CANON - ING

 CANON – ING

  2Timothy 2:15-17 Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. But shun profane, vain babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their word will eat like a gangrene; among whom are Hymeneus and Philetus, [and Joel Osteen et al, critiquing file available upon request]

  2Timothy 4:1-4 Therefore I solemnly witness before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is going to judge the living and the dead according to His appearance and His kingdom, preach the Word, be instant in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For a time will be when they will not endure sound doctrine, but they will heap up teachers to themselves according to their own lusts, tickling the ear. And they will turn away their ears from the truth and will be turned to myths. 

  “canon” comes from the rule of law to determine if something is up to standard measure. For the professing Christian claiming they believe in the Word living (Jn.1:1) and written, the Bible (Jn.17:17; 1Thes.2:13) is that by which we do, or should, measure all things. All things meaning ALL THINGS.

  Relying on otherwise or mixing in other than sound doctrine is not relying on God’s Truth (Jn.17:17).    

  Doing so is chasing after personal desires in opposition to trusting the Lord; “thy will be done.”

  The opposition list is long and continually developing. It includes Facebook talisman (“Touch the _____), horoscopes, feel-good prosperity preachers and their wives, and a multitude of other misleading things. This includes a number of religious denominations.

  Reading and studying the Word equips us to recognize things good or bad whether personal (internal) or impersonal (external). Note Psalm 119.

  Let us live as Job, able to confidently say, “… let me be weighed in an even balance so that God may know my uprightness.” (Job 3:16)

EBB4