Phil Hopkins
We must stop and think about what it means for God to be all knowing and all powerful. There are many who don’t consider what this implies. The fact that in his word or the revelation of his thoughts to mankind we will find perfection. I remember reading those who would set forth the fact that God’s word is without error but then try to take the cowards way out be not setting forth the perfection of the word. The fact that it is without error and is a guide to us today giving us instructions as to how we are to live our lives. They don’t trust God and that he will provide for his people to guide them in his ways. We are to learn and respect God’s word. We find in such instruction in: 1 Pet. 4:11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. NASB or put in other words: 1 Pet. 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. KJV
The Greek word lógion which is translated in the KJV oracles means a diminutive of logos from which we get the English word Logic and means “a word, narrative, statement,” It denotes “a Divine response or utterance, an oracle; So the NASB gives an excellent rendering of the word by translating it utterance. Meaning that we should follow God’s words in all that do.
Reading in the Old Testament Solomon tells us in Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
The New Testament corollary is found in: John 14:15 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. Or that it does matter to God what we do religiously. We are to do only what God has commanded us. Or to put it another way how we offer him worship. We are to do it on his terms not ours. John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth. Our worship given to God is not “freeform” but we must follow the pattern that is given to us by God.
We are warned that we must follow God in all that we do. God’s wisdom is extremely valuable and open for those who will listen and follow him. We find in II Timothy 3:16 Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work. (ASV) God has not left us without instruction, without teaching, without a path Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And light unto my path. [ASV] He has let us know how we are to obey him. How we are to live our lives, how we are to worship him, how we are to become a Christian. He has given us everything. Everything that we need to know to serve him as he wants, and how we are to live our lives.
We must be very careful and not get distracted with the things of this life and those around us in religious error. It always amazes me when those in religious error respond with a yes, but … If it is in God’s word we are to follow it, no questions asked. On Wednesday evening we have been studying how we should deal with false teachers, yet there are many who follow their teachings for some reason. When anyone teaches something contrary to God’s word, we are to run ( not walk) from them and avoid every aspect of their teaching. We are not to fear them (Deut. 18:20 But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. 21 And if thou say in thy heart, How shall we know the word which Jehovah hath not spoken? 22 when a prophet speaketh in the name of Jehovah, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which Jehovah hath not spoken: the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, thou shalt not be afraid of him. [ASV] ) or follow them (Jer. 29: 8 For thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Let not your prophets that are in the midst of you, and your diviners, deceive you; neither hearken ye to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. 9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith Jehovah.). When one hears one teaching something not in God’s word as if it comes from God, we are to avoid them. These folks are not serving God but themselves. We find that the church in Galatia got deceived by what we call the Judaizing teachers to follow the law. They listened to those who taught error and followed them, instead of following God. We also must be very careful with those that we listen to and support or follow to be sure that they teach and follow God, and the Bible (God’s word to mankind). We must not be willing to compromise God’s word.