Scriptura, Final Authority – By Tom Buckle

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12Hebrews 4:12
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12 For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

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History records that men who sought to translate the Bible into their everyday language were martyred by the Church (e.g. John Wycliffe 1382, William Tyndale 1525). Oddly enough, the religious authorities of their day did not want the Bible in the hands of the laity nor did they want it used or interpreted outside of their authority. Copies of the Bible that did not include the church’s commentary and were not written in Latin were band. Priest, monks and scholars who had access to the Bible and sought spiritual renewal and reform in the Church were likewise condemned and some were martyred. This went on for centuries as the Roman Catholic Church sought to keep the authority of tradition and scripture under their control.

It was not until the priest Martin Luther (1517) proclaimed from Romans 1:17Romans 1:17
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17 For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”

WP-Bible plugin “. . .the just shall live by faith” and posted his ninety-five theses on the church’s door in Wittenberg that the authority of the Bible proclaims a different truth of salvation than the church was teaching. Luther’s break from the Catholic Church inspired others to make copies of the Bible and translated them into their own language. It was copied and smuggled to other countries and quickly spread to the common man.

A copy of the Bible was treasured like no other book. One copy would cost a year’s wages. The Bible’s revelation of the truths of salvation and hope birthed many new leaders who proclaimed its authority.

By 1529 the religious movements of Lutherans, Zwinglians and Calvinist became referred to as Protestants. They taught: 1. The Bible is the only source of revealed truth; 2. The doctrine of justification (salvation) is by faith alone; 3. The priesthood of all believers.

The reformers believed in the authority of scripture. For them scripture was the foundation for the church and not the “authority of tradition” over scripture. Although the Roman Catholic Church proclaimed scripture and tradition to be equal, usually tradition won when pitted against scripture. After all, the church had shown that their traditions were changeable with innovative doctrines and practices (e.g. papal infallibility, taxation, indulgences, penance, simony, nepotism, the inquisition, the veneration of icons, saints and Mary).

In the Council of Trent, 1545-1563, the Church reaffirmed its stance on its traditions being equal with scripture and added the Apocrypha to the Bible with the pronouncement of a curse on anyone rejecting it in full or in part. However, in an effort to reform, the Council of Trent did condemn its sale of indulgences, simony, nepotism and immorality among the clergy.

With the Bible becoming more available and the truth being proclaimed throughout the laity, a new spirit of hope was being fueled. One could hear and learn what God was saying to man. “In the beginning was the Word (Logos/Christ), and the Word (Logos/Christ) was with God, and the Word (Logos/Christ) was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:1-5John 1:1-5
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The Gospel According to John ^{1 1} In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²Â The same was in the beginning with God. ³Â All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome The word translated “overcome” can also be translated “comprehended.” It refers to getting a grip on an enemy to defeat him. it.

WP-Bible plugin). Can you imagine being able to read these words for the first time and the great desire it would spark to read more scripture and learn from His Word written to us?

The Bible is the Written Word and Jesus Christ is the Living Word, the Word made flesh. Both are “Logos”. “The Living Word is revealed in the Written Word and the Written Word leads us to the Living Word. They are one.” (Kevin Conner)

The Greek word “Biblios” is where we get our English word “Bible”. The Greek word “Biblios” is used in scripture. For instance:

The book of Moses. (Mark 12:26Mark 12:26
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26 But about the dead, that they are raised; haven’t you read in the book of Moses, about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’

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  The book of Isaiah. (Luke 3:4; 4:17-18Luke 3:4; 4:17-18
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4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight. ¹⁷ The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written, ¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, Because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim release to the captives, Recovering of sight to the blind, To deliver those who are crushed,

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  The book of Psalms. (Luke 20:42Luke 20:42
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42 David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,

WP-Bible plugin; Acts 1:20Acts 1:20
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20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his habitation be made desolate, Let no one dwell therein,’ and, ‘Let another take his office.’

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  The book of the Prophets. (Acts 7:24Acts 7:24
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24 Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him who was oppressed, striking the Egyptian.

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  The book of the Law. (Galatians 3:10Galatians 3:10
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10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.”

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  The volume of the book. (Hebrews 10:7Hebrews 10:7
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7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come To do your will, God.’”

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  The blood-sprinkled book. (Hebrews 9:19Hebrews 9:19
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19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,

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  The book to the seven churches. (Revelation 1:11Revelation 1:11
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11 saying, “ TR adds “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.”What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies TR adds “which are in Asia”: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

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  The little book. (Revelation 10:5-10Revelation 10:5-10
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5 The angel who I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, ⁶ and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, ⁷ but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets. ⁸ The voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” ⁹ I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. He said to me, “Take it, and eat it up. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” ¹⁰ I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.

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  The seven sealed book. (Revelation 5:1-10Revelation 5:1-10
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5 ¹Â I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals. ²Â I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?” ³Â No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look in it. ⁴ And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look in it. ⁵ One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals.” ⁶ I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. ⁷ Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. ⁸ Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹ They sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the book, And to open its seals: For you were killed, And bought us for God with your blood, Out of every tribe, language, people, and nation, ¹⁰ And made them kings and priests to our God, And they reign on earth.”

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  The prophecy of this book. (Revelation 22:7,9,10,18Revelation 22:7,9,10,18
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7 “Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” ⁹ He said to me, “See you don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” ¹⁰ He said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. ¹⁸ I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book.

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The Bible is to be considered a Divine Library of sixty-six separate books that are connected to each other. These are not ordinary books because they are divinely breathed of God, inspiring each writer to pen the exact words God wanted to convey to man. When the Apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, . .” (2 Timothy 3:162 Timothy 3:16
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16 Every writing inspired by God literally, God-breathed is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in righteousness,

WP-Bible plugin) he was reminding Timothy how holy and authoritative scripture is. In this text the Apostle used the Greek word “Theopneustos”, translated into English it means “God breathed”.

Job rightly stated, “But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.” (Job 32:8Job 32:8
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8 But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.

WP-Bible plugin). It reminds us of God breathing into Adam and creating a living soul. In the gospel of John, Jesus on the morning of the resurrection breathed upon His disciples telling them to “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22John 20:22
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22 When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit!

WP-Bible plugin). There are other examples, such as mentioned in Job and Ezekiel that comment on God’s breath. God breathed on the writers of the Bible and they wrote and recorded His words. It is what God wants us to know about Him and His plan for man.

The Bible is the only authoritative written revelation from God. It is God communicating truth to man which he would not have known by natural reasoning. It is our Lord revealing and unveiling His person and His purpose to man.

We might wonder how our Lord viewed Scripture. When Jesus referred to the Old Testament in His Sermon on the Mount, he taught “I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” (Matthew 5:18Matthew 5:18
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18 For most assuredly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter literally, iota or one tiny pen stroke or, serif shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.

WP-Bible plugin) In answering Satan’s efforts to temp Him, Jesus prefaced His reply by referring to Scripture, saying “It is written.” Jesus used scripture as the final authority. As His crucifixion drew near He spoke of the coming events and trial He would have to go through saying the events would be the fulfillments of the Scripture (Matthew 26:54, 56Matthew 26:54, 56
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54 How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?” ⁵⁶ But all this has happened, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him, and fled.

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The Holy Bible is made up of two divisions. The Old Testament (the covenant of the law) having thirty-nine books and the New Testament (new covenant of grace and the fulfillment of the Old Testament) with twenty-seven books. This sacred library contains what God wants us to know about Him and His plan for His creation.

Man is forbidden to add to scripture; Deuteronomy 4:2Deuteronomy 4:2
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2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your God which I command you.

WP-Bible plugin “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord you God which I command you.” Deuteronomy 12:32Deuteronomy 12:32
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32 Whatever thing I command you, that shall you observe to do: you shall not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

WP-Bible plugin “Whatever I command you be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” The Apostle John warns anyone who would attempt to alter scripture with these words; 18. “If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him plagues that are written in this book; 19. And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22: 18-19Revelation 22: 18-19
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18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book. ¹⁹ If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.

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The Latin for Scripture is rendered Scriptura and means “a writing.” In the Greek biblical language the word for Scripture is graphe.

Over two-thousand times the word “Scripture” is used to refer to the holy inspired writings in a special way. The word is used twenty-four times in the Gospels and twenty-eight times in the other books of the New Testament. The word is only used once in the Old Testament and that is in Daniel 10:21Daniel 10:21
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21 But I will tell you that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and there is none who holds with me against these, but Michael your prince.”

WP-Bible plugin “But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth.”

Written by men of God the Scriptures are truly God’s Word to man. In fact, the Bible over two-thousand times refers to scripture as “the Word of God”. For example:
The Word of God. (Hebrews 4:12Hebrews 4:12
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12 For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

WP-Bible plugin; I Thessalonians 2:13; Mark 7:13Mark 7:13
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13 making void the word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things like this.”

WP-Bible plugin; Ephesians 6:17Ephesians 6:17
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17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

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The Word of the Lord. (Ezekiel 1:3Ezekiel 1:3
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3 the word of Yahweh came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Yahweh was there on him.

WP-Bible plugin; Isaiah 1:10Isaiah 1:10
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10 Hear the word of Yahweh, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

WP-Bible plugin; Jeremiah 1:2, 11Jeremiah 1:2, 11
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2 to whom the word of Yahweh came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. ¹¹Â Moreover the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, Jeremiah, what see you? I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.

WP-Bible plugin; Acts 8:25Acts 8:25
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25 They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

WP-Bible plugin; 2 Thessalonians 3:12 Thessalonians 3:1
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3 ¹Â Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, even as also with you;

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The Word of Christ. (Colossians 3:16Colossians 3:16
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16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.

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The Word of Truth. (Ephesians 1:13Ephesians 1:13
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13 in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Gospel of your salvation,—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

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The Word of Life. (Philippians 2:16Philippians 2:16
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16 holding up the word of life; that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ, that I didn’t run in vain nor labor in vain.

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The Word of Faith. (Romans 10:8Romans 10:8
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8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;” that is, the word of faith, which we preach:

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The Word. (Luke 4:4Luke 4:4
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4 Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”

WP-Bible plugin; John 1:1-3John 1:1-3
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The Gospel According to John ^{1 1} In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²Â The same was in the beginning with God. ³Â All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.

WP-Bible plugin; Romans 10:17Romans 10:17
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17 So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

WP-Bible plugin; I Timothy 4:5; James 1:21-23James 1:21-23
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21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls or, preserve your life.. ²²Â But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. ²³Â For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a mirror;

WP-Bible plugin; Acts 4:31; 6:4Acts 4:31; 6:4
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31 When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. ⁴ But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”

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2 Tim 3:16-172 Tim 3:16-17
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16 Every writing inspired by God literally, God-breathed is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

WP-Bible plugin “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be completely, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Peter 1:212 Peter 1:21
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21 For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

WP-Bible plugin “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

1 Thessalonians 2:131 Thessalonians 2:13
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13 For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.

WP-Bible plugin “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.”

Galatians 1:11-12Galatians 1:11-12
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11 But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Gospel which was preached by me, that it is not according to man. ¹²Â For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.

WP-Bible plugin “But I make known to you, brethren that the gospel which as preached by me is not according to man. (12) For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 2:131 Corinthians 2:13
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13 Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.

WP-Bible plugin “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (14) But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Matthew 4:4Matthew 4:4
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4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

WP-Bible plugin “. ..It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

Acts 1:16Acts 1:16
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16 “Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus.

WP-Bible plugin “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; (17) ‘for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.’”

The numbers of prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the coming Christ, the Messiah, are overwhelming. There are at least 330 of these prophecies concerning his first coming that cover a period of approximately 4,000 years before His birth. These prophecies fit together and show how they had to come from the breath of God. It was the custom of Jesus and His disciples to go to the Temple or the synagogues to teach and exhort on the Scriptures and their fulfillment. The apostles continued this practice until persecution forced them out and they were martyred. Only the apostle John died a natural death.

Today we have great freedoms to choose what we value. For many of us the Bible holds what we value most. We have a strong desire to know God and His values. We want to know what He says about us and what He wants out of us. We want to understand how the spirit and flesh war against each other. We want the peace and joy of knowing we are living out His plan, so that when the difficult times and earthly disappointments come our faith will be in Him for help and strength to get us through. We will have read the Bible and recalled the stories of others who overcame life’s difficulties by trusting in Him. We will have read of the times the transcendent God worked miracle after miracle to show His care and answer the needs of those who trusted His Word.

Have you ever spoken to the Lord? I mean, have you ever sought after God and talked to Him? If you have poured out your heart to God in prayer you will have a deep yearning to hear from God and know what He has to say? You can hear from Him at any time and every day. Open your Bible and listen to His voice as you read.

What God spoke to Israel in Moses’ day He wants us to hear today: “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and length of days;” (Deuteronomy 31:19-20Deuteronomy 31:19-20
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19 Now therefore write you this song for you, and teach you it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel. ²⁰ For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swore to their fathers, flowing with milk and honey, and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and grown fat; then will they turn to other gods, and serve them, and despise me, and break my covenant.

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