce the substance of a private letter, reinforced and expanded in places to make it intelligible to every reader, and only published now at the pressing request of a number who feel the matter to be one of extreme urgency.
We are encouraged to hope that what we have said will not make us appear dogmatic or unyielding. We extract from a letter made by a valued reader upon seein... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Thursday, June 19, 2014,
#7. “Foundation Day”, 26th May, 1945.
A summary of two addresses given by the Principal.Inspiration, and right-division of the Scriptures.“Something new” will always catch the ear, but a good preacher can invest the most orthodox of subjects with all the interest of the heterodox if he knows his business. This standard we shall most certainly aim at when we have the joy and privilege of training others to take their place among the ranks of those who have been found “apt to teach” ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Thursday, June 19, 2014,
No.12. The Testimony of the Types.Among the fruitful studies of Scripture, the study of the types, with their corresponding antitypes must be given a place in any series that looks at truth in the balance. The word tupos has passed into our language, and means something that is symbolized or figured. The Greek word is derived from tupto “I strike or beat” and tupos means, first “a blow”, as tupis means “a hammer”, then the mark or impression produced by the blow or the impression ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Wednesday, June 18, 2014,
#11. An examination of several books of the New Testament in
which “balance” is an integral factor in true interpretation.We have put a number of the doctrines of Scripture into the scales, and found that truth is whole when truth is balanced, but when truth is not put into the scales it can easily be perverted. The reader of The Berean Expositor cannot read many of its pages without realizing that this element of balance plays an important part in our arrival at the truth of an epistle, a... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Wednesday, June 18, 2014,
#6. The Preservation of the Inspired Documents.In Psalm xii. there are two statements that we must notice about the words of the Lord. The first assures us of their “purity”, the second of their “preservation” (Psa. xii. 6, 7). And so it is that next to the miracle of their production, must stand the marvel of their preservation. When we come to consider that the Bible we read today is substantially the self-same Book that was read nearly two thousand years ago, and when we further ca... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Tuesday, June 17, 2014,
#5. Inspiration and the Holy Ghost.In the Greek, the term “inspiration of God” used by Paul in II Tim. iii. 16 is theopneustos, and it is evident that there is a vital connection between “inspiration” and the Spirit (pneuma). On occasion, therefore, we are prepared to find that a specific statement is made in the Scriptures ascribing the authorship of the Book to the Holy Spirit. Let us note these passages.(1) PSALM XCV. 7.—This passage is quoted in Heb. iii., but instead of settlin... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Tuesday, June 17, 2014,
#10. The Deity and Humanity of the Son of God.If the doctrines of justification, sanctification and salvation can only be seen faithfully and accurately when placed in the balance of the sanctuary, even so does the doctrine of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, demand this even balance. Some of those who maintain the essential Deity of Christ, have gone beyond the words which the Holy Ghost teacheth, and intrude the “sonship” of Christ into that sphere and time, when He is denominated ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Monday, June 16, 2014,
#9. The “presentation” and “inheritance” of Col. i. 22, 28
and Col. i. 12 & iii. 24 compared.We have shown that to attempt to compare the teaching of James, concerning the “perfecting” of the believer, with Paul’s concerning the justification of the ungodly, leads to confusion and false statements. The epistle to the Colossians provides an illustration of trying these “things that differ”, for the false principles that we have seen would rob the reader of the truth of the ep... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Sunday, June 15, 2014,
![]() #4. The Inspired Book.Many and varied definitions of the term “Inspiration”, when used of the Scriptures, have been suggested. The following adapted from that given by Dr. Henderson may be helpful:--“Divine inspiration is an extraordinary and supernatural influence exerted by the Holy Spirit on the minds of the sacred writers, in such words and degrees as to lead to, and secure, in documentary forms, the depositions of such historical, doctrinal and prophetic truth as Infinite wisdom de... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Sunday, June 15, 2014,
#8. By works was faith perfected,
and Gen. xv. “fulfilled” (James ii. 22, 23).We have now seen enough to enable us to set aside the aspersions that have been cast on the teaching of the epistle of James, and can next consider what the epistle actually teaches.As we have already seen, a comparative study of James, Philippians and the Sermon on the Mount brings the word “perfect” into prominence. The Greek word is teleios, cognate with telos, “the end”, and expresses the idea of fini... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Saturday, June 14, 2014,
#7. The scriptural relationship of the epistles of Paul
and the epistle of James considered
in preparation for the study of James ii.,
and its bearing upon justification by faith.When quoting the Apostle in the preceding article, there were almost as many occurrences of the words “justified” or “righteousness” as there were of the word we were examining, namely “works”. Had we attempted any notice of this at the time, it would have confused the issues, but now we turn to the matter o... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Saturday, June 14, 2014,
#3. “God hath spoken” (Heb. i. 1).In an earlier address of the series, the testimony of creation was considered. We found that in Psalm xix. 1 the word “declare” was the same word that gives us the “scribe”, and the “book” (sepher), and that the word “show” is the word that gives us the “interpreter” (Dan. ii. 24). Associated with the heavens, Psalm xix. and Rom. x. use “speech”, “knowledge”, “language” and “voice”. Rom. i. 19, 20; Job xxxvi.-xli. and I... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Friday, June 13, 2014,
#6. The place of “works” before and after salvation.At the close of the preceding article we quoted part of the prayer of Col. i. 10: “Being fruitful in every good work.” Following up this thought of fruit, let us now consider, as a further example of truth in the balance, the way in which the Apostle deals with “works”, setting them aside when considered as factors in our salvation, but praying for their manifestation after salvation, as “fruit” giving evidence of a healthy ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Friday, June 13, 2014,
#2. “A Threefold Cord is not quickly broken” (Eccles. iv. 12).Q uite apart from the question of inspiration, we should expect that men like Peter and Paul, when conscious that their days on earth drew to a close, would not trifle with truth, nor waste precious opportunities, but that they would speak plainly of those things that were of lasting importance. If this be expected of fallible men, how much more of the Son of God Himself? If therefore we find that in the final scenes of their li... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Thursday, June 12, 2014,
#1. “A Pulpit with a Purpose” (Neh. viii. 4).Just as the epistles of Paul written during the period covered by the Acts, and the record of his public ministry which constitutes the bulk of Acts ix. - xxviii., must be taken together and considered as one work, so the written ministry of The Berean Expositor, and the spoken ministry at “The Chapel of the Opened Book” are one. Naturally the two phases of ministry differ in the method adopted to make known the truth, and each appeals to a... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Thursday, June 12, 2014,
#5. Root and Fruit.
“The root of the righteous yieldeth fruit” (Prov. xii. 12).“Doctrine and Practice”, which we considered in the preceding study of this series, are related to one another as “root” is to “fruit”. This is an analogy that all can appreciate, and one that is much used in Scripture. Both in the material and in the spiritual world, the relationship of root to fruit is that of balance and correspondence, and we must consider this in the series before us. The Book o... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Wednesday, June 11, 2014,
#4. The Balance of Doctrine and Practice.In the last two papers we have been exercised with a subject so vast, that, while it may be granted to the earnest believer to obtain some glimpse of the perfection of the great purpose of the ages, in this life no one can ever hope to comprehend a tithe of what the Scriptures actually teach on the subject. Let us now leave this vast and overwhelming aspect of truth and turn to something that is within our grasp. Let us consider the necessary balance t... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Tuesday, June 10, 2014,
#3. The Purpose of the Ages.
The Underlying Correspondence of All Scripture.In our preceding article, we saw that the whole purpose of the ages is set out in the Scriptures as related to a creation that has passed away, a creation that is present, and a creation which is yet to come. The past and the future are, as it were, pivoted upon the present, and it is the purpose of redemption, which covers the whole of the present creation, to rectify the chaos which sin introduced into it, and so bri... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Monday, June 9, 2014,
#2. The Purpose of the Ages.
Peter’s testimony of the three Creations (II Pet. iii. 1-13).In our opening article we introduced the figure of the balances and examined the terms in which this figure is presented to us in the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures. It is our intention in this series to test the doctrine and practice of the Scriptures by this principle of balance, and endeavour to discover how far it underlies the ways and will of God.
Scripture opens with the creation of heaven and earth ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Sunday, June 8, 2014,
#1. A Preliminary Study of
the Figure of the Balances in Scripture.Every reader of the Scriptures is familiar with that dramatic incident recorded by Daniel, where a finger writes upon the plaster of the wall of the King’s palace the words of doom; Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin, which, being interpreted, meant:--“MENE: God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL: Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting. PERES: Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Saturday, June 7, 2014,
by Charles H. Welch#14. Separate Features: His Humanity.“Here we see . . . . . that tender friendship which watches over the health of Timothy, even with a mother’s care, that intense sympathy in the joys and sorrows of his converts, which could say, even to the rebellious Corinthians, ‘Ye are in our hearts to die and live with you’. That longing desire for the intercourse of affection, and that sense of loneliness when it was withheld, which perhaps is the most touching feature of al... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Friday, June 6, 2014,
by Charles H. Welch#13. Separate Features: Freedom from jealousy.“Here we see . . . . . that noble freedom from jealousy with which he speaks of those who, out of rivalry to himself, preach Christ, even of envy and strife, supposing to add affliction to his bonds, What then? Notwithstanding, every way, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice” (Conybeare and Howson). The cause of jealousy is the safeguarding of that which belongs to self. It is with perfect right... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Thursday, June 5, 2014,
by Charles H. Welch#12. Separate Features: Tender Grief.“Here we see . . . . . that grief for the sins of others, which moved him to tears when he spoke of the enemies of the cross of Christ, ‘of whom I tell you even weeping’.” (Conybeare and Howson). The man who could stand as Paul stood before the Council at Jerusalem (Acts xv.; Gal. ii.) must have had the heart of a lion. In the man who could endure for Christ’s sake that list of troubles about which Paul so reluctantly speaks in ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Wednesday, June 4, 2014,
#3. “Peace, and at such a time.”
In the world---tribulation; in Me---peace.In the Book of Ezra there are several letters by various people, and it is in these letters that we meet the somewhat curious expression that we have used in the title of the present article—“at such a time”.“And at such a time” (Ezra iv. 10, 11). “Peace and at such a time” (Ezra iv. 17). “Unto Ezra . . . . . perfect peace, and at such a time” (Ezra vii. 12). The Chaldee participle which is translated... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Wednesday, June 4, 2014,
by Charles H. Welch#11. Separate Features:
Impatience of formalism, joined with forbearance.“Here we see . . . . . that impatience of exclusive formalism with which he overwhelms the Judaizers of Galatia, joined with a forbearance so gentle for the innocent weakness of scrupulous conscience.” (Conybeare and Howson). Impatience usually spells disaster, is a sign of weakness, and is scarcely Christian in its connections. Throughout his epistles the Apostle practices and preaches patience, yet... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Tuesday, June 3, 2014,
by Charles H. Welch#10. Separate Features: Self-denying Love.“Here we see . . . . . that self-denying love which ‘will eat no flesh while the world standeth lest he make his brother to offend’.” (Conybeare and Howson). When, as dispensations change, gifts and graces pass away, Faith, Hope and Love remain. When the ages have reached their goal, faith and hope will find their fullest expression in love, which abides. Love is an all-pervading essence, too great, too manifold, too diverse,... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Tuesday, June 3, 2014,
#2. The enmity that necessitates peace.Wherever there is found the necessity for peace, there must also be some phase of enmity. We have learned something of the basic meaning of “peace” by examining the Hebrew word shalom. Let us now add to our understanding and appreciation of this wonderful legacy, by considering some of the references to enmity that are to be found in Scripture.The Hebrew word for “enemy” is oyeb, which becomes ebah, “enmity”, and gives the name Job, “hated... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Monday, June 2, 2014,
#1. The Meaning of Shalom.The inner portion of the Gospel according to John (chapters xiii. - xviii.) has always been exceedingly precious to all Christians, quite irrespective of their dispensational position. In these chapters we have our Lord’s last words to His disciples before He went forth to betrayal and death; and among them what we may describe as His “legacy of peace”.
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you” (John xiv. 27).
Bloomfield states that both the words us... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Monday, June 2, 2014,
by Charles H. Welch#9. Separate Features: Refined Courtesy.“Here we see . . . . . that refined courtesy which cannot bring itself to blame till it has first praised, and which makes him deem it needful almost to apologize for the freedom of giving advice to those who were not personally known to him.” (Conybeare and Howson). We have all met the man who boasts that he is “John Blunt”, but we have usually found that he has a “sharp” tongue. To “call a spade a spade” might appear ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Marvin Pagkanlungan on Sunday, June 1, 2014,
by Charles H. Welch#8. Separate Features: Fear of evil appearance.“Here we see . . . . . that scrupulous fear of evil appearance which ‘would not eat any man’s bread for nought, but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that he might not be chargeable to any of them’.” (Conybeare and Howson). There were three orders in the Sanhedrin. The Priests, the Elders and the Scribes. Paul was of the tribe of Benjamin, and therefore could not have been a priest, and as he was a young m... Continue reading ...
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About Me
I am a 66-year-old former political activist who became a Christian in 1991. I did not write these articles ( I am not academically qualified to be a writer or bible teacher ), I just gathered them from various sources and re-posted them here "to enlighten all as to what is the stewardship (committed to the Apostle Paul) of the mystery that hath been hidden from the ages in God" - Ephesians 3:9.
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