1 Cor. 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Are you a Christian ready for the Master to use? Do you allow yourself to be used of Him? So many are aching and in need of a tender touch or kind word in today’s world. This is a two-week devotional originally written 2008 in hopes that a Christian would come across it and find it helpful!
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. John 12:48 (KJV)
What does one do when the Scriptures say something different than what we have been taught? We have been taught all our lives that our church fathers and church traditions are as inspired as God’s words so we must obey what the church says in order to be “saved.”
The Bible, however, says differently. Jesus’ own words in John 12:48 say that God’s word, the Scriptures, will be what shall judge us in the last day. Jesus’ words, recorded in the Bible, will be what is used. Just as the laws of the land judge a criminal, so will the Scriptures judge each one of us.
So put aside religious affiliation for just a moment and read what God says in His word about this topic. We all know that God is not capable of lying, but man is.
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. Romans 3:4 (KJV)
Since God is incapable of lying, it stands to reason that His word contains the truth. We are to obey His word – above any words of man.
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29 (KJV)
If man says, “I have found ancient documentation which says we must follow church traditions” but yet church tradition contradicts God’s word. How is a person suppose to handle this? Will church tradition and church fathers be the ones to judge us come Judgment Day? John 14:28 says that we are going to be judged by God’s word, not man’s words or traditions. Therefore, if tradition contradicts Scripture, it stands to reason we would obey the truth found in Scripture.
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? Gal 3:1 (KJV)
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? Gal 5:7 (KJV)
Paul had the same problem with the Galatians. Those wishing to follow traditions were leading others astray. Paul exhorted them to get back on track and obey the truth of God’s word! It’s important, friend! It will make all the difference in whether you heed what you have been taught all your life or heed God’s word. How important is God’s word?
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. Psalms 138:2 (KJV)
God magnifies His word above His own name! How important is that??? Is it any wonder God’s word is attacked today? It is the word of God that cleanses us – it leads us to salvation in Jesus Christ! (Psalm 119:9) The born-again Christian keeps himself clean by heeding God’s word! We set ourselves apart by heeding God’s word.
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. John 17:17-19 (KJV)
Is it any wonder that the devil would distract mankind with religion? It is not religion that saves. It is Jesus Christ (John 14:6) that saves – it is His word that we must obey – it is according to His word that we will be judged. Wouldn’t you rather obey God rather than man so that you are certain rather than obey traditional religion and not know for certain? (1 John 5:13)
I hope you can see this photo clearly. I took this of the beautiful California Redwoods. Can you see the two vertical trees that have grown from the horizontal branches of this Redwood? Isn’t that magnificent? They are all part of the same tree! I was simply amazed and in awe of the Lord’s handiwork. In all of creation, there is an object lesson. This particular picture brought today’s post to mind.
~1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
~Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
~1 Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
~1 Thessalonians 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
Who does one follow when it comes to the things of God? Does one follow church leaders? Does one follow the Bible? What if the Bible says one thing and the church leaders say another? What does one do?
Some churches say that their church’s traditions and church fathers’ writings are additions to the word of God and more recent. Therefore, they must follow these traditions. Some believe that God’s word is the foundation only and traditions and church fathers’ writings are building blocks which must be obeyed. Hmmmm! That ought to be a red flag! (Proverbs 30:6 and Revelation 22:18)
Paul wrote several times in today’s text that we should follow God – and if we follow a church leader, that church leader must be following God and what His word commands. In other words, we should not be following after a leader who goes against the scriptures. The scriptures are our measuring stick. If our church leaders say one thing and the Bible says another, we are to follow the scriptures. Paul had the opportunity here to tell us to follow leadership even when they are wrong or even when they make up doctrine that goes against Scriptures. However, Paul emphatically stated that we are to follow after leaders who follow after God – and God reveals His will in His word! Many churches are extremely against following the scriptures only. (Jeremiah 23:32, Matthew 22:29, Hebrews 3:10)
Read these verses and ask yourself if the church you attend falls under these guidelines. There are fundamental beliefs in Scriptures that cannot be compromised – salvation is one of them. What does your church leader teach about salvation? Read your Bible – compare the two. If there is any difference, your church leaders are not heeding Paul’s exhortation.
I hope you can see this photo clearly. I took this of the beautiful California Redwoods. Can you see the two vertical trees that have grown from the horizontal branches of this Redwood? Isn’t that magnificent? They are all part of the same tree! I was simply amazed and in awe of the Lord’s handiwork. In all of creation, there is an object lesson. This particular picture brought today’s post to mind.
~1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
~Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
~1 Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
~1 Thessalonians 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
Who does one follow when it comes to the things of God? Does one follow church leaders? Does one follow the Bible? What if the Bible says one thing and the church leaders say another? What does one do?
Paul wrote several times that we should follow God – and if we follow a church leader, that church leader must be following God and what His Word commands. In other words, we should not be following after a leader who goes against the Scriptures. The Scriptures are our measuring stick. If our church leaders say one thing and the Bible says another, we are to follow the Scriptures. Paul had the opportunity here to tell us to follow leadership even when they are wrong or even when they make up doctrine that goes against Scriptures. However, Paul emphatically stated that we are to follow after leaders who follow after God – and God reveals His will in His Word!
Read these verses and ask yourself if the church you attend falls under these guidelines. There are fundamental beliefs in Scriptures that cannot be compromised – salvation is one of them. What does your church leader teach about salvation? Read your Bible – compare the two. If there is any difference, your church leaders are not heeding Paul’s exhortation.
© Kate Plourde 2009
Is your faith based on religious beliefs or on a real relationship with God? Is God just God to you or is He your Heavenly Father – your Abba Daddy? As you read today’s Psalm, does it mean something to you or is it just dry reading? To the true born-again believer, these words are like gold – they are precious and full of meat. The born-again believer reads, studies, gleans and applies God’s Word to his life. Is this true of you, dear catholic?
~Psalm 1:1-6 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (1) But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (2) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (3) The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. (4) Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. (5) For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (6)
Examine your own heart, my friend. Can you sit here truthfully and say that you meditate in God’s Word and you delight in it? Or have you allowed your religious leaders to guide and direct you? How do you know what they teach you is from God’s Word? How can you be certain? Do you double check to make sure?
~Nehemiah 9:34 Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them.
How can one be certain that he is being taught the truth? You can’t just “hope” that you are being taught the truth, my friend. You, alone, will be held responsible for your own spiritual condition.
~Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
What would seem right to a man as it relates to his spiritual condition? I believe that this means that a man’s religion seems right to him but God warns that his religion is the way of death.
What is religion according to God’s Word? The word “religion” is only used five times in the Bible. The number five represents grace in God’s Word. How appropriate it is that God’s grace saves us from religion!
~Acts 26:5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
~Galatians 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
~Galatians 1:14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
~James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
~James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Wow! Even Paul, being in the strictest sect of Judaism (a Pharisee) considered his religion wrong. Surely the Pharisee fulfilled James 1:26-27! However, something was different in this born-again “religion.”
Do you keep yourself unspotted from the world? How can one possibly do this? In the flesh, one cannot. As an unsaved person, one cannot fulfill James 1:27 because he is dependent upon his own works to do so. For example, as a catholic I fulfilled visiting the fatherless and widows but that did not save me. Why not? Because I also did not keep myself unspotted from the world. I did as the world and then went to confession. These were my own works and they did not bring peace. I was depending on myself, not on Christ’s complete work on the cross!
The Word has all that we need to guide and instruct us, my friend.
~Psalm 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
The born-again believer desires God’s Word so that he may learn and grow spiritually. This desire draws him closer to God.
~James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
As a catholic, I was desirous to grow close to God. However, the way that I was taught to do so only drove me further from God. What was I doing wrong? I was not cleansing myself through the Word. I was double minded in my religious beliefs. I believed what the catholic church taught me but I never once opened the Bible to find out whether these teachings were of God. God will teach us. God will “spank” us when we are doing wrong. We do not need the penances of the catholic church.
~Psalm 94:12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
The catholic church has made God’s law void. They want the poor catholic members to rely on the church rather than rely on God’s Word.
~Psalm 119:126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.
The Bible promises that God’s Words will not go out void, however. That is why I have dedicated my life to this blog so I can reach the dear catholic who has depended on his church to save him.
~Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
My friend, God’s Word is never ending. He has not left us to our own devices. He has provided us truth in the Bible. He has provided us instruction in righteousness and truth. Christ, the Word of God, has given Himself for us. He removes all doubt – He removes all debt – He replaces it with eternal life!
~Psalm 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
Turn to the Bible today and read it. Let Christ show you salvation as He intended it to be. God wants to set you apart from the world. He wants you to be different. He wants you to be born-again, not the words spoken when you were baptized as a baby. Born-again is a newness of life – no longer following after the works of darkness. Search the Scriptures whether these things be so, dear catholic!
~John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Where do you stand as it relates to God? As a catholic, can you say that you can read your Bible and walk away with the same spiritual satisfaction as David did? You can, you know. Read these precious verses from Psalm 119. Note David’s heart,
~Psalm 119:162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
~Psalm 119:164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.
~Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
David loved God’s Word like someone who had found a precious treasure! Is God’s Word a treasure to you? Do you treasure God’s Word in the same manner as David? When you open your Bible, do you turn each page believing that what you are about to read is worth more than a treasure? If not, why not?
David praised God seven times a day because God’s judgments are righteous. Everything that God does is holy and righteous. He provided a holy and righteous Son to take on our death penalty, my friend. Jesus Christ is our Saviour – He alone provides complete and total salvation. It is no wonder that David wrote the 165th verse! The person who loves God’s Word to this extreme will have great peace and there will be nothing that will cause them to stumble because they have the Word to guide them.
~Psalm 119:102-105 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. (102) How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (103) Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. (104) NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (105)
So dear catholic, can you say you live by these verses? Do you let God’s Word teach you or man’s words? If you are the same kind of catholic I was, I dare you say you don’t. If you are the same king of catholic I was, you don’t even open your Bible but you depend on your priest to interpret the Scriptures for you. It is not man that will teach you without error but you can totally depend on God to teach you without error! The catholic church has its members convinced that only the priest can accurately interpret the Word of God. But David was not a priest yet he penned these verses. David was not a priest yet he had God’s heart according to Acts 13:22. David was not a priest yet God taught him (~Psalm 119:102), God’s Words were like honey to him (~Psalm 119:103), God’s Words gave David understanding (~Psalm 119:104), and God’s Words gave David clear direction (~Psalm 119:105)!
If you are the typical catholic, as I was, these words are like a foreign language to you. They are foreign because you choose to listen to a priest instead of opening the Bible and reading for yourself. What harm can come to you if you read your Bible? If the catholic church is the same today as it was when I was a member, you are told not to read the Bible yourself because you will misinterpret it. God says differently in Psalms, doesn’t He?
How very sad indeed! Christ desires for us to have this kind of relationship right here – right now – this very moment – on this earth! Won’t you open your Bible and read? The Holy Spirit of God will enlighten you if you do!
Galatians 6:7 warns us, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked.“
I wondered if the phrase be not deceived appeared elsewhere in the Bible. Much to my surprise, I discovered that it appears five times (five is the Bible number representing grace).
God, in His mercy and grace, dictated what He wished us to beware of in His Word. He has not left us to chance – He has not left us to wonder what to do. So what are these five areas of which God wants us to take heed? Let’s take a look:
1. He warns us against deception:
Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; ~Deuteronomy 11:16
We are warned not to be conned into worshipping or serving other gods! God’s Word says that God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5) and does not want any other gods in our lives. There are many gods out there – many that most people don’t even realize are gods. Anything that you worship or put ahead of God is a god in your life. Is it a religious god, like Mary, Muhammad, Joseph Smith? Is it gambling? Is it alcohol? Is it your job? Anything that takes our eyes off the God of Glory and consumes our thoughts is a god in our lives.
2. He warns us of false Christs (anti Christs):
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. ~Luke 21:8
I can hear some saying now that we could never be deceived by false or anti-Christs. But there are some who preach a false gospel – they are just as bad. They preach just enough truth but the rest is deception. Remember, there is no need to warn someone when the false preacher teaches open and blatant heresy. It’s the cunning lies and the cunning deceptions that one must be concerned with. The false teachers will appear to be Christ. Look at Satan – he is called the “Angel of Light.” He will strive to deceive even the elect [For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. ~Matthew 24:24 ]
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is plain and simple: He is the Son of God, He came down to earth in the form of man, born of a virgin, died on the cross to pay our penalty for sin, three days later He arose from the dead, then He ascended into to Heaven and now sits at the right hand of God awaiting His return. Salvation is only through Jesus Christ and no other. We have nothing to do with salvation. It was provided by God through Christ (For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. ~Ephesians 2:8-9). Anything else that is preached is a false gospel.
3. He warns us of who won’t enter the Kingdom of God:
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor ~adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
The Council of Trent, (AD 1545-63) placed “Sacred Tradition” equal to God’s Holy Word. Does this not cause you to wonder why it took 1,500 years for this to become dogma? What did the catholic believe prior to that? They believed that God’s Holy Word was final authority. All these years, the poor catholic has believed that the catholic church has had this “dogma” ever since Christ arose into Heaven. However, far is it from the truth. The catholic church states:
Jesus said,
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. ~ Matthew 15:9
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. ~Mark 7:7
The catholic church admits that it was founded around the year 300. The average catholic doesn’t even know what year it came about. The website catholic.com says the catholic church was established around the year 107 and americancatholictruthsociety.com says around 397. However, historical fact says that for the first four centuries, the catholic church did not exist. The early church age believers did not believe in a purgatory or indulgences, neither did they have a of a pope. They had never heard of transubstantiation or mariology! These dogmas were attached to the true Gospel hundreds of years later by the roman catholic church.
The early church’s Gospel was left to the Apostles by our Lord and was considered complete. The Rock, Jesus, and the foundation of His Gospel were the Gospel His followers preached (see Matthew 24:14, 26:13, and Mark 14:9). The catholic dogmas made by men centuries later were not even a part of the original Gospel of Jesus Christ. The early believers werre confident that when they died they went to be with Christ. So much so, Paul mentioned it twice:
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
~2 Corinthians 5:6
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. ~2 Corinthians 5:8
I doubt very much that if there had been purgatory, Paul would be so willing to be absent from the body if he knew he were going to a place of burning and judgment.
If you are a catholic reading this today, ask yourself why the Scriptures vary from the catholic church’s traditions. If they are suppose to agree together, how come there are so many contradictions between the Bible and the traditions of your church? When there are disagreements between the two, which one is to be obeyed? God or man? Does this not bother you? It should bother you! God wants it to bother you so that you will research it for yourself instead of allowing man and the catholic church to rule your heart. Rather, let God rule your heart and you will never go wrong!
(Psa 119:33) HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. (Psa 119:34) Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. It is the Lord God who provides us with understanding. He is the One who does the teaching through His Word. The Psalmist recognized this and it is no wonder that he was considered the apple of God’s eye! When a person desires to learn God’s Word, you can be certain God will teach him. The Psalmist did not go to a teacher or to the high priest, he spoke to God and asked God to teach him – to show him – to give him understanding. What did the Psalmist want to do with what he learned? The answers are found in the second half of both verses: “and I shall keep it unto the end” and “I shall keep thy law.”
Does this not bless you, Christian? It is God who does the teaching when we seek for wisdom and knowledge through His Word. Jesus Christ’s words pack a wallop when He said, (Joh 14:16) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; First of all, the Spirit will abide with us for ever!! Praise the Lord! We do not have to walk in darkness, not knowing the way that Jesus would have us to go. Christ’s Holy Spirit was left behind for the believer and He has many functions in our lives.
Here are just a few of the roles of the Holy Spirit in our lives:
1. He anoints the soul winner and will teach you what to say when you need to say it:
(Mat 10:20) For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
So why are worried about what to say when you talk to someone about getting saved? The Lord Himself tells us that the Spirit will do the speaking, through you!
(Luk 4:18 ) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
2. He will comfort the believer:
(Joh 14:16) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
The Holy Spirit is here to stay in our lives. He will not leave us or forsake us but is here for ever!
3. He will lead us to truth and will put God’s Word in our hearts:
(Joh 14:17) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
(Joh 16:13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
We learn that the unsaved do not understand the things of God because they do not possess the Holy Spirit – He is not residing in them. They cannot know the truth without Him.
(2 Co 3:16) Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. (2 Co 3:17) Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
When we are born again, the vail is removed from our eyes and we are no longer blinded. We now are free from condemnation and have the beautiful and precious liberty of knowing that we have eternal life in Christ Jesus. I remember when I first got saved and opened the Bible for the first time. I was amazed that I immediately understood God’s Word where just a few weeks before, it was as dry as dirt!
4. He testifies of Jesus:
(Joh 15:26) But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
It is the Holy Spirit of God that reveals the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ. Without accepting this truth, we cannot be saved. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals it and then He comes to dwell within us and continues His role as Teacher and Comforter. Praise the Lord for the Spirit in our lives! We are not left to fight alone!
5. He seals our salvation for eternity:
(Eph 1:13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Eph 1:14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
(Eph 4:30) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Amen and amen! We do not bounce in and out of salvation if we are truly born-again. How can we know if we are? The Word says in 2 Cor. 5:17 that we are a new creature and that old things are passed away and all things are become new! The repenting sinner that comes to Christ will continue in Christ. Just like the Parable of the Sower, the Gospel seed fell into good soil and grew. There is no question as to what the outcome of a growing seedling is. It produces something – it just does not die – it grows. The true born-again Christian grows – maybe slowly but he grows none-the-less. His old lifestyle dissipates and you can tell that he is changing. The one who says he is born again and yet is unrepentant and goes on with his sinful ways is not truly born again.
6. He sanctifies the believer:
(1Co 6:11) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
The Holy Spirit sanctifies the believer – He sets us apart and molds us spiritually so we can represent Christ and we can reflect His image. Because of the Spirit’s sanctification in our lives, we become less like our old nature and more like Christ’s nature. His job is to convict us and discipline us when we stray from the path.
7. He can be grieved:
(Eph 4:30) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Grieving the Holy Spirit is to prevent His direction in our lives. In other words, when you are under conviction and you ignore it, you are grieving the Holy Spirit of God in your life.
8. He will punish those who trod under foot the Son of God:
(Heb 10:29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? Who would call Christ’s blood as unholy and do despite unto the Holy Spirit? Right off the bat, I can think of catholicism. They offer Him in sacrifice every day through the mass – His first and only sacrifice of the cross is not sufficient. Not only catholicism, but all the other cults out there that diminish the work of the blood of the cross!
(Jas 1:5) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. In closing, God’s Word promises us wisdom if we ask God. He has left us with the Holy Spirit, the Teacher, the Comforter and the One who has our salvation sealed unto the day of redemption! Who better to teach us than the One who glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ!
(2 Tim 3:13-17) But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (13) But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (14) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (15) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (16) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (17)
In these five verses, we learn from the Apostle Paul what is going on with God’s Word. Even in his day, Paul sees that the devil is busy working through evil men to corrupt the Word.
What do we learn from these verses? Let’s take a look:
1. There were and will be attempts to corrupt the Scriptures:
Verse 14 starts with the word “But.” But what? Paul tells Timothy to continue in those things which he learned and that is undoubt-able in his mind because Timothy learned them from his mother and grandmother as well as from Paul – from the Word of God. So back to the word “But.” I believe that Paul is telling Timothy that evil men will come along and try to deceive by changing the Word but that Timothy should continue in what he has learned and not believe their lies and deceptions. I believe that these seducers were changing God’s Word (including trying to corrupt the letters Paul, and others, had written) but Timothy had learned them so well in his youth and they were confirmed in Paul through the Word.
Have you ever heard how a bank teller is taught to recognize counterfeit money? It is not by looking at counterfeit bills. It is by actually handling, touching, and looking closely at the real thing that educates the teller. Once they have handled real money, they can more easily spot a counterfeit. It is the same with God’s Word. If you are in the true Word of God, you can spot a phony – you can spot changes and heresies. My friend, how can you believe that God created the universe and is in control of all things yet you cannot believe that He can preserve His Word throughout the ages? You limit God by believing such things.
2. The Scriptures lead to salvation:
Paul goes on to say that these Scriptures were what led Timothy to salvation. It stands to reason the corrupted text from these evil men and seducers would not lead someone to salvation but lead away from salvation. These same evil men were once deceived and now they deceive others – getting worse and worse in their beliefs. In fact, some are down right militant. They are totally convinced now that God’s Word is not in written form today! Again, this limits God’s power and ability, doesn’t it?
The various versions out there take away references to the “blood of Christ,” its saving power, Christ’s deity, etc. All in the name of preserving the originals. How deceived they are! It is through God’s perfect Word that salvation can be found. (Rom 10:16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? (Rom 10:17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. It is the complete Gospel of Jesus Christ that saves – His virgin birth, His sinless life, His death on the cross as atonement for our sins, His resurrection, and He sits at the right hand of the Father awaiting His return to reign.
3. All Scripture is inspired of God:
Verse 15 does not say just the Old Testament but all Scriptures are inspired by God. The Apostle Paul was inspired of God to write much of the New Testament. We owe much of our Christian walk today to what God has communicated to us through Paul’s letters. Because his letters were divinely inspired, they are considered Holy Scriptures just as much as the Old Testament.
The Holy Spirit spoke through men and reminded them of what Christ had taught them. (Joh 16:13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (Joh 16:14) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. and (2Pe 1:19) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (2Pe 1:20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (2Pe 1:21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Therefore, all Scriptures were breathed into men that God had anointed for the sole purpose of preserving His Word.
How can we limit God, then? Is anything too hard for God? The Word responds with a resounding “No”! (Gen 18:14) Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. (Jer 32:17) Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: (Jer 32:27) Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
I love the fact that it is stated three times in the Scriptures that nothing is too hard for the Lord. The number three symbolizes the godhead and completion. Isn’t that something? God is completely capable of preserving His Word, my friend. Why is it that man says God is omnipotent in one breath but in another breath he says that God cannot keep His Word from being corrupted through the ages?
4. Scriptures are profitable for doctrine:
According to Noah Webster, doctrine is defined “to teach.” The Word of God instructs us on who God is and what His will is for us. The Word teaches us that God is eternal and He has provided salvation through Jesus Christ. His Word centers around Christ, His complete work of the cross and His reign to come. It starts in the Garden of Eden and ends with His reign in Revelation 22. Is it any wonder that one of Christ’s names is the Alpha and Omega? The beginning and the end! Amen! His Word is eternal – His Word is from the foundations of the earth! There is no changing it – there is no removing it – every single letter from God’s Word will be fulfilled – it is that important. (Mat 5:17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Mat 5:18 ) For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. If Christ Himself said that every jot and tittle would be fulfilled (every single letter of every single word), then each word is that important!
5. Scriptures are for reproof:
Again, Noah Webster defines reproof as “Blame expressed to the face; censure for a fault; reprehension.” The Word exposes our sin to us and shows us our errors – and teaches us how to change and what to do. We can also use it to exhort others in the faith or to lead the unsaved to a saving knowledge of Christ.
I am currently conversing with a staunch catholic who is totally convinced that we “fundy-mentals” twist the Scriptures to mean what we want it to mean. But to him I respond, (Mat 15:3) But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? The catholic church transgresses God’s commandments (purgatory, mariology, various degrees of sin, pope’s infallibility) by its traditions. Sadly, this dear catholic man will not see the Truth because he has been blinded. He has been deceived by evil men and seducers. They have managed to convince this precious soul that he can do something … anything to help his salvation along – that Christ’s precious blood is not enough to completely wipe his sins away. Instead, he has bought into the seducers lies that there’s more to salvation and they are trying to corrupt the Word of the Living God so this soul cannot find true salvation. But I have news for these evil men – God is able to preserve His Word and salvation can still be found in its blessed pages.
Just an after thought on this – how many “wrong” traditions does it take before one leaves a church that teaches such things? These catholic doctrines are not just how short someone’s hair should be or how long a dress a woman should wear. These are the fundamentals of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Their church traditions and magisterium supersede the Word of God. Where does one turn to for authority when there is conflicting information in the catholic church? Sadly, they do not turn to the Word of God because they believe it has been corrupted by man. Again, sadly they put God in a box saying He is not powerful enough to protect His precious Word throughout the ages.
6. Scriptures are for correction:
Mr. Webster defines correction as “The act of correcting; the act of bringing back, from error or deviation, to a just standard, as to truth, rectitude, justice or propriety; as the correction of opinions or manners.” Therefore, the Scriptures bring the fallen back to the truth (the Just Standard, if you will) – it corrects false ideas, traditions and mistaken views. What better “measuring stick” to use to see if a certain religion is right. Is the religion you hold dear based on the truth or on false ideas or even tradition?
“Oh, but my church only believes a couple of things that can’t be found in the Bible.” How much yeast do you need to make dough rise? It only takes a little but yet you can make an entire loaf of bread rise. The Word says (Gal 5:7) Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? (Gal 5:8 ) This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. (Gal 5:9) A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Paul acknowledges that the Galatians did run well at one point. However, someone/something stopped them from obeying the truth! Paul likened it to yeast – he said that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Therefore, some unsound doctrine (or tradition of man) made its way into the church at Galatia and they were side tracked and it was corrupting the whole lump. To me, that would mean even the pastors were side tracked and teaching wrong doctrine. One must be careful which church one picks. He must be certain that their “just standard” is the Word of God and not “thus saith the councils or priest/minister.”
So I beg you today to dig into the Bible for yourself. Don’t just listen to the preacher – don’t just listen to the minister – don’t just listen to the priest. Pattern yourself after God’s Word – it will make you wise. (2Ti 3:15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
