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Look to God's standard -- the Bible -- for truth
pastor corner

In all the teaching found in the New Testament, one does not find people being taught different ideas.

They were simply told to follow and obey the law of Christ. Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

If man is going to be judged by the word, all must follow the same word. There will not be a book for each “group.” God is not a respecter of persons (Romans 2:10, 11; Acts 10:34, 35).

Every person who is saved will be saved by following the standard God has given to man — his word.

Man left to himself will and has developed his own plan for salvation. This is not right for several reasons.

First God has already provided the plan to follow and has given examples of those who followed it.  The people heard the word. They believed, were willing to repent of their sins, confessed that Jesus is the Son of God and were baptized for the remission of their sins.

Second, God has told man that his will must be obeyed. “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

Third, God provided the only sacrifice that can remove sin — Christ.

Fourth, the ideas of men vary, and one man’s idea is as good as the next. All will be judged according to the words of the Lord and not man’s ideas or notions, and all must see the need for a true standard in religion.

Jeremiah wrote, “Oh Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

That standard must be and is the inspired word of God.

“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 (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20, 21).

It has always been God’s desire that man be saved.

He first spoke directly to man as in the days of Adam, Abraham, Noah and others. He then gave the law of Moses, the first written word to man, and then the law of Christ. In each time period, God provided the knowledge man needed, and still needs, to be saved. It is up to man to follow God’s word, but remember taht the Bible is the standard to follow.

Paul wrote, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Each individual must come to the knowledge and truth of God’s word; obey it as it is given in the Bible. A person must follow the standard, the Bible, do as those in the book of Acts did, have faith in Jesus, repent of sins, be ready and willing to confess the name of Christ before men, and be baptized for the remission of sins.

From that point on, live a faithful life unto God. This is the plan of salvation God has given to man in His standard the Bible.

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