Precepts of Scripture

Introduction

Thou hast commanded us
to keep thy precepts diligently.

Psalms 119:4

For precept must be upon precept,
precept upon precept;
line upon line, line upon line;
here a little, and there a little:

Isaiah 28:10

To learn or to understand anything correctly you must learn and grasp the general principles or precepts that govern the processes of any given course. In Mathematics you must know the established conventions the order of operations and functions; in Reading & Writing the precepts of Grammar; the set of structural rules governing the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given language. The study of Science is the study of the general laws or principles that govern all things, e.g. the laws of motion, forces, energy, etc. Music has the laws of pipes and strings. The building trades have their fundaments; carpentry, plumbing, roofing, etc. These precepts or general principles are the foundation of the processes involved and do not change regardless of the circumstance or situation. They are the lowest common denominators and the world conforms to these unchanging rules of behavior.

The following studies are an attempt to introduce the concept of studying the Bible “precept upon precept.” To aid in understanding this method of learning the Bible, several biblical precepts are presented for your consideration. There is no order of importance in the listing, all are equally necessary to comprehend the Bible. Some are more easily explained and less debated than others. It is our hope to show and prepare you to establish the biblical precepts in your own studies, “line upon line, here a little, there a little,” as required by the Scriptures. God is the author of order and these principles are the rules of order in studying and understanding his word—any teaching that violates any one of them is in error.

1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Heresies can be so simple, just the violation of one simple precept of God’s word, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”

Isaiah 28:9-1 0Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 

These studies are purposely brief; in them, we will attempt to identify and introduce the reader to the concept of this form of study. These precepts or general principles must be adhered to in forming the doctrines of the Christian Faith. There is no order of importance in the listing, all are equally necessary to comprehend the Bible. Some are more easily explained and less debated than others. It is our hope to show and prepare you to establish the biblical precepts in your own studies, “line upon line, here a little, there a little,” as required by the Scriptures.

Naturally, we will adhere to the The Seven Precepts To Understanding The Bible as described in that study; Whenever we establish doctrinal teachings or search the Scriptures to judge the things that are said, we must ask the following:

1. Is this the product of diligent study and not feigned words, philosophy or private interpretation; have all relevant passages been considered?
2. Has anything been added to or diminished from the words, meaning, sense or understanding of the Bible?
3. Is any part of the Bible being denied or disbelieved?
4. Anything is possible, but is this the truth God is revealing?
5. What similitudes, examples or illustrations, are there in the Scripture concerning the topic under consideration?
6. Are things rightly divided? Be sure you are not comparing apples with oranges.
7. Locate God’s precepts, what are the guiding principles and limiting truths that apply?

It is only when conclusions drawn conform to all seven precepts that you can be assured of being on solid ground in establishing the doctrines of the Bible. God is the author of order and these principles are the rules of order in studying and understanding his word.

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Matthew 22:37-40

There is none other commandment greater than these.

Mark 12:31

The first two precepts of God’s word is to “Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,”  and to “Love thy neighbour as thyself.” On these two commandments hang everything else.

Deuteronomy 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Joshua 23:11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

1 Corinthians 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

James 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 

As you can see these precepts are universal; Old or New Testament, they have always been and always will be the two Great Precepts of God. 

Yea, they turned back and tempted God,
and limited the Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 78:41

It has been my opinion, after dealing with people for some time, that this very important precept is an oft-forgotten principle of the scriptures. I cannot tell you how many times I have been told that God could not have done something because it was impossible. We are not looking for what God could have done, God could have done anything. As the following verses testify, the Bible clearly teaches the precept that nothing is impossible for God. We are looking not for what he could have done, but for what he has revealed to us in the Scriptures concerning what he has done.

Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Mark 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be Impossible.

Luke 18:27 And he said, The things which are Impossible with men are possible with God.

Psalm 78:41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel,

Jeremiah 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? 

All things are possible for God—nothing is impossible for him. God could have established salvation by works as easily as by faith. He could have established all things as taught by Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Catholicism, Mormonism or any other. It is not a question of what God could have done, but what is God revealing of what he has done?

This precept can be an effective witness. Many times, especially when dealing with a Jewish individual, I have ended all their arguments simply by asking them if there is anything impossible for God; They will inevitably answer no. It goes like this: question; “Is anything impossible for God?”  answer; No. Retort; “Then, God could have manifested himself in the flesh as his own son if he wanted to.” To this I’ll receive one of two responses; silent confused acquiescence to this truth or, “Impossible, Impossible” as they run away. I do not say this to denigrate Jewish people; it is just the facts of my experience.

For we brought nothing into this world,
and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

I Timothy 6:7

I often think of the Pharaohs and ancient Emperors of China when I think of this precept. How they buried everything to take with them, yet all their treasures still remain with us. You can’t take it with you. There are many people, in this world, who act as if they can.

James 5:3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. 

We came into this world without any material possessions, and we are leaving the same way.

Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 

Psalm 49:17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

Ecclesiastes 5:15 As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. 

1 Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and It is certain we can carry nothing out. 

The rich of this world are a long way from that perfect servant of the Lord, Job.

Job 1:1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 

Job 29:12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. 

Job 29:13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

Job 29:16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

It is not going with you, what you do with it here is how you will be judged.

Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: ²⁰But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: ²¹For where your treasure Is, there will your heart be also. 

1 Timothy 6:4-5 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, ⁵Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

James 1:19

There is a short quick one verse universal precept of God’s word condemning man’s wrath, or as some would say, our righteous indignation, toward that which we think offends God’s word. 

James 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Our anger, righteous indignation, holy wrath, or whatever one might want to call it has no place in ministering the gospel of Jesus Christ or in serving God; man’s wrath is in no way allowed by God in his service. This is supported throughout God’s word.

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Luke 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Romans 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

2 Timothy 2:24-25 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, ²⁵In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

The wrath of man worketh
not the righteousness of God

The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him,
in those that hope in his mercy.

Psalm 147:11

In this precept we shall see that all men were created equal, at least in so far as salvation is concerned. Equal in that, no individual was created predestined either to salvation or to damnation, but all were created to fear God and hope in his mercy.

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Ezekiel 18:23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? 

Ezekiel 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. 

If God created all things for his pleasure and takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, then he created all men to be pleasing to him. He did not create anyone to be wicked, predestined to damnation, to go to hell, or without the same opportunity as everyone else to seek him and be pleasing to him. If God takes no pleasure in the wicked and all things were created for his pleasure, then what did he create man for?

Psalms 147:11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

If God created all things for his pleasure, then he created all men to fear him and hope in his mercy. Here, we have established a precept; God created all things for his pleasure and takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but in those that fear him and hope in his mercy. Therefore, God created all men to fear him and hope in his mercy. No doctrine or teaching can be correct if it denies this precept; doctrine must be established precept upon precept.

And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

Psalm 143:2

Unfortunately, unlike some of the other precepts that enjoy almost universal appeal, this precept deals with a topic of some debate. Do our works have any part, or have works ever played a part in eternal salvation? I believe in this study we will find the answer to be a firm no.

Psalms 143:1-2 A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. 

The above verse alone ought to he enough to convince anyone, “…in thy sight shall no man living be justified.” How is it then that some say we must have works for salvation? There are many more verses that relate specifically to this topic to form the biblical precept that it is not of works.

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight:.. 

Galatians 3:21-22 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

It is evident that salvation, biblically, certainly does not come by works alone, as many of the religions of the world teach. However, there are those that still try to keep works in the equation by making it works and faith? The following passages of Scripture show that if there is any element of works involved, whether in obtaining salvation or maintaining it, then faith is made void and salvation is not by the grace of God.

Romans 4:4-5 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 

Romans 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

If salvation is by the grace of God, then there can be no part of it by works, at all; faith and works are mutually exclusive. If I say to my son, “Son, you have found grace in my sight. Therefore, I am going to let you use the car tonight as my gift, if you mow the lawn.” With the inclusion of the works, grace and free gift went out the window; all that matters now is did you do the works, or did you not do them. There is no grace involved; you either mowed the grass or you didn’t. This may be a simplistic example, but it is an accurate one. My son is not coming to me thanking me for my mercy and grace, he is demanding what I owe him for the work he did. “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.”

Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace;… 

Ephesians 2:8-9For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

We find grace in God’s eyes when we believe him, his word, his revelations of himself. When we believe on his account of how he hung his Son, Jesus Christ, on a tree and made him a curse for us. It is according to his grace that he applies the shed blood of the Lord’s atonement to our sins.

I believe that these verses establish a universal biblical precept, not just a church age or dispensational teaching. Eternal salvation is never by works, alone or in concert with faith. Any teaching to the contrary is not biblical, not Christian doctrine. Unless this precept is accepted, you will error in the formation of other doctrines.

Job 25:4-6 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm? 

Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 

For there is one God,
and one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus;

I Timothy 2:5

The Scriptures are quite adamant, there is only one mediator, one saviour, one name under heaven that reconciles us to God.

Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Hebrews 9:14-15 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 

1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The Bible leaves no room for co-mediators or co-mediatrixs. Christ was not just a prophet, a good man; he is the Saviour, the only Saviour man has. The Scriptures leave no room for the false concept that all or any other religion can lead to God and salvation. This is what the world, the lost, cannot abide and therefore, as foretold, they deny the actual person of Jesus Christ; teaching the precepts and principles of a mythological character they neither trust or believe in.

1 John 4:2-3 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

John three sixteen is probably the most famous verse in the bible, it is the most famous of the “Whosoever” verses. The word “whosoever: appears sixty-six times in the Bible and yet there are those who deny this greatest of precepts; salvation is to “whosoever believeth” and “whosoever will not” is blotted out of the book of life. It has always been whosoever will or whosoever will not. 

Exodus 32:33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

Deuteronomy 18:19  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Many pervert the clear teaching of Scripture, blinded to it for whatever reason, and teach other false interpretations. An example of this is Romans chapter nine. They take a couple of verses out of the context of the entire chapter and preach predestination while taking the whole chapter teaches whosoever will as it is plainly stated in the last verse.

Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

It is man’s free choice whether he is one of those that belong to whosoever will or those that whosoever won’t.

As you can see, putting the last four of these precepts listed here together you will have established the basic doctrine of Salvation: salvation is open equally to all, it is not by works, there is one mediator between man and God, and whosoever will may come. Violate any one of these precepts and you pervert the doctrine of Salvation.