WHAT IF IT’S NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE?

[By Robert Arthur]

A Bible Class Booklets No. 5

1. [“Hold fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers”]. Titus 1:9

2. [“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee”]. 1 Tim 4:16

Those are the premises upon which our faith should forever stand!

I’m 40 years old now. And I have come to realize that there are some things that changes. And there are other things that barely and scarcely change. Again, there are other things which do not change at all.

Some places and some people that I have known for years in my childhood days have tremendously changed. Some to the better and others have changed to worse. My old school mates that I used to play with have all changed. Some have even grown grey hairs on their heads. Others have wrinkled faces now etc. I remember we used to play football and different types of games on some empty vast lands in our town. Now these areas have on it high rising buildings and nice edifices on them. The reserved forest areas in those days have now turned to markets, schools and petrol and gas filling stations. Do you see that change!

Others barely change. Like for instance, some rivers and streams that we used to bath and swim in still look the same. Though there might have been human activities that have affected their uses and qualities of them. But they all look like the same 40 years and more ago old rivers and streams.

However, there are other things which do not change. And the Word of God is one thing that cannot change! Jesus said “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away”. Mat 24:35. David also said this in Psalm 119:89 “Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven”.

On the other hand there are some things that have to be relative before they become relevant and or important. This means that such things have to appeal to the public’s standard and criteria set, before they would be accepted as a good thing or meet their consideration. But such standards are not set for the Word of God. The words of God are relevant in all generation. Either they would accept it, or ignore them; it is still all important and relevant. Either people would talk about it or shun them, the Word of God [the Bible] is the ultimate property forever given to mankind. 2 Tim 3:16-17.

And because the Bible reveals the perfect will of God to man, it was so plainly written for our understanding. Eph 3:3-4 reads “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; as I wrote afore in few words,  Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ”

This leaves with us no choice to add, subtract or alter the Word of God. Rev 22:18, Pro 30:5-6 Having said this; I’m also not in any way saying that we should not have to rightly divide the Word of Truth. Indeed, as students of the Bible and being Disciples of Christ Jesus we are to search the scriptures and have to rightly divide the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15, Isa 28:10

In addition to this, it behooves on us Christians to carefully read the scriptures and understand its words and the context by which they are used or applied. “…And Jesus said to him, What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”. Lk 10:26   

The Apostle Paul being aware of this truth of reading and dividing the scriptures acknowledges this point to the Corinthians Christians. In 1 Corinthians 9:17 he says “For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me”

He further reiterated this same truth here to the believers at Ephesus. “….If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward”. Eph 3:1-2

We have to note what truths the Apostle is trying to show us in the above two scriptures.

(1). Paul mentions “the dispensation of the gospel”. This gives us the understanding that Christians are now under the dispensation [age, era] of the Gospel of Christ and not under the old law given to Moses. This means that the gospel of Christ and NOT the law must be preached to us for our belief and salvation today. Mat 28:18-20.

For John 1:17 says, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”.

(2). He again mentions “the dispensation of the grace of God”. The truth is that Christians are living in the era of grace of God and our Lord Jesus. Under this age or dispensation of grace and liberty our sins are forever forgiving rather than the old law which condemns and kills. Rom 8. Compare John 8

(3). Here the Apostle is giving us the difference between the dispensations of grace of Christ [speaking of the New Covenant or Testament] and reasonably the dispensation of the Old law [Torah, Pentateuch] a representation of the Old Covenant or Testament.  Read 2 Corinthians 3, Jer 31:31-34

As Christians and students of the Bible I believe this is an honest approach of properly handling and rightly dividing the Word of God.

  

Now these revelations I sought to give are the very foundation upon which I would want to build my lesson titled “What If It’s Not Found in the Bible”?

Christianity is the religion of teaching. Mat 28:19, Mat 7:28, Acts 1:1. And the Apostles of Christ were to build on such strong foundation of sound teachings for a strong conviction of their hearers. 1 Cor 3:11

The Apostle Paul was quickened to say this to the Romans Christians concerning what permeated their faith. “But God be thanked, that …ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which delivered you”. Rom 6:17.

Which form of doctrine was obeyed and delivered the early Christians and gave birth to their new relationship with the Lord and their sound faith? Paul gave us the answer in Titus 2:1 “….the things which become sound doctrine”. Read Tit 1:13

So what if our doctrines, practices and teachings are not found in the Word of God. Then here are twenty two (22) things the Bible say about those that contradict the scriptures and their doctrines;

1. It is not a good work - 2 Tim 3:16-17
2. Such teachings does not pertain to life and godliness - 2 Pet 1:3
3. It causes one to not have God - 2 John 9-10
4. Such doctrines are not authorized by Christ Jesus - Col 3:17
5. It cannot be done by faith - 2 Cor 5:7, Rom 10:17; 14:23
6. It is a doctrine that is going beyond what is written -1 Cor 4:6
7. It is not as the oracles of God -1 Pet 4:11.
8. It is not according to the pattern set by Christ and His Apostles - Heb 8:5.
9. It does not pertain to the seed of the kingdom - Lk 8:11, Mat 13:18-19.
10. It is not of righteousness - Rom 1:16-17; 10:1-4.
11. It is of "no such commandment" - Acts 15:24.
12. It is iniquity - Matt 7:22-23.
13. It is of the doctrines of men - Mat 21:25; 15:9, Mk 7:7-9, Col 2:22
14. It is not truth - John 17:17.
15. It is the teaching of another gospel - Gal 1:6-9.
16. It is adding to the Word of God - Rev 22:18-19; Deut 4:2; Pro 30:5-6.

17. It is not of sound doctrine -Tit 1:9; 2:1

18. It is a twist of scriptures and causes one’s own destructions – 2 Pet 3:16

19. It is fighting against Christ – Mat 12:30 

20. Such doctrines are not planted by Christ and shall be uprooted - Mat 15:13

21. It is pride and out of ignorance - 1 Tim 6:3-5

22. Such doctrines are the doctrines of the Devil – 1 Tim 4:1

To achieving the purpose of my lessons I would want to add therefore that the church of God that was established and existed in the first century was never in any way defined by the number of souls that were won or added, [talking about 8,000 memberships. Acts 2:41; 4:4]. Neither was it measured by the high rising church edifices for their services – Acts 20:7-8 nor a well decorated and ventilated air conditioned auditorium that it may have had, [although that wasn’t yet invented]. Those things are no less of importance though. But that of a true church of God must be the type of church which holds on to the teachings of Christ Jesus, and onto the Apostles’ Doctrine and of the Sound Doctrine which is able to save souls from eternal damnation. 1 Tim 4:16, Acts 2:42

“Therefore my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard of me [sound teachings] among many witnesses, the same commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also”.  2 Tim 2:1-2

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