Fruit of the Spirit

For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth...Eph 5:9

Fall 2002                                                            Volume 3, Issue 4

I was in prison, and ye came unto me... Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matt. 25:36,40 Prison Report

By Larry West

One of the foremost and basic principles for studying the Bible with others is to determine the standard of authority. Exactly what, or who, will be the ultimate authority by which all questions will be answered and all teaching be measured? What, or who, will have the final word? What guidelines are we going to agree to follow?

If agreement is not reached, it will pretty well be impossible to ever arrive at the same conclusion. Are dreams, man's wisdom, or philosophy of equal authority with the scriptures? Does God speak to us today through dreams, or speak directly to us and tell us which way to go and what to do?

Many years ago a Christian lady asked me to study the Bible with her husband who was not a Christian. Needless to say, I was happy for the opportunity. When I sat down with him, I turned to 2 Peter 1:3, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” As we discussed that God had provided us with all things we need for life and godliness, he said, “I don't believe that!” His background was from the standpoint that God still speaks through a man today and whatever that man says is equally important, if not more so, than what the Bible says. As long as a person believes this, he can ignore or deny any scripture. After all, he can just quote what some man says for his authority. He never was willing to study with me further.

Those of us who believe that the scriptures are the verbally inspired word of God know who and what our authority is. Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, “... All power [authority] is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” We understand that we will be judged “out of those things which were written in the books [books of the Bible], according to our works." (Revelation 20:12) We believe Jesus when he says, "He that rejecteth me and

receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). We believe, accept and obey God's command to “study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2Timothy 2:15). 2Timothy 3:14-17 informs us that the holy scriptures are “able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Then, we are told of the benefits of studying and adhering to God’s word and assured that it is sufficient to bring us to completion and to totally furnish [equip] us for all good works. Hebrews 11:6 declares that without faith we cannot please God and, Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

God warns man not to deviate from His word in any way by adding or taking away or substituting something else (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:5,6; Revelation 22:16,19; and, Galatians 1:6-9). Please take a few moments and read all of these scripture references.

In the prisons some men ultimately realize that the way they have been living has not been a smashing success. Some decide that religion might not hurt and possibly could help. But, where do you begin? Most only know what they have seen on TV or what some pitifully misguided soul is telling them. Some have attended some kind of religious service before being arrested but the vast majority were being led astray even then. (Matthew 7:13,14) They are therefore very confused.

The only way to reach them with the gospel is to bring them to an agreement that the scriptures will be our ultimate authority; that all questions will be settled by what the Bible teaches; and that we will not believe or accept the teaching of men.

I was in prison, and ye came unto me... Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matt. 25:36,40

Inside...
Page 1 - Pastors | Page 2 - Where In The Bible Will I Find...
Page 3 - Prison Report | Page 4 - Old Testament Studies | Page 5 - The Christian In Business
Page 6 - Where Did The Bible Come From? | Page 7 - Christian Evidences | Page 8 - One Coat Is Not Enough
Page 9 - The Christian Home | Page 10 - Continuations | Page 11 - The Children's Page
Page 12 - Announcements

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