Christ seeks to have a personal, and knowledgeable relationship with each of us, that is not restricted to the laws, and instructions given in the scripture, for even though these are important, yet they cannot replace knowing Him as a person. In other words, a knowledge of God’s revealed will, does not always translate into a knowledge of God. There are many Christians living today, who can expound on great themes of the Bible, who can give deep insights in Greek and Latin, but yet, may not know God on a personal level.
Then again, there are many who may love the laws of God, and many others who may appreciate the counsels He has given on diets, and foods, but who may not have known Him on a conversational, or an intimate level. There are thousands of vegans living today who are atheists, and there are many more individuals, and corporations, that return a faithful tithe, yet Jesus is to some of them as a stranger, or as “The unknown God”.
Therefore, the purpose of the Bible study today, is not to study God through teachings and laws, but to know Him as a person, so that our relationship with Him may not be distant, but intimate. Thus, for this reason there are some fundamentals about God we must address in the bigger picture:
[1] God is a Person. He is not a set of instructions, or laws, or Bible verses, or a diet; He is a person.
Genesis 5:22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years.
23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Exodus 33:11 And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
These passages we have just read speak to us of a deep relationship with God, on a level that is not based on good, or charitable works, as a means of knowing Him, or as proof that our relationship with God is intact. In fact, the Bible brings to view many charities, and individuals who have done real good, but would be found destitute of salvation at the last day, for their knowledge of God was only through a practice of good instructions, not on any intimate level. Let’s read:
Matthew 7:21 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you.
[2] In the beginning there was no Bible. In fact, the scriptures did not begin to be written until Moses had fled Egypt, which was several millenniums into this earth’s history. This means that any, and all of the instructions, or communications of God to man, came by word of mouth, and as such, were just as valid, if not more, than after the scriptures were written. Let’s read:
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
[3] The much preferable manner of communication with someone who we hold dear, would be by word of mouth, as opposed to writing or texting. Many, if not most of us will choose a phone call, where we can hear a loved one’s audible voice, instead of a more impersonal form of communication such as writing. This is also true of God as A Person, for He yearns to converse with us throughout the day. In fact, the following passage clearly demonstrates His preferable means of communication. Let’s read:
Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.
9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Exodus 19:9 And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee forever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord.
19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us,
and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
[4] Conviction of conscience does not necessarily depend on what is written. Joseph was convicted of righteousness, and sin long before any written laws. And of Abraham, The Lord declared that he kept His commandments, laws, and statutes, although none of them were in written form at this time. Let’s read:
Genesis 26:2 And the Lord appeared unto him, and said,
3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries.
5 Because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Genesis 39:7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife,
9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
[5] In the beginning, God spoke with man by His voice, and as we draw near the second coming of Christ, when The Holy Ghost is to be poured out in copious measure, His voice will again be heard. If our relationship with God gets restricted to “It is written” alone, then we may not discern His voice when the relationship moves to “It is spoken”. Let’s read:
Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
30 When thou art in tribulation, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
31 (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee.
Thus, we move into the core of the study, which takes us back to some events which preceded the Jerusalem conference, after the day of Pentecost. Peter goes up to pray, and whilst on the rooftop, a vision is given him, and he hears the voice of God speaking to him, teaching him truths that startles the daylights out of him. Let’s read:
Acts 10:9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he
had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43 That through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not
be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
This revelation of the grace of God to all men, had greatly startled the circumcised Jews who were with Peter, because through this singular incident, which came via the voice of God, many centuries of their written tradition were signally overturned. This in turn would cause a serious problem with those who had been taught to live solely by “It is written”, for there was no scripture, or prophecy to substantiate what had just taken place, as it pertains to the rite of circumcision, mandated by God Himself. Let’s read:
Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
The believing Pharisees had no problem whatsoever with the baptizing of the Gentiles; the problem they had is that what was written in the scriptures, was being disregarded in a manner that was contrary to what had been taught, and practiced for centuries, with the approval of God. On the other hand, the one thing that is conspicuously absent in Peter’s defense is scripture. In other words, he is basing his action of baptizing the Gentiles, without the rite of circumcision, solely on what was spoken by God’s voice, and nothing else.
Peter has no scripture to back up his course of action, as it pertains to the rite, which by the way, was given in a very strict, and decided format. The believing Jews on the other hand, had several passages of scripture to validate their point, and therefore, this is what was causing the heated arguments.
To put it plainly, the issue became a question of what ultimately has more authority, “It is written” or “It is spoken”? The following are just a sample of the scriptures that were brought by the believing Jews to prove that Peter was in error. All of these written references they brought were line upon line. Let’s read:
Genesis 17:3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised.
14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
Joshua 5:2 At that time the Lord said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
3 And Joshua circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
4 And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise:
5 All the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.
Luke 1:57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child.
Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Question: Now, if all the patriarchs and prophets, including Joshua, David, Abraham, John, and Christ, were all circumcised, according to what is written in the scriptures, how are the Pharisees to believe that by God’s voice alone, such an important rite is to be overthrown, especially since it wasn’t written, nor predicted anywhere previously? Should they agree with Peter’s explanation, or should they stand upon that which is written, since all scripture is given by inspiration of God? It’s a very serious question indeed!
An employee at Walmart does his work faithfully, according to the written protocols that have been put in place, and instituted by the CEO, Carl Douglas Mc-Millon. One day, Mr. Mc-Millon, pays a visit to the store where that employee is working, and after some observations, orders the same employee to perform several of his work-related actions in a different way. Which one do you think will have more weight in the employee’s mind? The written protocols, or Mr. Mc-Millon’s voice?
And we too, where we work, are to follow those written protocols, and company guidelines, that have been instituted to govern our conduct on the job. But if the boss requested us to do things a bit differently, outside the norm, our employer’s word should obviously take the preeminence over what is written in the company’s employee’s manual.
Abraham was following protocol, until God asked him to do something differently, something that is nowhere written in the commandments, or laws given to govern our conduct. Therefore, when the command to kill came from the mouth of God, it took Abraham by surprise, yet, he would have been registered as being disobedient, if he had then chosen to stick with what is written in the manual. In fact, you would not believe who was encouraging Abraham to follow the manual. Let’s read:
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 148] The command was expressed in words that must have wrung with anguish that father's heart: “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, ... and offer him there for a burnt offering. He was commanded to shed the blood of that son with his own hand. It seemed to him a fearful impossibility. Satan was at hand to suggest that he must be deceived, for the divine law commands, “Thou shalt not kill,” and God would not require what He had once forbidden.
One day soon, after The Holy Spirit is poured out on all flesh, we too may have to choose between “It is written” or “It is spoken, and although we try by the grace of God, to give you a scriptural answer for any and everything on this forum, the time is coming, when, in answer to your questions, we may only be able to say, “The Lord has spoken”. A very serious issue indeed! Let’s read:
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the
moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.
This passage teaches us in no uncertain terms, that just prior to His 2nd coming, Jesus is going to make a last-ditch effort to save as many people as possible, and as such, He may so choose to overturn some of the written protocols we have observed for many years. Whatsoever we may think about the Bible, or about our relationship to Christ, just remember this one thing, that God is a Person, and as such, His spoken word will take precedence over that which is written, whenever He sees necessary. Let’s read:
[Last Day Events pp 209>210] There is to be in the Seventh-day Adventist churches a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but it will not move upon those who have not humbled themselves before the Lord, and opened the door of the heart by confession and repentance. In the manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which in their blindness they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it.
Because the Lord does not work according to their ideas and expectations they will oppose the work. “Why,” they say, “should we not know the Spirit of God, when we have been in the work so many years?” The third angel's message will not be comprehended, the light which will lighten the earth with its glory will be called a false light, by those who refuse to walk in its advancing glory.
As a follow-up to this bible study, we are going to now submit two passages from the Bible for your consideration, and contemplation in preparation for next week’s Bible study. Let’s read:
John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Acts 19: And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Question: If for some reason these disciples had died before Paul met them, would they be saved when Jesus comes, seeing that they were baptized unto John only?
See you next week, God willing. God bless!