Just Bible, Just Jesus

Imagine entering the marketplace of religion. The choices are seemingly endless. To settle on one religion could occupy one’s lifetime, if a serious search and much research was actually conducted by the seeker. The pure volume of teachings makes the truth an elusive pursuit, if truth is even one’s objective.

The proliferation of cults also magnifies the challenge. Christian cults claim some version of Jesus. Even their doctrinal beliefs have something to do with the Bible. The world of religion is external to Christianity; while Christian cults are internal perversions. Religions have little to do with the Bible; while cults go a long way to produce distorted interpretations of the biblical text.

The sincere inquirer into religion and cults will never find the truth because these are all the clever works of the devil, who distracts and distorts humanity away from the truth as it is in Jesus (Eph 4:21). Christians must be made aware of how precious and privileged it is to be chosen by God for so great a salvation. Only the truth sets one free from spiritual bondage (Jn 8:31–32; 1 Cor 2:14–15).

All humanity is enslaved to sin (Rom 6:6). It was for freedom that Christ set His people free (Gal 5:1). We know this by the revelation of God found exclusively in the Holy Bible. Hence, the first task is for one to learn the Bible. At first, the claims to exclusivity are a bit off putting. As Spirit-filled babes in Christ, the claims to truth increasingly make more sense. There can only be one truth in an ocean of lies. All truth is God’s truth because God alone is true (Rom 3:4).

Philosophy is the wisdom of men. It is the best thinking of humanity. As a discipline, philosophy is studied. It changes with new or revised ideas. Sometimes truth is mingled in with philosophy. This adds some grounding to philosophy, helping to lessen some of the more radical ideas.

Philosophy also enjoys intruding on religion. World religions may have one or more deities; but philosophy is behind them all. Man likes to make god in his or her own image. When philosophy mingles with Christianity, the natural product is man-centered theology. This has taken many names throughout church history. Pelagianism and its modified version, Arminianism, are both man-centered theological systems masquerading as biblical alternatives.

If man chooses religion; he is lost for eternity. The Bible teaches that God chose His people, not vice-versa (Jn 15:16; Rom 11:5–6; Eph 1:4–5; 2 Pet 1:10). The natural man has no interest in the Bible (1 Cor 2:14), unless he is an agent of distortion. It is only by God’s grace that any one of us has an interest in the Word of God, the Bible. This interest is the work of the Holy Spirit, who leads and guides God’s chosen people into the Bible (Jn 16:13). This Spirit-led study of the Bible will never end with man-centered conclusions.

The Christian, therefore, is one who trusts the Bible, alone, in theological pursuits. He asks, “Is that in the Bible?” If it is not found in the Bible, the discussion is going nowhere. Theology apart from the Bible, is mere speculation. It is the opinion of someone other than God.

The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to His beloved, a special revelation of what God alone deems is important for us to know. The saints’ treasure what God has made plain to us. The Bible is not difficult to understand. It is, however, difficult to embrace, apart from God’s grace.

The preacher must believe the Bible in its entirety. He must preach the whole counsel of Scripture, explaining the meaning of each text in its context and correlating each passage’s place in the body of doctrine. Terms must be accurately defined, as Scripture explains Scripture without contradiction. Thus, biblical theologians study and interpret the Bible in community. We help one another to observe, interpret, and apply the Bible.

The Holy Spirit does not abide with nor does He indwell the unregenerate unbeliever. The world cannot receive the Spirit sent from God (Jn 14:17); nor can the worldling, devoid of the Spirit (Jude 19), rightly handle the Word of truth (2 Tim 2:15). It is the Holy Spirit who teaches God’s elect, the Bible (Jn 14:26). It is the grace of God for one to have been taught by God.

Doctrinal disputes exist in Christ’s church. These are caused by sinful flesh warring against the Spirit (Rom 8:6). Therefore, our community study and interpretation must be done with a great measure of humility (Mic 6:8). Teachers must gently lead students to the understanding of the truth, that is, to show them what the Bible says and to help them understand doctrine.

The Bible has a lot to say on a number of important subjects. The subjects most important to Christians pertain most closely to our salvation. At the center of that subject is Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. Further, the more we know of Jesus, the Son of God enfleshed, the more we know of God our Father.

If Jesus is not central to one’s study of the Bible, something is very wrong. If one’s Jesus is not clearly the Jesus of the Bible, the teaching must be rejected.

May God bless you in your study of the Scriptures and may the result be your knowing God, as He is revealed through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is just Bible and just Jesus for the child of God.

In conclusion, Christian, stay focused on the Bible, alone. There, the Spirit of truth teaches the people of God what we need to know with clarity, sufficiency, and necessity.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

August 5, 2024