Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Part 1; why we ought to LOVE the LORD.
1 John 4:8 KJV
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
God Loves.
1 John 4:9 KJV
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
God Loved us first.
1 John 4:19 KJV
We love him, because he first loved us.
We know Love because God died for us.
1 John 3:16 KJV
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
We Love Him when we keep His commandments.
1 John 5:3 KJV
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
We Love Him when we Love each other.
1 John 4:8,11 KJV
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. [11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
We know we Love each other when we keep His commandments.
1 John 5:2 KJV
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
5 ways we try to ALTER the word to validate a false belief.
5/5
1. We ADD to the word.
2. We LESSEN the word of God.
3. We TWIST the scriptures to fit us.
4. We EXPLAIN away clear scripture.
5. We REJECT plain truths.
1. We ADD to the word.
We ADD to the word like Satan did with Eve.
Genesis 3:4 KJV
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall NOT surely die: (emphasis mine seb)
In our times people try to ADD that same not to Mark 16:16, but the ADD it in different places.
faith alone.
He that believeth and is (NOT) baptized shall be saved;
Baby baptism
He that believeth (NOT) and is baptized shall be saved;
Universalists
He that believeth (NOT) and is (NOT) baptized shall be saved;
atheists
He that believeth and is baptized shall (NOT) be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Jesus said,
Mark 16:16 KJV
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
2. We LESSEN the word of God.
Revelation 22:19 KJV
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Some say, “this verse only applies to the book of revelation.”
I say, “so you’re saying God is ok if we take away from other parts of the Bible?”
Look at what Jehoiakim did…
Jeremiah 36:23 KJV
And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.
Deuteronomy 4:2 KJV
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
Proverbs 30:5-6 KJV
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. [6] Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
No, we cannot ADD nor LESSEN God’s word. His word…
2 Timothy 3:15-17 KJV
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. [16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
3. We TWIST the scriptures to fit us.
2 Peter 3:16 KJV
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable TWIST, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Psalm 56:5
All day long they twist my words; all their thoughts are on my demise.
Jeremiah 23:36
But refer no more to the burden of the LORD, for each man’s word becomes the burden, so that you pervert the words of the living God, the LORD of Hosts, our God.
For example…
People TWIST what Jesus said about the personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles and make it about themselves.
John 16:13 KJV
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.
This was spoken to the Apostles and does not apply to us in the same way.
We are guided by the holy Spirit in as much as we study and understand the written word.
Ephesians 3:3-4 KJV
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, [4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
John 20:30-31 KJV
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: [31] But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
We need to see what the context is of each passage. Not every passage is about us.
Let’s stop TWISTING the scriptures to fit us.
4. We EXPLAIN away clear scripture.
This one accepts that passages are God’s word, but somehow they don’t mean what they say. It’s a form of denial.
For example, Mark 16:16 KJV
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Folks will use the second half of the verse to EXPLAIN away the first half, or just deny that those verses are even in the Bible.
Some will come up with an unlikely, implausible scenario to EXPLAIN away the command.
For example; “What if you’re on the way to be baptized but die on the way?”
All this shows is a lack of concern for the commandments of the Lord.
Luke 6:46 KJV
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
John 14:15 KJV
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Ps. The pic is just to match the topic and is not a solicitation.
5. We REJECT plain truths.
For example; Naaman was given plain instruction about how to be cured.
2 Kings 5:10-12 KJV
And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
[11] But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
[12] Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
Another example from Jesus:
Mark 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
We do the same thing regarding baptism.
We REJECT it even though it’s clearly taught to be saved by grace through faith.
BAPTISM.
Is a BURIAL Col 2:12.
ADDS us to the church. Acts 2:41,47
PUTS on Christ. Gal 3:27
TAKES away (washes) or sins. Acts 22:16
It is INTO His death. Rom 6:3-4
SAVES us. 1Pet 3:21; Acts 16:31-33
MADE free from sin, and a new creation through Christ. Rom 6:3-4; 2Cor 5:17.
People often reject the Bible because they claim that it has no relevance today. Is that true? Many believers have the same lament.
In the last article I gave 3 of the 5 reasons I believe the Bible is still relevant.
It teaches us through the Biographies of both the good and the bad.
It teaches us through Inspired wisdom.
It teaches us about human Behaviors.
“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. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
(1Cor 10:11-12)
Here are the last 2 of 5 reasons the BIBLE is still relevant to us today.
the BIBLE is relevant today because… It teaches about the origination of LOVE, and it teaches us how to LOVE. (more on this next month)
John 3:16.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1John 3:16.
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1 John 4:7-11.
[7] Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
[8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
[9] In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
[10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
[11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1John 5:3.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
John 14:15.
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
We Read the BIBLE to learn about true LOVE
the BIBLE is relevant today because…It teaches through the EXPERIENCES of others whether good or bad.
We can learn from Cain & Abel (Gen 4), Moses’ mistake at Meribah (Num 20), Solomon’s mistakes in the many women he had (1Kings 11:3). We can learn from Esther’s example of bravery, and her uncle’s example of doing what is right.
“… I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish” (Est 4:16b).
It’s good to learn from our own experience, but it’s so much better to learn from other’s EXPERIENCE, especially their mistakes.
You don’t really want to make tragic mistakes yourselves that can leave permanent scars or worse, cost your life. “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh” (Heb 11:4).
We Read the BIBLE to learn through the EXPERIENCES of others.
The Bible is Relevant for us today as stated in this beautiful summary statement made so many years ago.
“This Book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.
Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.
It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.
Christ is its grand object, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.
Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened in the Judgment, and be remembered forever.
It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.”
This anonymous selection is a great tribute to the scriptures and also to the one who had the insight to write it.
Heb 8:1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
Jesus is Seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. 1.
Jesus is A Minister, A Mediator, of a A Better covenant… 2,6.
“IWill…” Jeremiah 31:31-34; 8-12.
“A New Covenant.” 8:8, 13; Jer 31:31.
How is Jesus BETTER?
The Old Covenant is obsolete, growing old, and ready to vanish away. (now has vanished after the destruction of Jerusalem).
Borger church of Christ @ Franklin & Juniper 