When we go looking for the truth,trying to get to know the Divine Creator, His Plan and the one He send to the earth to bring salvation, we should study the Word which God has given Himself to the world.
Let the example of the noble-minded Bereans be ours. They searched the scriptures daily to see if the things taught by the apostles were worthy of belief; “therefore they believed”. If, then, not even the preaching of an apostle was credited unaccompanied by scriptural investigation, is it not infinitely more incumbent on us that we should bring to a like test the opinions and precepts of the uninspired and fallible professional theologists of our day?
![Otto Günther, Disputatious Theologians [Disputierende Theologen] (1876)](https://messiahforall.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/disputatious-theologians.jpg)
Though such triplex plates are useless and are nothing compared to the concrete piles of the Biblical teachings in the Book of books, a Best-seller of all times. It is wholesome to read regularly and have the words come into your heart as spiritual food, beneficial for your mind and making you to grow in knowledge. Smart people let the knowledge of God come to them in the first place. They do not prefer to say
“it came from the pulpit, therefore I like it”
Everything that they hear coming from the pulpit they want to check with what is written in the Bible.
Let us believe nothing that comes from “the pulpit”, “the altar”, or the press, not demonstrated by the grammatical sense of the scriptures. Let us be contented with nothing less than a “thus it is written”, and a “thus saith the Lord”; for He has laid it down in His law, that no one is worthy of belief who does not speak after His rule. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to THIS WORD, it is because there is no light in them.” If then their light be darkness, how great is that darkness.
Today the world is in a stage of darkness with lots of people who do not want to pay attention to what Jehovah God says. There are not many who are willing to keep the way of Jehovah to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.
Many say
Where is the word of Jehovah? let it come now.
and forget it is there for everybody to read in the language they prefer. The world has seen many Bible translations and in a way in the Western world nobody can have an excuse for not being able to get an eye on it.
The world does not love those who are willing to learn more about God’s Word and about the Messiah. Many may mock those searchers but they should know that Jehovah is stronger than us. Many may also cry that they have cried out, cried violence and spoil; because the word of God was made a reproach unto them, and a derision, daily. Therefore they ask why that Messiah did not come back and ask for let him make speed, and hurry his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know it!
We should know that there shall none of God His Words be prolonged and all the words which God has spoken shall be done. Man is best to prepare himself for the Day of God, because it could well be that such day would be one of darkness, and not light. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying,
Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Peter 3:4
In case they would have studied the Word of God, they would have had more insight. To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; to receive instruction in wise dealing and wise behaviour, in righteousness and justice and equity; we best look into that Book of books provided by the Divine Creator. With awe we best value highly His Words and His advice.
Pro 1:7 NHEBJE The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
Pro 4:7-9 NHEBJE Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding. (8) Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her. (9) She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
Pro 21:30 NHEBJE There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Jehovah.
Pro 19:21 NHEBJE There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Jehovah’s counsel will prevail.
God shall know when we seriously want to look for truth and want to come to know Him. He shall listen to our call and see what is in our heart. Light and understanding shall come to those who seriously read and study the bible.
The scriptures can do everything for us in relation to the light. This is known, felt, and keenly appreciated by all interested in the support of error. Hence, in the days of Diocletian, one of the pagan predecessors of Constantine, a decree was issued commanding the surrender of all copies of the Holy Scriptures: for it was found that so long as they obtained circulation the Christian doctrine could never be suppressed. The Popes, as deadly, and more insidious, enemies of the truth than the pagan Roman emperors, followed the example of Diocletian. The Bible and popery are as mutually hostile as the light of the sun and the thick darkness of Egypt that might be felt. But it is not paganism and popery alone that are practically hostile to a free and untrammelled investigation of the word of God.
The Protestant world, while it deludes itself with the conceit that “the Bible, the Bible alone, is the religion of Protestants”—while it spends its thousands for its circulation among the nations in their native tongues—is itself hostile to the belief and practice of what it proclaims. The “Bible alone” is not its religion; for if it were, why encumber its professors with the “Common Prayer”, Thirty-nine Articles, and all the other “notions” of a similar kind? To believe and practise the Bible alone would be a sufficient ground of exclusion from all “orthodox churches”. When Chillingworth uttered the sentiment, there was more truth in it than at this day; but now it is as far from the fact as that Protestantism is the religion of Christ.Thomas, D. J. (1990). Elpis Israel: an exposition of the Kingdom of God (electronic ed., p. 6). Birmingham, UK: The Christadelphian.
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Preceding articles:
Necessity of a revelation of creation 6 Getting understanding by Word of God 4
Necessity of a revelation of creation 7 Getting understanding by Word of God 5
Necessity of a revelation of creation 8 By no means unintelligible or mysterious to people
To be continued:
Necessity of a revelation of creation 10 Instructions for insight and wisdom
Necessity of a revelation of creation 11 Believing and obeying the gospel of the Kingdom of God
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Additional reading:
- People Seeking for God 3 Laws and directions
- Looking for wisdom not departing from God’s Word
- No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation
- You shall howl in your latter end
- All things written aforetime for our instruction
- God’s forgotten Word 5 Lost Lawbook 4 The ‘Catholic’ church
- Challenging claim 4 Inspired by God 3 Self-consistent Word of God
- Creator and Blogger God 10 A Blog of a Book 4 Listening to the Blogger
- Eternal Word that tells everything
- Words to inspire and to give wisdom
- Bible in the first place #3/3
- Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #5 To meditate and Transform
- Colour-blindness and road code
- Hearing words to accept
- Missional hermeneutics 5/5
- Fools despise wisdom and instruction
- Determined To Stick With Truth
- Pulpit reserved for the pastor
- I Only hope we find GOD again before it is too late !
- Wisdom not hard to find nor hiding in remote places
- Wisdom lies deep
- Increased in wisdom in favour with God
- Happy who’s delight is only in the law of Jehovah
- Materialism, would be life, and aspirations
- A Bible Falling Apart Belongs to Someone who isn’t
- Book of Common Prayer short form BCP: The book used for public worship by Anglican Christians for over 400 years, and regarded as authoritative for doctrine.
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Related articles
- A Dialogue with Derek Flood: Is the Bible Infallible? (reknew.org)
I noted in my review of Disarming Scripture, the primary reason I feel compelled to affirm biblical infallibility is because I’m convinced this was the view of Jesus, and I have good reason to believe he is the Son of God. Yes, Jesus placed his authority over Scripture and thus declared some Scripture to be rendered obsolete with his coming (e.g. Mt 5:38-9, 43-5). And yes, Jesus rejected the legalistic and harmful way some of his contemporaries interpreted and applied Scripture. But while Derek often says Jesus and/or Paul rejected harmful interpretations of Scripture, he also often claims that Jesus and/or Paul rejected passages of Scripture that they deemed harmful (e.g. 42-4, 69) and that we should do the same.[2] I grant the former, but cannot grant the latter. - Do you search the scriptures? (disciplesofhope.wordpress.com)
Some people say they want to get ‘closer’ to God and to achieve this they subject themselves to extreme levels of fasting, self-flagellation and other penances but they still feel they are lacking in something. - “Heart knowledge” of Scripture’s Self-Attesting Evidences Persuades of Its Divine Inspiration and Authority (capthk.com)
this word brings along with it such light, such authority, and such sanctifying and comforting power, that there is no shutting our eyes nor hardening our hearts against it; no possibility of continuing stupid and concerned under it: but the whole faculties of our soul are necessarily affected with it, as indeed marked with divine evidence, and attended with almighty power - How to Read the Bible and Love It (aprilyamasaki.com)
How could I keep reading and rereading the Bible even when I didn’t feel like it? How could I keep reading and rereading the Bible, and love it?
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Make your Bible reading active. Underline or highlight key words. Keep a journal to record your own thoughts, feelings, questions, and prayers. If you’re reading a psalm, write your own poem in the form of a psalm. If you’re reading a Gospel story, draw a picture. If you’re musical, write a song based on your Scripture reading. - Idols (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge (psalmsunday.blogspot.com)
Have we made ourselves stronger by taking the law out of God’s hands and placing it into the hands of men and government bodies? Instead we may be weakening our position as a nation of strength and opening ourselves up to Godless chaos.
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Already we have become overly focused on money and material possessions. We often revere celebrities, politicians, and leaders to a point of near idolization. In modern culture we admire those whom we consider to be idols and may even long to become idols ourselves. Even the heads of the religious bodies are placed on thrones that at times seem to put them on an equal footing with God. Instead of actually placing our trust in the Supreme Creator we have relegated the concept to slogans like “In God We Trust” while debating whether it is time to eliminate those slogans in fairness to others. - Conversation with God (societyinchrist.com)
For the Lord speaks, I must obey. The Lord speaks I must listen. As the Lord Speaks I desire only to do as the Lord directs. I must no do as the world shows. - Two excellent Notre Dame profs are teaching a free online course this summer….. (edx.org)
The Bible says that Jesus was identified as God’s beloved son at his baptism. The same identification was made about Israel in the Old Testament and the disciples of Christ at their baptism. - Jesus Went to Hell: The Christian History Churches Would Rather Not Acknowledge (gunnygbb2.wordpress.com)
This is one phrase that Christians, whether mainline or evangelical, Catholic or Protestant, will likely not hear from the pulpit this week. And yet the story of Christ’s descent to the underworld has deep roots in tradition. - Romans 15:5-6 – May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind (church4u2.wordpress.com)
remember that God wants to give us a spirit of unity, that is, a sensitivity to our brothers and sisters that will cause us to encourage them and call them to stay faithful to the call of God on their lives - April 8 – sinful (cohdailyprayer2014.wordpress.com)
The biggest secret a lot of Jesus followers have is not that they are looking at porn or secretly hate their mother or they never give any offering — it is that they are having a terrible time being saved. They mock the work of Jesus because they will not be forgiven, not really. - Second Sunday of Easter (emmanuelchatham.typepad.com)
Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith - The Expansion of Christendom: Crusading in Northern Europe, 1147 – 1415 (medievalists.net)
On the sixth day, the Germans asked: ‘Do you still resist and refuse to acknowledge our creator?’To this they replied: ‘We acknowledge your God to be greater than our gods. By overcoming us, He has inclined our hearts to worship Him. We beg, therefore, that you spare us and mercifully impose the yoke of Christianity upon us.’ ~ The Estonians, Siege of Fellin, 1210 - In with the New (joyfullnuggets.wordpress.com)
Change is coming into the hearts of God’s people. Some of these changes are intense and will lead us into paths we never thought possible. Others are smaller, but they will still produce some type of change in our lives.
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Your Promise Land is just ahead. It might be something major or a dying to self, but the outcome will spring forth. He has promised it and He always keeps His promises. Yep, change is on the way. Get ready for it. - Psalm 89 (embodiedtorah.wordpress.com)
- 4/23 (bernicium.wordpress.com)
- Another word not to use carelessly (blcasey.wordpress.com)
We learn from ancient history — from Moses, Uzzah, and others — that God is not to be treated carelessly. Most of my readers would affirm this idea today, and it surely seems unlikely that God in more contemporary times would suddenly come to appreciate flippancy.
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One could needlessly argue about the supposed list of “names” for God, i.e., whether we need to treat the word “
God” as carefully as the word “Elohim” or “Yahweh” (or “Jireh” or “Nissi,” for that matter — and these are less “names” than descriptions). One could further argue about euphemisms such as “gee” and “gosh.” We can all grow in terms of treating God both intentionally and reverently. The primary point to be made is that God deserves all the reverence we can summon, and more. - I’m So Grateful To Be Living My Life In This Place (brandinicolejm.wordpress.com)
Here is described in what assurance he liveth, that putteth his whole trust in God, and commiteth himself wholly to his protection in all temptations. A promise of God to those that love him, know him, and trust in him to deliver them, and give them immortal glory. - For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. (1956msbess.wordpress.com)
To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn. - Sermon: God Works through Man, Second Samuel 5 – 6 (grantspasschurchofchrist.com)
How can I know that God is guiding me in a certain direction?
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God Works through Man
Messiah For All 