BIBLE ONLY

[1watchman]

Some thoughts about non-denominations for consideration by seekers.

COMMENTARY ON BIBLE ONLY
Esteeming God's Word​

[It seems elementary to me to state the simple truth, that seekers after the mind of God and Christianity as He established, MUST look to the Bible ---New Testament, for all authority and direction for God's testimony in this age; yet I find many seekers miss that and look to all the reasoning, ideas, and preferences of men, and various rationale to learn what is the truth of life and the mind of our Creator-God. Truly there is no other source of absolute truth concerning all issues of life undergirding our existence, blessings, eternal hope, and the pathway and mind of and to God, other than the Holy Bible. He has given us all that we need to know to honor God and live and die with blessings. Will we appropriate it to ourselves? - Robert DeWitt]

This is not speaking much of redemption here, which is the essential foundation of life in God by Jesus, the Christ, but is sending an urgent message to professing Christians. The unity God has stated and desires in this world for His testimony of "one body in Christ", is not just being more fundamental in doctrines, I see, but a call to return to the Source. Aside from the very liberal and carnal Christian sects, we can see that even any discussion of the many forms of fundamentalism is sectarianism. Some Christians refer to "sola scriptura" in their religious organization, but it is mostly a misnomer there and rarely found present.

A true Bible-only fellowship is often charged with not being inclusive of enough religious ideas for all kinds of people ---however, the Church universal does not function for "all kinds of people", but is a company in the world of "born again" saints of God (John 3), who know the Lord Jesus and have a desire to worship and live for Him as shown. All people can easily find Bible help to be saved and part of the Church --- "Bride" of Christ (note the Gospel by John), and then should find a fellowship that conforms fully to the mind of God. It may have within it a few saints who prefer their own innovations and manners, and that truly needs to be discerned by godly saints there, and corrected as needed to bow to God and His immutable Word. Some do not appreciate that order so leave to find a more self-pleasing place ---forfeiting much.

A scriptural assembly worldwide seeks to be inclusive of all everywhere who will bow to God and His Word, and want to honor and obey Him. They hold to God's Word, and endeavor to honor it for all that pertains to His testimony and godliness as enjoined by God. There is no perfection among any saints of God, but God's testimony is trustworthy, and His intended gathering center should be His appointed fellowship for worship, study, and Gospel (as Acts 2: 41-42 in the beginning). Faithful saints need to "come and see", as Jesus said.

A biblical fellowship will hold to "all the counsel of God", and be "rightly dividing the Word of Truth". It will notably separate from many who prefer also ritualism, a priestly hierarchy, traditional ceremonies, creeds, charisma-spiritualism, various innovations, etc. to enhance their religious beliefs. Such ones by definition and practice want no part of Bible-only alone, as they are often quick to say.

We who are born anew of the Spirit of God (John 3) should be ever ready to embrace all that God has given us, without innovations of men or our own flesh; and seek a Godly and happy fellowship of faithful worshippers, who seek communion with our Lord Jesus in accord with His intent 'til He comes again for His "bride" --the universal Church.

The Christians who cannot accept pure Bible and must include innovations, deletions, and personal interests to their sectarian choices, should be left to their choices and ways, I believe, and not troubled about it; argumentation is not God's way. If they reject the offers of Bible-only ---which those of us who collectively understand and show unity in, we must only commend them to God and move on. Our faith is all about choices, and our choices need to be fully in accord with God's Word as written (preferably the KJV Bible for more dependable study, I believe).

The way God intends for "unity of the faith" and "no schism" in the expression of "one body in Christ" in the world, I believe (1 Cor. 12), is for all serious saints to appreciate the extensive studies down through history by many scholars and teachers since that revival of circa 1800 AD, and specifically the recovery in 1827 AD. It was a return to God's Word from sectarianism of late Middle Ages (after the Reformation Movement of circa 1500 AD). This can be studied through books on ministry and history at Bible Truth Publishers, Addison, IL. May God help us all to learn and value the immutable Word of God. If readers are seekers, they can learn of such fellowship as herein stated worldwide at the biblecounsel.net web site. -RLD

 

[Phil 1:21]

The only thing I would add to your original quote would be that the Old Testament is just as important as the New Testament with respect to understanding God's Word. Those who read and study only the New Testament come into the theater 2/3 of the way through the movie. It amazed me how better I began to understand the New Testament once I began reading and studying the Old Testament.

 

[alex2165]

AMEN JayW, perfect explanation!

Who would read a book from its middle? Who would study genealogy from its end? Who would go to college without finishing material of the high school?

The big problem today with many Christian denominations is that they often ignore the Old testament and do not understand that it would be no New testament without the Old One.

And studying New Testament only, will never give to anyone it’s full and complete understand and knowledge.

Jesus Christ came from the Old Testament; His genealogy is written in Matthew and Luke, one through the kings of Judah, and another through the patriarchs of Israel.

It was Him Who led Israel out of Egypt, and it was Him Who gave them the Law, it was Him Who protected them and Who punished them until He Himself came to them in flesh, and led Israel and Gentiles not to any other physical land of milk and honey, but to Heaven itself.

Ignoring these facts will never give anyone full and complete understanding of Jesus Christ, His mission, and His salvation.

Above all, Jesus did not brought anything new in His teaching, He always and constantly quoted Old Testament and brought absolutely nothing from Himself, as He often said, teach, and claim.

But the church in general prefer to have their own teachings and doctrines beside the Word of GOD, and this is why they often ignoring the Old Testament, falsely claiming that Gentiles replaced Jews as the people of GOD, and this is why they do not study either Torah nor prophets.

 

[Phil 1:21]

Much agreed.


That being the case, our church often suggests people new to the Bible start at the Gospels. I understand why; they want to make sure people get that "booster shot" of Jesus right off the bat. If they told people to start at Genesis I suspect very few would ever get to the Gospels. Let's be honest, from about halfway through Exodus through Leviticus and halfway into Numbers things can be a bit laborious to read. I know the first time I committed to read the Bible start to finish I couldn’t wait until I got through “101 ways to burn a ram” (meant in jest).


Often when people commit to read the entire Bible it takes a long time. I’ve heard a year is normal. It took me about 4-5 months the first time. At that rate it would take new believers a long time to ever get to the New Testament, and I’m afraid the vast majority would give up before they ever got that far. What I usually suggest is start at Matthew and read to the end. Then go back to Genesis and don’t stop until the end of Revelation.

 

[1watchman]

The only thing I would add to your original quote would be that the Old Testament is just as important as the New Testament with respect to understanding God's Word. Those who read and study only the New Testament come into the theater 2/3 of the way through the movie. It amazed me how better I began to understand the New Testament once I began reading and studying the Old Testament.

Yes, the OT is very important in knowing the ways and purposes of God from the beginning, but I think the paper was speaking of this age as the primary concern for salvation, church truth, and spiritual life. I found it very instructive for Christianity, then one can also read about creation, history, and God's dealings with His covenant people of Israel thereafter ---which is about types of the real hope for mankind which is found in the Lord Jesus, who fulfilled all types of the OT. Most Bible scholars show the OT as foreshadowing that which we have today, even in all their ordinances, worship, etc. As was stated in that paper, Bible-Only as "all the counsel of God" must be our source to know God and His pathway in this age. Look up always!