The Numerical Principle

The Number One in Scripture
Someone has truly said, “Strengthening to the believer’s heart is the subject of Spiritual arithmetic, as revealed in God’s Word.” Such a subject that One Supreme Mind must have been the author of all the books of the Bible.
The number ONE is a primary number. All other numbers depend upon ONE. It precedes and produces all other numbers; that is, every digit is dependent upon number ONE.
This is God’s number; without Him nothing could exist. “In the beginning, God ..No creator—no creation. No designer—no design. Without a former, there can be no formation. No Saviour can mean only one thing-—no salvation.
There cannot be two firsts. The number two confirms that there is a difference. We are admonished to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Our own will excludes God’s will. Many Christians have heard the still, small voice whisper, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” But because the way of self is accepted, God’s way is rejected. His way promises comfort. Man’s way produces confusion. He is the One in Whom all blessing flow.
The first number EXCLUDES all other numbers. In this, we make a distinction as far as God is concerned.
He did not have to create a world; He was not compelled to form the first man; He could have excluded the human race. But His condescending grace was brought down to sinful man through His Son, Jesus Christ.
God formed Adam for the purpose of fellowship. That fellowship was broken because Eve listened to Satan
and added, omitted, and altered the Word of God. In Genesis 3 we find that she added “neither shall ye touch it”; she omitted the word “freely”; she altered “thou shalt surely die.” She knew God’s will, but heeded Satan’s will.
God could have exterminated Adam and Eve because of His displeasure at sin, but He came down to them in the
garden to clothe them in animal skins. They recognized their sinful deed, became conscious of their sin, and made themselves aprons of fig leaves. But there is no blood in a fig leaf. There must be a life sacrificed. This prompted
the slaying of animals in order that they might be clothed in coats of skins. This is the first mention of a life for
a life to atone for sin, and points forward to Calvary where the Lamb of God, through His shed blood, expiates sin. He gave His life a ransom for us. He came to this earth with a nature capable of death, to die for the sinner. He became partaker of our nature, that we might become partakers of His nature. He became friendless that we might have a friend. Because God did not desire to see us excluded. He gave His Son to die that all who might believe in His finished work, might be included. The sinner who stands at the Great White Throne Judgment will be forced to utter, “God excluded me because I did not acknowledge the finished work of His Son for me.”
The number ONE stands alone, independent of all others. God is independent; we are dependent. If we come to the realization that Jesus Christ was clothed in His earthly nature and needed to pray to His Father, then it will not be difficult to impress the state of our dependence upon Him. How often we limit His power by turning to man to lift burdens and share financial difficulties. How often He must be grieved to witness our independence of Him. God is ONE Who has a solution for every sorrow. When shall we learn to get back to the kindergarten of faith and once again study the BOOK, the ONLY BOOK, the ONE BOOK which dissolves doubts and promises a performance of the supernatural?
Number TWO affirms a difference. And because all men have not believed in number ONE, the human race is divided into two classes— those in Christ and those outside of Christ. Number two proves that there is a distinction between those in the first Adam and those in the last Adam. Number two explains why God had to call in the Garden of Eden. “Adam, where art thou?” Sin produced conviction and prompted Adam to hide from God. Because of the totality and universality of sins today, the same question rings out from Heaven into your very presence, “Where art thou?” As to where you are, there are two possibilities, but there can be only one answer—in Adam or in Christ; you are either saved or unsaved. That’s why we reed in the Word of Sod, aThe wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). “He that hath the Son hath life, BUT he that hath not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). “For God so loved the world (sinners) that He gave His only begotten Son (salvation) that whosoever (sinners) believeth in Him should not perish BUT have everlasting life” (salvation) (John 3:16).
If you have thwarted every opportunity to hear the simplicity of the Gospel message and the truth that Jesus Christ died and arose from the dead for your sins, then abolish such rejection and in humility ask, with the Philippian jailer, the question pointed to Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” You will receive the only answer that has come down through the ages, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).