Words are important, especially the words of our God and King Jesus. On Judgement Day you and I will be judged by His words (John 12:48). Jesus is the “author of salvation” (Hebrews 5:8,9). Because of this we need to consult the teachings of Christ regarding salvation and Christian living. God the Father commands us to “listen to Him” (Luke 9:35). We are warned to take heed how we hear (Luke 8:18) as well as what we hear (Mark 4:24).
There is grave danger in careless handling of God’s Word. As Christians, we must relay the message of Truth to all men everywhere (Matthew 28:19,20). That message cannot be altered and still be the Truth (Galatians 1:6-9). God has always warned against adding to or taking away from His Words (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18-19). Paul told Timothy that some preachers would preach false doctrine to appease people with itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3,4). Throughout the Bible, both false teachers and those who tolerate them are condemned.
Every Christian must give diligence to handling correctly the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15,16). Earnest effort must be given to learning and teaching the Truth (1 Peter 3:15). James warned that teachers shall receive harsher punishment for teaching error (James 3:1).
With these things being so how is it that on any given Lord’s Day preachers of every sort, who claim to be teaching the Bible will not all agree and will even have polar opposite messages from the exact same Scripture? How can it be that some groups will teach that baptism is necessary for salvation while others will fervently deny that baptism has anything at all to do with salvation? The Word of God cannot have multiple meanings that contradict each other. The Bible does not teach one thing to some people and something else others. God is not a god of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). How could we ever obey God’s command given by Paul to the Corinthians, “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10 NKJV) if there Is not one clear meaning to scripture? How could we ever identify false teachings and teachers if there is a multiplicity of meanings for the text?
Friends, it only makes sense that if God commands people through His Word that He would make its meaning clear and understandable for us all. If the Bible is a lamp and light to guide us then certainly we all can grasp its meaning.
The elders could never convict the gainsayer (Titus 1:9) if there is not one clear and definable Truth. God would be cruel if He is going to judge us by a unattainable truth that is Impossible to know and teach.
Worship Thoughts 