Deuteronomy 6:6-9
6 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Message: The Clarity of Scripture
Time: Moses wrote the Book of Deuteronomy. It is a collection of sermons given during the 40-day period prior to Israel’s entering the Promised Land. He restates the Law to a new generation and provides a discourse on how to live a blessed life in the Promised Land. The year was 1406 B.C.
What the Lord is Saying:
As I have looked at and studied the doctrine of revelation, that God has provided to us this special revelation from Him, I have seen that He has spoken and we can take the Words of God as being His authoritative Word to us. It is complete and provides us what we need to live life. As we read these words we meet God. We know Him better and He becomes more real to us. They are spoken to apostles and prophets over many years and yet have a consistent message - redeeming mankind and showing us how much God loves us. God has also revealed himself in a general way through His creation. It testifies of who He is and hopefully causes us to look at ourselves and see that we are not God but that we are sinners in need of a Savior. The Bible is inerrant. It does not return void but has power. It stands above all other words that people claim to be scripture.
So why do we have so many religions? Why so many beliefs? The claim that all of these different ways lead to the same God is wrong and impossible for they all have different messages and requirements. So how do I read these words and make sense of them? Thankfully, as believers we have the Holy Spirit who is there to give us understanding into these truths.
I believe these words are meant to be clear to us. I personally think that what we struggle with is simply reading them and spending time in them. Instead we look for shortcuts or other people to do the work for us and so we then accept their interpretation, if we think it makes sense. But instead there needs to be a clarity of Scripture.
In this passage in Deuteronomy in which Moses is given a sermon to his people, a lesson about the law, he states that These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons. The Word of God is meant to reside on our hearts. It is meant to be memorized and retrieved from our memory. It is to be taught to our children and therefore it can be understood by our children, thus the content is simple and understandable. I hear often of people that have come to trust in Jesus as their Savior at a young age. My wife was 4 when she made this decision. I was 14. It is a message that is simple and can be understood. Ordinary people can have an understanding of these words. God impacts the uneducated, the unlearned. I am reminded that in Moses days people didn't carry around Bibles, but instead Words were memorized and carried through memory.
In addition, these words are not simply read or taught once a week, on a Sunday, in a church, but we are to talk about them throughout the week. It says you shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. Thus, throughout the day they are to be on our lips - wherever we go, with whomever we are with. To further add to this point Moses says You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. These words are not hidden, but in view. Am I proud of the word of God or do I sometimes hide it from view? It needs to be clearly laid out for all to see. It also says You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Again, for all to see.
It is true that some passages are difficult to understand, but overall one should easily be able to understand the basic message of salvation and what it is that pleases the Lord.
Promise: This is not a puzzle or a book of secret codes, but rather a book of clarity that all can understand. The Bible can be understood by anyone who puts in the basic effort to read it in its context. God's message to us is clear.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the Word of God that you have give us and its clear message to me. Thank you that I can understand how much you love us, how much you desire to spend eternity with me, that I am a sinner, in need of your grace and redemption. Lord, I pray that my life testifies of this word. Help me to write it on my life, to speak it throughout the day, to put up signs around my house, to let everyone know that I live by the Word of God. It is power for my life and not something to be hidden, but to be broadcast to everyone. Lord, forgive me for hiding it at times. I want to honor and glorify Your name continually.
Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Psalm 18:30 - Scriptural Inerrancy
Psalm 18:30
As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the Lord is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Message: Scriptural Inerrancy
Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.
What the Lord is Saying:
The Bible is the only source of special revelation that we possess and we believe this God's final revelation to his people occurred by witnesses of Jesus' resurrection and by the end of the 1st century or about 100 AD all of those witnesses had passed away, most of them martyred for their faith. Thus the Bible is authority to us - all of us - all of us believers and this includes our church leaders. Although many church leaders often think that they have a different sort of revelation or even a greater revelation, the reality is that all persons have the same revelation or access to the same revelation.
And everything that the Bible speaks is true. There is no falsehood in the pages. Thus we can affirm the words from Psalm 18:30 which says The Word of the Lord is tried or proven true. John 17:7 also tells us that every word Jesus spoke came from the Father and therefore it is true.
What we know also is the inerrancy of Scripture has to do with the words spoke by God directly to the writers. What we possess today are hand-written copies or manuscripts of those inspired Words. Yet the Bible is preserved better than any other ancient book.
The New Testament has been preserved in more manuscripts than any other ancient work of literature, with over 5,800 complete or fragmented Greek manuscripts catalogued, 10,000 Latin manuscripts and 9,300 manuscripts in various other ancient languages including Syriac, Slavic, Gothic, Ethiopic, Coptic and Armenian.
For the Old Testament there are over 10,000 manuscripts. The most significant of these were the 200 manuscripts found in 1947 known as the Dead Sea Scrolls. There are more than 200 biblical manuscripts among the Dead Sea Scrolls, some of them were written in the Paleo-Hebrew alphabet. They were written before the year 70 AD.
One of my favorite writers is Albert Barnes, an 18th century theologian, states of this verse:
Prayer: O God I thank you for entrusting your word to faithful men and providing us so many manuscripts of your spoken words. You are faithful in providing us what we need. Thank you for the confidence we can have in these words. Continue to dispel the questions people have and draw people to yourself through these words. The j you for making them an anchor in my life.
Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.
As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the Lord is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Message: Scriptural Inerrancy
Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.
What the Lord is Saying:
The Bible is the only source of special revelation that we possess and we believe this God's final revelation to his people occurred by witnesses of Jesus' resurrection and by the end of the 1st century or about 100 AD all of those witnesses had passed away, most of them martyred for their faith. Thus the Bible is authority to us - all of us - all of us believers and this includes our church leaders. Although many church leaders often think that they have a different sort of revelation or even a greater revelation, the reality is that all persons have the same revelation or access to the same revelation.
And everything that the Bible speaks is true. There is no falsehood in the pages. Thus we can affirm the words from Psalm 18:30 which says The Word of the Lord is tried or proven true. John 17:7 also tells us that every word Jesus spoke came from the Father and therefore it is true.
What we know also is the inerrancy of Scripture has to do with the words spoke by God directly to the writers. What we possess today are hand-written copies or manuscripts of those inspired Words. Yet the Bible is preserved better than any other ancient book.
The New Testament has been preserved in more manuscripts than any other ancient work of literature, with over 5,800 complete or fragmented Greek manuscripts catalogued, 10,000 Latin manuscripts and 9,300 manuscripts in various other ancient languages including Syriac, Slavic, Gothic, Ethiopic, Coptic and Armenian.
For the Old Testament there are over 10,000 manuscripts. The most significant of these were the 200 manuscripts found in 1947 known as the Dead Sea Scrolls. There are more than 200 biblical manuscripts among the Dead Sea Scrolls, some of them were written in the Paleo-Hebrew alphabet. They were written before the year 70 AD.
One of my favorite writers is Albert Barnes, an 18th century theologian, states of this verse:
The word of the Lord is tried - Margin, refined. The idea is, that his word had been tested as silver or any other metal is in the fire. The psalmist had confided in him, and had found him faithful to all his promises. Compare the note at Psalm 12:6. In a larger sense, using the phrase the "word of the Lord" as denoting the revelation which God has made to mankind in the volume of revealed truth, it has been abundantly tested or tried, and it still stands. It has been tested by the friends of God, and has been found to be all that it promised to be for support and consolation in trial; it has been tested by the changes which have occurred in the progress of human affairs, and has been found fitted to meet all those changes; it has been tested by the advances which have been made in science, in literature, in civilization, and in the arts, and it has shown itself to be fitted to every stage of advance in society; it has been tested by the efforts which men have made to destroy it, and has survived all those efforts.
It is settled that it will survive all the revolutions of kingdoms and all the changes of dynasties; that it will be able to meet all the attacks which shall be made upon it by its enemies; and that it will be an unfailing source of light and comfort to all future ages. If persecution could crush it, it would have been crushed long ago; if ridicule could drive it from the world, it would have been driven away long ago; if argument, as urged by powerful intellect, and by learning, combined with intense hatred, could destroy it, it would have been destroyed long ago; and if it is not fitted to impart consolation to the afflicted, to wipe away the tears of mourners, and to uphold the soul in death, that would have been demonstrated long ago. In all these methods it has been "tried," and as the result of all, it has been proved as the only certain fact, in regard to a book as connected with the future - that the Bible will go down accredited as a revelation from God to the end of the world.Promise: though we do not have the original written words from the apostles and prophets hat God inspired we can compare all of the manuscripts to determine the original text. Thus, we can fully trust the writings.
Prayer: O God I thank you for entrusting your word to faithful men and providing us so many manuscripts of your spoken words. You are faithful in providing us what we need. Thank you for the confidence we can have in these words. Continue to dispel the questions people have and draw people to yourself through these words. The j you for making them an anchor in my life.
Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Isaiah 55:10-11 - The Power and Infallibility of Scripture
Isaiah 55:10-11
10 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
Message: The Power and Infallibility of Scripture
Time: Isaiah prophesied from 739–681 BC to a nation that had turned a deaf ear to the Lord. He wanted to see the nation of Judah return to serving God with humility and love for their neighbors. But he was called to pronounce judgments to on a people offering meaningless sacrifices in the Temple and committing injustices throughout the nation. It provides the most prophetic picture of Jesus in the entire Old Testament.
What the Lord is Saying:
Scripture is God-breathed meaning that it is inspired by God and this means that He actually spoke through each writer and the words penned in Scripture are considered the words of God. Yet each Word still represents the personality of the author. Scripture speaks to man and provides him with everything that he needs in life. It serves as the foundation for every situation man may find himself in and it equips man for every good work. This Word completes man. Without, we are incomplete.
Scripture has the highest authority in life. I think many understand this and this is why interpreting scripture has become such a big deal and defines many religions today. But the Word of God is consistent. Scripture holds a greater authority than any man-made structure.
In these verses in Isaiah he records that Word will not return void. The Word of God has no chance of failing. It is 100% useful each time. This doesn't mean that every person achieves salvation because many hearts are hardened toward the Word of God and God. But even that hardening is complete. It is true that God loves the world, but the entire world does not accept the things of God. And God makes this clear in His word.
Isaiah 55 is an entire chapter chronicling the promises of God. It provides an invitation to the feast and the promise to Israel and then the preparation of the feast, namely repentance and the encouragement to it because of God's faithful promises. It makes mention that man can come to God and receive what He needs. What He needs most of all is to be restored to God. In verse 3 - Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you. God promises a promise to His people to be their God. He tells us to come to Him and this promise will be realized.
The wicked have the promise that God will restore them. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him. We are all fragile in our sin. We are all ashamed of our mistakes and the results those mistakes have on our lives. We know we are being disobedient. God makes it clear that if we forsake our way and admit our sin then the Lord will return to us and have compassion. When we are sorry, he forgives us. I think this is hard for us to accept many times because we are deep in our own thoughts of who we are and we think who we are is too great of a problem for God. But God then declares - My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways. Again, we are to trust for God's ways are not man's ways.
In all of these truths of God rescuing us, God restoring us, God declaring to us that we are loved and we are His as we come to Him, He makes it known that His word is complete. My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. It will accomplish its purpose. People always want a visual of God, but God has given us a visual in His word. The written word provides us what we need, all that we need. It is complete.
Promise: While the Word of God is spoken to fallible humans it was spoken by an infallible God, so that it does not teach falsehood. It is either all right or all wrong, but there is no middle ground.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for the truth of Your Word and thank you that I can see you in this word. I can know about a person by reading words written by him. I do this throughout my life. I don't need pictures, but the words make a picture. You have given me all that I need, my need is simply to trust in You and trust that You are complete, and God's word is complete. I love discovering the Word because it often surprises me of the clarify of it when I read it. Like on Sunday at church, and studying a simple passage and how it comes alive and we all walk out of the service amazed of the clarity of the Word of God. It is because God we have met You and we have seen you and experienced You and know you better. We have received what we need. We thank you for this and how you speak through fallible men your perfect ways. You are great Lord, great indeed and we praise Your name.
10 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
Message: The Power and Infallibility of Scripture
Time: Isaiah prophesied from 739–681 BC to a nation that had turned a deaf ear to the Lord. He wanted to see the nation of Judah return to serving God with humility and love for their neighbors. But he was called to pronounce judgments to on a people offering meaningless sacrifices in the Temple and committing injustices throughout the nation. It provides the most prophetic picture of Jesus in the entire Old Testament.
What the Lord is Saying:
Scripture is God-breathed meaning that it is inspired by God and this means that He actually spoke through each writer and the words penned in Scripture are considered the words of God. Yet each Word still represents the personality of the author. Scripture speaks to man and provides him with everything that he needs in life. It serves as the foundation for every situation man may find himself in and it equips man for every good work. This Word completes man. Without, we are incomplete.
Scripture has the highest authority in life. I think many understand this and this is why interpreting scripture has become such a big deal and defines many religions today. But the Word of God is consistent. Scripture holds a greater authority than any man-made structure.
In these verses in Isaiah he records that Word will not return void. The Word of God has no chance of failing. It is 100% useful each time. This doesn't mean that every person achieves salvation because many hearts are hardened toward the Word of God and God. But even that hardening is complete. It is true that God loves the world, but the entire world does not accept the things of God. And God makes this clear in His word.
Isaiah 55 is an entire chapter chronicling the promises of God. It provides an invitation to the feast and the promise to Israel and then the preparation of the feast, namely repentance and the encouragement to it because of God's faithful promises. It makes mention that man can come to God and receive what He needs. What He needs most of all is to be restored to God. In verse 3 - Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you. God promises a promise to His people to be their God. He tells us to come to Him and this promise will be realized.
The wicked have the promise that God will restore them. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him. We are all fragile in our sin. We are all ashamed of our mistakes and the results those mistakes have on our lives. We know we are being disobedient. God makes it clear that if we forsake our way and admit our sin then the Lord will return to us and have compassion. When we are sorry, he forgives us. I think this is hard for us to accept many times because we are deep in our own thoughts of who we are and we think who we are is too great of a problem for God. But God then declares - My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways. Again, we are to trust for God's ways are not man's ways.
In all of these truths of God rescuing us, God restoring us, God declaring to us that we are loved and we are His as we come to Him, He makes it known that His word is complete. My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. It will accomplish its purpose. People always want a visual of God, but God has given us a visual in His word. The written word provides us what we need, all that we need. It is complete.
Promise: While the Word of God is spoken to fallible humans it was spoken by an infallible God, so that it does not teach falsehood. It is either all right or all wrong, but there is no middle ground.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for the truth of Your Word and thank you that I can see you in this word. I can know about a person by reading words written by him. I do this throughout my life. I don't need pictures, but the words make a picture. You have given me all that I need, my need is simply to trust in You and trust that You are complete, and God's word is complete. I love discovering the Word because it often surprises me of the clarify of it when I read it. Like on Sunday at church, and studying a simple passage and how it comes alive and we all walk out of the service amazed of the clarity of the Word of God. It is because God we have met You and we have seen you and experienced You and know you better. We have received what we need. We thank you for this and how you speak through fallible men your perfect ways. You are great Lord, great indeed and we praise Your name.
Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.
Monday, January 14, 2019
John 10:35 - Biblical Authority
John 10:35
If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken)
Message: Biblical Authority
Time: While John does not admit to have written this gospel, there is ample evidence from others that he did. It was most likely written in Ephesus around 85-95 AD and is the fourth gospel. John provides a Jesus more clearly as the Son of God. John cites Jesus' seven "I Am" statements, mentions many miracles of Jesus, signifying Him as God's Son. He is the Son of Man and atoned for our sins and the Son of God with eternal implications in rising from the dead.
What the Lord is Saying:
In recent days my study of the doctrine of revelation has not simply centered on the Scripture alone or sola Scriptura, but also on this idea of the final and complete authority of Scripture. The Reformers of 500 years ago came in conflict with the Roman Catholic church because Rome upheld extra-biblical traditions, namely that church tradition and Magisterium or teaching officers of the church also had divine authority. As a reminder, before the printing press, people who attended church did not have their own Bible. Only the wealthy had a Bible, but really only the churches had a Bible and leadership asked them to trust the leaders in the reading and teaching of the Word.
I remember speaking to an older couple about 10 years ago at the mall that were Catholic and voiced that only the priests read the Bible. So this is still the thinking of people today. But, the upheaval that Luther and Calvin brought to the forefront was not only being focused on Scripture alone, but it was calling into question those that heralded over the people.
To say that Scripture is inspired by God or God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16) would mean that it can only have the voice of God and not other human beings. My senses is the Roman Catholic churches and other churches and religions are putting forth the idea that they don't necessarily have the same authority but instead they believe they are the leaders that interpret the words of the Bible correctly. I have heard from Muslims, Mormons, as well as Catholics say that the problem isn't the text, but the interpretation of the text and each of these think their interpretation is the best.
Protestantism has this type of thinking as well as people follow certain Bible teachers and come to think those teachers are chief among biblical interpretation. I've been partial to Tom Nelson of Denton Bible Church, as well as Charles Swindoll. Many others believe in John MacArthur, Billy Graham, Charles Spurgeon, John Piper, Louie Giglio, Andy Stanley and many others. We begin to trust the teaching of these individuals. Clearly, I think it is somewhat normal to value people's interpretation, but I think the danger today is to revert only to these individuals and not to do study yourself.
Then the question is asked, why do we trust who we trust and what is the basis for their interpretation. Obviously, it is easy to see the potential problems with Muslims and Mormons because they have added additional texts to the Bible. While Catholicism and even Jehovah Witnesses have not added texts, but simply state that their way of interpretation is the right one. It causes many to say that they will not ever go to church because people struggle being caught in this type of thinking where they don't know what to decipher as truth.
But the issue here is primarily one of authority in the Bible (the Scripture cannot be broken) being the complete revelation of God. And while we can subscribe to different people's interpretations we must be careful to not be dogmatic in thinking it is only their interpretation that matters. Again, this is still hard because we assemble in churches each Sunday and we look to the leaders of that church to teach us and we listen with the expectation that the way that individual has divided truth and interpreted it is correct and my purpose then is not to call it into question but to focus on applying it. I suppose what I've always heard is to go back and do my own study of the text and see if the Spirit of God speaks to me in the same way.
Promise: Church tradition and the teaching we receive in our local churches are vital for helping us understand the Scriptures. However, all authorities are subject to the Word of God. Therefore let us submit to Scripture and trust in the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for faithful men that have carried truth. But, Lord, help me to depend on you Holy Spirit for my guidance. Thank you God for speaking to me and leading me. Lord, again, I see the tendency that I have to trust in people for it is easy and they are eloquent. But, I can always pray and talk to you. So lead me in this. And bring unity to the people of God. Help us to get along with one another, to have friendly debates but to remain in unity. Lord, we need your help today for we have become more and more a people of opinions and society upholds everyone's opinion at times in a similar light and often I see that traditional beliefs are getting squashed out. Lord, as your agent of truth living in this world help me to know what is truth and then help me to always stand up for it.
Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.
If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken)
Message: Biblical Authority
Time: While John does not admit to have written this gospel, there is ample evidence from others that he did. It was most likely written in Ephesus around 85-95 AD and is the fourth gospel. John provides a Jesus more clearly as the Son of God. John cites Jesus' seven "I Am" statements, mentions many miracles of Jesus, signifying Him as God's Son. He is the Son of Man and atoned for our sins and the Son of God with eternal implications in rising from the dead.
What the Lord is Saying:
In recent days my study of the doctrine of revelation has not simply centered on the Scripture alone or sola Scriptura, but also on this idea of the final and complete authority of Scripture. The Reformers of 500 years ago came in conflict with the Roman Catholic church because Rome upheld extra-biblical traditions, namely that church tradition and Magisterium or teaching officers of the church also had divine authority. As a reminder, before the printing press, people who attended church did not have their own Bible. Only the wealthy had a Bible, but really only the churches had a Bible and leadership asked them to trust the leaders in the reading and teaching of the Word.
I remember speaking to an older couple about 10 years ago at the mall that were Catholic and voiced that only the priests read the Bible. So this is still the thinking of people today. But, the upheaval that Luther and Calvin brought to the forefront was not only being focused on Scripture alone, but it was calling into question those that heralded over the people.
To say that Scripture is inspired by God or God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16) would mean that it can only have the voice of God and not other human beings. My senses is the Roman Catholic churches and other churches and religions are putting forth the idea that they don't necessarily have the same authority but instead they believe they are the leaders that interpret the words of the Bible correctly. I have heard from Muslims, Mormons, as well as Catholics say that the problem isn't the text, but the interpretation of the text and each of these think their interpretation is the best.
Protestantism has this type of thinking as well as people follow certain Bible teachers and come to think those teachers are chief among biblical interpretation. I've been partial to Tom Nelson of Denton Bible Church, as well as Charles Swindoll. Many others believe in John MacArthur, Billy Graham, Charles Spurgeon, John Piper, Louie Giglio, Andy Stanley and many others. We begin to trust the teaching of these individuals. Clearly, I think it is somewhat normal to value people's interpretation, but I think the danger today is to revert only to these individuals and not to do study yourself.
Then the question is asked, why do we trust who we trust and what is the basis for their interpretation. Obviously, it is easy to see the potential problems with Muslims and Mormons because they have added additional texts to the Bible. While Catholicism and even Jehovah Witnesses have not added texts, but simply state that their way of interpretation is the right one. It causes many to say that they will not ever go to church because people struggle being caught in this type of thinking where they don't know what to decipher as truth.
But the issue here is primarily one of authority in the Bible (the Scripture cannot be broken) being the complete revelation of God. And while we can subscribe to different people's interpretations we must be careful to not be dogmatic in thinking it is only their interpretation that matters. Again, this is still hard because we assemble in churches each Sunday and we look to the leaders of that church to teach us and we listen with the expectation that the way that individual has divided truth and interpreted it is correct and my purpose then is not to call it into question but to focus on applying it. I suppose what I've always heard is to go back and do my own study of the text and see if the Spirit of God speaks to me in the same way.
Promise: Church tradition and the teaching we receive in our local churches are vital for helping us understand the Scriptures. However, all authorities are subject to the Word of God. Therefore let us submit to Scripture and trust in the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for faithful men that have carried truth. But, Lord, help me to depend on you Holy Spirit for my guidance. Thank you God for speaking to me and leading me. Lord, again, I see the tendency that I have to trust in people for it is easy and they are eloquent. But, I can always pray and talk to you. So lead me in this. And bring unity to the people of God. Help us to get along with one another, to have friendly debates but to remain in unity. Lord, we need your help today for we have become more and more a people of opinions and society upholds everyone's opinion at times in a similar light and often I see that traditional beliefs are getting squashed out. Lord, as your agent of truth living in this world help me to know what is truth and then help me to always stand up for it.
Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.
Sunday, January 13, 2019
2 Timothy 3:17 - Biblical Sufficiency
2 Timothy 3:17
so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Message: Biblical Sufficiency
Time: Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy 4 years into Timothy's ministry at the church of Ephesus. Paul wrote this letter from a dark and damp Roman prison cell, just before his beheading in AD 67. Paul wrote again to this young leader in the church at Ephesus to provide him encouragement and fortitude in the face of difficulties and trials.
What the Lord is Saying:
Preface - I continue in the study of the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture. God's special revelation to us is through his speaking. He spoke directly in the person of Jesus, God's Son, and He continues to speak through the Word of God - which he inspired or rather breathed into men who would record those words for us to read today. God spoke through these authors and their words still express each of their gifts and personalities and the people that they were but their words of Scripture are God's words. They are infallible and complete. They are God's final revelation. Therefore, there are not new holy scriptures, like the Book of Mormon or the Qu'ran. The Bible is final.
I studied 2 Timothy 3:16 yesterday which speaks of All Scripture is inspired. The Scripture at the time of Paul's writing has different interpretations. It could only mean the writings of the Old Testament prophets. But, up to the Canon in the 5th century it came to be known also as all of the writings which would make up the Canon of Scripture. I'm curios now about a book by FF Bruce called The Canon of Scripture. I also came across a book called An Introduction to the Study of the Gospels by Brooke Foss Westcott from 1881 that looks to chronicle some of these men from the early centuries that helped in their involvement of the Canon of Scripture.
As it stated in 2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. The KJV stayed "profitable for doctrine" which would mean that all the doctrines that we need are found in these texts. It is for reproof which means it convicts and shows us how we cannot save ourselves. It is for correction so it shows us what evil is to be avoided and then also what practice is to be performed; this shows us that our strength lies in the Lord. It is for training in righteousness as the Spirit of God inspired writers to write and readers to read and understand, all for the purpose of the constant training of us, his followers, toward righteous living.
Therefore, so that the man of God, that is every follower or devoted person of God, may be adequate or perfect or stand complete in the will of God. Each follower is to be equipped for every good work. Faith works. Faith is not only recognition, but faith works. Faith leads to a life of service. Paul wants to be clear I think in his writings that we are equipped for every good work and we are created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10). This book may not cover every subject but it provides us everything we need to make every decision. There are principles here that guide and direct our paths and this often includes trusting in God and relying on the Spirit of God to direct our paths.
Promise: Scripture provides us God's will for our lives - completely. It is all we need. It is sufficient to give us what we need to please God doing good works in order to be made complete.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for this Word of Truth and reminding me that it is sufficient. It is everything that I need and this is why I continue to come to it each day to enrich my life and equip me. I never want to grow dull of this study and I trust that you will continue to equip me.
Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.
so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Message: Biblical Sufficiency
Time: Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy 4 years into Timothy's ministry at the church of Ephesus. Paul wrote this letter from a dark and damp Roman prison cell, just before his beheading in AD 67. Paul wrote again to this young leader in the church at Ephesus to provide him encouragement and fortitude in the face of difficulties and trials.
What the Lord is Saying:
Preface - I continue in the study of the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture. God's special revelation to us is through his speaking. He spoke directly in the person of Jesus, God's Son, and He continues to speak through the Word of God - which he inspired or rather breathed into men who would record those words for us to read today. God spoke through these authors and their words still express each of their gifts and personalities and the people that they were but their words of Scripture are God's words. They are infallible and complete. They are God's final revelation. Therefore, there are not new holy scriptures, like the Book of Mormon or the Qu'ran. The Bible is final.
I studied 2 Timothy 3:16 yesterday which speaks of All Scripture is inspired. The Scripture at the time of Paul's writing has different interpretations. It could only mean the writings of the Old Testament prophets. But, up to the Canon in the 5th century it came to be known also as all of the writings which would make up the Canon of Scripture. I'm curios now about a book by FF Bruce called The Canon of Scripture. I also came across a book called An Introduction to the Study of the Gospels by Brooke Foss Westcott from 1881 that looks to chronicle some of these men from the early centuries that helped in their involvement of the Canon of Scripture.
As it stated in 2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. The KJV stayed "profitable for doctrine" which would mean that all the doctrines that we need are found in these texts. It is for reproof which means it convicts and shows us how we cannot save ourselves. It is for correction so it shows us what evil is to be avoided and then also what practice is to be performed; this shows us that our strength lies in the Lord. It is for training in righteousness as the Spirit of God inspired writers to write and readers to read and understand, all for the purpose of the constant training of us, his followers, toward righteous living.
Therefore, so that the man of God, that is every follower or devoted person of God, may be adequate or perfect or stand complete in the will of God. Each follower is to be equipped for every good work. Faith works. Faith is not only recognition, but faith works. Faith leads to a life of service. Paul wants to be clear I think in his writings that we are equipped for every good work and we are created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10). This book may not cover every subject but it provides us everything we need to make every decision. There are principles here that guide and direct our paths and this often includes trusting in God and relying on the Spirit of God to direct our paths.
Promise: Scripture provides us God's will for our lives - completely. It is all we need. It is sufficient to give us what we need to please God doing good works in order to be made complete.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for this Word of Truth and reminding me that it is sufficient. It is everything that I need and this is why I continue to come to it each day to enrich my life and equip me. I never want to grow dull of this study and I trust that you will continue to equip me.
Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.
Saturday, January 12, 2019
2 Timothy 3:16 - God Breathed Scripture
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.
Message: God Breathed Scripture
Time: Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy 4 years into Timothy's ministry at the church of Ephesus. Paul wrote this letter from a dark and damp Roman prison cell, just before his beheading in AD 67. Paul wrote again to this young leader in the church at Ephesus to provide him encouragement and fortitude in the face of difficulties and trials.
What the Lord is Saying:
Preface - The revelation of God comes to us as natural and special revelation. The creation testifies of who God is and the Word of God speaks directly to us about the way of the Lord - salvation. With the death of the apostles God's revelation to man ended. We have all that we need though in the Holy Scriptures.
Paul sets forth that All Scripture is inspired (or breathed out) by God. I prefer the word breathed out because it sounds more complete. The Greek word for breathed out is theoneustos and it is the only time this word is used by the Apostles. Thus, Scripture has a unique of coming forth to man and nothing but Scripture is the Word of God.
Even as God breathed out all of God's word, he did through different writers and each writer, in a way gives a unique personality to the words that he pens. Nevertheless these words of Scripture are as spoken of by God and so we can think of them as God's word.
All scripture -- all Canon - is God's Word, yet at the time of the writing scripture consisted of the words primarily of the Old Testament. The Greek word for All is actually better translated as every. I like every because it seems more specific to each Scripture. The Canon of Scripture did not come together until the 5th century. There were many leaders and theologians from the death of Christ up to the Canon that enumerated the inspiration of the words of Scripture - men like Clement, Bishop of Rome, A.D. 70-96, Polycarp of Smyrna, A.D. 108, Ignatius of Antioch, A.D. 107, Barnabas of Alexandria, probably A.D. 140-160, Justin Martyr, A.D. 140-150, Athenagoras, A.D. 160-180, Irenœus, A.D. 180, Tertullian, A.D. 200, Clement master of the Catechetical School of Alexandria, A.D. 199-200, Hippolytus of Portus, A.D. 218, Origen, A.D. 230.
It is important to remember that all Scripture is breathed and spoken by God. We can never play cafeteria with our Bible, picking things we like and passing on other words. It is an all or nothing approach because once we start picking and choosing, how do we decide what is right.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.
Message: God Breathed Scripture
Time: Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy 4 years into Timothy's ministry at the church of Ephesus. Paul wrote this letter from a dark and damp Roman prison cell, just before his beheading in AD 67. Paul wrote again to this young leader in the church at Ephesus to provide him encouragement and fortitude in the face of difficulties and trials.
What the Lord is Saying:
Preface - The revelation of God comes to us as natural and special revelation. The creation testifies of who God is and the Word of God speaks directly to us about the way of the Lord - salvation. With the death of the apostles God's revelation to man ended. We have all that we need though in the Holy Scriptures.
Paul sets forth that All Scripture is inspired (or breathed out) by God. I prefer the word breathed out because it sounds more complete. The Greek word for breathed out is theoneustos and it is the only time this word is used by the Apostles. Thus, Scripture has a unique of coming forth to man and nothing but Scripture is the Word of God.
Even as God breathed out all of God's word, he did through different writers and each writer, in a way gives a unique personality to the words that he pens. Nevertheless these words of Scripture are as spoken of by God and so we can think of them as God's word.
All scripture -- all Canon - is God's Word, yet at the time of the writing scripture consisted of the words primarily of the Old Testament. The Greek word for All is actually better translated as every. I like every because it seems more specific to each Scripture. The Canon of Scripture did not come together until the 5th century. There were many leaders and theologians from the death of Christ up to the Canon that enumerated the inspiration of the words of Scripture - men like Clement, Bishop of Rome, A.D. 70-96, Polycarp of Smyrna, A.D. 108, Ignatius of Antioch, A.D. 107, Barnabas of Alexandria, probably A.D. 140-160, Justin Martyr, A.D. 140-150, Athenagoras, A.D. 160-180, Irenœus, A.D. 180, Tertullian, A.D. 200, Clement master of the Catechetical School of Alexandria, A.D. 199-200, Hippolytus of Portus, A.D. 218, Origen, A.D. 230.
It is important to remember that all Scripture is breathed and spoken by God. We can never play cafeteria with our Bible, picking things we like and passing on other words. It is an all or nothing approach because once we start picking and choosing, how do we decide what is right.
Promise: We do not know exactly how God moved the human authors of Scripture to give us His Word, but we can still trust it and to know God's will for us, we turn to the Scripture for divine authority and inspiration.
Prayer: God, thank You for speaking to me in the way you have. You are perfect in your presentation and may I remain excited and plugged in to always read and study Your Word. Thank you for the faithful men that have come before me who you always moved in to determine the Canon of Scripture. To think that this occurred 1600 years ago is amazing to me, but it also reminds me Lord that you do not change. You are the same yesterday, today and forever.
Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.
Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.
Friday, January 11, 2019
Hebrews 1:1-4 - God's Final Revelation
Hebrews 1:1-4
1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
Message: God's Final Revelation
Time: Hebrews was written to a group of Christians who had suffered in the past and were now threatened with even more suffering. They'd done well years ago, but the author of Hebrews feared that they might now turn away from Christ to avoid further persecution.The opinions on the author of Hebrews has varied.
What the Lord is Saying:
Preface - In these lessons thus far, the focus has been on the doctrine of authority/scripture alone/revelation. I've looked at the difference between natural revelation and special revelation. Natural revelation is revealed through God's creation. It provides a testimony of God, but is not meant to save us. It hopefully helps lead us into a personal identification of our own sin, but often for the non-Christian, although it is there and God gave it, a person exchanges that revelation for a lie and worships the creation rather than the creator. God has given us special revelation through the prophets and apostles and also through the work of sending God, the Son, to earth to speak to man and provide man a physical representation of God, like himself.
As I study these forms of revelation, it is no mystery that many people still believe God can speak through special revelation today and after the revelation that ended with the Apostles. This study from Tabletalk comes from the Reformers of 500 years ago and they believed in the doctrine of sola Scriptura -- the only source of special revelation for the church today is the Bible. God does speak in many ways, but this passage in Hebrews voices that He has spoken finally and definitively in His Son. God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son. I can see the struggle because once it opens up the idea that God speaks through special revelation today, then who has final authority or which brand is the best. Instead of Christianity, is it Catholicism, Mormonism, Islam, Hinduism, Jehovah's Witness - who is it because all believe in special revelation today.
There is a three-fold designation of special revelation: God's Son (Jesus), other New Testament revelation/Apostles, and the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms - Jesus said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."
Beyond Jesus and his earthly ministry, there are other New Testament writers that speak beyond the Lord's earthly ministry, following His resurrection. These words come though from direct eye-witnesses of the resurrection. And only direct eye-witnesses can confirm other Apostles. Thus, special revelation ended with the death of the Last Apostle in the first century. Acts 1:12-26 records the candidates of Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias to the group of Apostles. The idea presented was a man was to be selected, but he had to be one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us. The lot fell then to Matthias to join the group of Apostles and restore it to 12 after the departure of Judas Iscariot. It is interesting that the Gospel of Matthias is a lost book, so there was a writing by Matthias. So the Apostles were important and significant. Peter quotes from Psalm 109:8 to apply the words there of Let another take his office to support the replacement of Judas Iscariot.
Yet, we have the words of Paul written to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. It is spoken that Paul went to visit Cephas (Peter) and spent time with him - Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days (Galatians 1:18) and then also Paul with Titus is mentioned visiting Barnabas - Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me (Galatians 2:1). Paul had received a revelation from Jesus to visit them. It started with Jesus revealing himself to Paul at his conversion.
The conclusion is that God's final revelation came by way of the Apostles after Jesus was resurrected. In addition Paul testifies of a personal revelation from Jesus. I must admit confused a little by this, not from the sake of questioning anything he said, but because there are others that stated a personal revelation and have been rejected. I believe Paul's authority is not based though on this personal revelation but rather the thought that the eyewitness apostles commissioned him or confirmed him.
Promise: We should be content with what we have as after the dying of eyewitness apostles, the passing on of confirming authority ended.
Prayer: Lord, I do thank you for the study of doctrine. It is helpful for me to understand thinking and conclusions on these subjects that in many ways I have not pondered. Thank you for the work of the Holy Spirit in speaking to me. Help me to filter out my own understanding and trust instead in You Lord only. Give me wisdom in trusting Your word each day and being confident in your truth. Give me wisdom and understanding Lord.
Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.
1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
Message: God's Final Revelation
Time: Hebrews was written to a group of Christians who had suffered in the past and were now threatened with even more suffering. They'd done well years ago, but the author of Hebrews feared that they might now turn away from Christ to avoid further persecution.The opinions on the author of Hebrews has varied.
What the Lord is Saying:
Preface - In these lessons thus far, the focus has been on the doctrine of authority/scripture alone/revelation. I've looked at the difference between natural revelation and special revelation. Natural revelation is revealed through God's creation. It provides a testimony of God, but is not meant to save us. It hopefully helps lead us into a personal identification of our own sin, but often for the non-Christian, although it is there and God gave it, a person exchanges that revelation for a lie and worships the creation rather than the creator. God has given us special revelation through the prophets and apostles and also through the work of sending God, the Son, to earth to speak to man and provide man a physical representation of God, like himself.
As I study these forms of revelation, it is no mystery that many people still believe God can speak through special revelation today and after the revelation that ended with the Apostles. This study from Tabletalk comes from the Reformers of 500 years ago and they believed in the doctrine of sola Scriptura -- the only source of special revelation for the church today is the Bible. God does speak in many ways, but this passage in Hebrews voices that He has spoken finally and definitively in His Son. God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son. I can see the struggle because once it opens up the idea that God speaks through special revelation today, then who has final authority or which brand is the best. Instead of Christianity, is it Catholicism, Mormonism, Islam, Hinduism, Jehovah's Witness - who is it because all believe in special revelation today.
There is a three-fold designation of special revelation: God's Son (Jesus), other New Testament revelation/Apostles, and the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms - Jesus said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."
Beyond Jesus and his earthly ministry, there are other New Testament writers that speak beyond the Lord's earthly ministry, following His resurrection. These words come though from direct eye-witnesses of the resurrection. And only direct eye-witnesses can confirm other Apostles. Thus, special revelation ended with the death of the Last Apostle in the first century. Acts 1:12-26 records the candidates of Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias to the group of Apostles. The idea presented was a man was to be selected, but he had to be one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us. The lot fell then to Matthias to join the group of Apostles and restore it to 12 after the departure of Judas Iscariot. It is interesting that the Gospel of Matthias is a lost book, so there was a writing by Matthias. So the Apostles were important and significant. Peter quotes from Psalm 109:8 to apply the words there of Let another take his office to support the replacement of Judas Iscariot.
Yet, we have the words of Paul written to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. It is spoken that Paul went to visit Cephas (Peter) and spent time with him - Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days (Galatians 1:18) and then also Paul with Titus is mentioned visiting Barnabas - Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me (Galatians 2:1). Paul had received a revelation from Jesus to visit them. It started with Jesus revealing himself to Paul at his conversion.
The conclusion is that God's final revelation came by way of the Apostles after Jesus was resurrected. In addition Paul testifies of a personal revelation from Jesus. I must admit confused a little by this, not from the sake of questioning anything he said, but because there are others that stated a personal revelation and have been rejected. I believe Paul's authority is not based though on this personal revelation but rather the thought that the eyewitness apostles commissioned him or confirmed him.
Promise: We should be content with what we have as after the dying of eyewitness apostles, the passing on of confirming authority ended.
Prayer: Lord, I do thank you for the study of doctrine. It is helpful for me to understand thinking and conclusions on these subjects that in many ways I have not pondered. Thank you for the work of the Holy Spirit in speaking to me. Help me to filter out my own understanding and trust instead in You Lord only. Give me wisdom in trusting Your word each day and being confident in your truth. Give me wisdom and understanding Lord.
Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.
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