Monotheism: The belief that there is one God. Since I believe this is true, then there must be one truth. As a Christian, I believe that truth is solelycontained within the pages of the Bible.
Jesus said...
John 14:6
ASV Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but[1]by me.
Darby Jesus says to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father unless by me. GodsWord Jesus answered him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me. LITV Jesus said to him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. LO Jesus answered, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father, but by me. Rotherham Jesus saith unto him—I, am the way, and the truth, and the life: No one, cometh unto the Father, but through me.
I just chose five versions, but I could have chosen many, many others. They basically say one thing. Jesus is the one and only way to the Father.
Since this is true, all others are false. Just a simple concept of logic.
Refuse to believe it? Ask yourself this question: Who else died and rose again (for your sins)?
"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"
The Scriptures Inspired Of God (3:14-17)INTRODUCTION
1. As Paul prepared the Ephesian elders for the time when he would be
gone...
a. He commended them to the word of God's grace - cf. Ac 20:29-32a
b. Which was able to build them up, and give them their inheritance
- Ac 20:32b
2. With Timothy, Paul did the same when writing his last letter...
a. He admonished Timothy to continue in the things he had learned
- 2Ti 3:14
b. He first referenced the Holy Scriptures known since his childhood
- 2Ti 3:15
1) When Timothy was a child, the only scriptures available was the
Old Testament
2) So Paul clearly had the Old Testament scriptures in view
c. He then spoke of the value of "all Scripture" - 2Ti 3:16-17
1) That which was inspired of God
2) That which had the ability to make the man of God "complete"
[If both the Ephesian elders and Timothy needed the word of God after
Paul's departure, much more do we today! To fully appreciate why,
consider what our text (2Ti 3:14-17) reveals about...]
I. THE VALUE OF THE OLD TESTAMENTA. IT DEVELOPS WISDOM...
1. The OT makes one "wise for salvation through faith which is in
Christ Jesus" - 2Ti 3:15
2. How? The OT provides information regarding:
a. The fall of man and the rise of sin
b. The background and development of God's scheme of redemption
c. Messianic prophecies which describe what to expect when He
comes
3. One cannot hope to fully understand such books of the New
Testament like:
a. Hebrews, without a knowledge of the Levitical priesthood
b. Revelation, without a familiarity of OT prophecy and
apocalyptic literature
-- If one desires to be wise concerning their salvation, study the
Old Testament!B. IT OFFERS HOPE...
1. Note carefully what Paul wrote in Ro 15:3-4
a. He appealed to a passage in the OT
b. The things "written before" (i.e., the OT) were "written for
our learning"
c. The OT was written and preserved especially for the
Christians' benefit!
d. The OT provides "patience and comfort", that we "might have
hope"!
2. How? The OT provides a record of God's faithfulness, how He
kept His promises:
a. To Abraham and the nation of Israel
b. To judge the wicked and avenge the righteous
c. To forgive the penitent, and protect the humble
-- As we read this history of God's dealings with Israel, it gives
us hope that God will keep His promises to us!C. IT PROVIDES ADMONITION...
1. Consider what Paul wrote in 1Co 10:11
a. He had just reviewed the fall of Israel in the wilderness
- 1Co 10:1-10
b. The events described may have happened to Israel
c. "They were written for our admonition, upon whom the end of
the ages has come"
d. The OT was written and preserved especially for the benefit
of Christians!
2. Thus the NT writers often appealed to the OT to admonish
Christians
a. As did Paul, writing to the Corinthians
b. As did the writer of Hebrews, exhorting Christians to remain
steadfast - He 3:12-19
c. As did James, encouraging Christians to be patient in their
suffering - Jm 5:7-11
d. As did Peter, warning of false teachers and scoffers - 2 Pe 2:3-- As we read the Old Testament, we should learn from what
happened to Israel!
[Though we do not live under the Old Covenant, the Old Testament is of
great value to the Christian. Together with all Scripture from God, it
provides every thing we need. Indeed, Paul reveals...]
II. THE ALL-SUFFICIENCY OF THE SCRIPTURESA. THEY ARE INSPIRED...
1. All Scripture is "given by the inspiration of God" (NKJV)
- 2Ti 3:16
a. Literally, "God breathed" (theopneustos)
b. Cf. "All Scripture is breathed out by God" (ESV)
2. "The idea of 'breathing upon, or breathing into the soul,' is
that which the word naturally conveys." - Barnes
3. The writers of Scripture were moved along by the Spirit of God
- cf. 2Pe 1:21
4. The Spirit gave them their very words (i.e., verbal and plenary
inspiration) - cf. 1Co 2:13-- The Scriptures are not the words or thoughts of mere men, but
of Spirit-guided men who spoke and wrote the very Word of God!
- cf. Jn 16:13; 1Co 14:37; 1Th 2:13B. THEY ARE PROFITABLE...
1. For doctrine - 2Ti 3:16
a. Teaching, instruction - Thayer
b. Regarding all that God wants us to know regarding Himself
and His will for us
2. For reproof - 2Ti 3:16
a. Proof, conviction - Strong
b. Convicting those in error of their wrong, showing them the
need to change
3. For correction - 2Ti 3:16
a. Correction, improvement of life or character - Thayer
b. "the Scriptures are a powerful means of reformation, or of
putting men into the proper condition in regard to morals."
- Barnes
4. For instruction in righteousness - 2Ti 3:16
a. "Instruction in regard to the principles of justice, or what
is right." - Barnes
b. "Man needs not only to be made acquainted with truth, to be
convinced of his error, and to be reformed; but he needs to
be taught what is right, or what is required of him, in
order that he may lead a holy life." - ibid.-- The Scriptures are truly "profitable" (helpful, advantageous),
as extolled by David - cf. Ps 19:7-11C. THEY MAKE ONE COMPLETE...
1. Thoroughly equipped for every good work - 2Ti 3:17
a. That is, completely furnished to do what is expected of him
b. Note well: equipped for every good work; not some, but all
that God considers a good work
2. Regarding life and godliness - cf. 2Pe 1:3
a. We have been given "all things that pertain to life and
godliness"
b. Not 'some' things, but 'all' that we need for spiritual life
and godly living
3. Having been given once for all - cf. Jude 3
a. The faith has been delivered "once for all" to the saints
b. There is no need for 'modern day revelations', just as there
is no more need of sacrifices for sins - cf. He 9:26-28;
1Pe 3:18-- The inspired Scriptures alone are more than adequate to make
the man of God "complete" (competent, ESV), to do everything
God desires of Him for salvationCONCLUSION
1. Dear friends and brethren, do we truly desire to...
a. Be wise concerning the salvation by faith in Christ?
b. Have hope in the promises of God?
c. Learn from the mistakes of those in the past?
d. Be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work?
2. Then take up the admonition of Paul to both the elders and the young
preacher...
a. Continue in the things learned from the Holy Scriptures!
b. Let the inspired Scriptures be your guide in life through its
doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness!
3. Give yourself to diligent study of the Word of God, which is...
a. "able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in
Christ Jesus"
b. "able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those
who are sanctified"
"For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when
you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed
it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God,
which also effectively works in you who believe.' (1Th 2:13)
Could Paul have written the same about us...?
For several years, Rob Bell, the minister of the Mars Hill Bible Church has been mulling over the idea of hell. In his latest book, Love Wins: A Book about Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, Bell contends that the “traditional” view of hell, in which those who do not believe in Christ are lost, is ill-conceived and needs re-working. Jon Meacham, column writer for TIME magazine, noted that Rob Bell “suggests that the redemptive work of Jesus may be universal—meaning that, as his book’s subtitle puts it, ‘every person who ever lived’ could have a place in heaven, whatever that turns out to be” (2011). In essence, Rob Bell is little more than a recent advocate of a modified version of universalism.
The trend to minimize hell in our emotionally-driven, sentimental society is nothing new. Behind this teaching is the idea that love and eternal punishment are incompatible and mutually exclusive. The atheistic community has repeatedly challenged belief in the God of the Bible, due to the alleged moral dilemma presented by a God of love and eternal punishment (Butt, 2010, pp. 217-227).
A critical analysis of the situation brings to light a number of truths. First, it is clear that the Bible teaches that hell is a reality and will be eternal (Matthew 25:46, see Lyons and Butt, 2005a). Second, the concept of hell has been shown to be in perfect harmony with the concepts of morality and justice (Lyons and Butt, 2005b). Third, the erroneous teachings of universalism and the limited duration of hell are nothing new, and advocates of these beliefs will most likely continue to present themselves (see Colley, 2007; Butt, 2004; Miller, 2003).
The apostle Peter explained that one responsibility given to Christians is that they ought always to be ready to give a defense of their beliefs (1 Peter 3:15). One of those beliefs that is continually challenged is the idea of an eternal hell to which those who have not obeyed God will be consigned forever. Let us all be aware of these challenges to the Bible’s teachings and prepare ourselves to respond to them, holding fast to the faithful Word of God.
Can you imagine what life without the Old Testament would be like for a Christian? Although the commands in the New Testament still could be obeyed without the Old Testament, our knowledge would be incomplete. We would be unable to appreciate fully the passages in the New Testament that speak of men and women such as Adam, Eve, Abraham, and Sarah, as well as events such as the Flood and the Exodus from Egypt. Our understanding of Jesus as the prophesied Messiah and the Great High Priest would be limited in the absence of books like Psalms, Isaiah, and Leviticus. The simple fact is, although we are under the new law today (Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 8:7-13), God still expects us to be educated in the Old Testament Scriptures. The apostle Paul wrote, “Whatever things were written before were written for our learning that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). One of the main reasons we need to read and study the Old Testament is so we might have a better knowledge of the New. This especially is true when studying one of the most misunderstood books in the world—the book of Revelation.
Of the 404 verses in the book of Revelation, seemingly 278 of them make some allusion to the Old Testament. That is 68.8% of the verses! And some of these verses contain two, or even three, allusions to the Old Testament. The book of Revelation does not tell whence these allusions came. However, by a careful study of the Bible, we can understand that most of them come from the prophetic books of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah. Thus, it would be good to have some knowledge of the Old Testament before studying the book of Revelation. For example, before reading the apostle John’s vision of the seven golden lampstands in Revelation 1, a student should realize that such language had been used when Zechariah had a similar vision in chapter 4 of the book that bears his name. Prior to reading John’s vision of a “new heaven” and “new earth” (Revelation 21:1), a person might want to read Isaiah 65 and 66 to understand that such language had been used long before Revelation ever was written.
The reason there are so many allusions to various Old Testament books is because, like Revelation, they were written in a time of oppression and cruel, foreign domination. Whereas Revelation was written while the Christians were oppressed by the Romans, the prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel wrote while the Jews where under Babylonian domination.
There are many similarities between Revelation and the Old Testament. In fact, of the 39 Old Testament books, one writer has found that Revelation alludes to 24 of them. Certainly then, by having a good knowledge of the Old Testament, and especially such books as Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah, one likely will have an easier time understanding the book of Revelation.
If Matthew 1:1 was the only Bible verse a person ever read about the family and genealogy of Christ, then one might think that Jesus was the immediate son of David, rather than a descendant of David separated in time from the second king of Israel by 1,000 years. If Matthew chapter two was the only passage a person ever considered regarding the birth and early childhood of Jesus’ life, then one would never know that shepherds visited Jesus shortly after His birth. According to Romans 3:23, “[A]ll have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” If this sentence was the only inspired statement that a person ever read regarding sin, and disregarded both the context of Romans 3 as well as the rest of the New Testament, then one would think that Jesus was a sinner. But Jesus, of course, was “without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
Are football referees supposed to know only a few of the rules in order to officiate a game correctly? Is a baker content in knowing only one of the ten ingredients that go into a pineapple upside-down cake? Would you be pleased if the only traffic law that truck drivers knew was the law regarding on what side of the road to drive? The answer to all of these questions is obvious. People generally understand the need to learn the entire rulebook, driver’s manual, or recipe. Knowing just part of these things will result in chaos and negative consequences. Likewise, taking only a part of God’s Word, to the neglect of the rest of His Word, is a recipe for confusion and disaster. Since the “entirety” of Scripture is truth (Psalm 119:160), all of God’s Word on any subject must be considered.
Most Bible students seem to understand the importance of the holistic approach to Bible interpretation when considering any number of topics, including the aforementioned genealogy of Christ and His perfect, sinless nature. Sadly, however, when it comes to the question regarding what a person must do to be saved, this rational approach to Bible interpretation is discarded.
Consider, for example, John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Many people have the idea that this one sentence is all they need to know to be saved. I once had a conversation with a man who said that the only part of the Bible that he needed was John 3:16. It did not matter what any other verse says. As long as he knew John 3:16 and believed what it said, he believed he was saved.
Notice, however, one problem (among many) that such a shallow interpretation of the Bible causes. If every student of the Bible picked a different verse and lifted that one verse above all others as “my little recipe for salvation,” then “Christianity” would be in a constant state of contradiction. Someone could say that nothing else matters except baptism because 1 Peter 3:21 says that “baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (NASB, emp. added). Does 1 Peter 3:21 teach that a person must be immersed to be saved? Yes. But anyone who claims that immersion in water is all a person must do to be saved would be wrong. Likewise, anyone who claims that a mere mental assent that Jesus is the Son of God is the only thing necessary for salvation would be equally wrong (cf. James 2:19).
The fact is, the Bible teaches that a person must believe and be baptized to be saved (Mark 16:16). A person must believe in Jesus and confess His name to receive salvation (Romans 10:9-10). A person must repent and be baptized to have his sins forgiven (Acts 2:38). Additionally, a person must remain faithful until death in order to receive the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).
Bible students will never properly understand Scripture if they adopt an interpretation method that pits one inspired passage against another. They will never understand what to do to be saved if they elevate one verse to the exclusion of all others. The truth is, the Bible is in perfect harmony with itself. One passage will never contradict another, but they will supplement each other. John 3:16 is a wonderful, truthful passage of Scripture. But, so is 1 Peter 3:20-21. And so is Mark 16:16, as well as the rest of Scripture. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, NASB, emp. added)
We understand these maladies of vision to usually be mutually exclusive. A person cannot customarily be farsighted, nearsighted, and blind simultaneously. However, the Bible instructs us that as Christians, we should figuratively exhibit all of these characteristics, so how can a Christian exhibit these characteristics. How can this be desirable, when these are not normally good things? What do we mean by "farsighted, nearsighted, and blind"?
Farsighted
We typically think of someone being "farsighted" who has difficulty seeing objects that are near, while being able to clearly focus on those that are far. In this article, we are using the term "farsighted" figuratively. That is, it is not our physical eyesight with which we are concerned, but rather, our spiritual vision is of primary importance. Therefore, we speak of a Christian being spiritually farsighted with respect to time. He or she is able to clearly focus on the distant future, specifically, our spiritual goal - heaven.
"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14
Like the apostle Paul, who penned these words, the Christian is to be focused on the distant goal that lies before us. However, it is not a goal that can physically realized in this lifetime. No one in our day is able to see heaven and return to tell us about it. It is not a physical goal that we can see of tangibly experience in this life. Consequently, it requires one to perceive this goal with the "eye of faith".
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." II Corinthians 4:16-18
. . .
"So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him." II Corinthians 5:6-10
Therefore, the Christian must be focused on the distant future. He or she cannot be overcome with the temporal concerns of this life. In this way, the Christian can be said to be "farsighted".
Nearsighted
So, if a Christian is to be spiritually farsighted, how can they be nearsighted at the same time? Are not these two things mutually exclusive? If nearsighted means being able to see clearly things that are near but unable to see distant objects, how can a person be nearsighted and farsighted at the same time?
A Christian is to be "nearsighted" in that he or she is focused on today. At first, that may seem contradictory to what we just said, but in fact, it is becoming spiritually farsighted that enables one to become nearsighted in this life.
"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:31-34
In this life, the Christian is to be focused on "today". They should not be excessively worried about tomorrow or the future of this life. In fact, when Jesus was providing instruction to his disciples about how to pray, He showed that they were to pray for their "daily bread" (Matthew 6:11). We are not to be overly concerned about requesting things for this life (James 4:3-5), neither are we to make extravagant provisions for this life at the expense of our spiritual future (Luke 12:13-21; I Timothy 6:6-9, 17-19). It is only in this way that we will be able to correctly make the tough decisions. If we are overly concerned about tomorrow in this life, then we will be unable to make the right choices today (Luke 12:4-7; John 12:42-43). Therefore, the Christian must also be "nearsighted" in that he or she is focused on making tough choices today, neither fearful of consequences tomorrow, procrastinating until tomorrow, nor excessively providing for a rich life here.
Blind
Since both nearsighted and farsighted imply some vision, how then can or should a Christian be blind?
And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind."
Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?"
Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains." John 9:39-41
Are we like the Pharisees, so confident of our own abilities and understanding, that we cannot recognize our own weaknesses and failures? Christians are to be blind, in that they recognize their own blindness. They recognize that the ability to save themselves does not lie within themsleves (Jeremiah 10:23). Our sins have separated us from God, and we are in desperate need of His mercy.
Conclusion
Whether we recognize it or not, we are all in need of God’s mercy and salvation. Our blindness exists, whether we admit it or not. But, by seeing our blindness, we are then in a position to see a greater future, a heavenly goal. By securing our relationship with God, we then are enabled to focus clearly on today, making wise decisions, not burdened by the physical cares of tomorrow. Then finally, we can truly see, and we will be nearsighted, farsighted, and blind.
