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Staff

FELIX I. GARCIA
Minister
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INDEPENDENT CHURCH OF CHRIST
IGLESIA DE CRISTO INDEPENDIENTE

   

I Did Not Write The Bible

By Albert Gardner
 
I know that it does not come as a great surprise to you that I did not write the Bible. In fact, I have never been accused of writing the Bible. I have read parts of the Bible that people resented. I have taught Bible truth that made people angry. I have shown people things in the Bible that they did not believe and that crossed their long-held doctrines. But I have never been accused of writing the Bible.

Since I did not write it, I am not responsible for what it teaches.  I cannot change its message (Galatians 1:8-9) and I can't endorse those who do change it (2 John 1:9-11). Because so many varied things are taught by religious leaders, we must weigh every doctrine by the Bible. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).

Though I did not write the Bible, I cannot ignore it. Its claims and commands demand a response. The proper approach to Bible study is to understand that the Book of books came from God. "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God, which ye heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe" (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

I must STUDY IT. Belief that the Bible is from God requires that we study it. Secular knowledge may be helpful in some ways, but a study of the Bible is life changing (2 Timothy 2:15).

I must UNDERSTAND IT. There are some difficult parts in God's word, but what to do to be saved and how to live the Christian life are simple enough for all to understand. "Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:17).  Philip asked the eunuch, "Do you understand what you are reading?" (Acts 8:30). It would be cruel if we could not understand His will, yet be required to believe, obey, and practice it. "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).

I must BELIEVE IT. Often people hear gospel preaching, but they do not believe it. They may have a mistaken idea that they must have a certain kind of special feeling, in order to know that they are saved, not realizing that we are converted through the Word. "For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe"
(1 Corinthians 1:21).

I must OBEY IT. Belief of the Gospel is essential, but faith alone is not enough. "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins" (John 8:24).
Jesus set the example of obedience which we are to follow. He makes clear that we are to obey. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).  After one has heard the true Gospel, he can never be the same and must do something in response. He will either believe and obey it like 3,000 did (Acts 2:38; Acts 2:41), or he will reject it like Felix (Acts 24:25).

I must TEACH IT. Though I did not write the Bible, I have the responsibility of teaching it to others so they can understand, believe, obey, and be saved by it. Just before Jesus ascended back to His Father, He gave the marching orders to the apostles, and consequently to us, when He said, "Go preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).  This duty has not been given to angels, but people are to teach people. When asked if he understood what he was reading, the eunuch said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" (Acts 8:31).

I must DEFEND IT. I did not write God's Word, but I must defend it. The attack is not on only one verse, but is against the whole Book. The Bible cannot proclaim and defend itself, but must depend on those who believe it to support it. Error also depends on those who believe it to spread it to others.  False teachers had slipped into the early church, so Jude wrote about our duty in this regard. "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints " (Jude 3).

SUMMARY. I did not write the Bible. Those who did were inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 2:15). What they wrote is accurate, complete, and true. It is God's Book! Therefore, we have the responsibility to study, understand, believe, obey, teach, and defend it.

Albert Gardner preaches for the church of Christ in Strawberry, Arkansas, USA.
(Emphasis by FG)

Por Albert Gardner

Sé que no te sorprende que no escribiera la Biblia. De hecho, nunca me han acusado de escribir la Biblia. He leído partes de la Biblia que la gente se resiente. He enseñado la verdad bíblica que ha enfurecido a la gente. He mostrado a la gente cosas en la Biblia que no creyeron y que cruzaron sus doctrinas largas. Pero nunca he sido acusado de escribir la Biblia.

Como no lo escribí, no soy responsable de lo que enseña. No puedo cambiar su mensaje (Gálatas 1: 8-9) y no puedo respaldar a quienes lo cambian (2 Juan 1: 9-11). Debido a que muchas cosas variadas son enseñadas por líderes religiosos, debemos sopesar todas las doctrinas de la Biblia. "Amados, no creáis a todo espíritu, sino probad a los espíritus si son de Dios; porque muchos falsos profetas han salido al mundo" (1 Juan 4:1).

Aunque no escribí la Biblia, no puedo ignorarla. Sus demandas y órdenes exigen una respuesta. El enfoque apropiado para el estudio de la Biblia es entender que el Libro de los libros vino de Dios. "Por esta causa también agradecemos a Dios sin cesar, porque cuando recibisteis la palabra de Dios que habéis oído de nosotros, no la recibisteis como la palabra de los hombres, sino como es en verdad, la palabra de Dios, la cual Eficazmente también en los que creen "(1 Tesalonicenses 2:13).

DEBO ESTUDIARLO. La creencia de que la Biblia es de Dios requiere que la estudiemos. El conocimiento secular puede ser útil de alguna manera, pero un estudio de la Biblia cambia la vida (2 Timoteo 2:15).

DEBO ENTENDERLO. Hay algunas partes difíciles en la palabra de Dios, pero lo que hay que hacer para ser salvo y cómo vivir la vida cristiana son bastante simples para que todos puedan entender. "Por tanto, no seáis imprudentes, sino entendid cuál es la voluntad del Señor" (Efesios 5:17). Felipe le preguntó al eunuco: "¿Entiendes lo que estás leyendo?" (Hechos 8:30). Sería cruel si no pudiéramos entender Su voluntad, y sin embargo ser requeridos a creer, obedecerlo y practicarlo. "Como por revelación me dio a conocer el misterio, (como escribí en pocas palabras, por medio del cual, al leer, comprendáis mi conocimiento en el misterio de Cristo)" (Efesios 3: 3-4).

DEBO CREERLO. A menudo la gente escucha la predicación del evangelio, pero ellos no la creen. Pueden tener una idea errónea de que deben tener cierto tipo de sentimiento especial, para saber que son salvos, sin darse cuenta de que somos convertidos a través de la Palabra. "Porque, puesto que en la sabiduría de Dios el mundo no conoció a Dios por la sabiduría, agradó a Dios por la locura del mensaje predicado para salvar a los creyentes" (1 Corintios 1:21).

DEBO OBEDECERLO. La creencia del Evangelio es esencial, pero la fe sola no es suficiente. "Por eso os dije que moriréis en vuestros pecados, porque si no creéis que yo soy, moriréis en vuestros pecados" (Juan 8:24).
Jesús puso el ejemplo de obediencia que debemos seguir. Deja claro que debemos obedecer. "No todo el que me dice: 'Señor, Señor' entrará en el reino de los cielos, sino el que hace la voluntad de mi Padre que está en los cielos" (Mateo 7:21). Después de haber oído el verdadero Evangelio, nunca podrá ser el mismo y debe hacer algo en respuesta. Él creerá y obedecerá como hicieron 3.000 (Hechos 2:38, Hechos 2:41), o lo rechazará como Félix (Hechos 24:25).

DEBO ENSEÑARLO. Aunque no escribí la Biblia, tengo la responsabilidad de enseñarla a otros para que puedan entender, creer, obedecer y ser salvados por ella. Justo antes de que Jesús volviera a su Padre, dio las órdenes de marcha a los apóstoles, y consecuentemente a nosotros, cuando dijo: "Vayan predicando el evangelio a toda criatura" (Marcos 16:15). Este deber no se ha dado a los ángeles, pero la gente debe enseñar a la gente. Cuando le preguntaron si entendía lo que estaba leyendo, el eunuco dijo: "¿Cómo puedo, a menos que alguien me guíe?" (Hechos 8:31).

DEBO DEFENDERLO. Yo no escribí la Palabra de Dios, pero debo defenderla. El ataque no está en un solo verso, sino contra todo el Libro. La Biblia no puede proclamarse y defenderse a sí misma, sino que debe depender de quienes la creen para sostenerla. El error también depende de aquellos que creen que lo difundan a otros. Los falsos maestros se habían metido en la iglesia primitiva, por lo que Judas escribió sobre nuestro deber en este sentido. "Amados, siendo muy diligente en escribirles acerca de nuestra común salvación, he tenido que escribirles exhortándoles a luchar ardientemente por la fe que una vez fue entregada a los santos" (Judas 3).

RESUMEN. Yo no escribí la Biblia. Aquellos que lo hicieron fueron inspirados por el Espíritu Santo (2 Timoteo 2:15). Lo que escribieron es preciso, completo y verdadero. ¡Es el Libro de Dios! Por lo tanto, tenemos la responsabilidad de estudiar, entender, creer, obedecer, enseñar y defenderlo.

Albert Gardner predica la iglesia de Cristo en Strawberry, Arkansas, USA.
(Énfasis de FG)


"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." "As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:" For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
"And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee."
  


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