I want to share something my wife wrote to me today in an e-mail. It has to do with a simple Truth about how we share God’s Truth when blogs are written. For we must be careful in how we teach and share God’s Truth. And it must be correctly supported by Scripture.

This was written word for word as God gave it to my wife.

Isn’t Scripture the main source of the Lord or is it just words of wisdom to add to and make it our own. If we can not back up these peoples quotes with Scripture behind it to show what God has been saying and teaching then we are not truly righteous in the Lords eyes and our understanding is just as perverted as the men who write the quote. Doesn’t that sound like a pastor in a church? We cannot justify ourselves with any other means but the source of God almighty. When we teach do we not teach in truth without deception? If so then we should not have any other means of man’s words and only trust in Jesus. Even those who have stepped out of the church with the Lord need to ask themselves “where am I with you Lord” and “how can I serve you”. Not “how can I make you sound better”.

Brethren, if we quote other men all the time then we aren’t pointing to Christ. We must use Scripture to guide people to the Truth. Consider the following from 2Timothy:

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! ⁶ For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, ⁷ always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; ⁹ but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

¹⁰ But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, ¹¹ persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. ¹² Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. ¹³ But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2Tim 3:1-16)

The apostle Paul first gives a warning to watch out for those who do not walk according to God’s Truth in verses 1-9. Then in verses 10-15 he gives an exhortation to continue in the Truth given Timothy. Then amazingly Paul sums it up in verses 16-17. He says in essence, stick with Scripture. It was given to us by God so that we can know the Truth, live by it and instruct others with it. If we are quoting men, even if it seems edifying are we glorifying men or God? I challenge that it is the former that is being glorified and perpetuates what I have been calling “running to Moses”. It may not be wrong to quote men as long as we support it correctly through Scripture.

But now brethren, let us back track in Paul’s 2nd letter to Timothy. Let us read the 2nd chapter for a clearer picture of how we present God’s Truth:

2 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ³ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵ And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. ⁷ Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

⁸ Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, ⁹ for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

¹¹ This is a faithful saying:

For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
¹² If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
¹³ If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶ But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. ¹⁷ And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, ¹⁸ who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

²⁰ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. ²¹ Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. ²² Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵ in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Let us now rightly divide the word of God, not teaching from the philosophy of men, supposing it is the word of God, but using the word of God as it is. God will not share glory with another.

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.(Col. 2:8)