July 2009

ARE THE TRUTHS IN THE WORD OF GOD
IN A CLASS BY THEMSELVES?
 
by Cameron Paine

INTRODUCTION  

Are the teachings of God in a class by themselves? Perhaps another prominent idea should be added--Is the Bible that special? Or, ‘Is the word of God just a part of a bigger truth—which is truth? Do the truths of God stand out on the spiritual battlefield?  
     

This meditation considers some of the various ways the Bible teaches that God’s word is absolutely special; the Bible gives reasons why what it says are truths which are in a class by themselves; what they say is in one word: unique. Because this is so this meditation considers some of the reasons why looking upon God’s word as just one partial source of truth among many sources of truth is not an intellectual error but is a great sin against God, a personal affront to his majesty; a sin with eternal consequences. This meditation attempts to show some of the ways in which the Bible teaches that to view God’s word--and the declarations it contains--as being just a partial source of truth, a source of ‘truth’ that is on the same level of truth as all other sources of truth is a grave sin, one with eternal consequences.

The reasons why it is vital to recognize the ‘uniqueness’ of God’s truths are considered under 6 headings and the concluding remarks.
           
  1---God’s statements set the stage
  2---Because We Live In A Spiritual Battlefield Where Many Voices Are saying, ‘This Is The Truth’
  3---Because The ‘Speaker’ Of The Bible Is Unique           
  4---Because The Scope Of God’s ‘Creation’ Is Unique     
  5---Because Jesus Himself Is Unique
  6---Because The Word Of The Eternal God Is Unique

(1) GOD’S STATEMENTS SET THE STAGE

Jesus said, "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters." (Luke 11:23)  There is no such thing as being closer or getting closer to God. Either / Or. An individual who is dead is no closer to being physically alive than any other dead individual is. The same is true of spiritual existence. Either you are alive or you are dead.  There is no position in between.  

(2)  BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A SPIRITUAL BATTLEFIELD WHERE    
    MANY 'VOICES' ARE SAYING, 'THIS IS THE TRUTH'  
 

The reasons why it is vital to recognize the ‘uniqueness’ of God’s truths is because we live in a spiritual battlefield where many 'voices' are saying, 'This is the truth'. Because we live in a spiritual battlefield it is important, indeed essential, to hear, to distinguish, and to heed the voice of God. Why? Because there are many other 'voices' trying to win our devotion and ultimate respect.  Why is it important, indeed essential, to distinguish and pay heed to the voice of God?  Because the Bible tells us that the kind of ‘world’ we live in is a spiritual battlefield where everybody is being exposed to many proclamations of truth which are incompatible with what God reveals.  A soldier on a physical battlefield had better distinguish between 'friend and foe'. The soldier in God's army needs to make those same distinctions.  Continuous discernment, continuous distinguishing, and continuous heeding the one voice of the Creator God is vital.

How do I know this? Because the Bible tells me so. The Bible tells me about the world I live in on earth. In the words of the apostle Paul addressed to the believers in Ephesus-- “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and  against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12) Another apostle addresses these words to believers: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8)

Reasoning also leads to the same conclusion—that this world is a spiritual battleground. 1)The existence of evil spirits is no less real than is the existence of God. 2)The existence of evil spirits is no less real than is the existence of that spirit which the Bible speaks of as the Holy Spirit. 3)The existence of evil spirits is no less real than the existence of human beings—beings who are at  the same time physical as well as spiritual beings.

If anybody thinks human beings are the only living ‘beings’ in or on this world he or she is denying the existence of  the being of God and his relevance to everything that happens in this world. He or she is also denying what the Bible says about ‘life’ in this world; he or she is denying  the existence of the evil spirits, powers, authorities etc. that the Bible says do exist and which are the enemies or opponents of believers.

Evil spirits are not visible to the eye of flesh any more than God is. It is because evil spirits are not visible, are not    physical beings, that they are not looked upon as real enemies of God or of God’s people as the Bible reveals is the case.

What does history tell us? It shows us that what cannot be seen can be very harmful, even deadly.  For centuries germs and viruses were not looked upon as real because they could not be seen.

Germs are too small for the naked eye to see. But we know a little bit about the tremendous damage and harm they can cause immediately or over time.  What about the damage and harm the invisible spiritual enemies of all people (which the Bible says exist) can bring about? Do we have evidence that that damage or harm Is irrelevant or insignificant? No. It is hard to fight an enemy you can’t see, one  that you don’t even know is working on you and against you.

For the same reason that the existence of germs and viruses was denied—they could not be seen--the existence of evil spirits--is often denied today--they cannot be seen. But God knows--and has always known--that they do exist and that they pose a constant threat to God’s people. The precise target that the enemies of God’s people are concerned with is not the Christians themselves but is their belief in the God who created the universe and who revealed his thoughts, purposes, and plans in the Bible.

It is worth being reminded of that fundamental description of the ‘world’ believers live in. Human beings are not alone in this world.  “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)

The world we live in is not an inert, lifeless, inactive, neutral,  place like a dead beehive. On the contrary, it is a ‘battlefield’. It is a ‘battlefield’ where the ‘bullets are flying’. This world is a spiritual battlefield where true and false ideas are swirling  about. It is a battlefield on which every person must be on one side or the other, either on God’s side or not on God’s side, the side of God’s enemies—the side of evil. There is no third choice. There are no sidelines There is no room for innocent bystanders any more than the passengers on a boat without lifeboats can stand outside the rail. It is not possible to be neutral or to be partly on one side and partly on the other. What does the Bible say? Jesus said, "He who is not with me is against me,  and he who does not gather with me, scatters." (Luke 11:23) 

The spiritual or eternal dimension to the conflict that is going on ‘in’ this world is clearly revealed in different ways in the Bible. Each of these way shows why continuously distinguishing the voice of God and continuously discerning the difference between good and evil is absolutely essential; as essential as continuous breathing is for the body while on earth.

Some of the ways that the Bible communicates the idea that the kind of warfare that is occurring on this battlefield is fundamentally a ‘spiritual’ conflict (not a physical one) are listed below. What is meant by 'spiritual' in this context is that it involves realities which have no physical connection with any particular 'location' in time or space. Examples would be the reality of good and evil, the reality of what pleases God and what he hates, the reality of 'life' on earth and the reality of 'life' beyond the death of the physical body.
The 6 ways described in this meditation that God teaches us that the issue is a spiritual conflict are as follows: 

         a)  The specific command of God to believers to put on God’s armor for protection from spiritual enemies. 
         b)  The kinds of weapons needed and used to fight for God and against our spiritual enemies.
         c)   The specific command of God to test the spirits.
         d)   The necessity and significance of distinguishing between good and evil
         e)   The concept of sin makes the spiritual conflict very personal and real
          f)   The nature of the conflict on this battlefield is an unresolvable clash of fundamental ‘world views’ –either ‘life’ ends with the death of the body or (what God says)
               —there is a ‘life’ beyond death which is far better (for believers)’
        

a)  The specific command of God to believers to put on God’s armor for protection from spiritual enemies.  How does God communicate to us the idea that we live in a world where many different ideas about reality are flying about? How does God communicate to us the idea  that we are living in a battlefield of ideas? He says in so many words, ‘To survive on this spiritual battlefield requires special equipment—God’s armor. Putting on God’s armor is not an option. It is a requirement. God says the danger that the evil spirits, Satan, pose is real. It is because the existence of evil spirits, of evil, is real that particular actions need to be taken. It is because the eternal danger to which believers are exposed on this battlefield is real that believers are commanded (not invited!) by God to protect themselves by  putting on the armor which God provides. God says, ‘Do it, put on my  armor’.  “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of  evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and  with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of  peace.16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you  can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet  of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word.” (Ephesians 6:13-17) 

b)  The kinds of weapons needed and used to fight for God and against our spiritual enemies How does God communicate the idea to us that we live in a world where many different ideas about reality are flying about? How does he get across to us the fact that we are living in a battlefield of ideas? That this world is a spiritual battleground is perhaps best expressed in the discussion of the armor and the weapons that believers and their opponents use. We have already looked at the verses in which God discusses the kind of opponents believers face (‘not flesh and blood’; Ephesians 6:12). We have already looked at the verses in which God discusses the kind of armor which God provides and which God commands believers to put on (Ephesians 6:13 -17). Now let’s look at the evidence of the ‘spiritual’ battle that God sets before us in his discussion of the kind of weapons believers are to use on this battlefield, in this ‘warfare’. The Bible says, "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2  Corinthians 10:3-5) Is not this evidence of the kind of battlefield believers live in--a spiritual battlefield where spiritual beings called spirits, powers, authorities are at war with believers?

In Jesus’ own recorded prayer to the Father in heaven the gift of salvation—eternal life--is connected with the non-physical idea of knowing God. “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)   

The apostle Paul in his prayer spoke about knowledge and discernment, saying, "And this is my prayer: that your love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ," (Philippians 1:9-10; cf. 2 Peter 3:11, 13-14)

c)  The specific command of God to test the spirits’. Another way God communicates the fact to us that we live in a world where many different ideas about reality are flying about, that we are living in a battlefield of ideas is the by the existence of God’s command to test the spirits. He commands us, saying, ‘Test the spirits’. Why would he command believers to do that if there were no spiritual enemies that were disguising their real motives and objectives? But God knows everybody is surrounded by spiritual enemies, spiritual antagonists who deliberately disguise their ungodly motives and objectives. Nobody, especially believers, should ever assume that anybody who says he is on the side of God is, in reality, on the side of God. Don’t assume that everyone who says he is your friend is in truth your friend. Truth and falsehoods come in ‘containers’ of all shapes and sizes. What is God’s command? ‘Test the spirits.’ This is not an option. God says, ‘Test the spirits.’ ‘Test the spirits.’ Be on your guard at all times. Never cease being wary. Never let your guard down. “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” (1 John 4:1-3)

There are many ‘voices’ on the battlefield all saying, ‘Listen to me; my  words are true.’ That something or someone sounds wise and makes beautiful sounding pronouncements is not evidence that they are speaking the truth or uttering the words of the eternal God. “For such men (false teachers) are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) The fact that there are many voices saying or implying that what they are saying is the truth, this is how creation is structured, requires believers to be wary. Developing the ability to distinguish the voice of God and the voice of evil spirits is not a suggestion anymore than wearing the appropriate armor is a suggestion. Developing that ability is an essential. Test the spirits That is God’s command.

d)  The necessity and significance of distinguishing between good and evil The need to distinguish between good and evil implies a command.  How can a soldier survive if he cannot differentiate between a foe and friend?  Another way God communicates to believers the fact that believers live in a world where many different ideas about what is ‘good’ are flying about is God’s statement about distinguishing good from evil. Repeatedly engaging in the activity of distinguishing between good and evil is like practicing an instrument: the ability or skill gets better. Developing the ability to distinguish good from evil on the spiritual battlefield is not an option anymore than soldiers on a physical battlefield behaving as if there were no enemy is an option. But the ability to distinguish what pleases God from what displeases God is a spiritual one that has eternal significance. Your eternal life may be affected by your ability to detect the difference between what is godly and what only looks godly the same way a solder on a physical battlefield had better know the difference between a fellow soldier and the enemy.  The ability to distinguish between good and evil is not an ability that a person is born with but is an ability that takes time and practice to develop. God says “But solid food is for the mature” And who are the mature? The Bible says they are the people “;kwho by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.“ (Hebrews 5:14)

And who that has no familiarity with the Word of God can have trained himself to distinguish between what is really good from the evil that only looks good?

The seasoned warrior in God’s army, that is, the man or woman who has been called out of darkness and who has met many spiritual enemies, has developed that necessary ability to distinguish between the good and the evil, between the good and what only looks good. His life has depended upon his ability to distinguish between ‘friend and enemy’. When the apostle Paul knew his mission on earth was almost over he said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Addressing the individuals in the church at Rome the apostle Paul says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)  Ceasing to conform to the pattern of this world and becoming transformed by the renewing of your mind is evidence that the believer is becoming more proficient at distinguishing good from evil, at distinguishing what is really good from the evil that has put on a disguise that makes it look 'good'.  

The need of believers to make the distinction between what is good and what only looks good never ends on earth until God stops it—when God’s ‘history’ moves to another stage--the eternal stage--that stage referred to in the Bible by many different expressions –such as ‘the coming age’ (1 Timothy 6:19), ‘the life which is truly life’ (1 Timothy 6:19),’that age’ (Luke 20:34-35), ‘the kingdom of heaven’ (1 Peter 1:4), the time and place where there is no crying or death (Revelation 21:4) etc.).  But in this world the need of believers to distinguish between good and what only looks good never disappears. One of the clearest statements of this truth--that in this world the spiritual battle will never cease--is Jesus’ statement, in the parable of the kingdom of heaven. “Jesus told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27  The owner's servants came to him and said, `Sir,  didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' 28 `An enemy did this,' he replied. The servants asked him, `Do you want us to go and pull them up?' 29 `No,' he answered, `because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30  Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the  harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' " (Matthew 13:24-30) And again, in the explanation of that parable we read: “The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.“ (Matthew 13:38-41)

e)  The concept of sin makes the spiritual conflict very personal and real  Another indirect way that the Bible tells us that this spiritual battle for the hearts and minds of men will never cease on earth is when the Bible identifies the enemy of every believer as ‘sin’. Sin is everywhere, the same way the air we breath is everywhere. It is inside us. It is part of the old nature that everybody is born with and which remains part of us while we are on earth--until the physical body dies. The Bible says everybody is a prisoner sin unless God has delivered him or her from that condition. (Galatians 3:22 ; Romans 7:21 -25;8;1-2; Ephesians 2:3-6)  While on earth, while in the flesh, we never stop having to fight the ‘voice’ of sin or the pull of sin. While in the flesh on this earth, on this battlefield, there is no time when ‘infection of sin’ in the old nature is not exerting a real pressure to gratify the desires of the flesh. Many verses in the New Testament make this very clear.

"For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other,  so that you do not do what you want." (Galatians 5:17)

The apostle Paul speaking as a believer delivered from the penalty for sin (death) by the sacrificial death of Christ said in his letter to the believers in the church at Ephesus, “all of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath." (Ephesians 2:3)

What God tells believers to do--"Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord  Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (Romans 13:14)

"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (Galatians 5:16)

"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5)

"Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul." (1 Peter 2:11)

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;" (Ephesians   4:22 )

 "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance." (1 Peter 1:14)

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24)

This pressure on every believer is being promoted (stimulated) by the evil, anti-God, spirits because it serves their interest -- which is to draw individuals away from the holy eternal Creator-God. (1 Peter 5:8) But it is a grave error to think, as it appears many Christians do, that the only enemy of progress in the Christian life is the sin of giving in to the pull of the flesh. There are many enemies to the believer on the spiritual battlefield as the word of God tells us (Ephesians 6:12 )   
    

f) The nature of the conflict on this battlefield is an unresolvable clash of fundamental ‘world views’ What are those fundamental views? Either ‘life’ ends with the death of the body or (what God says) —‘there is a life beyond death which is far better (for believers)  

A conflict of ‘world views’, or ‘differing outlooks on God’s reality’ is not a physical conflict but a spiritual one. The issue at stake is a spiritual truth.

Without question this is biggest reason for the continuous spiritual warfare that is taking place in this world. Specifically, the clash is between the view that life and existence ends in death and the view (the one God sets forth) that life does not end in death. On the contrary, according to God, there is ‘life’ after the death of the body and--for believers--that ‘life’ is far superior to the life that is experienced here on earth. (Revelation 21:4,23-27)

In fact, so great is the contrast between what we knows as ‘life’ on earth and the ‘life’ that follows death that the ‘life’ on earth is equated with ‘death’. Could there be a greater contrast? Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24) What we experience on earth as ‘life’ the Bible (on at least one occasion) calls ‘death’.

Another way of expressing this difference is to think of the difference between serving self in this life or serving the eternal Creator God.

Many times the Bible illustrates this difference as the difference between seeking to accumulate or store treasures on earth or in heaven. How often the Bible expresses this ‘either-or’ view of God’s reality. The Bible asks us, ‘where our ‘treasure’ is.’ Implicit in this question is the hidden question,  where is --what we consider our treasure. Either our treasures are of the kind that can be accumulated and stored on earth or it they are the kind that can only be stored in heaven—"Do not store up for yourselves treasures earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

Either our focus and greatest concern is in the present life (that so far has almost always ended in death) or our focus is on ‘eternity’—the ‘life’ that follows the death of the body on earth.

Who has not heard or read statements many times which express the world’s ‘world view’? Who has not heard or read statements many times such as ‘Life is precious’. ‘Life is short.’ ‘You need to enjoy life to the fullest, because you only have one shot at it.’ ‘You only go around once. Therefore make the most of it while you have the chance.’  This is the outlook of this world.

Throughout history death has represented the end of life, the extinction of life. Because death has been almost a universal end to the life which is experienced on this earth, the world has looked upon death as the termination of life, the termination of existence. Therefore, the people who view death as the end of life, make every effort to avoid or ‘put off’ death (which the world equates with extinction) as long as possible.

In fact, it was because of the fact of death and the fear of death that Christ came into this world. “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too (Jesus the Christ) shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:14-15)

It is the message of the Christ’s accomplishment, that is, the gospel, that informs us of the fact that death is not inevitable nor is it the end of existence for anyone. The word of God tells us so. The apostle Paul spoke of the ultimate accomplishment of the gospel message when he said, "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' (1 Corinthians 15:54; a quote from the Old Testament portion of God's word--Isaiah 25:8)

In fact, the existence which we know of in this world as ‘life’ is incompatible with the next world. The Bible says so. “I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God , nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.… 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. " (1 Corinthians 15:50,53)  Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.'  (John 3:5-7)

The Bible says, “But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection.” (Luke 20:35-36)  Are you one of those people? Are you one of those new creatures? Believing that you are is a matter of faith.

It was the overcoming death that is the message of the Gospel. It is the ‘life’ beyond death that is the promised inheritance. It is the ‘life’ beyond death that is the ‘main event’ which lasts forever.  Over and over the Bible speaks of the believers’ inheritance, that ‘main event’ that takes place in heaven, that is, beyond the death of the body on earth. (1 Peter 1:4, 13; 2 Peter 3:13; 2 Timothy 4:8)

“Then he (Jesus) said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. 16 And he told them this parable: ‘The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 18 Then he said, `This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I'll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ 20 "But God said to him, `You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 21 "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:15-21; cf. 1 Timothy 6:9-10)

In Jesus’ explanation of his own parable of the seeds and soils we hear Jesus say, “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word (the gospel), but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.” (Matthew 3:22 ; see also vv. 6:28 -33; 1 Timothy 6:9-10)) 

Jesus instructed his disciples about life on this battlefield. He told them in the clearest terms,  “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) 

The perspective of the Bible, the ‘world view” of believers, is clearly set forth in the verses of the apostle Peter:  “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” (2 Peter 3:10-14)

Don’t believe everything that comes your way! . “Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men (individuals who reject the law, the guidance, the words of God) and fall from your secure position. (Romans 5:2) 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2 Peter 3:17-18)

Listen to the voice of God. Look to the guidance of God. Christian soldiers do not stand alone on the spiritual battlefield. Remember your brothers and sisters in Christ. ¹³ “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ  if  we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.” (Hebrews 3:13 -14; see also Colossians 1:23 )  

Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." (John 3:5-8) It was/is God who made us new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17 ), It was God who made us immortal creatures. It was God who made us fit for the kingdom of God. (Colossians 1:12)

Only these new creations of God (believers) have that ‘life-beyond-death’ perspective’ that distinguishes the believer’s ‘world view’ or conception of God’s reality from the world’s false view of reality. Listen again to the words of the apostle Peter-- “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You  ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping  with his promise we (believers) are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:10-13)

Ultimate loyalty cannot be divided or shared. The eternally existing Creator-God is the supreme being. Because he is the supreme being, the supreme authority he deserves total loyalty and worship, not just occasional loyalty or partial loyalty but total loyalty. Sometimes the bluntness of Jesus’ teachings was/is hard to believe. He said to his disciples, "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37 ; see also Luke 14:26 )   

Believing the words of God in the Bible is a matter of faith.

Jesus words are vital. Jesus said, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words (in this world), the Son of Man (a title Jesus used to refer to himself) will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26)

It is this clash between the perspective that believers have from that of the ‘world’ that is the reason for the unceasing warfare that is occurring in this spiritual battlefield believers live in.

Having considered a few hints about the nature of the spiritual battlefield believers live on in this world, let’s get back the topic of this meditation: Does God's voice stand out on the spiritual battlefield? Is the Bible that special? Are the truths God sets forth in the Bible in a class by themselves? Yes, they are --so they are deserving of a reverence that no other words deserve. 

(3)  BECAUSE THE ‘SPEAKER’ OF THE BIBLE IS UNIQUE

The reasons why it is vital to recognize the ‘uniqueness’ of God’s truths is because the 'speaker' of the Bible is unique. Is the Bible really special? Yes. Why should the Bible and what it says be seen as a fountain of awe that deserves reverence? Because the ‘speaker’ of the Bible is unique. He is beyond compare with anybody or anything else. And what this speaker says is beyond compare. The words of the Bible come from such a source that they are truths without rival or contradiction or clarification or modification. Don’t let them be drowned out by the many voices on the battlefield which say ‘we know more now’; ‘what the bible says are old, outdated ideas’. When we remember ‘who’ the speaker of the Bible is can we doubt its truth? Listen to who the ‘speaker of the Bible is’—"By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth." (Psalm 33:6)

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?  Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? “ (Isaiah  40:12)

"God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his  wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding."  (Jeremiah 10:12)

"My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right  hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together." (Isaiah 48:13)

"This is what God the Lord says—he who created the heavens  and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those  who walk on it:" (Isaiah 42:5)

"By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved  for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." (2 Peter 3:7)

How many declarations of God about his ‘relationship’ to his creation do we need?

"All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as  he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?" (Daniel 4:35; see also Psalm 105)

"The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths." (Psalm 135:6)

The ‘speaker’ of the Bible, the author of the Bible said, "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do." (Isaiah 46:10-11) 

"But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. (Psalm 33:11)

Jesus reminded his disciples of the wide extent of the creator’s involvement in this world, saying, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from  the will of your Father." (Matthew 10:29)

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Luke 12:6-7)

"Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them  each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing." (Isaiah 40:26)

"He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name." (Psalm 147:4) Is this true or just a grandiose and poetic way of stating what scientists believe?

"How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures." (Ps 104:24) Is this true or just a grandiose and poetic way of stating what scientists believe (even though so many of them don’t believe in God) ?

"By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;" (Proverbs 3:19 )

Ponder what all these verses (and what so many like them) say. Ponder their significance..…

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him." (Daniel 2:20-22)

God’s activity ‘preceded’ the earliest discoveries of science and the latest discoveries of science.  God’s activity ‘preceded’ all the attempts of philosophy to put all truths together to form a single picture; He created whatever is and knew everything before the world began to be. What God knows and has always known is everything. What other conclusion is possible than to look upon what God speaks about as truths ‘in a class by themselves’?

"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him." (Colossians 1:16)     

"Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you --majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?...13 "In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.” (Exodus 15:11, 13) 

"For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;… 9…to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority." (2 Peter 2:4-6, 9-10)

Jesus’ disciples were not born with supernatural knowledge of God’s involvement in this world’s affairs. He reminded them of this truth, saying, ”Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet  not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."  (Matthew 10:29-31)

”Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD--that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.” (Psalm 83:18)

Many other portions of the Bible speak about the greatness of the ‘speaker’ of the Bible such as the 38^th chapter of Job and Psalm 91.  

Why pay attention to the authoritative words that the eternal God and Creator spoke?  Because God's knowledge of his creation is so extensive--"You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.  Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD …12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day,  for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb…."My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:2-4, 12-13, 15-16)

Why pay attention to the authoritative words that the eternal God and Creator spoke? Because they are truths ‘in a class by themselves’.

What greater credentials could the ‘speaker’ of the Bible have? Only He is The Creator of the universe and of that `world' or realm beyond the death of the body. Nobody and nothing is on a  par with Him. What he said cannot to be modified or annulled by `truths' issuing from any other `sources' such as science, logic, philosophy or the occult.

God knows more about the world which everybody lives in than any human beings do or other spirits do. He knows all people on earth live in a spiritual battlefield. He knows that the danger posed by the enemies of God and of his people is real. Because only he has all knowledge about the 'world' he created he should be taken seriously.

What greater reason could one have for taking God’s word seriously and without modification, without any ‘additives’?  What greater reason could one have for looking upon the declarations of God as truths ‘in a class by themselves’?

The choice of either being for God, that is, being a 100% worshipper of God or a worshipper of something else is perhaps expressed most pointedly in the temptations of Jesus “Again, the devil took him (Jesus) to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9  ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ " (Matthew 4:8-10)  

Over and over the Bible reminds hearers or readers that the perspective of the Bible takes in is much broader than just this ‘life’. Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains." (James 5:7)  

In the meantime pay attention to the guidance of God alone. And do so not with a divided heart but with all your heart and mind. (Deuteronomy 6:5; 13.3; 30.6; Joshua 22:5; Matthew 22:37)  

Now let’s move on to consider some more reasons why what God says in his word should be paid attention to.

(4)  BECAUSE THE SCOPE OF GOD’S ‘CREATION’ IS UNIQUE        

The reasons why it is vital to recognize the ‘uniqueness’ of God’s truths is because the scope of God's creation is unique.Is the Bible really special? Yes. Why should the Bible and what it says be seen as a fountain of awe that deserves reverence? Because the scope of God’s ‘creation’ is unique.  Another reason to take God’s word seriously is because there is more to God’s creation than this physical universe. There is more to God’s creation than can be seen. It includes this ‘universe(s)’ which science and technology is ever revealing more of. But God’s ‘creation’ also includes that greater reality, the eternally enduring reality which exists on the other side of death. It is that ‘greater reality’ which is the ‘main’ event toward which God’s promises point .

The ‘realm or arena’ in which the promises of God are realized is beyond the death of the body, beyond the life which people on earth call ‘life’. Note that what God’s promises point to is entirely different from what all ‘self improvement schemes or objectives focus upon. All ‘self improvement schemes or objectives focus on alterations of behavior in this world, a world which the Bible says is going to pass away, be burned up.

Who else and what else can make assertions about the eternal dimension beyond this life? Is it respectful of God to put statements about reality which God did not make alongside of the truths which he did set forth in his word? Is it right to place what seems to be true but learned from ‘other’ sources of knowledge on a par with the knowledge that the eternal God, the very Creator of this world and what lies beyond chose to reveal in his word?  (John 17:3)

Not only does God’s word speak about that ‘dimension’ or ‘realm’ of existence which--up to now--exists after the death of the body but that is the focus or ‘main event’ about which the Bible speaks. That is the focus or ‘main event’ in the Christian life as well as the central promise of God to his people—the  promise of what the sacrificial death of Jesus the Christ achieved. That is what salvation is all about—the ‘main event’ that  lies ‘beyond’ the death of the body.  Jesus said, “ For my  Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)

God’s ‘creation’ includes more than that brief period of bodily existence on earth that precedes death. Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." (John 18:36)

The death of Jesus the Christ on the cross was not a set back of, or interference in, God’s original eternal plan. Nor was it an accident. The New Testament portion of the Bible includes a specific statement about this matter. On the day of  Pentecost the apostle Peter referring to the crucifixion of Christ which had taken place 50 days earlier said, "This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross." (Acts 2:23 ) The sacrificial death of Jesus the Christ far from being an ‘unsuccessful end or conclusion’ of Jesus’ mission or of God’s purposes was the very means of bringing about those purposes—enabling a perfected people of God to enjoy that eternal life that is to be their home and sphere of existence that follows the death of the body.

Jesus describes the state of existence that will prevail after earthly history ends—“When the Son of Man (a title Jesus frequently refers to himself by) comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come,  you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world…. ‘Then he will say to those on his left, "Depart from me, you who  are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matthew 25:31-34, 41)

The apostle Paul expressed the eternal dimension of God’s ‘creation’ in his prayer—“18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in  the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20  which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:18-21)

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. ² In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:1-3)

 

(5)  BECAUSE JESUS HIMSELF IS UNIQUE

The reasons why it is vital to recognize the ‘uniqueness’ of God’s truths is because Jesus himself is unique. Is the Bible really special? Yes. Why should the Bible and what is says be seen as a fountain of awe that deserves reverence? Because Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, the ‘main’ character on earth is unique.

What better reason to treat the Bible as a unique source of absolute truth than to see the significance of the nature and being of Jesus the Christ. No one and nothing else in existence is or ever was on a par with Jesus the Son of God.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.’ “ Jesus identified himself with the abstract concepts of 'truth' and 'life'. What an incredible assertion! What an awesome statement! (Jesus’ statement continues) ‘No one comes to the Father except  through me.’ ” (John 14:6)

Jesus was not another man or another great man. He was/is the Son of the eternal God; he entered human history to carry out a mission which no mortal or even another spirit could accomplish. (1 Peter 3:22) He alone was sinless and he alone could fulfill the demand of the holy God’s law—perfect obedience. Jesus was not an ‘it’. An ‘it’ could not be obedient to the law of God.  An ‘it’ could not choose to sacrifice itself to fulfill the law of God as Jesus did. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

How does God’s Bible speak of Jesus the Christ?  “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

How does God’s Bible speak of Jesus the Christ?  “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:16-20) 

On another earlier occasion Jesus said, “The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29   My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."  (John 10:25-30) 

His death paid the price for our sins against God’s perfect standard. Nobody else’s death accomplished anything. Could there be a revelation that ‘said’ more clearly that Jesus the Christ was unique?  Even the magnificence of God’s creation was not enough to bring about the salvation of sinners: the death of the Christ was needed to deliver people from the dominion of sin. (Romans 8:3) If Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, the only sinless one had not died a sacrificial death to fulfill God’s perfect law every human would still be under judgment. This fact must be proclaimed. Proclamation of God’s accomplishment is necessary. That is evangelism—proclaiming the gospel. (The word means ‘good news’). Preaching of the Gospel, Proclamation of the Gospel--what God accomplished in, through, by Jesus the Christ (Isaiah  52.7; 1 Corinthians 9:16; Romans 1:16).

It was the overcoming of death, namely, the resurrection of the Christ, that proved to men that Jesus was who/what he said he was—God in the flesh, the Son of the Eternal Creator. The Bible speaks of "the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 1:2-4) Could anybody be more unique than this?

The power of death was broken; death could not hold him. The spiritual powers that are the enemies of God and his people have been defeated (but not eliminated) by him; they are in subjection to Christ —“It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. ” (1 Peter 3:21-22)  Who else are the angels, authorities and power in subjection to. Only to Christ. Christ was unique.

There is a connection between Jesus the Christ and the individuals that are saved--"In him (Christ) we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will," (Ephesians 1:11)

How was Jesus unique? Unlike the rest of us He did not have to fit into a time sequence. He did not have to fit into a slot in time. He was in time and yet was ‘above’ time!  What did Jesus say about himself? "I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’" (John 8:58)

When the Jewish authorities came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane one of Jesus’ disciples used his sword to defend Jesus. "’Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said to him,… ‘Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? (6,000 soldiers=a legion) But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it (the accomplishment of salvation) must happen in this way?’" (Matthew 26:52-54; see also Acts 2:23)

In the Gospel according John this same occasion is described in different terms: "Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear… Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup (carry out the mission) the Father has given me?" (John18:10-11)

How was Jesus unique? He was in the world but not of it. Later that same night on which Jesus’ arrest had taken place Jesus ‘explained’ to the Roman governor to whom the Jewish authorities had sent him, saying, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." (John 18:36)

In Jesus’ prayer to his Father in heaven he said, "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. (Jesus’ disciples) They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7  Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.” (John 17:6-8)

There is a ‘connection between Jesus the Christ and God’s people--“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:14-17)

Many of the miracles Jesus our Lord did showed that he was not of this world.

What was Jesus' disciples’ reaction to seeing Jesus' work when He spoke and the violent storm immediately subsided? "In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him." (Luke 8:25)

What was the assessment of the ordinary people who observed him? "Be quiet!’ said Jesus sternly. ’Come out of him!’ The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, ‘What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.’" (Mark 1:25-27)

How was Jesus unique? Jesus is able to do what only God can do. And what is that? --to forgive sins. (Luke 5:21) “But so that you may know that the Son of Man (a title Jesus frequently used of himself) has authority on earth to forgive sins. . . .' Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." And the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men." (Matthew 9:6-8)

Jesus’ words had supernatural power. "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself." (John 5:24-26)  Was Jesus unique?

God's word makes it quite clear that the primary purpose of Jesus' wonders and miracles was to reveal who he was, to reveal his uniqueness, his 'special-ness' and his glory, that he was not just another mortal human being. (Matthew 9.2ff; Luke 5:22ff; John 2:11)

"Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of  God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31)     

How was Jesus unique? Only his death conquered that intangible ‘enemy’ of all living things, that is, death. Only the sacrificial death of the one and only Son of God conquered that intangible ‘enemy’ of his people called death.  

"Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God." (1 John 4:2) Could a statement of God about the uniqueness of Jesus be clearer?

How was Jesus unique? Only Jesus was without sin and needed no forgiveness to be perfect. Only he had the unique qualification of being sinless that made it possible for him to fulfill the law of God and assume the penalty that sinners deserved.

How was Jesus unique? He gives life. Nobody else has this power.  “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son (Jesus) gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.” (John 5:21-23)  

Jesus spoke repeatedly how he would raise up believers on the ‘last day’. (John 6:39, 40, 44, 54)  (The ‘last day’ does not refer to the day of the individual’s death in this life but to the day of God’s judgment or the day of Christ’s appearing).

How was Jesus unique? “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you (believers) have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” (Colossians 2:9-10)

It took a ‘supernatural event to accomplish a supernatural result-eternal life. Only the sacrificial death of the unique supernatural being which Jesus the Christ was could bring about this supernatural result.  What did the apostle Paul tell the believers in Corinth? "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." (1 Corinthians 15:14)

(6)  BECAUSE THE WORD OF THE ETERNAL GOD IS UNIQUE

The reasons why it is vital to recognize the ‘uniqueness’ of God’s truths is because the word of the Eternal God is unique. Is the Bible really special? Yes. Why should the Bible and what it says be seen as a fountain of awe that deserves reverence?  Because it is the only source of those eternal truths which are relevant to life in this world  and  to the ‘life ’in the next ‘world’. 

Does any fact or truth which science ‘discovers’ have any connection to, or bearing upon, what takes place in the ‘eternal realm’, in the sphere of existence which is beyond the death of  the physical body?  

What are believers to preach, to proclaim? Does what they are to preach, or proclaim, change? Is the message they are to preach or proclaim irrelevant to people living on earth today? Is the message of the Bible needed less now than when it was spoken? Ridiculous!

God says the passage of time and the ‘discoveries’ of science are irrelevant to a proper response to what God says in his word. The believers who were addressed in the New Testament book of Hebrews were told that they were in the same position as those who had been delivered out of Egypt as described in the Old Testament. What was required in Old Testament times is what is required now—belief; reliance upon God’s word. "Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? ¹⁷ And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? ¹⁸ And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? ¹⁹ So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. ^4:1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. ² For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith." (Hebrews 3:17--4:2)

Does God not understand the ‘world’ his people live in? Are God’s words irrelevant and out-dated? Did God not know what he was talking about?

God is not limited in knowledge. Nor is God limited in control like human civilizations are. That science has discovered more about God’s world than human beings knew in times past is a phenomenon that dazzles many people. But nobody, especially believers, should be knocked off balance by the continuing stream of new discoveries about God’s world. While the progress of science or other ‘new’ discoveries are dazzling they do not make the revelations of the eternal God in times past obsolete, out-dated, no longer relevant, no longer binding. If we believe what the word of God reveals about God we know he knew from the beginning every truth human beings or ‘anyone’ else might ever discover.  No truth of God ever conflicts, invalidates, overrides or makes God’s revelations in his word less applicable or less binding. Discoveries in any other field of endeavor is totally irrelevant to the truth and relevance of God’s revelations.

The image that this meditation began with was that of a lone tree. It stood out because it was by itself. But when surrounded by a forest of trees it no longer stands out. So it is with the word of God. Every statement or teaching that is not from the God of the Bible is automatically a challenge to the truth of God’s word. If 99 more trees are put beside the lone tree then that tree automatically, inevitably, becomes only one of 100 trees. What better way is there to hide the one tree that appeared on this meditation? Surround it with other trees. One voice in room can be understood. But many voices just make a lot of noise and confusion.    

This is a deadly practice. Mixing God’s truth with the enemies’ lies and distortions is not an intellectual error but a  terrible sin, a terrible affront to God.  It is a sin that has profound consequences in eternity, in the existence beyond the death of the body on earth. Distortions of what God revealed is not the same as what God said. Only what the eternal God chose to reveal in the word he enunciated, proclaimed and declared is what believers should be feeding upon. Nothing else.

"For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe." (1 Corinthians 1:21)

"By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:2)  

What does the Bible say about believers and what they should be doing?  ”But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10)  

Being led astray; being led subtly away from God and his truth is not a new danger for believers. Being swept along by miracles or strange teachings is not a challenge that has only recently appeared on earth. It began in the Garden of Eden. Leading individuals subtly away from God and his truth is exactly what Satan did to Eve. As the apostle Paul warned about in his letter to the believers in Corinth-- “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3; see also Genesis 3:13; Philippians 3:18-19; Galatians 3:1)  

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the  Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. " (Revelation 2:7, 11)

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)

CONCLUDING REMARKS  

If we believe God’s word then we must believe God is. And we must believe his purposes will come to pass because he says so. His purposes will come to pass both in time and beyond ‘time’—in eternity (whenever, wherever, whatever that is).

God says to believers, ‘Your actions please me only if you believe in me’ (Heb 11:6)  Either you believe in what I say I am or you don’t believe in Me—the God of Creation and the Bible. There is no ‘wiggle room’ or leeway in God’s demands, in what pleases God. "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." (2 Timothy 2:19)

How many of the Lord’s teachings dealt with just this issue—where there is a vast discrepancy between what is real and what the mouth says. Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your  name, and in your name drive out demons and perform  many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" (Matthew  7:21-23; see also Isaiah 29:13)

“The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in  words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”  (1 Corinthians 2:10-14)    

Believe it or not! Whatever is not from God--the only being who knows eternity ‘past and future’-- is from another source, a source that knows nothing about eternity.

Over and over again, in so many different ways, God sets forth the ‘either or ness’ of accepting the truth of the Bible. A person accepts either what the Bible says is the truth or accepts the distortions of his enemies as the truth. There is no middle ground, no ‘wiggle room’ or leeway in God’s demands, in what pleases God. ‘You are either with me or against me says God’. (Luke 11:23 ; Matthew 12:30 ) "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Luke 16:13 ; see also Jesus’ parable of seeds and the soils—Matthew 13:18 -23)

Don’t be sucked into the idea that because truth is the biggest concept we can conceive and describe we must conclude that what the Bible says cannot be more that a part of truth. What the Bible says is not a part of anything.  What it says is unique. Many truths concerning this physical universe that God created are very impressive but that does not put them on the same level importance as the eternal God’s statements about eternity. What God reveals in his Word is in a class by itself.

What is a deadly practice? -- Mixing God’s truth with the evil spirits’ lies and distortions. Mixing God’s truth with the evil spirits’ lies and distortions is not an intellectual error but a terrible sin, a terrible affront to God.  It is a sin that has profound consequences in eternity, in the existence beyond the death of the body on earth. Distortions of what God revealed is not the same as what he revealed. Only what the eternal God chose to reveal in the word he enunciated, proclaimed and declared is what believers should be feeding upon. Nothing else.   

Don’t be mesmerized, charmed, hypnotized, so persuaded, by the idea that because something is 'true' believing it must be the equivalent of believing in God. Being true and being a revelation of God which deals with eternity is not the same thing. Truth about this world comes in many sizes, many shapes, many forms. But believing in God does not. You either believe in God and therefore take his every word seriously or you reject Him altogether. There is no equating of the two concepts.

Know your spiritual enemy  (he, she, it) is alive and well. "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit (which in this world may not become visible for years) you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" (Matthew 7:15-16)

"Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)  

To let God’s words be placed alongside of other expressions of truth does not exalt God. How can believers show that God’s statements are in a class by themselves if believers place ‘other truths’ above, alongside of, or around God’s statements?  (--when the 'lone tree' is hidden among a forest of trees)

This meditation has attempted to show some of the different ways in which the Bible itself shows that to view God’s word and the declarations it contains as being just a partial source of truth is not just an intellectual error or misjudgment . On the contrary, it  is a terrible sin, a vicious affront to God. To treat the words of God as only kernels of truths which must be interpreted in the light of new ‘truths’ is devastating. The Bible says, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." (Colossians 2:8) What thought does more to push God’s word into the background than interpreting the words of God in ways that 'require them to fit in with the more newly ‘discovered truths’ of science, logic, or philosophy? How vital it is to be able to distinguish (there's that word ‘distinguish’ again!) between what exalts God and what pushes his revelations into the background. Does not the ability to distinguish between what exalts God and what pushes his revelations into the background come under the command to distinguish between ‘good and evil’?

A purpose of this meditation is to exalt the word of God so it does not get lost or buried in the din of all the proclamations of ‘truth’ that are floating around the spiritual atmosphere. This meditation has looked at some of the various ways the Bible teaches that God’s word is absolutely special; is unique, is in a class by itself.  No other ‘source’ of truth has any real knowledge about ‘eternity’, about ‘life’ beyond physical death. No other ‘source’ of truth can speak authoritatively about it. Only the word of the eternal God, the Creator of all things, the Father of Jesus the Christ can show how the present spiritual battle fits into the ‘big’ picture.  

What greater offense could there be than believing the total picture of reality, God's reality can only be arrived at by combining what God says with ideas learned from other sources, such as ideas and concepts from science, logic or philosophy or…or…or...).   

How do you purify or improve what is pure to begin with? If you believe you will make the word of God more up to date by adding to it that means you did not consider it absolutely pure or in a class by itself. Does adding impurities make anything better? Is what is pure improved by adding what is not pure to it?  

Listen to the apostle Paul who said to the saints in Ephesus, "18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms," Ephesians 1:18-20)   And to the saints at Colossae and the saints who had never seen the apostle he said, ² “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.” (Colossians 2:2-4)  

New sights and sounds may be a distraction. They may drown out ‘old’ truths the way loud ‘music’ drowns out soft music and perhaps the ‘still small voice’ which God put there. Sometimes ‘new’ knowledge or ideas may be a temptation, a temptation to ‘leave behind’ or ‘ignore’ the priceless words God set forth in the past. The appearance of ‘new’ knowledge or ideas may be a test to see how faithful we are, a test to see whether we remember that single 'tree' that is now hidden amid a forest of trees. (Deuteronomy 13:2-4; see also 8:2) Believers must stand up for God. Nobody else is going to!

Believers live in a spiritual turmoil, on a battlefield. Sin in its many forms is everywhere therefore God tells us how to live. “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (Hebrews 12:1-4)  

"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." (1 Timothy 4:1)  "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." (2 Timothy 4:3) Yes, the truths in the word of God are in a class by themselves. Be a voice for God on this battlefield.

God’s advice regarding heeding the words of false prophets of which there are many on the spiritual battlefield believers are living on: 3 "You must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.”  (Deuteronomy 13:3-4; see also 8:2) 

And what can believers depend on? “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. ” (Hebrews 4:12)

The words of God must be exalted on the battlefield that believers are in until God takes them to heaven. (2 Timothy 4:7-8) On this spiritual battlefield it is not honoring to God when his word gets pushed into the background. God's message must definitely be fought for.

 

(If you appreciate what you read here please tell your friends about this URL and sign my guestbook on the homepage. Also, if, as you read any of the meditations, you feel you know of a situation that beautifully illustrates any of the points made I would be delighted to learn of it. I might incorporate it.) mailto:camppp21355@comcast.net

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