But Continue Thou In the Things Which You Have Learned And Hast Been Assured Of -- The Holy Scriptures Which Are Able To Make Thee Wise - Part 1714

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplications and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn ..." (Zechariah 12:10)

"And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him, for He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon His head; and He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing and was clad with zeal as a cloke ... so shall they fear the Name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift a standard against him and the Redeemer shall come to Zion and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob," saith the Lord. (Isaiah 59:16-20)

No, nothing is hid from the lover who desires in their heart to know our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ. Both of the scriptures above were written before the coming of the Lord as a mighty man, so that we could be assured -- as Peter (standing with the eleven) was on the day of Pentecost -- that this same Jesus whom ye have crucified, is indeed both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36; Isaiah 42:13; I Timothy 3:16)

These two prophecies above pointing forward to the coming of our blessed Saviour, in which we can now savour of His knowledge wherever we might be. Having freely received His precious gift of salvation, we desire to pursue Him in everything we do -- "For we preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord!" (II Corinthians 4:3-6)

Like those who put down their nets to follow Jesus when Jesus walked upon this earth, we should earnestly desire to become Jesus' disciples with the mindset -- for this cause we faint not. Why? Because the gospel cannot be hid, for if it is hid, it is hid to them that are lost. (II Corinthians 4:3)

And in order for the Lord to bring scripture to our remembrance, we have to first hide His holy scriptures -- the Word -- within our hearts, studying to shew ourselves approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15)

To that end, and for believers to understand how to effectively study His Word, we should recognize that the books contained within the Bible are not separate histories, but rather, a part of a continuous storyline to which different prophets and writers added various sections to comprise the totality of the scriptures that we have today.

Jesus said unto them, "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me." (Luke 24:44)

Herein, Jesus clarifies that He is the fulfillment of the old testament -- oft referred to as the law, the prophets, and psalms. As Jesus points out -- "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it." (Luke 16:16; Matthew 11:13) This remains consistent with apostle Paul's teaching to the saints at Corinth -- that even in the reading of the old testament (when Moses is read) the vail is upon their heart. (II Corinthians 3:14-17) And of Peter's teachings also -- as demonstrated in his epistles.

Moreover, we recognize these instructions to be in keeping with the doctrines and teachings of Jesus, and later the apostles, who spoke of the first and second commandment -- loving the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and from His love flowing through us to love one another. As Jesus told us, "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."(Matthew 22:40; Matthew 12:29-31; Deuteronomy 6:4) The Lord in this current dispensation of grace having delivered to His people a "new thing."

This is why we can claim -- with blessed assurance -- that the scriptures were not simply men writing of their own accord. In fact, in both the old and the new, these all spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (II Peter 1:21) Further clarity on this point can be found in Acts 1:2-3 which states:

"Until the day in which He [Jesus] was taken up, after that He [Jesus] through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He [Jesus] had chosen: to whom also He [Jesus] shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God ..." (Acts 1:2-3)

As a consequence, the Bible then is not only a continuous thread that intertwines the historical record with the good news salvation message for one and all -- but as we are told -- "lo, behold, the volume of the book is written of Me." (Hebrews 10:7; Psalms 40:7)

That is, the greatest love story ever written -- that God Himself willingly took on sin-prone flesh (yet was without sin) so that we -- His beloved creation -- could be redeemed. 

"After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7)

Just like the Lord walked with Adam in the Garden of Eden in the cool of the afternoon, He is seeking a relationship with His creation -- you and I -- whom He loved enough to shed His precious holy blood on the cross. And yes, He is still inviting us into the fold, extending His invitation for you to come -- all ye who are burdened and heavy laden "and I will give you rest" For Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. "No man comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6)

From Peter's writings (a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ) "to them that have obtained precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" we understand that the scriptures "according as His divine power hath given unto us ALL things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hat called us to glory and virtue." (II Peter 1:1-3)

Again, there is nothing hidden from those who seek the Lord Jesus with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. But note that Peter, whilst stirring up our pure minds by way of remembrance does not just refer to his own writings as the gospel truth, but also confirms the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandments of the apostles of the Lord and Saviour. To this end, note that Peter confirms our beloved brother Paul's epistles (previously Saul) -- also according to the wisdom given unto him. (II Peter 3:15)

"As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." (II Peter 3:16)

Thus, don't be swayed by the whims of this world, or a religious culture who pushes the scriptures aside, pretending that His Word has no relevance in this world. It is no wonder the Word of the Lord flowed through the prophet Hosea saying, "My people perish for lack of knowledge ..." (Hosea 6:4)

It is for this reason that the Lord is continually encouraging us to "continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of who thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus, all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (II Timothy 3:14-17)

Because indeed, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal -- "The Lord knows them that are His," and, "Let every one that names the Name of Christ depart from iniquity." (II Timothy 2:19)

Time is short. The kingdom of God is nigh. Ask Jesus to fulfill His purpose in you today. Stand in the offering plate.