An Exposition
Hebrews 4:11-13: “The Scriptures Diagnose Our Condition”
“Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account” (Hebrews 4:11-13, NKJV).
The Holy Scriptures have affirmed that they are not the product of mere human thinking and morality. They clearly point out and affirm that humanity is wicked, reprobate, and totally unwilling to obey or even in some cases acknowledge that there is a God to whom we all must give account one day.
The Holy Bible declares that we cannot in any way redeem or make ourselves better or believe that by some work, deed, or act of bravery or selflessness that we can enter heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9). That irritates pretty much everyone living today by having to face that unpleasant truth. The Bible plainly declares that we are sinners in need of a Savior, but it will not come from anything here on Earth (Romans 8:18-22). This world and everything upon it reek of corruption and evil. Even the best of us is a walking pile of rotten rags as it pertains to our so-called “righteousness” (Isaiah 64:6).
There is no peace for humanity except to place their faith and trust in the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ. And the remnant church has, for over two thousand years, told the story of Jesus and His saving grace through the cross to everyone they could (Mark 16:15). The Gospel message has been spread throughout the world through the prayers and dedication of His followers and continues today (Matthew 28:18-20; John 20:28-31; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:6-11, 6:23, 10:9-10; Philippians 2:5-11).
The world, the flesh, and the devil have done their level best to discourage, threaten, frighten, silence, and even stoop to kill those of us who are not ashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1:16-17). It is the message of the Gospel and the entirety of the Scriptures overall that frees people from the bonds of sin, guilt, and reprobation of the world. It has freed those trapped in false religions, cults, and the grasp of Satan and his malevolent tactics.
The writer of Hebrews defended the faith. He reassured the Jews, who had given up their old way of worship and life that had been passed down from generations, that it is Jesus Christ and Him alone that has satisfied the requirements of the Law of Moses, which was perfect obedience to the Commandments, and was the final sacrifice for our sins when He went to the cross for our sake. No amount of animal sacrifice on the altars of both the Tabernacle in the wilderness and the Temple in Jerusalem could ever fully and completely atone for our sins. Likewise, no traditions or observance of the Feasts mentioned in the Torah could ever take away their fallen nature, as recorded in Scripture.
Apply this to our present day. The devil and his crew, working in the world system, do and say anything they can to make people feel they are saved if they do “good” works or say they try to follow the standards of the Ten Commandments (as if they even knew what they were!), which violates Scripture that teaches if we break one commandment of God, we have broken them all in an attitude of self-deception (Psalm 36:2, 49:18; James 1:22, 26; 1 John 1:8; Revelation 3:17).
We believe we are right in our own eyes (Judges 21:25), but our wicked behaviors say otherwise. The lost sinner cannot and will not admit it until he or she has been convicted by the Spirit of God to repent and place his or her faith in Christ for the remission of their sins (John 6:44, 16:5-15; Romans 1:18-32, 3:10-18, 23; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 1:8-10).
The rapid rise in non-religious behavior and the deliberate ignorance of Scripture, both here in America and the western world, is itself predicted in the Bible as a sign of the impending judgment of humanity and the return of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; 2 Timothy 3:1-8, 4:1-5). The hatred of God and His Word is also increasing in intensity and rage by celebrities, politicians, and the minds and hearts of both pastors and congregations as they grovel over, flatter, and appease a wicked world with its ungodly and blasphemous demands in order to “fit in with the times.”
The Bible is always under malicious attacks and criticism from the media, their sycophant minions, and skeptical scholars in the halls of academia. No other work of religion has endured more vitriol and undergone more scrutiny than the Holy Bible in all recorded history. All I can say is that it must be what it says it is because any other work would have ceased to exist eons ago.
It will not be long before the Bible you claim to read and cherish is going to be more valuable than any other possession you have. The authorities in power right now are getting ready to do what it takes to shut down all Bible-based websites, blogs, Christian ministry sites, and social media sites. They will attempt to confiscate and destroy the printed Scriptures as the days grow more evil, just in time for the arrival of the promised Antichrist and his reign of satanic terror over this wicked world.
The world is going to get what it wants, and that is the absence of God, or so they believe. The book of Revelation clearly describes the series of horrid and terrifying events that are to occur for those who will not come to Christ for salvation. A bloodbath of unspeakable proportions is about to be unleashed, and only the remnant church is ready to leave and avoid it (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:10). The Lord Jesus is soon arriving to take His true church home. Those who have trusted in Him to save them from their sins and trusted Him as Savior and Lord, both the dead and the living, will be taken up in the prophetic event known as the “Rapture of the Church.” It is the next event on God’s calendar, and it is coming sooner than many expect. We are to always be ready (Luke 21:28).
I would like to conclude by presenting a doctrinal statement concerning the Scriptures which I support, affirm, and believe as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ and a minister of the Gospel:
“The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to humanity. It is a perfect treasure of Divine instruction. It has God for its Author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us. Therefore, it will remain to the end of the world the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.
All Scripture is a testimony to Jesus Christ, the focus of Divine revelation” (Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10, 119:11, 89, 108, 140; Isaiah 34:16, 40:8; Jer. 15:16, 36:1-32; Matt. 5:17-18, 20:29; Luke 21:23, 24:44-46; John 5:39, 16:13-15, 17:17; Acts 2:16, 17:11; Romans 15:4, 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-2, 4:12; 2 Peter 1:19-21). – The Baptist Faith and Message, 2000 (Southern Baptist Convention)
Here are some more resources that will strengthen your stand and belief in the authority of the Word:
Bruce, F.F. The Canon of Scripture. Downers Grove, IL. IVP Academic, 1988.
Criswell, W.A., Why I Preach That The Bible is Literally True. Nashville, Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1995.
MacArthur, John. Why Believe the Bible? Grand Rapids, MI. Baker books, 1980, 2007.
Rice, John R. Our God-Breathed Book: The Bible. Murfreesboro, TN. Sword of the Lord Publishers, 1969.
You know where I stand when it comes to the integrity and truth of the Scriptures. What about you?