100 Years Ago–Reprint from October, 1920, Word & Work
The sweetest, most beautiful and most sublime message that man ever received came from Him whose throne is in the heavens and whose footstool is the earth. It is a message of love, warning us of the dangers of evil and pointing out that way of holiness which leads to the home of pure delight. In it are found the attributes of a kind, loving Savior and King, whose love led Him to the supreme sacrifice of self for fallen, rebellious man, and whose thoughts and ways are as far above the thoughts and ways of the worldly-wise, as the heavens are higher than the earth.
Every portion of this wonderful message is of vast importance to the man of God, that he may be sufficiently equipped to combat with the host of wickedness. Who but the unbelieving will say, “Portions of it are non-essential;” “Portions of it must not be taught;” “Portions of it must not be commented upon;” “Portions of it cannot be understood?” Of all the passages that have been thus spoken of by man, our heavenly Father said, “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work” 2 Tim. 16, 17, and again, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things that are written therein; for the time is at hand.” (Rev. 1:3). I think that everyone who considers “every scripture inspired of God” will hesitate to say what portions of the word is not inspired, what should not be taught, what is not profitable, what is not for our reproof, what is not for our correction, what is not for our instruction.
Now, if we heed the solemn charge given to Timothy which was given in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom : “preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.”—I say if we will heed this charge, we will not shun to declare the “whole counsel” of God, whatever is written from Genesis to Revelation.
Such an age as this, controlled very much by self-willed man, is fast developing an apostacy—a departure from the principles set forth in the word of truth, a turning aside from the truth unto fables, a falling away from the faith for which we must contend earnestly, counting it of no profit. Perhaps, not all of it, but some portions. What portions? Just any portion that conflicts with their systems. For a portrait of the spirit of many who claim Christ as their Savior and who claim to be led by the Spirit of God, let us observe the language of a certain denominational preacher, “Even if the Bible does teach that baptism is essential to salvation. I won’t have it.” So long as this is the dominant spirit a man cannot claim the Spirit of God as his guide to eternal life, and he places himself in a position to be disowned as a child of God, which means that all is lost.
Now it behooves us to bear with each other searching the sacred word, to be swift to hear and slow to speak, to present the word in the spirit of love, which is in harmony with the message, to give all diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond o peace, to give up the long cherished customs and teachings that are found out of harmony with the teachings of the Word, that we may render unto Him the honor and the praise and the glory so justly and righteously due His name.
Wilkie J Johnson, better known as W J Johnson lived from 1881-1978-79– At the time of the article he was preaching in the Amite, LA area, a co-worker of A. K. Ramsey, father of Richard Ramsey, from about 1940 0r so he was centered in central Louisiana, near and around Alexandria.