“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  (John 14:6)

Since Jesus is the only way to the Father, it stands to reason that we ought to know what He has said on the matter.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matt 28:18).

Since Jesus has all power (authority), it stands to reason that we ought to know what He has commanded.

“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt 7:23).

Since Jesus will reject those that practice iniquity (lawlessness), it stands to reason that we ought to know what He considers lawful.

We’ll only know these things when we READ His word.

The things we’ve seen so far about how to READ the bible are, 1) Rightly dividing the word, which means to handle it accurately. 2) Examine the bible carefully; Examine ourselves by it, and Examine the teaching of others with it. In this article we’ll notice that the bible contains the Commands of the Lord.

One of the ice-breakers I use to talk with others about the bible is this question; “How do we know what God wants?” Over and over again people answer by saying, “you have to be quiet and listen,” “pray and ask,” “If God opens a way for something or closes a door at something, that’s how you’ll know.” After listing several of these, they may sometimes say, “oh, and the Bible.”

Ask any Christian this question and they will immediately say, “The Bible, specifically the New Testament.” Christians know and understand that “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (1Pet 1:21b). Holy Spirit inspiration of God’s will was revealed to holy men, who then revealed it orally at the beginning, and then written for perpetuity. (1Cor 2:9-13; Joh 20:30-31; Eph 3:3-4; 2Tim 3:15-17). The New Testament is the will of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Here are 3 things to consider about the New Testament.

First, the New Testament writings ARE THE COMMANDMENTS of the Lord. “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you ARE THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD [emphasis added]” (1Cor 14:37). After you read this, note what Jesus said during His time on earth.

“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). These two verses together are very impactful, but consider what will happen on the last day. “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Rev 20:12).

What Books you ask? It’s clear that one of the books will be the words of Christ. Then, on that day, Jesus will say to some, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say” (Luke 6:46)? To those who have read His word, and done His will (Matt 7:24) shall hear these words, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt 25:34). The New Testament is the will of our Lord.

Second, before we can do His will, we must LOOK into His Law. James wrote, “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:25). He then wrote in chapter two, “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty” (2:12). James repeats what we’ve just learned, we shall be judged by the words, law of Christ. If we don’t know His will, we ought to LOOK into it.

Think about what King Josiah learned upon reading the will of God for His time. “And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king’s, saying, Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us” (2Kings 22:11-13). The New Testament is the will of our Lord.

Lastly, we need to LET His word dwell in our hearts. This speaks to reading, and learning. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” Colossians 3:16a). Note again what James wrote, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetfulhearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:22-25) [emphasis added]. We need to read, understand, and apply it.

Peter, in his second letter to the Saints, repeatedly said that he wrote to “REMIND” them. To “put you always in remembrance of” (1:12), “putting you in remembrance” (1:13), “always in remembrance” (1:15), “by way of remembrance” (3:1). He was very direct about this point, “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins” (2Pet 1:9).

O’ that we never FORGET the great things the Lord has done!!!

The New Testament is the will of our Lord. The things that are written ARE His commands. We ought to LOOK into His Law of Liberty. We must LET the word of Christ dwell in our hearts.

Agape,

Spencer

The Franklin & Juniper st church of Christ in Borger is very much involved in Bible reading and study. You’re invited to attend one of our services to hear the Gospel preached in plainness of speech easy to understand.