October 21, 2022 -- II Timothy 4:1-5 -- God has spoken and His Word is complete
/People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
II Timothy 4:1-5 ESV
The Word—that is the Bible. All that God the Father has chosen to reveal is fully contained in the Bible. Voddie Baucham once noted: “The Bible is not in a loose-leaf binder, y’all; it is bound in leather. The canon is closed.” That means what the LORD our God has chosen to reveal is fully available since the end of the New Testament era.
What is the significance of this? One huge implication is how one speaks when teaching, counseling, and preaching. It is entirely wrong to declare: “the LORD spoke to me” or “God told me”. If this were actually true, the Bible has to be put into a binder form once again so more pages could be added. But it is not true. The Bible is fully written. All that God intends to communicate at this time has been spoken as prophets were carried along. Sixty-six books, by about 40 authors, compiled over 1,500 years is now recognized as canon, as the standard and the complete teaching.
How does the LORD our God communicate now? The LORD of Glory directs His people by the Word. He gives His Holy Spirit to awaken the conscience. The Spirit helps us discern the voice of Jesus in the Word. The Spirit directs Christians by the Word so that one part here and another part there all work together to inform the believer. Job calls the word of God a deep mine, from which men struggle and work and labor in order to uncover the treasures of wisdom (Job 28). The Faithful One gives people peace in accordance with their submission to the Word even as He disciplines and brings suffering which purifies the Christian for greater holiness. The Spirit shows believers things in the Word. The Spirit speaks to our spirit confirming we are beloved children of the Heavenly Father (Romans 8:15,16).
Father in heaven, blessed be Your Name! Thank You for all You have revealed in Your Word. Thank You for its unity and beauty. Thank You that it is utterly trustworthy. Spirit of the Living God, give us the ability receive all the Father intends to bless us with through the accomplished work of Jesus. Spirit of God, direct Your people to so that their words and work are carried out in complete accord with the will of God. Amen.
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