The Gospel of Matthew records Jesus uttering the words "it is written" 8 times, 4 of which were spoken in reply to the devil at the temptation in the wilderness. Jesus, Yahweh in the flesh, did not answer the devil in his position as God the Son, but he answered by the written words of scripture, Dt 6:13,16; 8:3 & Ps 91:11-12. Shouldn't Jesus be our example when seeking the truth of God? Do we hope to hear the Holy Spirit whisper in our ear, or do we go to the written word of God? In Romans, Paul is recorded as saying "it is written" 16 times.
The KJV in brief form reads: "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa 8:20. The Apostle Paul wrote "I have applied all this to Apollos and myself for your benefit, brothers and sisters, so that you may learn through us what 'Not beyond what is written' means, so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of one against another." 1Co 4:6 NRSVue
The conversation between Moses and the LORD is key to refuting the claims of men in this day claiming to receive revelations from God, apart from the written word.
"Then Moses answered, “But look, they may not believe me or listen to me but say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.’ ” The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw the staff on the ground, and it became a snake, and Moses drew back from it. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and seize it by the tail”—so he reached out his hand and grasped it, and it became a staff in his hand— “so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” Again, the LORD said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” He put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was diseased, as white as snow. Then God said, “Put your hand back into your cloak”—so he put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored like the rest of his body— “If they will not believe you or heed the first sign, they may believe the second sign. If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to you, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.” Exo 4:1-9 NRSVue
This holds true in this day as well: "how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was confirmed for us by those who heard him, while God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will." Heb 2:3-4 NRSVue
Paul wrote in authenticating his apostleship, "The signs of an apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, signs and wonders and mighty works." 2Co 12:12 NRSVue
We see the signs given to the 12 Apostles as is recorded, "Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness...Cure the sick; raise the dead; cleanse those with a skin disease; cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment." Mat 10:1, 8 NRSVue
When I hear or read the super saints of today, claiming to receive words from God apart from the written word, I WANT TO SEE IT AUTHENTICATED BY VERIFIABLE MIRACLES, INCLUDING RAISING THE DEAD!
The KJV in brief form reads: "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa 8:20. The Apostle Paul wrote "I have applied all this to Apollos and myself for your benefit, brothers and sisters, so that you may learn through us what 'Not beyond what is written' means, so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of one against another." 1Co 4:6 NRSVue
The conversation between Moses and the LORD is key to refuting the claims of men in this day claiming to receive revelations from God, apart from the written word.
"Then Moses answered, “But look, they may not believe me or listen to me but say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.’ ” The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw the staff on the ground, and it became a snake, and Moses drew back from it. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and seize it by the tail”—so he reached out his hand and grasped it, and it became a staff in his hand— “so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” Again, the LORD said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” He put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was diseased, as white as snow. Then God said, “Put your hand back into your cloak”—so he put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored like the rest of his body— “If they will not believe you or heed the first sign, they may believe the second sign. If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to you, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.” Exo 4:1-9 NRSVue
This holds true in this day as well: "how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was confirmed for us by those who heard him, while God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will." Heb 2:3-4 NRSVue
Paul wrote in authenticating his apostleship, "The signs of an apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, signs and wonders and mighty works." 2Co 12:12 NRSVue
We see the signs given to the 12 Apostles as is recorded, "Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness...Cure the sick; raise the dead; cleanse those with a skin disease; cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment." Mat 10:1, 8 NRSVue
When I hear or read the super saints of today, claiming to receive words from God apart from the written word, I WANT TO SEE IT AUTHENTICATED BY VERIFIABLE MIRACLES, INCLUDING RAISING THE DEAD!
