Below, is a basic script to follow along and
reference.
Why do we have a Bible?
We have a Bible so everyone can know the truth: God’s word
John 17:17 (KJV)
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
It is only through the truth that man will be saved
John 8:32 (KJV)
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
The Bible gives us everything we need
2 Peter 1:3 (KJV)
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that
pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that
hath called us to glory and virtue:
Only the Bible is inspired
2 Tim. 3:16-17 (NIV)
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness, [17] so that the man of
God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Some people want to know how God speaks to us. How has God chosen to
speak to us?
How has God spoken to us in these
last days?
Hebrews 1:1-4 (NIV)
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at
many times and in various ways, [2] but in these last days he has
spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and
through whom he made the universe. [3] The Son is the radiance of
God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining
all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification
for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
[4] So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has
inherited is superior to theirs.
John tells us Jesus is the Word of God.
John 1:1-5 (KJV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All
things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that
was made. [4] In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
[5] And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended
it not.
This is one reason why we have the Bible
Why has God chosen this way to
speak to us?
One reason God has spoken to us through His Son because the failure
of man in his response to the other methods God once used to speak
to the people
The failure of men in the time of the Patriarchs:
From Adam and Eve to the time the Mosiac Law was delivered
God spoke to the heads of the families, but due to man’s
unrighteousness it was necessary for God to cleanse the earth by
destroying the earth with the flood
Genesis 6:5-7 (KJV)
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and
that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually. [6] And it repented the Lord that he had made man on
the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. [7] And the Lord said, I
will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth;
both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the
air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
The time of the Mosaic dispensation
From Sinai to the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two
The word of God was to be taught to the people by the Levites
However when the Levites followed false gods, they led the people
into idolatry
Ezekiel 8:9-18 (NIV)
And he said to me, "Go in and see the wicked and detestable things
they are doing here." [10] So I went in and looked, and I saw
portrayed all over the walls all kinds of crawling things and
detestable animals and all the idols of the house of Israel. [11] In
front of them stood seventy elders of the house of Israel, and
Jaazaniah son of Shaphan was standing among them. Each had a censer
in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising.
[12] He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of
the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of
his own idol? They say, 'The Lord does not see us; the Lord has
forsaken the land.' " [13] Again, he said, "You will see them doing
things that are even more detestable."
[14] Then he brought me to the entrance to the north gate of the
house of the Lord, and I saw women sitting there, mourning for
Tammuz. [15] He said to me, "Do you see this, son of man? You will
see things that are even more detestable than this."
[16] He then brought me into the inner court of the house of the
Lord, and there at the entrance to the temple, between the portico
and the altar, were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward
the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, they were
bowing down to the sun in the east.
[17] He said to me, "Have you seen this, son of man? Is it a trivial
matter for the house of Judah to do the detestable things they are
doing here? Must they also fill the land with violence and
continually provoke me to anger? Look at them putting the branch to
their nose!
[18] Therefore I will deal with them in anger; I will not look on
them with pity or spare them. Although they shout in my ears, I will
not listen to them."
Assyrian captivity in 722 BC
Babylonian Captivity about 150 years later
In the present and last dispensation we have God’s word
What is the church?
The word, “church” comes from the Greek word “ekklesia” which means…
ekklesia, ek-klay-see'-ah; from a compound of Greek 1537 (ek) and a
derivative of Greek 2564 (kaleo); a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a
popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish
synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in
heaven or both) :- assembly, church.
Matthew 16:18 (KJV)
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I
will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it.
The church is the institution God has set up to do his will
What does God want all the people
to do?
Throughout time all God has wanted for man to do is obey his will.
God has always promised and delivered blessings to those who do his
will and has punished those who either ignore him or disobey him.
In the present and last dispensation man must do the will of God
Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV)
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is
in heaven. [22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.
Too many people want to establish their own righteousness apart from
God’s word.
Romans 10:1-3 (ASV)
Brethren, my heart's desire and my supplication to God is for them,
that they may be saved. [2] For I bear them witness that they have a
zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. [3] For being ignorant
of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did
not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
Simple logic and the passage in Romans 10:1-3, tells us we must know
God
Note what Malachi said in the Old Testament concerning people having
a lack of knowledge
The priests had not told the people God’s will. For this the priests
and the people would be punished
Hosea 4:6 (KJV)
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast
rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no
priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will
also forget thy children.
Once a man learns of Jesus, and not just in a passive manner, he
finds the knowledge of Jesus is worth giving up all
Philip. 3:4-11 (KJV)
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man
thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
[5] Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe
of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a
Pharisee; [6] Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the
righteousness which is in the law, blameless. [7] But what things
were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. [8] Yea doubtless,
and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, [9] And
be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the
law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the
righteousness which is of God by faith: [10] That I may know him,
and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his
sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; [11] If by any
means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Note the reaction Paul had to learning about Jesus (that he gave up
all things)
Also note Paul stressed the importance of having a righteousness
founded in Christ.
The Old Testament was written so we have a record of people obeying
God and being given a blessing and that when they disobeyed, they
were punsihed
1 Cor. 10:1-11 (KJV)
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that
all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the
sea; [2] And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the
sea; [3] And did all eat the same spiritual meat; [4] And did all
drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual
Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. [5] But with many
of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the
wilderness. [6] Now these things were our examples, to the intent we
should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. [7] Neither
be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people
sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. [8] Neither let us
commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day
three and twenty thousand. [9] Neither let us tempt Christ, as some
of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. [10] Neither
murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the
destroyer. [11] Now all these things happened unto them for
ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the
ends of the world are come.
The Old Testament is also an account of the fiathful being rewarded
Romans 15:4 (KJV)
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our
learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures
might have hope.
All of this pertains to man doing God’s will. If we know God and
obey God we his blessings
If we fail to learn of God or disobey his will, we will inherit his
punishment
I would exhort you all to read and study your Bible to learn of God
and come to know his will so you can obey his will and inherit
eternal life.
2 Tim. 2:15 (KJV)
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not
to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Understand, those who remain ignorant of God, or those who fail to
do God’s will will be punished in eternal torment
