THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVINE TRUTH
Rev. Thomas Tyree, Jr., Pastor, Grace Bible Church of Costa Mesa, California |
Copyright © 1995-2014 Rev. Thomas Tyree, Jr., All Rights Reserved |
Divine truth is the most important subject in the believer’s basic beliefs. It is absolutely essential that we understand from the Scriptures all of the components involved in fulfilling God's plan for our lives by living the Christian way of life. An accurate understanding of confession-repentance, the life of faith-rest, and the subjects of enforced and genuine humility must be ascertained from divine truth. There can be no bonafide motivation and genuine momentum in the spiritual life apart from the Biblical doctrines dealing with the various mechanics of experiential Christianity. Therefore, this particular study is the most important one in our consideration of basic Bible doctrine.
Divine truth or Bible truth is the content of the Canon of Scripture derived from exegesis, classified by promises, principles and categories. Bible truth is also the mind or thinking of our Lord Jesus Christ according to 1 Corinthians 2:16. This divine truth should be communicated primarily by authorized personnel. In the Old Testament, the prophets and priests were the authorized personnel in teaching Bible doctrine. Today, in the Church Age, the authorized personnel are primarily the pastor-teacher and those individuals in the local church who possess a spiritual gift of teaching.
"For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)
We will deal with six words in the Scripture which refer to Bible truth. The first word, from the Hebrew is the noun LEQACH. This word refers to divine truth from the standpoint of learning according to Jeremiah 11:4, Proverbs 4:2, and Isaiah 29:24.
The terms I commanded your forefathers when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the iron-smelting furnace.' I said, 'Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God. (Jeremiah 11:4)
I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. (Proverbs 4:2)
Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding; those who complain will accept instruction." (Isaiah 29:24)
The second word is the Hebrew noun MUSAR. This word refers to learning under strict discipline. It should be translated "doctrine" or "what is learned." In applying this word to the realm of education in our own day and age, we see the general fallacy of students rights. Students do not primarily have rights while they are in school. They have responsibilities to respond to the authority of the educational institution. That is why in the schools there should be a dress code, a closed campus, and no designated area for smokers. I'm referring primarily to junior high and senior high schools. The word MUSAR implies that the content is there in the Scripture, but you must learn it under strict academic discipline according to Proverbs 1:2, Proverbs 4:3-4, and Proverbs 23:23.
For attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; (Proverbs 1:2)
When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. (Proverbs 4:3-4)
Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding. (Proverbs 23:23)
The third word is the Hebrew noun SHEMUAH. The meaning of this word is "what is heard." I want you to get this. It is an extremely hard point. Believers are expected to learn what they hear. This word should be translated as doctrine according to Isaiah 28:9.
"Who is it he is trying to teach? To whom is he explaining his message? To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast? (Isaiah 28:9)
For the fourth word, we have the New Testament Greek noun for divine truth didaskalia. This word refers to teachings, doctrine, and what is taught according to Matthew 15:9, Ephesians 4:14, Colossians 2:22, 1 Timothy 1:10, 1 Timothy 4:1,1 Timothy 4:6, 1 Timothy 4:13, 1 Timothy 4:16, 1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Timothy 6:1, 1 Timothy 6:3, 2 Timothy 3:10, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 4:3, Titus 1:9, Titus 2:1, Titus 2:7, and Titus 2:10.
They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'" (Matthew 15:9)
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and Blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. (Ephesians 4:14)
These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. (Colossians 2:22)
For adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers--and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1:10)
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)
If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. (1 Timothy 4:6)
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. (1 Timothy 4:13)
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:16)
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. (1 Timothy 5:17)
All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. (1 Timothy 6:1)
If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, (1 Timothy 6:3)
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, (2 Timothy 3:10)
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16)
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)
He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. (Titus 1:9)
You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. (Titus 2:1)
In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness (Titus 2:7)
And not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. (Titus 2:10)
The fifth word for divine truth is also in the New Testament and is the Greek word didache. This noun means what is taught according to Matthew 7:28, Matthew 22:33, Mark 1:22, Mark 1:27, Acts 2:42, Romans 6:17, Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 14:6, 1 Corinthians 14:26, 2 Timothy 4:2, Hebrews 6:2, Revelation 2:14-15, and Revelation 2: 24.
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, (Matthew 7:28)
When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. (Matthew 22:33)
The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. (Mark 1:22)
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 1:27)
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)
But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. (Romans 6:17)
I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. (Romans 16:17)
Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? (1 Corinthians 14:6)
What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. (1 Corinthians 14:26)
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2)
Instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. (Hebrews 6:2)
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. (Revelation 2:14)
Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. (Revelation 2:15)
Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): (Revelation 2:24)
The sixth word for divine truth is also a New Testament noun. The Greek word is logos. This word refers to Bible truth or doctrine. It is translated "Word" and is found once in the New Testament emphasizing the concept of Bible truth being communicated as in Hebrews 6:1. Actually, Hebrews 6:1-8 is a passage dealing with the backslidden or retrogressive Christian getting back to a believer's basic beliefs for his recovery from his spiritual apostasy.
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so. It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. (Hebrews 6:1-8)
Divine Truth as The Legacy of Jesus Christ
It is absolutely fantastic to realize that in His dying breath, our Lord Jesus Christ designated Bible doctrine or divine truth as the legacy of His church. This fact is seen as we consider Luke 23:46 compared with Psalm 31:5. As we put both passages together, the retranslation goes like this: "Into your hands I deposit my spirit" according to Luke 23:46. The quote continues in Psalm 31:5, "for You have delivered me, Oh Jehovah, Elohim of truth." It is equally fantastic to realize that this glorious legacy existed before the cross in Old Testament times according to Psalm 138:2. This wonderful verse says, "I myself will worship toward thy holy temple and praise thy name for thy grace and thy truth; for Thou has magnified thy doctrinal teaching even above all thy reputation." God magnifies His truth, (i.e., His doctrinal teaching) above His own reputation and fame! This is because the only thing we could ever learn about the person and plan of God comes from the accurate exposition of divine truth in the Bible.
Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46)
Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth. (Psalm 31:5)
I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. (Psalm 138:2)
It is also an awesome thought to realize that the entire reputation of God in any generation depends on the attitude of Christians to divine truth. His reputation can never change because of His immutability, which means that God cannot lose anything! However, in the Devil's world, only divine truth resident in the soul of the advancing and maturing believer upholds the reputation of God. Even a small minority of mature believers with divine truth residing in their souls can change the course of human history! This should challenge us towards the maximum intake and application of divine truth. We should stick it out and ignore all evil distractions.
The absolute veracity of God is the source of all divine truth in the Bible. Therefore, since God can never fail, be erroneous, or lie, the Bible from cover to cover is the revelation of the truth of God. Proverbs 8 teaches us that divine truth pre-existed the human race. All doctrines, teachings, principles, promises and categories of the Scripture were in the mind of God from all eternity past. This is why we believe dogmatically that a Christian's attitude toward divine truth determines whether he will be blessed or disciplined as seen in Proverbs 8:32-36. Therefore, Bible truth is the basis for the distribution of blessings in time and rewards in eternity.
"Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death." (Proverbs 8:32-36)
The Importance of Divine Truth
Please remember, it must be God's truth residing in your soul and your obedience to that truth in every facet of your life. The victorious Christian life is only lived by believers who mature spiritually by consistently metabolizing and applying divine truth. Isaiah 53:12 deals with the concept of victory in the ancient world. Obviously, to grow up spiritually to love the Lord and have a share in His happiness, divine truth must become more real to us than anything we can experience with our physical senses. In other words, Bible truth must be more real and more important than anything we can learn under empirical knowledge.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)
In 2 Peter 1:12-21, Peter teaches that even though he saw and heard our Lord Jesus Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration, the "more sure word of prophecy" was more important to him than anything he experienced on that occasion. When God's word becomes more real to us than anyone or anything in life, then the plan of God can be both advanced and vindicated through our lives. This advancement and vindication only comes through divine truth according to Isaiah 53:10 and Romans 3:4. The importance of divine truth is also noted in Hosea 4:1-6 because the lack of it can destroy a nation.
So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:12-21)
Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10)
Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge." (Romans 3:4)
Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: "There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying. "But let no man bring a charge, let no man accuse another, for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest. You stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you. So I will destroy your mother--my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. (Hosea 4:1-6)
The primary teacher of divine truth authorized for the Church Age is the pastor-teacher according to Ephesians 4:11-13, Colossians 1:25-29, Hebrews 13:7 and Hebrews 13:17. This does not mean that there cannot be other people in our local churches who have a spiritual gift of teaching, and as mature believers utilize it to the glory of God. This is true of the pastor-teacher in training, teaching deacons, nursery workers, prep school and Sunday school teachers, and people who communicate the gospel and Bible doctrine in neighborhood children and youth clubs. All of these authorized teachers of the word of God communicating Bible truth actually serve to establish a "balance of residency" in the souls of Christians who are positive to the intake of doctrinal teaching.
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)
I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness--the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1:25-29)
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13:7)
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17)
Grace Equipment for Learning Divine Truth
1 Corinthians 2 teaches us that divine truth is transferred from the pages of the Bible to the soul of the positive Christian under the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit in the "grace equipment for learning." The purpose of this "grace transfer" is to establish a balance of residency in the soul of the Christian. The grace equipment for learning enables us to metabolize Bible truth within our souls which establishes this glorious balance of residency. We know that it is very easy to be spirit-filled (i.e., on the basis of confession-repentance), but it takes much more to balance the residency of divine truth within our souls. This requires the regular consistent intake of Bible teachings.
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"--but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 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. 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. 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. 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. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:1-16)
As a "badge of royalty" for God's royal family, the body of the Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This indwelling is actually the badge of royalty. When the Christian is filled with the Spirit, the residency of the Holy Spirit is established in the soul. Since the Spirit of God works through the Word of God, the filling of the Holy Spirit creates a vacancy in the soul. This vacancy can only be filled through the daily intake of the Word of God that causes spiritual growth which result in blessings in time as the basis for rewards in the eternal future. The importance of consistency in the mechanics of the grace equipment for learning is presented in Hebrews 10:25, Hebrews 10:33, and Hebrews 10:36. These verses deal with promises concerning blessing in time and rewards in eternity. These blessings for time and eternity are over and above the sustaining grace blessings for time.
This is because of our relationship with God. Consistency is the key to growing up spiritually and receiving blessing in time which are parleyed into rewards in eternity at the point of death or the rapture of the church, whichever comes first. As Christians, we must be encouraged and challenged to be consistent in our daily intake and obedience to divine truth, no matter what the distractions of life may be! Colossians 2:6-7 makes this issue clear.
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)
Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. (Hebrews 10:33)
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. (Hebrews 10:36)
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:6-7)
Divine Truth Resident in the Soul
Divine truth resident in the soul produces confidence in life. This confidence is a cognitive self-confidence in contrast to an arrogant cockiness according to Hebrews 10:35, 2 Corinthians 5:6, and Job 5:24-27. Bible truth metabolized in the soul produces the divine viewpoint of life which enables us to have a stabilized mentality and biblical viewpoint of everything in history as seen in Isaiah 58:7-9 and 2 Corinthians 10:5. This stability of mentality is also taught in James 1:8. Another fantastic result of divine truth in the soul is that it orients us to the grace of God and the plan of God according to Isaiah 26:3-4. It also is the basis for divine guidance and performance of God's will as in Romans 12:2-3. Best of all, it leads us to a capacity to love God and be occupied with the person of Christ according to Philippians 3:10, Ephesians 3:19, and Hebrews 12:2-3. It is absolutely awesome to realize that the power and influence of divine truth in the souls of mature believers is capable of worldwide impact in changing the course of history as in Psalm 108:4-5.
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. (Hebrews 10:35)
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6)
You will know that your tent is secure; you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing. You will know that your children will be many, and your descendants like the grass of the earth. You will come to the grave in full vigor, like sheaves gathered in season. "We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself." (Job 5:24-27)
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter--when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, (Isaiah 58:7-9)
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 10:5)
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal. (Isaiah 26:3-4)
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. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. (Romans 12:2-3)
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (Philippians 3:10)
And to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19)
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter 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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:2-3)
For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth. (Psalm 108:4-5)
Divine truth metabolized and applied to the believer’s life also results in conveyance of blessings in time for the spiritually mature Christian. Under sustaining grace blessing, God provides temporal and spiritual factors to keep the Christian alive in this Devil's world. These temporal factors include food, shelter, clothing, and other necessities. The spiritual factors include the classroom of the local church, a pastor-teacher as the only communicator, and the textbook of the Word of God. Also, every Christian has at least one guardian angel to assist in perpetuating and protecting his life according to Ephesians 4:11-13, Colossians 1:25-29, Hebrews 13:7,17, and Hebrews 1:14. Possession of blessings in time under our priesthood leads to the production of Christian service under our ambassadorship. This then becomes the basis for the distribution of blessing and rewards in eternity as seen in Hebrews 11:9-10, Hebrews 11:13, James 1:25, and James 2:12-13.
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)
I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness--the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1:25-29)
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13:7)
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17)
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14)
By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:9-10)
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. (Hebrews 11:13)
But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:25)
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! (James 2:12-13)
Here, we will briefly summarize the biblical synonyms for divine truth resident in the soul. First is the crucifixion synonym is "taking up the cross and following the Lord Jesus Christ" as in Matthew 10:38, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23, and Luke 14:27. This synonym emphasizes the enforced and genuine humility of the Christian who is advancing in the spiritual life. Next is the priestly synonym of the construction of an "altar in the soul" as seen in Hebrews 13:10. The acceptable sacrifices which we offer up to God from this altar are seen in Hebrews 13:11-17. The "doctrine of edification" is seen as a building synonym in Ephesians 4:12 and Ephesians 4:16. The theological synonym is "more grace." This is a synonym for the mature believer with maximum truth metabolized in his soul, emphasizing his fantastic orientation to the grace of God as in James 4:6.
and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:38)
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Mark 8:34)
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23)
And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:27)
We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat. (Hebrews 13:10)
The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:11-17)
to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:12)
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:16)
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6)
There are several military synonyms in the Scripture for doctrine resident in the soul. The first is the "full armor of God" from Ephesians 6:11 and Ephesians 6:13. The second is "following the colors to the high ground of maturity" from Hebrews 12:1-2. The third is the establishment of a "command post" in the soul from Colossians 2:5-8. There are also several language synonyms in the Scripture. They are the Hebrew noun CHAKMAH, the Greek noun, epignosis, and the Greek verb epiginosko. The time synonym is seen in the phrase "redeeming the time." Redeeming the time towards God is seen in Ephesians 5:16-18 and redeeming the time towards man is noted in Colossians 4:5. The chemical synonym of "salt" is used for divine truth resident in the soul which results in the stability of spiritual maturity. Stabilized Christians are the invisible salt of preservation and perpetuation of their nation from Matthew 5:13, Mark 9:50, Luke 14:34, and Colossians 4:6.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. (Ephesians 6:11)
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. (Ephesians 6:13)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 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. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter 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. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 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 2:5-8)
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:16-18)
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. (Colossians 4:5)
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. (Matthew 5:13)
"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." (Mark 9:50)
"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? (Luke 14:34)
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:6)
We conclude our study by referring to the central control synonym. This refers to possessing your own control system, rather than being a drone. A drone is a male bee which has no sting and gathers no honey. Therefore he lives off the labors of others. This becomes analogous to the Christian who is living out of someone else’s soul instead of living his own life as unto the Lord from maximum divine truth resident in his own soul. The spiritually mature Christian lives his own life as unto the Lord and has his own production of maturity because of his own knowledge and application of the Word of God in his "central control center" as indicated in Ephesians 6:10.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (Ephesians 6:10)