In John 8:31, 32 Jesus says, “If you continue in my Word, then are you truly disciples of mine, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
In Acts 5, the apostles had been put into prison for preaching the message of Jesus. The Lord sent His angel to set them free. The angel then gave them God’s message, “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.” (v.20) This is consistent with what Jesus said in His commission to the apostles in Matthew 28:18-20, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe everything that I have taught you.”
The apostles could not compromise the message God gave them to preach.. They knew the consequences of preaching “all the words” could land them in jail. They would suffer even death for preaching the whole truth. The high priest reprimanded them because, as he said, “you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching (doctrine).”
Later, in Acts 20:27, Paul tells the elders of Ephesus, “I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:3 that God “has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.”
In religion today there are differences. Different ‘churches.’ Different messages. Different ‘truths.’ Different ways of salvation. And these differences cause confusion among honest, searching people. With the apostles’ preaching, there was no doubt about the message. All were told the same thing. They didn’t each form their own opinions. They preached “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth” - to borrow a phrase. That’s what the world needs today. That is what the church should be doing today. I believe that’s what people are really wanting to hear today. They are wanting to hear a message of freedom.
God has not given us the freedom of choice in religion - except to choose to accept or reject. He has offered what will save, bring freedom from sin. When the same thing is preached and taught today, it will get the same results in the twenty-first century that it did in the first century when the apostles were preaching it.
The truth that sets men free today comes from preaching “all the words of this life.”
See you when the Saints meet, Lord willing.
Love, Tony
Weekly words of encouragement, devotional thoughts or calls to action from God's word by Tony Lalli. These posts can also be found in print weekly in the Dewey Church of Christ bulletin.
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