PART 3. GOD’S WORD IS ESSENTIAL TO HOLINESS

I grabbed the wrong suitcase.  On a weekend ministry trip, my husband and I with four other students from North Central Bible College ministered in music and preaching at churches in the Midwest. We packed, grabbed suitcases, sound equipment, and headed out.  When we arrived at our room, I opened my suitcase to an unpleasant surprise.  Instead of my items of clothing,  I had grabbed my scrapbook suitcase – pictures, memories, dried flowers, and things from past special events.  Oh, no!  You can imagine my dilemma.  Nothing in that suitcase was essential for looking good on the platform at church.  

Too often, on the holiness journey, we forget to bring the right suitcase, the essential items of clothing found in the Word of God.  Put on the new self, clothe yourself with humility and compassion, suit up in the armor of God, and with the garments of praise.  Instead, we wear the same old outfits rather than being made new with the heavenly make-over wardrobe found in Scripture. 

Jesus placed principal value on Scripture, saying. “It is written, you can’t live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”(Matthew 4:4).  Every word!  Megadoses of Scripture are essential for feeding our spirit and living a holy life.  

Peter urges his readers to crave (feel a fierce desire) the Word as a newborn craves milk.  Every four hours, the hunger-stricken infant screams for more.  Like that newborn, we will be satisfied and filled as we develop into the next stage of growth.     

Our Bible, God’s love letter, is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12). God’s words spoke creation into existence. His words spoke through prophets, apostles, and preachers. And continues to speak to us today.   God’s Word is vital for holiness and imperative for knowing Jesus.

GOD SPOKE
Life began with a word from God.  God said, “Let there be light.” There was light (Gen 1:3).  Eight times, “God said,” and creation came to life.  God spoke, and it happened.

“By God’s word, the heavens came into being, and the earth was formed“ (2 Peter 3:5).

God, with a word, called into being oceans, lands, sky, seas, stars, lights, trees, fish, animals, and humans.  God spoke and called all things into existence.

God wrote with His finger on a stone tablet providing the way His people could be with Him and enjoy His presence  (Ex. 24:12, 31:18, 32:16, 34:1; Deut. 9:10), 

THE PROPHETS

The prophets in the Old Testament were God’s mouthpiece to the people (Heb 1:1). The prophets spoke of future events and prophesied the coming of Jesus hundreds of years before He was born.  They foretold of the message of salvation without knowing the actual time and setting of the suffering of Jesus and the glories to follow (1 Peter 1:10-11).

In his second epistle, Peter says to be mindful of the words spoken by the holy prophets.  “I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets” (2 Peter 3:2a).  They are God’s mouthpiece. 

THE APOSTLES  

An eye witness to the life-changing words of Jesus, Peter verified the writings of the Apostles. 

 “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.  For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 2:16-21). 

Because these are God’s words spoken through the prophets and apostles, Peter says to be diligent in obeying “the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles” (2 Peter 3:2b).  

Peter was convinced  Jesus fulfilled all that was written in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets and  Psalms (Luke 24:44). Peter quotes fifteen Old Testament scriptures* in his eight chapters of 1 and 2^nd Peter- the Law, Prophets, Psalms, and Proverbs*- further verifying the integrity of Scripture. 

Peter references his “dear brother,” Paul,  who was led by the Holy Spirit to write the Scripture, even though it was hard to understand for the person not familiar with them (2 Peter 3:16).  

Because of these verifications to the authority of Scripture (God, prophets, apostles, Paul), Peter says to crave the divinely inspired Word.  Pay attention to it! The prophetic message is “completely reliable” (2 Peter 1:19).

LISTEN TO JESUS – THE WORD OF GOD

At the transfiguration of Jesus, Peter, James, and John were present, along with the heavenly guests, Moses and Elijah.  From heaven, the Father said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.  Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5).  

The E.F. Hutton brokerage firm advertising campaign of the early 1980s depicted people out jogging, aboard a train, or at a dinner party.  The conversation turned to the stock market and E.F. Hutton.  Upon hearing his name, joggers halted in mid-air, dinner guests ceased passing the salad, commuters put down the newspaper, and everyone stopped whatever they were doing and listened.  The tag line, “When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen.”  If the name of E.F. Hutton caused people to stop and listen, how much more the name of Jesus, the Word of God.  “Listen to Him.”

The Word, Jesus, was present at creation with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  Peter’s close friend, John the Beloved, said, “In the beginning (at creation), was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God” (John 1:1). 

Listen to Jesus!  Jesus, with a word, banished sickness, calmed the storm, cast out demons, and raised the dead.   

Peter was amazed at the words of Jesus that even a fruitless fig tree was changed.  Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” (Mark 11:21).  Just as Jesus said.  

Jesus fasted for forty days and nights in the wilderness when Satan tempted Him to eat.  “Just turn the rocks into bread, Jesus. That’s not too hard for you.”  Jesus spoke, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Deut 8:3, Matthew 4:4).    Every word comes from the mouth of God, more essential than my breakfast. 

CRAVE THE WORD

God spoke the world into existence, spoke through prophets, and the apostles. Peter urges believers to crave the Word like a newborn baby craves milk.   When we desire time with God in His Word, our ears hear better.  We are more sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. It becomes easier to say no to temptation. Obedience becomes a desire.

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.  Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation (1 Peter 2: 1-2).  

Not just ink on a page, but words that carry the absolute authority of its Author help us grow spiritually (1 Peter 2:2), has keeping power (2 Peter 1:10), and guards against error (2 Peter 3:17, 18).

DEFENSE AGAINST DECEPTION

 “I can’t believe it’s not butter” may describe our theology in believing something is true when it’s not.  Things appear authentic – artificial flavoring, plastic silverware, faux leather, fake news, and yes, counterfeit teachers and preachers – but are they?  Peter devotes an entire chapter warning against falling for the close-to-the-real-deal.  Without a healthy diet of spiritual food, deception is real. 

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves (2 Peter 2:1-3).

Ignorance of Scripture leads to deception, error, and sin.  

Deception is nothing new. Heresy runs alongside deception and tries to take your eyes of the truth. Much of the New Testament was written to combat heresy, something that seems close to the truth but isn’t.   Peter is adamant about gaining the “knowledge of Jesus” and the Word that provides guardrails against deception and error.    

Arian Heresy

A 2018 LifeWay Research State of Theology Study found Evangelical Christians are highly illiterate in the knowledge of the Bible.  78% believe the heresy of Arian from the fourth century that God created Jesus. This heresy claims Jesus is not God or equal to the Father.* 

 1 John 4 tells us to test the “spirits” because many false prophets are in the world. You can recognize the Spirit of God as follows:  Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God., but the spirit of antichrist (1 John 4:1-3). 

The Holy Spirit is More Than A Force

Another heresy believed by a high percentage of Evangelical Christians is regarding the Holy Spirit, thinking He is only a force and not a Person of the Trinity.

The Revelation Is Complete

It is not uncommon for people/pastors/teachers to pick and choose which Scriptures are relevant today.  Augustine wrote, “If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.”  All of Scripture is divinely inspired.  To add or take away from it brings a strong rebuke from its Author (Rev 22:18-19).

Every word of God is tested;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Do not add to His words
Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar. Proverbs 30:5,6

 In a nutshell, all Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training, and equipping in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  Ignorance of Scripture leads to deception, error, and sin.  

Ignorance of the Scripture is ignorance of Christ (St. Jerome). 

CULTURAL VOICES

When feeding on bread crumbs rather than the banquet of Scripture, core doctrines become confusing.  The cultural voices shout when the gentle voice of the Spirit through Scripture is ignored.   Some of the popular cultural voices shout the following:

• There is no eternal punishment for sin. 
• The Holy Spirit is not God. 
• Scripture is not relevant to today’s moral culture. 
• Gender identity is a choice. 
• It’s okay to be sexually active outside of marriage.
• There is no original sin.
• All gods are the same as Jehovah God.
• The Bible is just a good book, not divinely inspired by God.
• Jesus was just a good prophet.
• It’s okay to be dishonest; everyone lies.
• Everyone will be in heaven.

Scripture Refutes and Guards Against Error

Scripture refutes confusion, error, and heresy and guards the believer in the truth. 

Deception may be gradual,  like a frog in a pot being slowly boiled alive.  If the frog is put in boiling water, it will jump out, but since it begins at a comfortable temperature, the frog doesn’t perceive the danger and is cooked to its death.  Without a strong knowledge of Scripture, we can be like that frog that slowly accepts the things of the world and is effortlessly comfortable with its temperature.  Don’t stay in the world’s pot. Stay in the Word.

Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers.  Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Saviour, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:17-18 MSG).

A knowledge of Scripture that points to Jesus will guard our hearts and minds against error and deception.   Listen and learn.  Read it as you crave it and hunger for it.  Read it over and over, in the morning, through the day, or at night.  But read it.  It will satisfy our hunger and lead to holiness.  Jesus is in the pages. 

God called you and chose you to be His.  As we do our very best to live to please God as his chosen people, we will not be deceived. We won’t fall. I believe what God says. 

For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:10, 11).

Scripture, the words of God, will keep us from error and deception as it teaches us how to become more like Jesus.  

THE WORD BRINGS JESUS CLOSER

When we love Scripture, we love Jesus!  Read it as the love letter it is. 

When I was dating John, every letter he wrote to me I cherished.  I read it and reread it.  I didn’t quit reading after the first paragraph.  I didn’t put it down and say, “Well, that’s enough for now.”  No, I couldn’t put it down.  I read each word, memorized each line, and then reread it, through the day, between classes, while eating, and before going to bed.  I was in love with the one who wrote to me. 

That is an excellent way to come to the Word – like a love letter from God to you.  So grab the right suitcase full of essentials on the road to holiness.  Then, we can do as Peter admonished, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).

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*Additional references

*Peter’s Old Testament Quotes in 1 and 2 Peter Ex 19:6; Lev 11:44-45,  19:2,  20:7; Is 8:12,14, 28:16, 40:6,8, 53:4-5, 53:9; Psalm 34:12-16, 118:22; Proverbs 3:1; 10:12, 11:31, 26:11. 

* Jesus is God, though not an inclusive list , see  Luke 22:70;  John 10:30, John 1:1-5,14; Colossians 1:15-17, 2:9; Revelation 19:6;  Philippians 2:6-8; John 8:58; 1 John 1:1-2; 2:22-23; 5:1.  

*The necessity of God’s Word:  Psalm 119, Psalm 19; John 6:63, 17:17; Ephesians 6:17, Jeremiah 23:29, 2 Timothy 3:16,17; Hebrews 4:12, Matthew 4:4

Go with us to Part 4. OBEDIENCE – A CALL TO LOVE Being a student of God’s Word leads to holiness.