Solomon said, "Let us heart the conclusion of the whole matter." Would we follow the wise man's advice?
There is a maze of writings, ideas, opinions and philosophies today as it was in Solomon's day. There is always a great search for knowledge and yet God Says that men are "ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." In their search for knowledge most never arrive at any conclusion. They never find and finally end up denying that ther is any "absolute truth." Like Pilate, they are left saying, "What is truth?" They drift endlessly into eternity to meet the judgement of God still a searcher." "Let us," as Solomon says, "hear the conclusion of the whole matter."
Only from the Word of the God of Truth can we hear and learn such.
The first conclusion God declares in the scripture is found where Solomon spoke these other words and it concerns the whole of man (Ecc. 12:13). "Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." This, God says, is the whole" of man! All else is vanity. This is all there is to man the Hebrew declares. This makes a man whole, perfect and wanting nothing. This is the whole of his fulfillment, his joy, his concern, his comfort, his business, his blessing, his purpose!
"Thou are worthy, O lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou has created all things, and for thy pleasure thy are and were created." (Rev. 4:11) Augustine said in reference to this matter: "Thou hast made us for thyself and our heart is restless till it rests in thee." We are created to worship, glorify and enjoy God.
The second conclusion has to do with the state or man. In Galations 3:22 paul wrties, "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to they that believe." All have sinned and come short of the glory of God because all are sinners. They did not become sinners when they sinned, but they sinned because they are by sinners. All by natural birth are "under sin." They are under the condemnation of sin because they have not believed on God's Son (John 3:19, 36). They are under the guilt of sin. "Now we know tht what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God" (Rom. 3:19). All are under the bondage of sin because Christ said "whosoever commiteth sin is the servant of sin" (John 8:34). All are under the blindness of sin and the gospel is hid to them that are lost (II Cor. 4:3). God's conclusion: "all under sin."
The third conclusion God sets forth has to do with the hope of man. The apostle states in Romans 3:28, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." Man has no hope in himself! If he is to have hope it must come from an outside source. He must be just as if he'd never sinned before a Just and Holy God. This justification is not to be had by his deeds! Man's hope lies in the gospel that reveals to us that God justifies those who believe in Christ. It is by God's grace, through Christ's deeds in His life and deathon our behalf. It is Christ Who is our Hope!
The final conclusion to be noticed is found in Acts. 21:25 and it concerns the liberty of the man in Christ. The apostle in speaking of Gentiles and their relationship to the rituals, ceremonies, sacrifices and sabbath days of the law says, "we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing." "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed; (John 8:36). "The truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). Free from condemnation, guilt, bondage, law, tradition and the burdens of men, especially religious men! (Gal. 5:1, Col. 2:8-17).
These are great conclusions because they are the conclusions of the great God! Conclusions brought home to the heart and mind in which the Holy Spirit has wrought a work. Have you been brought home to the heart and mind in which the Holy Spirit has wrought a work. Have you been brought to these conclusions by the God of Truth? This is the Whole of Man, the State of Man, the Hope of Man and the Liberty of the Man in Christ. These are the great condlusions of the Great God of Glory.