<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> Untitled Document • Speaking As The Oracles Of God
• 1 Peter 4:11
• Just What Does That Mean?

• Introduction
• Peter penned, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God...” (1 Pet. 4:11).
• If we speak at all on religious matters we ought to speak as holy men of God spoke.
• Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21).

• Introduction
• If we speak on the themes they discussed and say the things they said, then we are speaking as the oracles of God.
• How did these holy men of God speak?
• What does it mean to speak as the oracles of God?

• Speak Much of Love.
• We will speak of the love God has for man (John 3:16; 1 John 4:8-10) and of the sacrifices made by our Lord that we might live (Romans 5:8).
• We will speak of the need for God’s children to love one another genuinely (1 Peter 2:22).
• We will speak against the love of the world and worldliness (1 John 2:15-17).

• Speak of the Severity of God.
• Romans 11:22 says, “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God...”
• Is God severe?
• Ask Nadab and Abihu who were struck dead (Leviticus 10:1-2).
• Ask Korah who rebelled against Moses (Numbers 16:31-33).
• Ask Uzzah who mishandled the ark (2 Samuel 6:7).
• Ask 23,000 who fell in one day (1 Corinthians 10:8).

• Speak of the Severity of God.
• We will speak of that place which one should seek to escape, Hell.
• There is a lake that burns with fire and brimstone.
• There is a place of eternal destruction and damnation (Matthew 7:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:9).
• One of the general tendencies of our day is not to be severe against sin.
• The God of the Bible is severe, and there is no other God in whom we may believe!

• Speak of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.
• Paul said, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
• This is the central theme of gospel preaching (Acts 2:22-36; 8:5, 35).
• What needs to be said about Christ?
• He died for us (Romans 5:8).
• He was raised for our justification (Romans 4:25).

• Speak of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.
• He is our King with all authority (Matthew 28:18).
• God, in Christ, is reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19).
• We need to have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5).
• The church and the world today need to hear the authority of the Lord magnified.

• Speak of the Church.
• Holy men of God spoke often about this great institution.
• It may be called the kingdom of God, the body of Christ, or the house of God.
• The message of John was, “Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2).
• The church is important.
• It is here by the eternal purpose of God (Ephesians 3:11).
• It has a great mission (1 Timothy 3:15).

• Speak of the Church.
• It cost the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28).
• He loved it and gave Himself for it (Ephesians 5:25).
• The church began at Jerusalem on Pentecost.
• Many “churches” started in America in the last 100 years.
• Others began a few hundred years ago.
• The Lord’s church began about AD 33 (Isaiah 2:2-3; Acts 2:47).

• Speak of the Church.
• We will speak of the terms of entrance into the church.
• Baptism is essential as seen in the cases of conversion in the book of Acts (2:38; 8:12-13, 36-38; 9:18; 10:47; 16:15, 33; 18:8; 19:4-5).
• “We are buried with him by baptism” (Romans 6:3-4).
• We will speak concerning worship.
• Worship can be true or vain and must be on God’s terms (Matthew 15:9; John 4:24).
• Early Christians continued steadfastly in worship (Acts 2:42).

• Speak of the Church.
• We will speak concerning the Lord’s supper, singing, laying by in store, prayer, and teaching.
• We will speak concerning the need to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:25).
• We will denounce anything that goes beyond His authority (2 John 9).
• We will speak concerning how the church is to be governed.
• Christ is the Head of the church (Ephesians 1:22).

• Speak of the Church.
• Elders were ordained in every church (Acts 14:23; Titus. 1:5-9).
• Elders tend the flock among them (1 Peter 5:2).
• We will speak concerning the mission or work of the church.
• The church is the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15).

• Speak of the Church.
• We must not shun from declaring the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).
• The mission is not to entertain but to preach the gospel (Mark16:15-16; 1 Thessalonians 1:8).
• We will speak concerning the field of benevolence (Romans 15:25-26; 1 Timothy. 5:16).

• Speak of the Perfect Law of Liberty.
• This perfect law of liberty does not need to be revised (James 1:25).
• We must not omit a precept or add one single doctrine or practice to this complete law (Revelation 22:18-19).
• We must be acquainted with it (2 Timothy 2:15).
• We must understand that the Bible is a sufficient guide; it is complete (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Jude 3).
• The Bible is a perfect law and we should find book, chapter, and verse for a doctrine or practice or give it up.

• Speak Boldly Against Worldliness and Sin in the Camp.
• We must reprove and rebuke as well as exhort (2 Timothy 4:2).
• If out of a whole congregation there is one who has married a woman to whom he has no right, the church is to say, as did John, “It is not lawful for thee to have her” (Matthew 14:4).
• We will contend for modest apparel rather than the attire of a harlot (1 Timothy 2:9; Proverbs 7:10).
• Vulgarity and all other sins of the tongue must be condemned (James 1:26).

• Speak Boldly Against Worldliness and Sin in the Camp.
• Sin is serious and must be fought.
• Error is able to damn one’s soul (Romans 6:23).
• If plain teaching is not done, the day will come when the church will not endure sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:2-4).

• Conclusion
• Speaking as the oracles of God is an important task and should be done.
• “publicly and from house to house” (Acts 20:20).
• The failure to speak as the oracles of God has put the church in its current condition.
• Members should demand to be taught the oracles of God.
• And they must also display the courage to expose one who does not teach the oracles of God.
• And always remember from Ephesians 4:15 “But speaking the truth in love…”

By Carey Scott from an article by Glendol McClure

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