THE WORD OF GOD
UK
I was speaking with one of my daughters just recently and I got the feeling that many young people today believe that being a nice, kind and good person is the same as being a Christian.  Yes, being a Christian  does  require these   qualities, but that’s not all! Just think of the rich young man in Luke 18, a pretty decent fellow, successful and obeyed the law and he thought that was enough to be a follower of Christ; but it wasn’t, his success had given him wealth that he wasn’t willing to let go of. Like him there are many that have their own ideas and opinions which they won’t let go of. We have to be prepared to relinquish our worldly possessions and opinions before we are accepted into God’s care.
Being a Christian is simply putting our life completely in the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then we will receive freely of the Holy Spirit in thought, word and deed.
Being nice, kind and good are just starters, but we are now talking about being faithful, trusting, forgiving, obedient, respectful, humble and totally committed to Christ. Why, because the Bible tells us so. I mean the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible. In the New Testament, Christ, constantly referred to the Scriptures (Old Testament) in His teachings, also Paul, Peter and John support the writings in the scriptures as the Word of God which must be adhered to.
Let me stress something or dare I say suggest with my own little parable :-
Imagine the building of a magnificent palace; architecturally awe-inspiring, of great beauty and magnificence for all to gaze at and admire.
First the foundations and footings are dug then the basement, storage facilities, cellars and kitchen are prepared followed by installing all the utilities ie, water, gas, electrics, sewerage and drains; so everything is in place to support the main building. Next the construction of the building from the ground upwards, with entrance hall and reception, ballroom, dining room, library, study and family rooms then bedrooms and en suites not forgetting a billiard room in the attic and finally the roof goes on and all is ready for the family to come and claim their wonderful home.
The foundations support the building and together create a magnificent palace. Without one you don’t have the other, together they stand, a palace to behold. So also with the Old Testament (the foundations) and New Testament (the building), they complement each other and are united as the Bible (the palace).
Luke 6:46-49:– And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say ? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: he is like a man that built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that hearest, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Their unity is essential for our understanding of God’s Word.
As a matter of interest over the summer holidays I studied Revelation and was surprised with the amount of references there are within the Old Testament to the ‘end-times’ and the return of Christ to His people. Considering the preparation and foretelling of the future in the New Testament it’s impossible for one to survive without the other, they are the complete package to be read and believed.
Revelation 22: 18-19:- 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: 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 out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Deuteronomy 4:2:- Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
Proverbs 30:5-6:- Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
To put this into practical terms we would not expect a surgeon to perform an operation without the relevant training, knowledge and experience, or, a computer software developer to write an important program for high level scientific research without all the tools of the trade gained over many years of experience. With both these examples full knowledge and understanding of what is required is essential otherwise with a surgeon a patient could die, and with a software developer many years of research could be wasted and be very expensive!
The same with a Christian, full acceptance of God’s Word is imperative if we are to understand the Bible and draw closer to Christ.
We can’t pick ‘n choose or ignore and add, with God’s Word, because the Bible is the final word in all things.
