Today’s Devotional – March 12th (All Scripture? Or Just Some?)

By admin On March 11th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – March 12th

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All Scripture? Or Just Some?

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A radio program which answered Bible questions, was asked the following question: “Do we need to follow both Testaments, Old and New?”

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One of the pastors answered by saying the following: “Any command or precept in the Old Testament does not need to be obeyed unless it is repeated in the New Testament.”

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Well, this answer was accepted by the caller, and the other co-host did not even challenge the other pastor.

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Announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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ONLY NEW TESTAMENT RELEVANT?

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Now maybe the main talk-show host agreed with that answer given by the other co-host.

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But it was surprising to say the least, if they both felt that way, regarding today’s relevance of the Old Testament!

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This is remarkable, because, in essence, this pastor was saying that we need only obey the New Testament!

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And perhaps, this is how many pastors in today’s apostate Christendom believe.

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Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license.

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FOUR WINDS OF DOCTRINE NOW BLOWING!

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But there are many others who would strongly object!

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Yes, there are many who believe that we are to trust and obey both Testaments, Old and New!

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Well, in this day of Christian confusion, there are many different doctrines blowing in the wind.

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And such ideas as this are just some of those conflicting doctrines which are adding to all the Babylonish confusion!

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But let’s listen to what the Bible has to say about itself, instead of what mere fallible humans say!

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Question Marks-At a loss svg – Wikimedia Commons – share-alike license

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NO LONGER UNDER THE SCHOOLMASTER!

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Now of course, this pastor, no doubt, would immediately recite the following passage as proof of his proposed doctrine… “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Galatians 3:24, 25

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OK, so this is probably where that pastor got the idea that the Old Testament does not need to be obeyed. And, if this was all that God had to say on the subject, then yes, this pastor would be correct.

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Because this passage clearly states that we are no longer under the schoolmaster! We are no longer under the Law!

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But the fact is, the Bible does indeed have more to say on this very complicated subject! And we know that the whole Bible is ultimately in harmony with itself!

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And so, those who have a love for the truth will want to read everything that the Bible has to say about itself!

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Jewish Children with their Teacher in Samarkand – cropped photo – Wikipedia – public domain

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ALL SCRIPTURE TO BE OBEYED!

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And so, when a Bible student begins to do his or her homework, it is soon discovered that the Bible has much more to say on the subject!

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This passage from Galatians must harmonize with what Paul says here in 2nd Timothy… “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.” 2nd Timothy 3:16, 17.

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OK, so here we discover a truth which almost seems to directly oppose what Galatians says! Paul clearly states that all Scripture is profitable, and is to be obeyed. And “all Scripture” would, of course, include the Old Testament!

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So now, a Bible student must decide just how these seemingly conflicting ideas will be harmonized, so as to make biblical sense and scriptural congruity.

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Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s – Wikipedia – public domain

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MANY TYPES & SHADOWS IN OLD TESTAMENT!

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And as the Bible student searches on, this following passage comes to the rescue… “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath [days]: are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” Colossians 2:16, 17.

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So here it states that all those Old Testament holydays and festivals and Sabbath days were presenting spiritual concepts, pointing forward to our relationship in Christ. They were shadows, pointing forward to the reality of Christ.

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So they were only a shadow, but not the reality.

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Man walking into sun – CROPPED IMAGE – Wikipedia – Share-alike-lic

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***“THE LETTER KILLS,* *BUT THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE”***

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But what about all the other laws? Do we try to obey each one of them too? What about such laws that tell us not to wear a garment made of both wool and cotton? Or laws about temple sacrifices?

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Well, here is another passage which sheds light on our duty… “Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life….But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2nd Corinthians 3:6, 18.

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Now here are two verses taken from a somewhat lengthy statement by Paul, concerning how we are to look at the Old Testament.

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**And by reading this entire 3rd chapter from 2nd Corinthians (click here), it is revealed that the New Testament Believer is not to try to keep all these laws by the letter.**

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Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.

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JESUS VEILED WITHIN TYPES & SYMBOLS & SHADOWS

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But those Old Testament ordinances are to give us a greater and greater revelation and insight into the character of Christ, as this above passage from 2nd Corinthians states.

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Yes, this is what the Bible, the whole Bible is all about! The Bible helps us gain a greater understanding of just who God is, and just who is Jesus Christ!

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And so, each of those Old Testament laws and even the various fixtures of the Temple itself, were all spiritual symbols, pointing to the various aspects of the many different qualities of Jesus Christ.

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La Bible, Notre-Dame – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike License

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THE BIBLE: A SPIRITUAL BOOK

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And as the Bible student grows in grace, and in the knowledge of God’s Word, this next passage begins to make sense… “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1st Cor. 2:13-15

So now, as we begin to study deeper, we realize that God’s Word is filled with spiritual concepts, presented and cloaked in earthly object lessons. And as we compare spiritual things with spiritual in the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit teaches us the hidden meanings of these seemingly insignificant laws of the Old Testament.

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And Paul revealed a great mystery, when speaking of Sarah and Hagar, as an allegorical account, as representing the two covenants in the Bible (see Galatians 4:21-31).

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Sarah & Hagar – Foster Bible Pictures – Wikipedia US public domain

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A NEED TO COMPARE ALL SCRIPTURE!

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So just what was the problem with what that radio pastor was saying about the Old Testament?

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**Why shouldn’t he have made such a statement that, “We need only obey the New Testament”?**

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Because his doctrine was not based on everything that the Bible has to say about itself! His doctrine was based only on some Bible passages! He ignored other passages which should never be ignored!

And thus, by this little exercise, concerning searching the whole Bible, and discovering that the doctrine taught by that radio pastor was faulty, to say the least, it now becomes clear that there is no Scripture which stands alone! Everything must be compared, so that truth is found by “rightly dividing” God’s Word.

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magnifying glass – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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“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.”

2nd Timothy 3:16, 17

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Holy bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – creative commons lic.

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me great wisdom in understanding Thy Word. Let me study for my own self, so that I am not deceived by the many false shepherds out there. Let me become greatly knowledgeable of Thy Word…

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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“MOON SHALL BE ASHAMED”

“Then the moon shall be confounded (or “ashamed”), and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

But having said all this, why would God speak about the Moon as if it were a person? And why does He say that the Moon will be confounded? How can an inanimate object be confounded (i.e., “perplexed”, “confused”, “amazed”). And why does God refer to the Moon as “her” (“the moon shall not give HER light.” Ezekiel32:7)? Such odd language! But as you read this Moon Into Blood Trilogy, these questions will be answered, plus many more questions, as well.

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Tilt you head to the left

Do you see a man’s face?

It’s that proverbial “Man in the Moon”. We’ve always taken it for granted. But now we’re learning that God is responsible for creating this Nocturnal Watchman. You see, God has etched Signs in the Moon, long ago. A story? Yes. And just now He is revealing those Signs. Just now He is telling that story. Listen to what Scripture says…

God promised that His covenant with David (who represented Christ) “shall be established for ever as the Moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.” Psalm 89

Moon – Blue moon of 31.08.2012 – Wikimedia – Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication

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TOMORROW: “March 13th

(Planet Earth: Devil’s Island!)”

Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #71 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing details & tags, and all other necessary information on any particular photo.

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