February 12, 2023💘

Happy Sunday!

Since I am not a huge football fan, I just left my family downstairs to have their fun, while I came up to my computer to talk about the reading, which Is my kind of fun!

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Before you go to bed tonight, you should be done with Romans 6.

There are so many things to talk about from the reading and I would love to hear your thoughts, so don’t hesitate to share them here on this site.

One very simple statement Paul made stuck out to me and also made me think of all of you.

I am reading the New King James version this time so the wording was different for me.

Acts 20:27 “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”

The wording “whole counsel” stood out to me because I had recently heard a Bible teacher use the same wording when explaining how important it is to look at a verse not only in context but how the verse holding a concept should complement or add to understanding of other verses (the whole counsel).

Paul is saying this to the Ephesians as he was leaving them to head to Jerusalem, but he could very well be saying it to us. The letters he wrote make up the very words of God. Along with the gospels and a couple other letters that make up the New Testament, Paul conveyed God’s word to us. These inspired writings, along with the Old Testament, make up the “whole counsel” of God.

I thought of you as I read that verse. As you read the New Testament, you are getting the “whole counsel” of God.

Some people read a few verses and form a theology off of them without looking at the “whole counsel”. WARNING! That’s how false teachings get started! However, we (you and me) are less likely to fall victim to false teaching because we are getting the “whole counsel.” We will be more likely to hear false teaching and think to ourselves, “Yeah…that sounds good, but… aren’t you ignoring what it says here and here?”

For example, one can read, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…” (Acts 16:31) or “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish…” (John 3:16) and think, “Sweet, I believe therefore, I must be saved! That’s all I have to do, believe! I don’t have to change my lifestyle at all!”

That is an example of basing one’s theology off of one or two verses and ignoring many others, such as:

• “If you declare with you mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe..” (Romans10:9)

• “Repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38 & Mark 16:16)

• “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:35)

• “Without faith it is impossible to please him…” (Hebrews 11:6)

• “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive..” (1 John 1:9)

• “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.” (2 For. 5:17

• “You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” (James 2:20)

I can go on, but you get the point. Clearly there is more involved in one’s salvation than to “just believe”. This is why it is so important to get the “whole counsel” of God prior to forming a theology.

This is just one simple example of how important it is to know the “whole counsel” of God. I am so happy that you are aquanting yourself with the “whole “ thing while doing this read through of the New Testament. Keep up the good work!!!

And, have a happy Valentines on Tuesday.💖