THINGS MOST SURELY BELIEVED

CHAPTER 1


Introduction


The limits of a pamphlet have never made themselves so manifest as in the present case. It would be no exaggeration to say that we have omitted more than we have included. We ask the charity of every reader to judge us upon what we have written, and to refrain from deducing motives or meanings in connection with what we have omitted.

Certain subjects must, of necessity, take first place -- the claims of the Scriptures, the Person and work of Christ, the special dispensation of the mystery, sin, salvation, and a protest against some popular 'isms'. When these are dealt with very little room is left for other subjects. Should a second pamphlet be found necessary, we may then be able to deal with a wider scope of doctrine than has here been found possible.

A declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us.

The method we have adopted is based on the following plan :

1. To make the declaration in plain terms.

2. To give, without comment, a series of Scripture quotations, that form the ground of such declaration.

3. To give briefly a reason for the hope that is within us, and to open up any important points, difficulties, translations and the like connected therewith.

4. To supplement these notes wherever necessary by references to articles in The Berean Expositor or to our books and pamphlets, where the awakened reader will find fuller exposition of the different themes. We feel quite free to do this as all our publications have been written to help the children of God, and have not been published with a view to financial profit.

We trust the booklet will be of service in answering the recurring questions, 'What are you?' 'Where do you worship?' etc., and pray that under the good hand of God some who read it may be led into fuller light and liberty by the acceptance of the truth and the repudiation of error.

'Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech' (2 Cor. 3:12).

' ... Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear' (1 Peter 3:15).

' ... Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints' (Jude 3).