LANGUAGE LIMITS

If you want to meet someone at  a certain time and place, would you  need to specify other times and places  NOT to meet? For example: If James  wants to meet Mark in Colleyville at  8 a.m., he need not add, “Don’t meet me  in Bedford, Richland Hills, Grapevine,  Euless or Irving; and don’t meet me at  9 o’clock, or 10 or 11 or 12.” No! When  he specifies one time and one place, it  eliminates all other times and places.

This is an axiom of language.  In the Bible, the same rule of  language applies. A failure to observe  this rule results in division. When it  gives the name Christian, that eliminates  all denominational names men add.  When it specifies to partake of “bread  and fruit of the vine” on “the first day  of the week” in the Lord’s supper, it  eliminates cake and coffee on Saturday.  When the gospel record specifies sing  in praise, that excludes guitars. The  New Covenant is a “pattern of sound  words … for all matters pertaining to  life and godliness.” We must not add to,  take away or change God’s Word (2 Jn  9-11; 2 Pet 1:3; I Cor 4:6; Gal 1:6-9).

It is not necessary for the shortest  verse in the Bible (two words) to expand  to over 200 “nots!” By adding “nots” to  the shortest verse in the Bible, It could  expand from 2 words to over 200, and  the Bible could become a monstrosity!

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