The Whole Counsel of God

Posted on May 21, 2019 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”  I Tim 2:15

In Acts 20 Paul is saying goodbye to his beloved friends in Ephesus knowing that he would never see them again. In 20: 25-27 he says: “And indeed, I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not failed to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”

I want to raise an honest question to which I do not have a definitive answer: what is the whole counsel of God?

Do not suppose that I am questioning any part of God’s revealed word. I am asking who I should believe to be telling the whole counsel of God?

  • the Calvinists or the Armenians?
  • the traditionalists or the charismatics?
  • legalists, fundamentalists, conservatives, modernists?
  • the topical preachers or the expositors?
  • premillennialists, postmillennialists, a-millennialists, etc.?
  • the well-known TV preachers/evangelists/ healers or the faithful pastors of normal congregations who have little to show for their faithful labors?
  • do I feed people a bite at a time or plumb the depths in every message?

It can be conscious-soothing to read a brief devotional every day. It can be impressive and commendable to read through the Bible in a year.  But do you know what you read, can you remember it, do you apply it?

Our theme verse in the King James reads, “Study to show thyself approved unto God…rightly dividing the word of truth.” Study! Be ready to defend. I’m not sure God gives brownie points just for reading, though it certainly can’t hurt!

You will never be able to accurately handle the word of God if you don’t know what it says! Is studying, evaluating, discerning a part of your daily routine? Only then can the Spirit guide you in all truth. He does not scribble nuggets on a blank spiritual slate!

Written By Neil Fichthorn Rev. Neil Fichthorn is a seasoned conference and camping servant having served at Gull Lake Bible Conference, Sandy Cove Ministries as President, and an interim Executive Director at Pinebrook Bible Conference. He also served in church music for decades as a choir director and arranger. He has been Bill Welte’s mentor and friend for over 45 years.

The Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 21-22, Matthew 11| You can download our 2018 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: “First I shake the whole (apple) tree, that the ripest might fall. Then I climb the tree and shake each limb, and then each branch and then each twig, and then I look under each leaf!” – Martin Luther

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. – 2 Corinthians 13:5

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.

 

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