Spiritual Arithmetic

THE basic operations of mathematics are addition, subtraction,

multiplication, and division. We cannot get far in our study of this exact

science without a. good knowledge of these fundamental operations; and no

difference how far we go in the study,we never get away from them. So it is in our study of the word of the Lord.

These principles are fundamental.

Addition

Many have not learned that we dare not add to the word of God. The

Bible closes with this fearful warning: "For I testify unto every man that

heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto

these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.''

(Rev. 22:18.) There are awful plagues written in the book, and these are to be

added to the one that adds to the word of the Lord. May none of us be guilty

of adding to the Bible.

In 2 John 9 we have the same warning in a little different language. Hear

it: ''Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath

not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that

abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." We

must not go beyond what is written. To do so means we do not have God or

the Son.

When we obey the gospel of Christ, the Lord adds us to the church. The

addition takes place in heaven. The Lord adds the saved to the church, and the

saved are the ones that obey. It is impossible to be saved and remain out of the

church. The same thing that saves us makes us members of the church. "And

the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:47.)

In 2 Pet. 1 the Christian is told of seven things that he must add to his

faith. These are: virtue, knowledge, temperance, Patience, godliness, brotherly

kindness, and love. If we do not add these, we will fall; if we add them, we

shall never fall. May the dear Lord help us to be good in addition.

Subtraction

We must not subtract from the word. Listen: "And if any man shall take

away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his

part out of the book of life, and outof the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." (Rev.

22:19.) It will be an awful thing to have our names out of the book of life and

our part out of the holy city. We just cannot afford to have this happen to us.

There are many things we must subtract from our lives. One of these is

wickedness. "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness,

and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your

souls." (James 1:21.) When we lay a thing apart, we are subtracting. And note

that the Lord says "all filthiness." Some are willing to lay apart part, but not

all. "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves

from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of

God." (2 Cor. 7:1.)

We should subtract all malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil

speakings from our lives. There is so much of these in the world. "Malice"

means spite, ill will, grudge, animosity, malignity, rancor, virulence, venom.

How much trouble has been caused in the church because these have not been

subtracted entirely from our lives! "Guile" means crafty cunning, treachery

deceit. What an awful thing it is! "Hypocrisy" is professing something that we

are not. It is acting.

All bitterness should be subtracted. "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and

anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice."

(Eph. 4:31.) We ought to study our subtraction lesson more.

Multiplication

There are many things that should be multiplied. We read this in Jude 2:

"Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied." In these days of war,

what a wonderful thing to think of Christians multiplying peace and love! God

knows they need to be multiplied many times. Even in the church we could

stand a little multiplication of peace and love!

Paul uses this lesson on multiplication in 2 Cor. 9:10: "Now he that

ministereth seed to the sower both minister breadfor your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your

righteousness.'' How thankful we ought to be that when we sow good seed it

is greatly multiplied!

The first congregation of the church in Jerusalem grew rapidly. When it

had several thousand members, we have this significant statement concerning

it: "And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied

in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the

faith." (Acts 6:7.) It is a happy condition when the number of the disciples is

multiplying greatly. It does seem that each faithful member of the church

ought to gam one other soul during a year. That would multiply the number

of the disciples each year. It does seem that each congregation could start at

least one other congregation in the course of the year. That would multiply

the number of congregations each year. It does seem that each faithful

preacher could encourage some young man to take up the work of preaching

in the course of a year. That would be multiplying the number of preachers

each year. Had the church thus multiplied in ages past, what a difference there

would have been in conditions today! I am afraid we are not very good in

multiplication.

Division

It takes real study to know how to properly divide. To properly divide the

word of God takes study. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a

workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

(2 Tim. 2:15.) The answer will be wrong if we do not divide properly.

It takes hard work to keep from dividing the church. "Now I beseech you,

brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same

thing, and that there be no divisions among you but that ye be perfectly joined

together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (1 Cor. 1:10.) There

have been many divisions in the church. These have been brought about by

not speaking the same thing. If we all would speak justwhat the Bible speaks, quit speaking when the Bible quits, and not quit until

it quits, there would be no divisions among us.

There ought to be something done with those who cause divisions and

offenses contrary to the doctrine of Christ. What should be done? "Now I

beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary

to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such

serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly: and by good words and

fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." (Rom. 16:17, 18.) The Lord

says to mark these fellows, and we had better do it. If we do not do just what

the Lord says, the divisions will continue. What do such church dividers care

for the Lord Jesus Christ? They are not serving him, but they are serving

themselves.