The Truth in Print Vol. 22 Issue 2, March 2016
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website
Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
A Read the Bible Story worth Telling
Read the Bible
Col. 4:16 is one of many “read the bible”
verses: “Now when this epistle is read
among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans,
and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea” (Col. 4:16). They were to read it in the church, but it
didn’t stop there. They were to make sure that the church of Laodiceans had it so it could be read in the church at
Laodicea.
This also says that they were to likewise
read the epistle from Laodicea. The New Testament epistles were read in public
by and to the churches — those blessed included the ones who could hear even if
they couldn’t read. Here is the blessing
in Rev. 1:3, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and
keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” The blessing was for both so long as they
kept the things written. Beginning in Rev. 2:7 with each of the seven letters
Jesus said “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
Maturity only comes one way — in time with
study and application (Heb. 5:12-14).
This is not a commendation: “For when for the time ye ought to be
teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first
principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and
not of strong meat.” When you don’t study this is where you are at. How do you
know “another Jesus,” “another spirit,” or “another gospel” if you haven’t mastered
the one and only Christ gave? (2 Cor. 11:4; Gal. 1:6-9).
In John 8:31-32 Jesus said if you continue
in my word, then you are my disciples. The bible can be understood alike. If
those who believed on Him couldn’t understand it alike then how could they
continue in it? Concerning the epistle to the Ephesians Paul said “Whereby,
when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph.
3:4).
Col 2:8 warns us, “Beware lest any man
spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after
the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” If you could not understand the Bible then
you would not know the difference between human tradition, the world’s so
called spiritual wisdom and God’s wisdom revealed in the New Testament
scriptures. So why do people make the claim we cannot understand the Bible
alike? They claim such because they are holding on to their human traditions.
A Read the Bible Story worth Telling
I’m going to use the remainder of space
now to tell an account I believe is worth relating. It is about meeting a man
who said he was reading the Bible all the way through for himself for the first
time in his life.
I met him as I was pulling out of the
parking lot at the church building and headed for lunch. He was on foot and
carrying a huge sack of dog food and other times, and looked like he needed a
ride. After he asked and I explained to
him I was the preacher, he told me how excited he was about reading the Bible
all the way through for himself for the first time. And then he started asking me questions when
we got to his house.
He asked if he should read it all the way
through beginning in Genesis, for he was currently in the Old Testament, or was
there a more profitable approach. I explained that the New Testament is
Christ’s will for all of mankind until the end of time, thus I thought he’d be
more benefitted to read one of the gospels and then Acts, and then the gospels
remaining followed by the rest of the New Testament.
He said, “You know I’ve found that you
pray to the Father. Is that right?” So I
showed him that was indeed right: Matt. 6:9, I Tim. 2:5, Eph. 3:14 (Other
passages include Eph. 5:20, Col. 3:17).
I’m always asked about the Jews. He was no
exception. Being Christians only we know
that you must start with what covenant we are under today and that’s the New
Testament as Christ’s will for “all” of
mankind. We considered such passages as Jo. 14:6, Matt. 26:28, Mark
16:15-16, Rom. 1:16, and Col. 2:14 which states the Mosaic Law was taken out of
the way and nailed to the cross — and at the same time the baptism of those at
Colossae for the remission of their sins recorded in Col. 2:11-12. I showed him
that when Christ became our eternal High Priest that necessitated a change in
the law (Heb. 7:12) — Jesus is the mediator a better covenant, enacted upon
better promises (Cf. Heb. 8:6).
I explained that the Jewish temple with
the Levitical priesthood and worship under the Mosaic
Law was not coming back (Heb. 13:8; Matt. 24:1-2 prophesies the destruction of
the temple in 70 A.D.).
He’s already understood what God said in
De. 9:3-7 about the Jews continual rebellion against God’s Old Testament
covenant. I explained to him who Paul said a “Jew” is in Rom. 2:28-29 along
with Col. 2:11-12. It is baptism into Christ that establishes that relationship
with the Father so you can pray to Him through Christ.
So he asks, “Well is there any place where
it says God is going to destroy all the Jews in our time for their sins?” My
simple answer was that’s not in the New Testament; what is in there is they are lost outside of
Christ (Jo. 14:6) — thus we read again
Rom. 1:16 along with Rom. 10:1-3 that says they have not submitted themselves
to the righteousness of God in Christ. Reminding him, of course, that the
church of Christ started with some Jews who did obeyed as commanded in
repentance and baptism on the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2 which is the beginning
of Christ’s church.
You will never find a sincere love for the
truth of the New Testament in anyone who seeks to justify races separately
without their members “individually” obeying the gospel. That’s why Paul said
in Rom. 2:29 the praise for Christians is not of men, but of God.
I’ve found that those filled with their
own human tradition have very little knowledge the New Testament epistles
concerning most of the above. Be it the purpose of the Law of Moses to bring
the Jews to Christ, and now that Christ is come they are not any longer under
the Law (Gal. 3:19-25), or concerning baptism for both Jews and Gentiles into
Christ to put on Christ (Gal. 3:26-29). One can’t read Colossians chapter two
and not see that the Law was taken out of the way and nailed to the cross (Col.
2:14). When you read Hebrews chapter
eight all the way through you know that Old Testament worship along with the
Temple and Levitical priesthood will “vanish” (Heb.
8:13). Jesus Himself spoke of the
destruction of the temple that was coming in 70 A.D. in His discourse in Matt.
24:1-2.
So, this individual who asked such
worthwhile questions and about the Jews — he’s setting right beside me in my
pickup and he looks me right in the eyes
— with that stare that dares you to lie — and asks, “Have YOU ever read
the bible all the way through yourself?” I answered, “Many times.” I’m thinking this man doesn’t trust anyone
right now, because he’s seeing the differences in what man is willing to teach
for the sake of human credentials, personal gain, love of human tradition,
power, prestige, etc. and how the Bible really reads.
In spite of our different levels of
intelligence we all get there the same way — study and application. And that of necessity belongs with the “ones”
in Eph. 4: 4-6. You will never find a sincere love of the truth residing in one
who rejects the fact that the “one faith” (the New Testament scriptures) goes
with the “one Spirit” who revealed it — and then claims different contradicting
religions came from the one Spirit. That just doesn’t make sense and it is not
scriptural. Who can believe that the
Spirit of truth who in the first century guided the apostles into all the truth
(Jo. 16:13) contradicted Himself?
This same individual asked, “If I come to
understand correctly then can’t I just do this by myself?” I asked him, “What
do you mean by yourself?” He said, “I mean can I do it and not have to go to
church.” I showed him that from the
beginning in Acts 2:42 they continued stedfastly in
the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper and prayers. That pattern
was set from the beginning of Christ’s church. When you are reading the epistle
of Philippians you are reading instructions to a local church – thus you are learning
about the collective responsibility and work of the members together (Phil.
1:27). I told him this doesn’t work by yourself. We read Heb. 10:23-25 where we are commanded
not to forsake assembling together. If you understand the Bible you understand
“collective responsibility.”
And what does he reply with? He replies,
“Well I’ll look at that again when I get there.” And I now truly believe at
this point he has shown me his bias.
Commands and Examples you must read and Understand
Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were
cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and
brethren, what shall we do?"
Act 2:38 Then Peter said to them,
"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Act 2:41 Then those who gladly received his
word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
Act 2:42 And they
continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking
of bread, and in prayers.
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more call, visit or visit our website at:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com