And the Word Was Made Flesh and Dwelt Among Us, And We Beheld His Glory- Part 1205

"Preach the Word, be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine ... for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and they shall turn their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables." (II Timothy 4:2-4)

Within the majority of the modern day church community, we are witnessing the turning away from the apostles' doctrine that Peter (standing with the eleven other apostles) delivered to the first 3,000 souls saved on the day of Pentecost. Those new believers that gladly received the good news gospel of their Lord God and Saviour, including repentance and water baptism in the name of Jesus. (Acts 2:36-42)

Today, however, rather than abiding in Jesus -- the King of kings and Lord of lords -- or seeking His counsel and wisdom through His Word, the preference is fine-sounding, eloquent teachers spinning out their personal take on scripture, without you and I ever seeking an understanding of these same scriptures on our own.

The difficulty with this practice is this. If we do not know what the Word actually says, how can we preach the Word with all long suffering and doctrine? How can we be instant both in and out of season? Or, in the increasing of our faith, acquire an ability to sharpen one another, as the apostles did?

For example, when Paul, a servant of God and an apostles of Jesus Christ (according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness) wrote to Titus, he was adamant about "holding fast the faithful Word as he had been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision whose mouths must be stopped -- who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake." (Titus 1:1-11)

There are many who refuse to continue steadfastly in the apostles doctrine, in breaking of bread, in fellowship and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)

Note for purposes of clarity that Paul here was specifically referring to the Cretians, whereby a prophet of their own even proclaimed the Cretians to be always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. (Titus 1:12) But sadly, we see this same type of issue emerging in the modern day religious culture today, willfully blinding entire families from knowing the truth.

That is, Jesus is the ONLY mediator between God and man. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus is the bread of life. Jesus is the door to salvation and eternal life.

Why is this important? Because there are too many new believers who are still learning and feeding from the milk (although I am sure this point can be equally applied to many believers who consider themselves mature).  Still, the scriptures state -- "for when for the time we ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat." (Hebrews 5:12-13)

Why do we need strong meat? Because it belongs to those who by reason of use have their senses exercised, to discern both good and evil. Only then can we really begin to grow in our faith journey toward perfection, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ behind.

Hebrews 6 states: "Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement." (Hebrews 6:1-2)

The point is this. Time is short. And, as well, it is critical that believers in Jesus the Christ by faith understand the Godhead, and not pray to an "unknown god" as the apostles discovered on one occasion in the book of Acts. In fact, we need to know firsthand who God is -- and, that the Word referred to in the scriptures is in fact Jesus.

Yes, the Word is the prophesied Christ (or Messiah) that prophets foretold of hundreds of years before He was born. The Word is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) And we are sanctified through Thy Word.

"And they shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sin." (Matthew 1:21-23)

We also know about the Word from the first chapter of John, which states: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God." (John 1:1-2)

Note that verse 2 says "the same" was with God -- and not another He, as modern day religion presents.

Further, "He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God [even] to them that believe on His name." (John 1:10-12)

Indeed, the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)

Sadly, this is only one doctrine that is not being accurately taught today in the church community. There are many others too, but it does not have to be this way. James wrote:  "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all liberally, and upbraids not, and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." (James 1:1-8)

Instead, let's study His Word for our own understanding and edification. Most of all, as James wrote -- "do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures." (James 1:16-18)

And, don't forget to "be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James 1:22) Study the Word, as a workman does so that not only you can profit, but those to whom you preach the gospel of the kingdom. Stand in the offering plate.