Seeing that all of human nature has been affected by sin, both a person’s perception of the standard of action required and the function of the conscience itself (as a constituent part of human nature) are also affected by sin. For this reason conscience can never be accorded the position of ultimate judge of one’s behavior. It is possible that the conscience may excuse one for that which God will not excuse, and conversely it is equally possible that conscience may condemn a person for that which God allows. The final judgment therefore belongs only to God (cf. 1 Cor. 4:2-5). Nevertheless, to reject the voice of conscience is to court spiritual disaster (cf. 1 Tim. 1:19). We cannot reject the voice of conscience with impunity, but we can modify the highest standard to which it relates by gaining for ourselves a greater understanding of the truth.
Colin Kruse

Old Testament Study 1

Old Testament Study 1

Old Testament Study – Introduction

. In this study, we will be attempting an in-depth look at the history behind the pages of the Old Testament. It has long been a conviction of mine that the majority of Christians lack a real understanding of the events which surround and shape the story we find there, and my own personal experience shows that even a survey-level knowledge of this historical background can revolutionize one’s understanding of this two-thirds portion of the Word of God. This I will attempt to provide; and following this, I will take a brief look at each of the books of the Old Testament and try to fit them into the historical picture.

. But before beginning the study, I have deemed it necessary to lay a few foundations on which to build. To do this I have made available four files in which I discuss briefly the contents of the Old Testament, something of the land the Israelites occupied and its importance in their history, and a little about about the world view of the Old Testament authors, especially vis-a-vis their understanding of history. In the fourth file I have summarized briefly the history which we will be examining in depth in the coming weeks – or rather, as seems more likely, months. Read it to get some idea of where I’ll be going in this study. And I would strongly urge those who would like to participate in this study to download all four files and look them over first. A brief understanding of the topics they discuss is, I feel, essential to what is to come.

. And please be sure to pray for me, constantly. This is a big undertaking, and I just hope I haven’t gone and bit off more than I can chew. Pray that the Lord will give me the stamina and the time I will need to complete it. Guess that’s it for now. I’ll be back in just a few weeks with the first installment. Until then, God bless one and all.

. Calvin Culver