The first time I saw a red letter edition of the Bible, I was a child and thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. Imagine! All the words of Jesus in red! But as I grew older I began to see the problem with that. Too many of my friends thought those were the only words in the Bible that counted. If Paul or Peter or John or James said it, they didn't have to listen. The only words that mattered were Jesus' words. So they wouldn't listen to Acts 2:38, or 22:16. They wouldn't look at Acts 20:7 or Col 3:16. And forget about Ephesians 4:4-6.
Sometimes I think I have a few brethren like that, too. While they hang on to the words of the Lord, they will regularly "argue" with the men who wrote about him. So let me give you a verse or two to consider this morning.
Dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you; in both letters, I want to develop a genuine understanding with a reminder, so that you can remember the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles (2Pet 3:1-2). Yes, I fully admit to taking this out of context, but even so, Peter is not only talking about the words he is writing in his two letters, but those of the other apostles as well. Not only that, he puts the words of the "holy prophets" on the same plain as the Lord's. What he is saying is, Scripture is Scripture, folks.
We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception (1John 4:6). In this one, John is not talking about just this epistle, or even all of his epistles, but all the writing of the inspired men. If you don't listen to them, you are "not from God." Can't be much plainer, can he?
But all this just avoids the real issue. For many people, it doesn't matter who said it at all if they don't want to hear it. The kind of Bible they really want is a MY letter edition, whichever parts they like and want to hear. And what does Peter have to say about that?
"If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God…" (1 Pet 4:11). Which is to say, let him speak only the truth, understanding the incredible responsibility involved in speaking the Word of God. Whether he likes it or not.
Finally then, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God — as you are doing — do so even more. For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus (1Thess 4:1-2).
Dene Ward
Sometimes I think I have a few brethren like that, too. While they hang on to the words of the Lord, they will regularly "argue" with the men who wrote about him. So let me give you a verse or two to consider this morning.
Dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you; in both letters, I want to develop a genuine understanding with a reminder, so that you can remember the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles (2Pet 3:1-2). Yes, I fully admit to taking this out of context, but even so, Peter is not only talking about the words he is writing in his two letters, but those of the other apostles as well. Not only that, he puts the words of the "holy prophets" on the same plain as the Lord's. What he is saying is, Scripture is Scripture, folks.
We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception (1John 4:6). In this one, John is not talking about just this epistle, or even all of his epistles, but all the writing of the inspired men. If you don't listen to them, you are "not from God." Can't be much plainer, can he?
But all this just avoids the real issue. For many people, it doesn't matter who said it at all if they don't want to hear it. The kind of Bible they really want is a MY letter edition, whichever parts they like and want to hear. And what does Peter have to say about that?
"If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God…" (1 Pet 4:11). Which is to say, let him speak only the truth, understanding the incredible responsibility involved in speaking the Word of God. Whether he likes it or not.
Finally then, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God — as you are doing — do so even more. For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus (1Thess 4:1-2).
Dene Ward
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