SERMON 165: SPEAK WHERE THE BIBLE SPEAKS
Germaine Charles Lockwood

John 1:17: For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17.

The truth was given to us through Jesus Christ, which is recorded in the New Testament. 

Jesus said to His apostles in: 

John 16:13: “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” John 16:13.

The apostles of Christ were guided into all truth by the Holy Spirit. They wrote all truth in the New Covenant. “Things to come” we find in the last book of the New Covenant, Revelation. At the end of the New Covenant we read in:

Revelation 22:18, 19: For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22:18, 19.

We have been given the truth including things to come which are recorded in the New Testament, the New Covenant. We are not to add to or to take away from these things in the New Covenant. No man has authority to do so.

Are we to study and know the Old Testament part of the Bible?

Romans 15:4: For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4.

Yes, we need to study the Old Testament for our leaning. We read also in:

1 Corinthians 10:11: Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 1 Corinthians 10:11.

Yes, we need to study the whole Bible for our admonition and learning. 

2 Timothy 3:16, 17: 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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

The Apostle Peter wrote by the Holy Spirit in:

1 Peter 4:11: If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. . . . 1 Peter 4:11.

This is a commandment. We must speak as the oracles of God. If we speak as the oracles of God, we speak from the word of God, the Bible, the scriptures.

We are commanded to speak as the oracles of God. This restricts us to the Bible. Where the Bible speaks, we must speak. If we speak as the oracles of God, then we will not add to it or take away from it. If we speak where the Bible speaks, we will be silent where the Bible is silent. If we speak our own opinions, the traditions of men, the commandments of men, and the theologies of men, then we are not speaking as the oracles of God. We need to speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.

We read a command in:

1 Corinthians 4:6: . . . learn not to go beyond the things which are written; . . . 1 Corinthians 4:6.

We do need to learn to not go beyond the things which are written. We need to reject the commandments of men, the theologies of men, the philosophies of men, and the traditions of men. We need to go back to the Bible, to the word of God. We need to speak where the Bible speaks and to be silent where the Bible is silent. Will you do this? On the day of judgment, you will be thankful if you do.

Notice the commands given in:

2 Timothy 4:1-4: I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 2 Timothy 4:1-4.

What are we to preach? We are to preach the word. We are to preach the word of God, the Bible, the truth. We are to speak as the oracles of God. We are to teach the sound doctrine of the word of God. Do not turn aside to fables, to false stories. You need to reject the philosophies of men, the theologies of men, and the traditions of men. Preach the word. Will you speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent?

Jesus said, as recorded in:

John 12:48: “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him -- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” John 12:48.

We will be judged by the words of Christ in the day of judgment. You will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and be judged according to His word,
the New Testament. You need to obey the word of Christ now.

Jesus said in:

Matthew 15:7-9: “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” Matthew 15:7-9.

Are you following the commandments of men? Are you teaching as doctrines the commandments of men? These will make you a hypocrite and make your worship vain. You would do well to come away from the doctrines and commandments of men, because you will be judged by Jesus the Messiah in accordance with His New Covenant.
	
You must not add to, or take away from the New Testament. Revelation 22:18, 19.
If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God . . . 1 Peter 4:11. Learn not to go beyond the things which are written; . . . 1 Corinthians 4:6. Preach the word! . . . and do not be turned aside to fables. 2 Tim. 4:1-4.
 		
Matthew 15:13, 14: But He (Jesus) answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. “Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” Matthew 15:13, 14.

2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10.

The Good News is that Jesus Messiah, the Son of God:

. . . died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:3,4.

Jesus the Messiah is the only one who died for the forgiveness of your sins. He is now our Lord, our King and our Savior. He has all authority in heaven and on earth. He loves you. He wants to save you from sin and eternal hell.

Hebrews 5:9: And having been perfected, He (Jesus) became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, Hebrews 5:9.

Will you obey Him? You can repent and put your faith and trust in Jesus the Son of God, and then be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Jesus said in:

Mark 16:16: He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16.

Jesus put faith before baptism. Infant baptism is not right.

Galatians 3:26, 27: For we are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Through your own faith, you can be baptized into Christ, putting on Christ. Galatians 3:26, 27.

Acts 22:16: ‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ Acts 22:16.

Amen!