NO WORD, NO LIFE!
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” (Proverbs 29:18)
Proverbs 29:18 is a commonly misinterpreted verse. Some would use this verse to espouse the importance of vision to an organisation, be it a company, school or church. However, the “vision” in the first half of the verse should be seen in parallel to the term “law” in the second half of the verse. The “vision” therefore refers to God’s prophetic revelation to the people in Biblical times.
Today, God’s law and prophetic revelation is found in the Holy Bible, which is God’s Perfect Word. Without the Word of God, there would be no salvation for man from his sin. Therefore, the people will perish. On the other hand, if the people receive and believe the Scriptures, they would find great blessing in His Truth. They would be most happy to obey God’s law because they find their sufficiency and abundant joy in their blessed relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Before the 16th Century Reformation, the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) attempted to hide the Bible from the people in order to cover up the atrocities of the priesthood and the clergy. The Scriptures were originally writ-ten in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic, which the people could not under-stand. However, the RCC forbade the translation of God’s Word into the vernacular. As a result, they could not read God’s Word. Those days were rightly called the Dark Ages for the people perished spiritually for the lack of the light of God’s Truth.
However, men of faith rose up during the Reformation such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, William Tyndale and John Hus, who con-tended for the Holy Scriptures. They had a set of principles, each representing a key belief of the Christian faith in contradiction to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church:
Sola Scriptura – by Scripture alone
Sola Gratia – by grace alone
Sola Fide – by faith alone
Solo Christo – through Christ alone
Soli Deo Gloria – glory to God alone.
The Bible was translated and distributed among the masses. The Scriptures opened the eyes of many men, and brought great blessing to the people. Indeed, “he that keepeth the law, happy is he”!
Today, God’s Word is still under attack just like in the days of old, for the devil is like a roaring lion who walks about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8). There are many who proclaim that some words are lost from the Holy Scripture and thus we do not have the Perfect Word of God today.
What does God’s Word say? Matthew 5:18 proclaims that till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from God’s law till all be fulfilled. Matthew 24:35 also declares, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” We have God’s Perfect Word in our hands today!
The Reformers earnestly contended for the faith in the 16th Century. They championed a Bible that is forever inerrant and infallible. Christians can say confidently that the Bible is our sole supreme authority of faith and practice.
We need a 21st Century Reformation today, for the battle is not done. We need to uphold the truth, for without God’s Word, the people will perish. Will the professed sons of the Reformation defend the faith?
Lovingly in Christ,
Preacher Clement Chew
