Volume  IV    Issue   VII   December 21st, 2003

A publication of the:
Butler church of Christ

Our meeting location is:
201 5th Ave.
Butler, PA 16001
724-287-0628 (building) / 724-282-9417 (home/office)

Assembling Times:
Sunday Bible Class - 9:30 AM
Sunday Worship – 10:30 AM
Wednesday Bible Class – 7:00 PM
 

Editor / Preacher –
Brian A. Yeager
 

Check out the web site:

http://www.wordsoftruth.net


Welcome to a place where only God is glorified and only the Bible is taught!

(I Corinthians 10:31 and I Peter 4:11)


They Don’t Like You Having a Bible
By: Brian A. Yeager

    Man-made denominational churches do not appreciate coming upon those whom have an English text of the Holy Writ when one knows how to use it in defense of the truth contained therein.  The Mormons have gone out of their way in creating a Mormon friendly Bible.  It is known as the book of Mormon.  It is not a modified translation of the original text, but is an all-new document.  They claim it is a translation given through an angel.  Even if such were the case, the true scriptures show that this would be a cursed revelation (Galatians 1:8-9).  Contained in that book are many errors.  Two passages in particular prove the point that they do not want you to have a Bible if you know how to use it.  Their false text states:
 

II Nephi 29:6 "Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?"  - Book of Mormon

II Nephi 29:10 "Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written."Book of Mormon


    The challenge made in the book of Mormon is a direct challenge towards the all-sufficiency of the scriptures.  They are saying that the word of God is not enough.  They are saying in their false text that those of us who say we have the revealed word are fools.  They need to say this, for the word of God does not ever speak of a Mormon church or any other man-made denomination.  Thus, the Mormons and every other denomination on earth have to claim that God just did not reveal enough.  Some say tradition makes up the rest (Roman Catholicism) while others say that we still have revelations today (Pentecostalism).   They are all shouting GOD DID NOT GIVE US ALL WE NEED.

God Did Reveal All We Need

    Clearly, God did not tell mankind of everything that He knows.  There are “secret things” that belong unto Him alone (Deuteronomy 29:29).  One of those secret things is the day in which Christ will come, destroy the earth, and judge mankind (Matthew 24:35-36).  John reveals some great truths that will help us in understanding that God revealed what we NEED TO KNOW: (John 20:30-31) “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”  (John 21:24-25) “This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.”

    We have been given all we need to know.  We have been given all things pertaining unto life and godliness (II Peter 1:3).  The word of God is inspired [God breathed] and fully equips man unto every good work (II Timothy 3:16-17).  The revealed text is fully understandable (Ephesians 3:1-4).  The revealed word of God teaches man what he must do to be saved (Mark 16:15-16, Romans 1:16, and James 1:21) and what man must do to remain saved / live faithfully (Acts 20:32, Titus 2:11-14, James 1:25, and II Peter 1:3-10).  The word of God is truly sufficient to guide mankind and the word of God will always exist for that purpose.

God’s Word Will Not Pass Away

    (Matthew 24:35; cf. Mark 13:31 and Luke 21:33) “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”  (I Peter 1:23-25) “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”  As one can tell, the Lord wants us to know that His word will not cease to be.  We can also know that His word will not be changed to another gospel (Jude 3 and Revelation 22:18-19).  This should give every reassurance to those who are fighting the denominational denial that God has provided all man needs to know.

Conclusion

    (John 5:39) “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”  If you want to know about Jesus and His will, you need not look any further than His word.  Man’s religious bodies do not want us to study the word of God because you would then be led to follow the Lord instead of man (Galatians 1:10).  Human creeds are meant to get people away from the word of God to the words of men.  These human creeds are sinful, in that they speak for God where God has not spoken.  The scribes and the Pharisees tried many times to bind their human conclusions and teach their human creeds.  Jesus responded: (Matthew 15:7-9) “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

    The next time someone says to you that you should not trust in the Bible, you tell them they should not trust in men.  (Proverbs 14:12) “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”  Religion is not supposed to be about pleasing man, all things we do should be about pleasing and glorifying God (Matthew 7:21 and I Corinthians 10:31).  God’s word, it is all-sufficient.  Following men that reject the all-sufficiency of the word of God will get you to fall just as they will (Matthew 15:14).  It is the word of God that gives us faith (Romans 10:17) and leads us (Psalms 119:105).  Unfortunately, many fail to realize that the same word the Lord has given to govern us, will also be used to judge us (John 12:48).  What a horrible day it will be for those who now say “Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible…”, when the Lord comes and judges them for rejecting His word (II Thessalonians 1:7-9).
 
 
 



What must one do to be saved (Acts 2:37)?  Hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16), repent of their sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of sins into the church (Acts 2:38, I Corinthians 12:12-13, and Galatians 6:3-5).  One must then remain faithful (Revelation 2:10).