[349 words]
If asked why it took approximately 1,800 years after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the book of Mormon to be revealed the Mormons will respond by say ing that the world was not ready for the truth. But is that true? Was the world living
without the truth, the whole truth of God’s revealed word until the “hidden” books that make up the book of Mormon was revealed in 1827? The answer is a resounding no!
The Bible itself testifies that the entirety of God’s truth for all of mankind was going to be revealed, and that in fact it had been entirely revealed, proclaimed and received before the end of the first century.
And how can we be sure that this happened? Because Jesus told his apostles that “when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth…. ” (John 16:13) and this is why:
• Jude, in the first century, told his readers to contend earnestly for the faith which had been once and for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
• Peter, in the first century, told his readers that God had provided all things that were necessary for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
• James, in the first century, told his readers that they had been born again by the word of truth (James 1:18).
• Paul, in the first century, told his readers that they knew the truth of God’s grace and word through the gospel which had been preached to all under heaven (Colossians 1:5-6, 23-28).
Jesus kept his promise, and the Holy Spirit fulfilled his mission by the end of the first century as the testimony of God’ s true apostles and prophets testify within the Bible’s pages which were recorded and preserved by the providence of God many, centuries before some supposed “angel surrounded by light” ever uttered a word (see Galatians 1:8-9 and 2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
The truth of God is only found in one testament, and it has no need for another testament!
Eugene Adkins
Keltonburg Church of Christ
Smithville, TN