Everyone is a Christian Until it Gets Biblical

July 19, 2023

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
― 2 Timothy 3:12-17

Why should I thoroughly go through all of scripture, know as much of it as I can, and act upon knowing it?  Here's the cut and dry answer in the form of a question: Do you want to live or not?  Faith is a gift (Eph. 2:8).  The Righteous will live by faith and not works or deeds (Gal. 3:11).  Faith comes from hearing the word about Christ (Rom. 10:17).  Scripture (God's undefiled, holy and authoritative word) leads to saving faith!  Not only that, but 2 Timothy tells us that all of it (not just some of it) is good for all kinds of upright living in accordance to the standard of God and that's the only standard to live up to; and when doing so, let scripture interpret scripture and always through the lens of Jesus Christ.  Believe me and when parts of scripture doesn't agree with our own personal worldview at times and when we don't agree with some parts of scripture, letting other parts of scripture interpret the more difficult parts from the lens point of Jesus Christ makes it easier.

Voddie Baucham, an American pastor, author and educator once said, "'The Lord told me' is no substitute for 'the Bible says.'"  If the whole world simply adhered to, "God told me", then we'd be in a whole heap of a mess.  At any point in time, Hitler could've said that to justify Nazi brutality.  The people behind the World Trade Tower attacks and the Columbine attackers could've also said, "God told me" as well.  Oh, so perhaps "Joe Blow" down the street says he's a Christian?  Really? What does Joe Blow really believe?  Does it fall in line with scripture or does he have a fuzzy feeling in his tummy and in his head and simply says, "God told me"?  I can believe all kinds of things and everyone is a Christian until it gets biblical!  Maybe Joe Blow even agrees with everything in scripture, but not this one subject, be it stance on the stewardship of money, human sexuality, relationships or anything else? Therefore, Joe Blow puts his own limited intellect and perspective above God.  He puts himself above God, period!  Joe Blow thinks scripture is corrupt and made by man? Sorry, Joe Blow is not correct, because scripture was written by the Holy Spirit and not man. (2 Pe. 1:20-21).  Do you not only want to live well, but live, period?

Here's a brief clip on this subject:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/E0fXOCCEb2c