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July 17,2007; Series Conclusion (3 of 3)

Focus Text: John 16.12-15

From the previous installment, we quote: “He [the Spirit of truth] was to guide them [the apostles] into all truth. He would speak only that which He heard from the Lord Jesus Christ, and all that the Father had also belonged to the Son. When it was all said and done, the Holy Spirit knew everything that Jesus wanted and needed to say to the apostles, and Jesus knew everything that the Father knew! There simply was no more truth anywhere in all the realms of heaven, truth that related to man’s salvation, which had not been revealed.” There are some implications that have significant impact on how we as believers live from day to day.

One significant implication is this: If all truth has been revealed, then that which claims to be revelation today is not from God. This flies in the face of many, many religions and religious practitioners. Every Sunday in our country, hundreds and thousands of ministers stand before their congregations and claim that they are speaking “what God laid on their heart,” or some similar claim. How can this be true if indeed all truth was revealed to the apostles of the first century? The prophets of old did not fail in their work and God certainly has not failed in preserving His word. This being true and with no ill will toward any one, we must conclude that those who profess to speak for God today (except as they cite biblical passages) are proponents of error and not of truth.

Secondly, the Bible must be treated as a unique book, totally unlike any other book with which we have to do. The Bible is the work-product of about 40 prophets. These men lived at various places in and around Canaan. These prophets generally lived in different timeframes, but those who knew one another did not need the aid of a fellow-prophet to complete their work. Individually they wrote the words given to them by God and collectively they penned THE word of God. The Bible is THE word of God, and as such contains all that it will ever contain. The vast majority of Bibles is printed in bound volumes and not loose leaf; there’s a reason for this! Almost everyone sees the Bible for what it is, as a finished book.

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…” (Hebrews 1.1-2a). When Jesus finished speaking through His apostles, He finished speaking! Those who profess to speak for Him today implicitly indict Him of failing to finish His work; such cannot be further from the truth. As Peter put it, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue…” (2 Peter 1.2-3). He gave us “all things that pertain to life and godliness.” Praise be to His Holy name!

Without the prophets, we would have no Bible; with the prophets, we have the Bible, God’s finished revelation of Himself to man and the means by which we can be reconciled to the Father. Honor God by honoring the prophets. Fear God and keep His commandments.

Questions:

1. Who empowered the prophets to speak?

2. How could people without a spiritual gift know that the words spoken by a prophet were true?

3. Having spoken through the prophets in times past, how did the Father choose to speak to the people of the first century?

4. How many of things that pertain to life and godliness has God given us?

"Today's Little Lift" from Jim Bullington

Comfort in Isaiah II (12-14-10)