For thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within your soul against the land of Israel, therefore, behold, I have stretched out my hand against you, and will hand you over as plunder to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples and will make you perish out of the countries; I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 25:6–7, ESV)
Verse for Today
“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. (Deuteronomy 30:15–16, ESV)
Verse for Today
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV)
Verse for Today
You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:17–18, ESV)
Prophet’s Message
Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles that are false and misleading. (Lamentations 2:14, ESV)
The job of the prophet is not only to foretell, but ‘forth tell’ the Word of God. False prophets say what you want to hear; true prophets speak the whole Word of God. False prophets “see false and deceptive visions which do not expose iniquity to restore your fortunes.” True prophets, wielding the sword of the Word that Jesus gave, cut away the false front of pride so that we might have a chance to humble ourselves and submit to the Lord God Almighty that He might restore our fortunes.
Your prophets have been like jackals among ruins, O Israel. You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the LORD. (Ezekiel 13:4–5, ESV)
This explains our avoidance of His Word. We prefer the numbing narcotic of lying visions like modern movies, best-selling books, and favorite TV shows over the sometimes painful but necessary application of the Word of God. Medical treatment is painful too, but if we do not endure the pain we will not be healed. In fact, a lot of times without treatment wounds will fester, bad microbes will infect, and we will die. Better to endure a little light pain losing our pride than to suffer eternal agony with other festering sores. Um, people.
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD. My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord GOD. Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash, say to those who smear it with whitewash that it shall fall! There will be a deluge of rain, and you, O great hailstones, will fall, and a stormy wind break out. (Ezekiel 13:8–11, ESV)
May you seek and grab hold of the whole truth of God’s Word, removing iniquity and building up walls that will stand in battle on the day of the Lord. A day which is coming soon.
Naaman and Simple Bible Messages of Whole Bible
Naaman was a mighty man and the head of Syria’s armies during the time of Elisha, successor to Elijah. He was also a leper. A five year-old slave girl taken from Israel was in his household and told him that Elisha could cure him. Naaman goes to Elisha, and Elisha tells him to dip himself in the Jordan seven times. At first, Naaman thought this was stupid and was enraged, because he had better rivers where he came from. He expected a dog and pony show from Elisha, maybe waving his hands around and calling on the name of his God. His servants encouraged him to listen to the man of God.
Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” (2 Kings 5:13, NASB95)
Naaman humbled himself, did what the man of God said, and was healed.
I have been criticized because of my simple message – read the Word, and do it as if it was life. When I lead a Bible study, I usually use the Manna reading schedule and we read the 10 or 12 chapters first. We let God talk, and then if there’s any time left, we get to talk. This is not the extent of Bible reading for us all. It is just a touch point. We should be reading large chunks of the Book of Life every day, for it is our life. For something so simple though, we don’t do it. God’s Word has the answers to what might be bothering you. Much more than my words. Reading and heeding is simple, but many go away from me enraged and thinking they have better ways of doing things than that.
If I waved my hands around and told them to read the lousy ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ in the name of God, they would probably plunge right in. If I recommended any other book, it would probably be received the same way. ‘The Shack’ is a terrible book, but it has sold over 18 million copies. Telling people we just have to read His Word and do it angers people because they think they have all sorts of “better” books or videos or movies or whatever. But they aren’t reading the One Book that gives life. Hmm.
The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house. (Ezekiel 12:1–2, ESV)
We are a rebellious house. God has taken great pains to provide us with a Book that conveys all of His Will for us at the moment, and we look down on it like Naaman looked down on the Jordan river. We want a dog and pony show to tickle our ears and amaze our eyes, like the latest blockbuster movie. We spend hours and hours every day doing what we want, watching what we want, and reading what we want. And we can’t spare a few moments for the living oracles of God?
Reading does not mean a couple verses posted on Facebook every once in a while either. Where is the heart of the new covenant in that? Read His whole Book, cover to cover. Then read it again. And again. Do what you read as best you are able. Devote yourself to finding and doing His Will, seek His Kingdom, and the other things you seek will be added. I could talk and wave my arms around until I’m blue in the face, and it wouldn’t come as close to helping as would one Word from Him. Stop rebelling against Him. Read His Word and do what you read. It’s simple.
I’m sorry I don’t have a flashy presentation that feeds the ego instead of the soul. I might be able to make a lot of money that way. But it’s better for all if we just use our eyes and ears, read what He tells us, and do it.
Which Law?
‘Whole Bible Christianity’ chapter 1 ‘Which Law?’
Some people limit The Law to the first five books (the Pentateuch), which they call the ‘Law of Moses.’ Other people will divide the Law of Moses into three (unbiblical) sections (civil, ceremonial, and moral) and say only the ‘moral laws’ count. There are the people who think there are ten Laws, and those who think there are only two laws now (love the Lord and love each other). Then we’ve got the red letter people, telling us to pay attention to only red letters. Lastly, there are people who think the Law is imaginary, or merely spiritual, and as long as we think we are obeying then we must be really obeying.
Whole Bible Christians, as the name implies, say that every word from the mouth of God is Law (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4). It is plain to us that The Law is every word that He speaks from Genesis to Revelation. We believe “all of the above” when it comes to His Law. It is more than just three sections or five books. It’s all moral. Red letters, black, purple, or whatever, don’t matter. Every word is read and followed literally as much as we can.
His Words (and Law) are intimately woven around history and God’s dealings with men. There is no avoiding the Word, whether we call it Law or something else. Most of this book is about the Law because most of His book is about the Law. The subject of His whole Law (commands, statutes, charge, ordinances, etc.) is mentioned thousands of times in the Word, as well as related subjects such as obeying His voice (Genesis 22:18, 26:5; Exodus 19:5), hearing His voice (John 10:16, 27, 18:37; Revelation 3:20), ears that don’t hear and eyes that don’t see (Jeremiah 5:21, 6:10; Ezekiel 12:2; Mark 8:18). His Word and His Law is the same thing.
You’ve heard it said that the Law isn’t for Christians. That it’s been ‘fulfilled’ by Jesus and therefore eliminated. That we “can’t do” the Law. Or maybe just “the Ten” apply (or maybe just 9 or 8 or 2). I cover a bunch of those anti-biblical teachings in chapter 6. But when you read the Word, the whole thing seems to be directed at every believer. Now you’re thinking, “What in the world is going on?” because you’ve been told so much different.
I understand. It happens a lot. But let me assure you – all of His Law really does apply to everyone, all the time, everywhere (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Jesus talked a lot about the Law. He gave it, established it, and lived it. He did not abolish it (Matthew 5:17-19). It is part of the gospel (Hebrews 4:2), and it is unequaled as a lifestyle and discipleship method. We don’t have to follow the Law, we get to. The message of the Bible, from the Garden to Jesus to you and me, is do what God says.
46“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. 47“But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” (John 5:46-47 NASB95)
Teachings of Paul
‘Whole Bible Christianity,’ chapter 7, ‘Teachings of Paul’
If the Law had been ‘fulfilled,’ (twisted to mean ‘eliminated’) then the following is a very curious thing for Paul to say.
1It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. 2You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. (1 Corinthians 5:1-2 NASB95)
Why would he care about a man who marries his stepmother? Wouldn’t all marriages be okay? According to the modern church, isn’t everything and everyone clean? Why would Paul appeal to the Law at all (Leviticus 18:8; Deuteronomy 22:30 and 27:30)? Why also would Paul appeal to the fact that this is something even Gentiles didn’t do?
There might be a thin argument here for the fictitious ‘moral law.’ Except how do we pick and choose what is ‘moral’ and what isn’t when God speaks? Isn’t everything He says by definition ‘moral?’ Could it be that the congregation had changed the law to say that ‘everything was clean?’ Were they perhaps practicing their ‘freedom in Christ?’
Paul doesn’t make up any new commandment here. He certainly doesn’t cherry-pick nor does he apply only the law he chooses. Not only does he say that the Corinthians should be following this Law, he implies it is a natural fact everyone (even the non-believing Gentiles) knows. In other words, God’s people should at least have the sense God gave a pagan. He also gives the punishment for the sin outlined in Torah (“remove the evil from your midst”). Later, it looks like they were “obedient in all things” (2 Corinthians 2:5-11).
Question of Proof
What would you tell someone who tells you that the laws (such as circumcision) don’t apply to “all the nations” that some laws apply to only those of Jewish blood. That they want Biblical proof that the laws apply to gentiles as well? What are the first verses that come to you, or what do you look up first when you want to discuss that opposite view or opinion? Do you believe yourself that as a gentile our friends are not sinning when they don’t keep the law? Is it not necessary to keep the laws if you are a gentile (you can do it if you’d like to live the fulfillment of God’s word, but it’s not really necessary to do so)? Many questions. Let’s bounce some answers!
Blog with Us
Hi Whole Bibler’s. We did not start the Whole Bible FB page solely to promote ourselves We did it to connect, to reach people, we want people to know and understand the fullness of God’s Word – which means putting obedience into practice as well. Any way – with that in mind we want to encourage people to use this page as more than just commenting on what we post – but sharing progress, encouragements and asking questions if you have them. Just like a message group site – we are more than happy to answer questions, or post them for others to bounce and share understandings and new learnings. If you don’t want to post your question, message us and we can present the question so that it doesn’t have to be broadcast who asked. We can make this page anything we want so lets do that!