Men Make Void The Word Of God
The Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land." (Hos. 4:2), because they "make void the word of God" by their doctrines and traditions.
The Old Testament scriptures were the word of God to the Israelites — they were His will to them until they were fulfilled by Christ. The people were forbidden to add to them or take anything from them. (Dent. 4:2; 12:32; Prov. 30:6). The prophets who told their dreams for the word of God and kept back the word of God from the people were accused of "speaking lies" and "stealing" God's word from their neighbors. (Jer. 23:25-31). In the days of Christ on earth there were several religious denominations among the Jews- - Pharisees , Sadducees , Herodians , and others. These institutions were additions to the law of God. Christ did not belong to any of them. They taught for doctrines the commandments of men. Jesus said to them, "This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men... Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition... Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition." (Mark 7:5-13). This made void the word of God and it made their worship vain.
WE ARE UNDER LAW TO CHRIST (1 Cor. 9:21). The New Testament is His word to all men today. In it He has bound on earth His will to men. We must not add to it or diminish from it. (Rev. 22:18, 19). We are forbidden to go beyond the things that are written. (1 Cor. 4:6 A.R.V). "Though we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Gal. 1:8). "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." (2 John 9).
Today there are many religious denominations. They are all additions to the word of Christ. His church is not a denomination--it is not a sect. The denominations of today, like the Pharisees and Sadducees of old, make void the word of Christ by their doctrines and traditions. We want no part nor lot in such human institutions and doctrines. We wish to stand on the word of the Lord with Him against such things. We do this to be saved ourselves and "that the truth of the gospel may continue with you." Gal. 2:5). "Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel!" (1 Cor. 9:16).
ABOUT THE BIBLE. MEN SAY, "The Bible is a dead letter," THE BIBLE SAYS: "The word of God is quick, and powerful" ("living and active" Heb. 4: 12). MEN SAY, "The Bible is fragmentary and incomplete. " THE BIBLE SAYS, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. " (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). MEN SAY, "You can't understand the Bible." THE BIBLE SAYS, "When ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ." (Eph. 3:3, 4).
ABOUT FAITH. MEN SAY, "That we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort." THE BIBLE SAYS, "By works a man is justified, and not by faith only." (James 2: 24). MEN SAY, "There are many faiths." THE BIBLE SAYS, "There is... one faith." (Eph. 4:5). MEN SAY, "Faith is an immediate gift of God," and "pray for faith". THE BIBLE SAYS, "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." (Rom. 10:17).
ABOUT BAPTISM. The BIBLE SAYS, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." (Mark 16: 16). MEN SAY, "He that believes is saved whether he is ever baptized or not." THE BIBLE SAYS, "Repent and be baptized...for the remission of sins". (Acts 2:38) MEN SAY, "Repent to be saved and be baptized because you have no sins to be remitted." THE BIBLE SAYS, to a penitent believer, "Be baptized, and wash away thy sins." (Acts 22:16). MEN SAY, of a penitent believer, "He has no sins to wash away," THE BIBLE SAYS, "As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Gal. 3:27). MEN SAY, "One is not baptized into Christ." THE BIBLE SAYS, "Baptism doth also now save us." (1 Pet.3:20,21). MEN SAY, "Baptism has nothing to do with salvation." THE BIBLE SAYS, "We are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Rom. 6:4). "Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead." (Col. 2:12). MEN SAY, "Sprinkling or pouring will do as well as a burial for baptism." Thus men "make void the word of God" by their doctrines.
ABOUT THE NEW BIRTH, MEN SAY, "Be born of the Spirit." THE BIBLE SAYS, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God." (John 3:5).
ABOUT THE CHURCH, MEN SAY, "The church can't save you" and "the church is non-essential to salvation." THE BIBLE SAYS, "the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all." (Eph. 1:22,23). MEN SAY, "There are many churches (bodies)". THE BIBLE SAYS, "There is one body" (Eph. 4:4) and "but one body" (1 Cor. 12:20). MEN SAY, "Be saved and join some church." THE BIBLE SAYS, "The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:47). MEN SAY, "The church was founded upon Peter." THE BIBLE SAYS, "Other foundation can no man lay than that (which) is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 3:11).
ABOUT THE NAME. MEN SAY, "There is nothing in a name." THE BIBLE SAYS, "Neither is there salvation in any other (than Christ): for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. " (Acts 4:12). "Justified in the name of the Lord Jesus." (1 Cor. 6:11). "If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf" ("in this name"--A.R.V. 1 Pet. 4:16. )
ABOUT APOSTASY. MEN SAY, "Once saved always saved." THE BIBLE SAYS, "He that endureth to the end shall be saved." (Matt. 10:22). MEN SAY, "It is impossible to fall from grace." THE BIBLE SAYS, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." (Gal. 5:4). "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (1 Cor. 10:12).
"AND MANY SUCH LIKE THINGS DO YE" (Mark 7:13). THE BIBLE SAYS, "Call no man your father upon earth; for one is your Father, which is in heaven." (Matt. 23:9). MEN SAY, "Call the priests 'Father' and "call the preachers Reverend". The Bible says "Holy and reverend" is God's name. (Psa. 111:9).
OUR PLEA. Dear reader; do not be offended at our saying these things in such plain language, as the Pharisees were when Jesus said the same in substance to them. (Matt. 15:1-13. Why not resolve now to reject all that is human in religious matters? "Receive with meekness the engrafted word" of God. Do nothing and be nothing for which there is no Word of Christ. The New Testament furnishes us completely unto every good work -- "all that pertains to life and godliness". It contains the "spiritual words" with which God has "combined spiritual things". Let them not be put asunder. Let us "prove all things" by this word of truth and hold fast only to that which it approves. Let us speak where it speaks and keep silent where it is silent. Let us give a "Thus saith the Lord' for what we do and are in religion.