“THE TRADITIONS”

The Pharisees were very offended that some rag tag fishermen would follow Jesus and teach contrary to what they taught. They said to Christ, "Why do thy disciples transgress the traditions of the elders?" (Matt. 15:2) A tradition is something that is passed down from generation to generation and with the Pharisees it was the oral law. It was not the scriptures but what they and those like them that preceded them, said about the scriptures and the rules they added to them. They could not defend their teachings from the scriptures alone so they accused the disciples of teaching contrary to "the traditions." Our merciful God spoke audibly from heaven on one occasion some very important words. "This is my beloved Son, hear ye Him..." The Word of God supersedes all the teachings of men, especially what they teach about the Word! Christ said to these Pharisees, "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." (Mark 7:9) They were not concerned with the glory of God or His Son who stood before them. Nor were they concerned for the truth or the spiritual welfare of the people. They were fearful that they would no longer be the authority. Men would no longer follow them and their lofty positions would diminish. They used fear to try to turn men from the teachings of Christ. They and those like them are just the opposite of those like John who said, "He must increase and I must decrease." The "philosophy, vain deceit and tradition of men" that Paul warns of in Colossians 2:8 is what men call Gnosticism. As far as I can see from studying this error, it is characterized by two chief things: First, a denial of the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Pharisee said they took up stones to stone Him because "he made himself to be God." Secondly, is a claim of revelation beyond what the scriptures say, extra-biblical, even mystical revelation, above that which is plainly stated in the Word of God. Thus the traditions of the Pharisees! I pray for grace from God to never take the comments of men over what is said in His word. The scriptures (not what men say about them) shall be our only rule of faith and practice! Only God the Spirit working in us can bring us to cast aside the traditions of men and bow to what “thus saith the Lord.” What a blessing when He does so and a very liberating thing! It is the only way to be free from the fear of man that brings a snare. We all have such traditions and are under their bondage. Only the Son can make us free!

GS

THE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE

The Bible is our authority, as it reveals Christ to us, who Himself is our ultimate authority, as the Head of the Church, His Body. He has spoken unto us by His word, and that is recorded in scripture, hence scripture is our authority. But the Bible must be revealed and applied to Christians by the Holy Spirit - without the Spirit the Bible is a 'closed book' to mankind (See Romans 8:1-10 or 1 Corinthians 2:10-16). To this end Christ sends preachers, whom He calls and sends forth with His word to preach it and expound it, by the Holy Spirit, for the edification of His people (See Ephesians 4). The Gospel is 'embodied' in that God puts it into the mouth of those preachers whom He sends forth with it (Jeremiah 1:9). Such preachers, ministers, are given a rule over God's people, and those people are called to obey those who are given the rule over them, as unto the Lord. Not all are gifted as preachers in this way, or sent for such a work. The authority of these ministers is not their own, but Christ's, in whose name they speak as His ambassadors. Nevertheless God's people are called upon to discern between true God-sent preachers and false, and to compare their words with scripture. 2 Corinthians 11:4 gives us instruction in discerning those who truly are sent of God to preach His Gospel - Do they preach the gospel, the Jesus of the Bible (who died as according to the scriptures)? Do they preach by the Spirit? In this way their authority can be tested.

"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20.

Thus we see that every true preacher preaches according to the word of God, hence it is absolutely true that the Bible is foundational. The Gospel of Christ as set forth in those scriptures forms the foundation of the church (Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone) (Ephesians 2:20).

Ian Potts

The gospel is offensive to the natural man because it addresses him as he is and exposes what he thinks is his best as totally unacceptable to God. GS

“COME UNTO ME”

There are neither appeals, offers or invitations given in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some try to make them be such but that simply works to strengthen the natural man’s thinking that what is said is his to accept or reject. But there are gracious commands given by the King of glory which He directs to certain individuals. We find such a command in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” There are at least five things here: 1. The One who speaks is none other that the Sovereign King of glory. He says, “Come.” Not do, not go but “come.” 2. Where He says come to. “Come unto ME.” To the One who is set forth in the true Gospel. Everyone that is “taught of God” and who “learns of the Father” comes “unto ME” Christ said. 3. Those commanded: “all ye that labor and are heavy laden.” Those who for so long have worked to please God and gone about to establish a righteousness but failed. All who have been brought to know and feel the weight of their sins before God. Those weighted down with guilt and a Spirit-wrought conviction over sin. 4. His promise. “and I will give you rest.” This is rest for your souls. Rest from your works to save yourself. Rest in Christ who is the true Sabbath. Rest in His finished work. Rest by His shed blood. 5. Grace. His gift and call are all of grace! “I will GIVE you rest.” Freely given rest because freely justified through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus! The gift of righteousness, the gift of faith and the gift of eternal life all freely given.

Men can make appeals and offer invitations and it will avail nothing. Oh, but if “in the day of His power” we can hear this KING OF KINGS speak these words to our hearts through His gospel… We will come to Him. We will find that we have needlessly tried to carry our burden when He had already born it in His own body on the tree. We will find out what He has freely given us and we will find true rest. The command for Noah to come into the ark came from the ark. The command from a gracious Savior to come unto Him is far greater than all the appeals of men! Listen to HIM speaking…..