[Biblemat] A) GOD HAS SPOKEN

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Saturday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my files:

GOD HAS SPOKEN

     By what power are people saved?  By what  power are peo-
ple guided aright in spiritual truth?  Paul said, "For I am not
ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to
salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the 
Greek" (Rom. 1:16).  James urged that people
"receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to
save your souls" (Jas. 1:21).  Paul reminded the Ephesian
saints, "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation..." (Eph. 1:13).  Jesus said
"He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who
does not believe will be condemned" (Mk. 16:16).  Paul said,
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing, by the word of
God" (Rom. 10:17).  Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone 
keeps My word he shall never see death" (Jno.
9:51).  He prayed to the Father, "Sanctify them by Your truth,
Your word is truth" (Jno. 17:17).

     The Holy Spirit gave the word, guiding the Apostles into
all truth (Jno. 16:13), confirming that word by miracles and
signs (Heb. 2:1-4).  This message from the Holy Spirit is "the
sword of the Spirit" (Eph. 6:17).  We are responsible to "hand-
le arigh the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15), by diligent study and
"giving ourselves" to the work opf learning the truth (2 Tim.
2:15; 3:14,15; 1 Tim. 4:13-16).  We cannot claim that the Holy
Spirit has told us miraculously in some mystical way to go to
a certain place as He did Philip (Acts 8:26-29), or that He "laid
it on our hearts" to preach a specific sermon on a specific
day.  He has already told us, "Preach the word" (2 Tim. 4:2) 
and to teach others (2 Tim. 2:2).  All sorts of specious claims
have been made that miraculous revelation by the Spirit has
directed the claimants in a particular course of behavior, often in conflict 
with what the Spirit has revealed in His inspir-
ed message.  The Apostles could prove their authorization; 
people today cannot, except by the Scriptures.  We must be-
ware of those who claim any sort of personal divine revelat-
ion.       ---------- Gilbert Alexander.   </HTML>
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