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People today are still unwilling to accept it. Is
the New Testament the completion of God's Word, or is there more to come?
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| True, as you say, God may have surprised a lot
of people with the result of Christ’s ministry—namely, a lot of Jews—but
it was not for any oversight or attempt to “pull a fast one” on God’s part.
His plan for a new covenant with a spiritual Israel had been clearly declared.
JEREMIAH 31:31 "Behold, days are coming," declares
the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and
with the house of Judah,
It is true that not all of the details of God’s plan had been revealed, but the groundwork (“I will make a new covenant”) had been set forth. Christ came to begin fleshing out the details of God’s plan, and His coming is a matter clearly and specifically stated in the Old Covenant—Matthew’s gospel is written based upon this thesis. Those who would be “the Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16) were always meant to be His in heart—the new covenant is extended to those—whether Jew or Gentile—whose hearts are given to God. See Psalm 73:1, Isaiah 45:25, Hosea 1:10, Matthew 3:8-10, John 1:47, Romans 2:28 & 9:6-8, and Galatians 3:7-9 & 6:16. In the days of its founding, Christianity was argued and proven by the apostles from the text of the Old Testament in conjunction with signs and wonders. The Bible as the word of God is comprehensive. Its parts are complimentary and its content is complete and final. GALATIANS 1:6 I am amazed that you are so
quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different
gospel;
In order for me to accept “another gospel,” I would have to reject and/or contradict the one previously given. I COULD NOT accept another testament, even if it were proclaimed by an angel come down from Heaven. Why such stubbornness? I already have everything by which to be equipped for salvation, through what God revealed to the apostles through His Son (John 16:4, 12-14; Hebrews 1:1-2). 2 TIMOTHY 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God
and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training
in righteousness;
1 PETER 1:23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God. 2 PETER 1:3 seeing that His divine power has granted
to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge
of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
JUDE 1:3 Beloved, while I was making every
effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to
write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was
once for all delivered to the saints.
Hebrews 1:1-2 makes clear God’s mode of revelation in this age by contrasting with His revelatory methods in the past—namely, by way of prophets through dreams, visions, etc. NOW, He speaks to us through His Son, who has chosen to reveal His will by way of the New Testament. We do not NEED anything new, improved, or different. That is the assurance that Christians rest upon—the finality of the covenant Christ died to establish—the New Covenant. Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice “once for all [there it is again]” (Heb. 7:27). To accept the idea that there needs to be MORE is to contradict the message of the New Testament. The book of Hebrews was written to affirm this truth (See 8:6, 13; 9:15, 16, 26, 27, 28; 10:10, 26). As if its completeness were not reason enough to not accept another, we are specifically warned against such—because, as you know, MANY other and different gospels have come along through the ages—this was known and forewarned of. 1 TIMOTHY 1:3 As I urged you upon my departure
for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus, in order that you may instruct certain
men not to teach strange doctrines [“other doctrines,” “different doctrine”],
2 JOHN 1:9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. John, the last living inspired writer, closed out his last work, and the last work of the Canon, with this injunction: REVELATION 22:18 I testify to everyone who hears
the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall
add to him the plagues which are written in this book;
But, as you say “People today are still unwilling to accept it.” That is true, but the problem lies not in the message or lack of proof to support it, but in the WILL that is unwilling; that is something God will not interfere with—man’s free will. The written word is valid—it is historic, credible, and complete. A rich man suffering in Hades once asked Abraham that a man he knew—a one-time beggar then reclining with Abraham on the side of Paradise--do his family a special favor: LUKE 16:27 "And he said, 'Then I beg you, Father,
that you send him to my father's house--
The proof’s in the pudding, as they say. No other document has stood up over such a long time under such close scrutiny and criticism. Its testimony is as valid today as ever, even though it comes in a book instead of through angels. If another revelation is needed, then this previous revelation is unjust, unrighteous, and untrue. The New Testament really painted itself into a corner with this one! These guys must have been serious about what they were talking about! The same is true for Jesus’ Lordship. Many who do not want to accept Him as their King will simply say that Jesus was a good man, or perhaps a prophet of God. This compromise cannot be so. Given His own claims ("I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me,” John 14:6), He must be what He claimed to be—the Son of God—or He was either a liar or a lunatic. Our gospel rests on a firm foundation of tried and proven absolutes, and that foundation is not lacking in any of its parts. Sadly but inevitably, God is going to surprise a lot more people with His next revelation—the Judgment. But, again, it will not be for lack of their opportunity to have known better. MATTHEW 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord,
Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My
Father who is in heaven.
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