The Scriptures themselves provide us with a marvelous understanding of how they are to be viewed. Consider the following.

• All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is sufficient for all religious and spiritual instruction. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13; Galatians 1:11-12; Ephesians 3:1-5).
• Scripture was given “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work,” and it is not to be added to, subtracted from, substituted for, revised, modified, amended, or supplemented by bishops, councils, popes, human creeds, church manuals, and/or catechisms. (Matthew 24:35; 1 Peter 1:24-25; 1 Corinthians 4:6; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 John 9).
• Scripture must be handled aright (rightly divided), recognizing the difference between the covenant God made with Israel through Moses (the Old Testament) and the covenant He has made with all humanity through Christ (the New Testament). (2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 1:1-2; 9:15-17; 10:9b; et al).
• Scripture speaks to us in plain, explicit statements of various kinds (declarative, imperative, interrogative, hortative, etc.), by examples, and with implications from which we draw necessary inferences. With reference to inference, Paul asserts that the existence of the universe teaches us by necessary inference that there is an all-powerful, all-wise Creator (Romans 1:19-20). Jesus used inference in refuting the Sadducees’ lack of faith in the resurrection (Mark 12:24-27). If God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and if God is not the God of the dead but of the living, then it must necessarily be inferred that those Old Testament patriarchs are still alive in the spirit world, and, therefore, there will be a resurrection!
• We must honor the silence of Scripture, and not presume to speak where God has not spoken (I Corinthians 4:6 [NKJV, ASV]; 1 Peter 4:11).
• We should adhere strictly to Scripture in all matters of faith, doctrine, and practice, including what the New Testament says with reference to being saved from sin, the church, worship, and daily Christian living in all of its multiple dimensions (Matthew 7:21; Hebrews 5:8-9; 1 Corinthians 4:6; 2 John 9).
• A person of average intelligence can read and understand the Scriptures for himself/herself as surely as he/she can read any number of other documents and understand them (Ephesians 3:1-4; 2 Timothy 2:15).

The problems/differences we face today in the church and in the religious world at large are not so much a matter of not understanding what the Bible says as they are a matter of not believing what the Bible says. This is not to say that there are not some knotty passages concerning which good and able men have differed. But I fear that in too many instances some have allowed their social and professional peers and their religious and non-religious friends to intimidate them into compromised beliefs and positions where biblical teaching is concerned.

Paul expressed a fear that “as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). The “strait” (observe the spelling) way is too restricted for some (Matthew 7:13-14). To insist on salvation only through Christ is too “limiting” for some (John 14:6; Acts 4:11-12). To insist on immersion for the remission of sins is too “narrow” for some (Romans 6:4; Acts 2:38). To worship without the instrument is too “odd” for some (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). To insist on male only leadership in the church is too “politically incorrect” for some (1 Corinthians 14:34; 1 Timothy 2:11-12).

Some seemingly have come to the point where they are ashamed of the simple truths of the Bible. I am reminded of the words of an old preacher who said, “I would be ashamed to be afraid and afraid to be ashamed of my Lord and His words.” Jesus had some sobering words for all who fall into that category (Mark 8:38).

By: Hugh Fulford, From Hugh’s News & Views, via Facebook- submitted by Jerry Sturgill

God’s unchanging faithfulness is described in James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Aren’t you glad that God’s goodness is not fleeting? God is always good. He does not change (Malachi 3:6). Tomorrow He will be just as good and true as He is today (Hebrews 13:8).

 
James 1:18 continues this discussion by declaring of the faithful God, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” The word of truth is what saves us (James 1:21). The truth sets us free (John 8:32), it separates us from the world (John 17:17), and we must walk in it to be pleasing to God (2 John 4; 3 John 3-4).

Truth is to make us into a kind of first fruits of God’s creatures. Are we like God in the sense of being faithful and true? It is not always easy to be true and faithful, but it is worth it. A lie sometimes seems like the easy way to get out of a tight spot, but the result is a nagging conscience and a sense of shame (Ephesians 4:25). While many people today are like Ahab, wanting people to tell them what they like to hear rather than the truth (1 Kings 22; cf. Isaiah 30:10; 2 Timothy 4:3-4), deep down we must recognize that it is the person who will always tell us the truth who is really our best friend (Proverbs 27:6).

 
At critical points in our lives, when our character is tried, we must remain true. When crises come, the greatest desire is not for the most intelligent or most popular people, but for those who are faithful and true (Proverbs 20:6). A loyal person is the greatest blessing in these times. While we can’t choose our intelligence or popularity, we can always choose to be true.

 
When people pressure you with their false beliefs, do you remain true to your convictions? The majority of people follow falsehood (Matthew 7:13-23). God is not swayed to be false even if every man in the world is (Romans 3:4). Can we be like God and refuse to be swayed, or do we cave in to peer pressure? When many disciples of Jesus walked no more with Him because they could not accept the truth He preached (John 6:66), Jesus did not change His tune to bring them back. Instead He challenged those who remained with what they would do. Peter recognized they could go nowhere else if they were to follow the truth that saves for Jesus had the words of eternal life (John 6:68).

 
Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). He is the One who makes true life possible. Jesus calls us to follow Him in His words of truth, stating, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth,and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32). Like no other, Jesus helps us to be true.

 
–Mark Day

Jesus said in John 7:17, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” The first “will” in this verse conveys the concept of desire; thus, Jesus is affirming if a man truly desires or wills to do God’s will, then he will know what God’s will is.
There are many today who say that the Bible cannot be understood. They point to the great variety of conflicting concepts people have about certain Bible subjects as proof for their claim. Though many very educated people differ in their views on the scriptures, the problem is not with the Bible. God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). Many people were divided over the identity of Jesus while He was here on earth (John 7:43), and today there is still division over who He is, but the defect has never been in Jesus. The defect is in the hearts of men.

Jesus’ words in John 7:17 still ring true. Jesus did not claim that education or intelligence will absolutely guarantee true knowledge of God’s will. Though those factor in, the main ingredient Jesus identifies is desire. True, honest desire to please God is the number one prerequisite for understanding God’s will. If someone comes to the Bible for any other purpose than to ascertain what God wants and does it, then there is no telling what kind of “interpretations” they may put on the Scriptures. Luke 8:15 identifies those who have an honest and good heart as the people who receive the word of God and bring forth fruit. The Bible is not only for those of supreme intellect with the highest education; God’s word is for everyone. Mark 12:37 says of Jesus that, “the common people heard him gladly,” because He did not speak like the educated religious leaders who made things so complicated. While not everyone has the privilege of the highest education, everyone can choose to be honest.
You can understand the Bible. You just have to be honest with it. Paul expected those in Ephesus to whom he wrote to be able to understand, “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)” (Ephesians 3:3-4). Jesus even expected men in the first century to understand what Daniel had written centuries before concerning the destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15). God expects us to read the Bible and understand His will. “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).

–Mark Day

The church by the end of the apostles and prophets of the 1st century was exactly like God in Christ wanted it to be. We find that by the death of the apostles and prophets of the 1st century, all things that pertain to life and godliness was given to us, was written down, and we today when we read what they wrote, we know what they knew. Thus when we look at apostasies we look at departures from truth. Throughout the years from Pentecost, 33 AD, following the death burial and resurrection of Christ the faithful saints have always existed on earth. They were not the most influential and are they were (are) not the largest group, but they always existed. Keep in mind the dates of these apostasies may vary slightly depending on the historian that you choose to follow.

Sin is sin, false teaching is false teaching. It does not matter if it developed like in 154 A.D. with baptism for the dead or you go to 1870 and discuss the infallibility of the Pope, false teaching is false teaching. Just a sampling from the list in V. Glenn McCoy’s book “Return To The Old Paths”, pp. 16-9 are:
1. Distinction made between elders – A.D. 150.
2. Baptism for the dead – A.D. 154.
3. Prayers for the dead – A.D. 300.
4. Sign of the cross was practiced – A.D. 300.
5. Lighting of candles instead of individual prayers – A.D. 320.
6. The Lord’s Supper was changed into a mass and celebrated daily – A.D. 394.
7. The phrase “Mother of God” was applied to Mary by the council meeting at Ephesus.
8. Extreme unction (anointing of the newly dead or those about to die) – A.D. 526.
9. The actual formal establishment of the doctrine of purgatory (a second chance for dead sinners from which one could escape through money paid to priests who, offer prayers for them) by Gregory I – A.D. 593.
10. Latin became the official language for prayer and worship, imposed by Gregory I – A.D. 600.
11. Near deification of Mary as “queen of heaven.” Prayers made to Mary, dead saints, angels imposed by Gregory I – A.D. 600.
12. The title “pope” or “universal bishop” was given to Boniface III by emperor Phocas – A.D. 606.
13. Instrumental music was introduced in church worship in A.D. 670 by Pope Vitalia. However, it created such a furor that it was removed and reintroduced much later. (~900 AD)
14. Worshipping of the cross, images, and relics – A.D. 786.
15. Hagiolatry, worshipping of departed saints – A.D. 788
16. Holy water (water mixed with a pinch of salt and blessed by priest) used – A.D. 850.
17. College of Cardinals established – A.D. 890.
18. Dead “saints” canonized by authority of Pope John XV – A.D. 998.
19. Rosary invented by Peter the Hermit (counting of beads in prayer).
20. The sale of indulgences in sin began in 1190. (Pope Leo X financed a good part of the building of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome by this means. This was one of the 95 points included in the thesis of Martin Luther that was nailed to the door of the Wittenberg, Germany church in A.D. 1517.)
21. Confession of sins to the priest for the purpose of forgiveness of sins (auricular confession) was imposed by Pope Innocent III – A.D. 1215.
22. Sprinkling was approved for baptism by Council of Ravenna – A.D. 1311.
23. Tradition was declared by the Council of Trent to be equal in authority with the Bible – A.D. 1545.
24. Infallibility of the Pope – A.D. 1870

The definition of apostasy is people changing what God has given in the Scriptures. If you change one element of the church, if you change any part of that once delivered faith, then you are no longer a part of the church, that organization that was blood bought by Christ. He is the head of the church, He is still the head of the church, and He will always be that the head of the church. Nothing has changed.

The teachings we have today are the teachings that were practiced in the 1st century. When you worship with the Lord’s church and you sing without mechanical instruments, you pray, you give, you participate in the Lord’s Supper, and you listen to exhortations from the Word of God, you are doing exactly what they did in the 1st century. It doesn’t need to be changed, it doesn’t need to be altered, it cannot be made better. To begin to move from the truth of God’s Word, brings further and further movement away from the truth.

-Jerry D. Sturgill