One need only read the words of Jesus, His prophets and apostles to realize that there is no margin for error relative to the Christian walk (1 Jn. 2:6) and eternal life in the Kingdom of God (Rev. 3:21). In this series of teachings the reader will be reminded that God is very exact and equally as exacting. One need only study the “movement” of the stars and planets and how exact they are in their “movements” to realize that the Lord leaves nothing to chance. Contrary to popular opinion, He does not allow His creation to dictate how any part of the universe, specifically the spiritual part, is to be managed. Manufacturers provide instruction manuals for those who purchase their items. Likewise, God left us His Word in written form for the same purpose–to show those who seek Him exactly how they must conduct their lives in order to find Him. We are told to “Seek the Lord while He may be found” (Isa. 55:6). Note that God was speaking to His chosen people–His “church in he wilderness” (Acts 7:38). THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD TO THE CHURCH ABOUT THE CHURCH. As a previous posting proclaimed, there are goats in the sheep pen, tares in the wheat field and fools among the virgins. Let us return to the Lord’s Word in order to seek out His way of salvation.

In John 12:44-50 Jesus makes a statement that should serve as a reality check for every seeker of Truth: “He that believes on Me (that I am the Son of God) believes not (only) on Me, but (also on) Him (the Father) that sent Me.” This short passage carries great spiritual weight. It proves that Father and Son are to be revered for being Who and What They say They are in Their Word. Jesus continues: “He that rejects Me and My Words ….” Here He equates His Word with Himself, each Word being a vital part of the whole Word–the Holy Bible–the Son in written form. The Father-Son-Word connection is also made clear in John 1:1-4,14 and Revelation 19:13. Notice that in these passages Jesus is called “the Word” (singular), meaning that He deems every Word in the Bible as one message which He manifested in human form as Jesus of Nazareth. Honest Bible students know that the Lord has the same all-or-nothing attitude toward the Ten Commandments. One must take the Bible in general and the Law in particular as complete entities or not at all (Jn. 12:44-50; Jam. 2:10). The following Biblical Truth cannot be overly stressed. We either take God’s inspired Word as one unalterable entity or we reject it totally as the John 12 passage declares. Because of this Scriptural Law, Jesus declares in John 12:48 that mankind will be judged by every Word written in the Bible.

The Bible consists of the Words He spoke to His prophets and apostles, who then recorded them for future generations of God-seekers. This Truth is brought out in 2 Peter 1:20,21: “Knowing this first (most importantly) of all, that no prophecy (passage) of Scripture is of any private (individual) interpretation. For the prophecy (all of God’s Words to man) came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” The same is true of the Words of the New Testament apostles. God arranged for His Old Testament prophets to record His Words “for our instruction upon whom the end of the world has come” (1 Cor. 10:11). Here Paul  is referring to the New Covenant church. God’s message cannot be more clearly stated–the Words Jesus received from the Father, which He spoke to the prophets and apostles, represent the mind, way and will of the God of the universe. To reject so much as one of those Words is to reject the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit by which He spoke to the prophets and apostles when not in their presence. In summary, to insure that man has the Truth at his disposal, Jesus arranged for the prophets and apostles to record the Words the Father spoke to Him. That record is the Holy Bible. Unlike the angels who rejected God’s Word, man has the opportunity to repent, reverse course and embrace Him. Those who do so and remain in that obedient relationship with Him until death or the return of Jesus will inherit eternal life. To be continued. L.J.