As I have been doing word study on "Sonship" and "Organic Salvation," the brother with whom the study is being done warned me of adding to the word of God as the word "organic" is found nowhere in the Bible. Besides, he mentioned about "academic rigour" to study and critically analyse facts, theories, and interpretations. This messages from him gave me the opportunity to clarify with the view of studying the word of God sincerely. It was like a shot in my arm. I considered before the Lord in prayer, and as I was led to reply, I felt the anointing of the Lord for the point by point rebuttal of the false alarm of being extra biblical. My response to him is below.
Thank you, brother for your responses again.
I really appreciate your testimonial on critical analysis of facts, theories, and interpretation. Here, in our case, is the study of the word. Let us do this, for all the "common" beliefs and practices of Christianity and find out from the light of the word of God how biblical all theses "common" practices are. For example, "Christmas, Ester Sunday, Good Friday, Denominational Churches with their names and hierarchies, Mother's Day, Father's Day, church election, ...." We will do it case by case, word by word, and find out how biblical they are. But for now, let us dwell on the point in discussion.
May we pray like Paul prayed:
Ephesians 1:17-18
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him, The eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.
Differentiate Between Biblical Text and Explanatory Note
HUIOTHESIA, the Greek word of our study, is the actual text of the Bible where careful "critical analysis" is needed on its translation as "adoption". This affects the understanding of the truth as there are enough Bible verses describing sonship, and not adoption. I have mentioned them in my previous messages. You may critically analyse the use of the word "sonship" and prove it biblically if "adoption" is better, with Bible verses to support the use of the word "adoption."
By the way, let's do this not as debating, but to sincerely study the word of God.
Whereas the word "organic" is NOT a biblical text that is added to the Bible, it is only an explanatory word, perhaps, the appropriate English word to explain the aspect of salvation. Please note, this word "organic" is not added to the Bible, it is only used in our explanation of the process of sonship. Kindly refer to the Bible verses and explanatory notes I wrote in the subject titled "Sonship, An Organic Process." Therefore, there is no addition to the word of God and your quotation of Deuteronomy 4:2 is out of context.
Let's critically analyse the usage of the phrase in this verse, "not add to the word." Here, God is commanding not to add to the commandments He has already given.
Deuteronomy 4:2You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor shall you take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of Jehovah your God, which I am commanding you.
When the children of Israel returned back to Jerusalem from their seventy long years of captivity in Babylon and rebuilded the city, the commandments of God were read to the people.
Nehemiah 8:1And all the people gathered as one man in the open area that was before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded to Israel.
In the reading of the commandments, interpretation and helping the people in understanding the commandments were done.
Nehemiah 8:5And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people); and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Also Jeshua and Bani and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites helped the people understand the law; and the people stood in their place.
Nehemiah 8:8And they read in the book, in the law of God, interpreting and giving the sense, so that they understood the reading.
Ezra, and the group of people mentioned in Nehemiah 8:7, read the commandments, interpreting and giving sense so that they understood the reading. This is not an addition to the word of God, it is an explanation.
Similarly, when the word "organic" is used to describe the aspect of God’s complete salvation, "organic salvation", there is no addition to the word of God. Nowhere in the Bible have we added this word. It is just an explanatory note.
In fact, this is similar to many Bible teachers and preachers preaching at length based on a couple of verses to explain what the Bible verses meant to the congregation. It would not be wise to stop a preacher in the middle of his sermon, "Please do not add to the word of God!" Well, we all know, he is explaining the word of God! You and I also do preached sometimes based on Bible verses, but preached many explanatory words which are not in the Bible. Therefore, there is no addition to the text of the Bible in the use of the word "organic" as in "organic salvation" to describe the life aspect of God's complete salvation.
There is a book that explains with all relevant Bible verses the organic aspect of God’s complete salvation, Secret of God's Organic Salvation "The Spirit Himself with Our Spirit" by Witness Lee
My sincere request, as you mentioned about "academic rigour," please do not comment prematurely before first reading, studying, understanding, and critically analysing the aforementioned book. It is available for online reading at www.ministrybooks.org
Brother M_____, thank you so much for your time. I am glad I have a brother like you with whom I can seriously and critically analyse the word of God. As we do this, let us also pray, pray for one another, and if possible, even pray together.
Please let me know when you are available for direct talk and prayer over the phone. Hope we can meet face to face one day again and fellowship.
Much grace to us all. Thank you, brother.
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