The Bible Only (2)
Tim Haile, for the Parkway church of Christ
Tim Haile, for the Parkway church of Christ
Last week’s article stressed the importance of “searching the Scriptures” in order to find out how to please God (Acts 17:11; Ephesians 5:10). Let us now consider some Scriptures that defend the Bible’s own self-sufficiency.
Galatians 1:6-8 – “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him that called you into the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” Interestingly, the very next verse repeats the point of verse 8, which emphasizes the seriousness of the warning. Notice that some were “distorting” (“perverting” KJV) the gospel message. How is this done? By either adding to, or taking from the Bible’s teaching. One is cursed by God and condemned if he modifies the gospel of Christ.
Mark 7:1-13 – Space does not permit me to cite this entire passage. Jesus accused the Scribes and Pharisees of “leaving the commandment of God and holding the tradition of men,” of “rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish (their) tradition,” and of “making void the word of God” by their human tradition. By adding human customs and traditions to the things that are taught and required by God, one renders his worship and religious service “vain.”
Revelation 22:18, 19 – “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” The warning is against adding to, or subtracting from God’s word. It is sometimes argued that John was warning only against adding to or taking from the teaching of the book of Revelation. Clearly, John was talking about the book of Revelation, for that is the context. However, the principle warning applies to all of God’s word, as is evidenced by what Paul told the Galatians and what Jesus told the Scribes and Pharisees.
View past articles at http://parkwayarticles.blogspot.com. Please join us for worship and Bible study at our building located at 125 Hilltopper Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42101. We meet each Sunday at 10:00AM and 6:00PM for worship, and Sundays at 9:00AM and Wednesdays at 7:00PM for Bible study. Our radio program is aired each Sunday morning at 8:00AM on the WKCT 930AM band. Phone: (270) 842-2049 – Email: timhaile@mac.com.
