THE RIGHT RECEPTION OF THE WORD OF GOD
A. "YE RECEIVED IT NOT AS THE WORD OF MAN, BUT AS IT IS IN TRUTH, THE WORD OF GOD." - 1 Thess. 2:13
1. A Bible Christian has a great deal to do with the Bible. To be informed in God’s word is:
a. A great privilege
b. A great blessing - Josh. 1:8; Deut. 17:19
2. His very life, past, present, and future, is interwoven with the teaching of the Bible:
a. He lives by it - Matt. 4:4; Jer. 15:16
b. It is his wisdom - Ps. 119:99, 100; 2 Tim. 3:15-17
B. LET US ATTEMPT TO ANALYZE OUR OPENING TEXT TO LEARN SOME OF ITS IMPLICATIONS
1. The Word of God:
a. When we speak of the Word of God we include the sixty-six books of the Bible - 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Luke 24:25-28
b. Paul included all the sacred writings in all his messages - Acts 24:14; 26:22
c. It is noteworthy to see how our Lord uses the `all’ when explaining the Bible - Luke 24:25-28
d. Paul follows the Saviour’s example by using the word `all’ in his explanation of the Bible - 2 Tim. 3:16, 17
2. Has it ever occurred to you that the books of Moses and the prophets are never called "The Old Testament"?:
a. They are called "the book of the Lord" - Isa. 34:16
b. "The scripture of truth" - Dan. 10:21
c. "The gospel of God" - Rom. 1:1-3
d. "The lively oracles" - Acts 7:38; Rom. 3:2; 1 Pet. 4:11
e. And as our text confirms that the Bible is in truth the Word of God - Col. 3:16; 1 Thess. 2:13
3. How we are to receive the Word of God:
a. The Bible must be received as the Word of God.
b. When we receive the scriptures in this manner they will be in reality, the Word of God tous-
(1) Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost - 2 Pet. 1:20; Acts 1:16
(2) John 16:12, 13
c. We receive the Word with implicit confidence - Ps. 119:18,20, 33. "I trust in thy word" (verses 42, 66, 74, 105, 140,160)
d. With great and humble affection - Prov. 16:24; Ps. 119:103
C. BLESSINGS OF THE WORD OF TRUTH
1. It makes us wise unto salvation: 2 Tim. 3:15
2. They, who are ignorant of the scriptures, are in utter darkness:Matt. 22:29
3. God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path: Ps. 119:105
4. It is a bright shining light in a world filled with great spiritual darkness: 2 Pet. 1:19; Isa. 60:1-3
5. It reveals our duty to God and our fellow man: Rom. 1:16; Isa. 34:16, 17
6. It is the only basis of sound doctrine: 2 Tim. 3:16, 17
7. It is the only enduring foundation of our faith: Matt. 24:35
8. Let us approach the Bible with holy reverence and prayer: Isa. 66:5
9. It is food for the soul: Jer. 15:16
10. If we receive it into our hearts it will make us free from the traditions of men: John 8:32; 17:17
11. How wonderful it is to open our hearts to the life-giving Word of God!
12. When it can be said of us, "Ye received it not as the word of man, but as it is in truth, THE WORD OF GOD", then we give it the reception it deserves:
