“IT IS WRITTEN” 

“IT IS WRITTEN”

“IT IS WRITTEN”

Matthew 4:1-11

    Jesus said, “IT IS WRITTEN” three times in this passage. The Bible was “written” and completed 2,000 years ago and it continues to be forever “written.” For what God has “written” cannot be undone.

    There are many who have little respect for what “is written” If you have no respect for what “is written.” Do not call yourself a Christian, a Baptist, a preacher (maybe you should quit preaching), nor an American! For this country was founded upon “it is written.”

THE GRAND FINALE OF “IT IS WRITTEN.” What “is written” is sacred and eternal! What “is written” is inspired by God and that makes it final. What “is written” is the way it has been, the way it now is, and the way it will continue to be forever. You can depend upon what “is written”.—Like it or not! Isaiah. 46:10 “Declaring the end from the beginning,…” The end “is written”! 

THE AUTHORITY OF “IT IS WRITTEN.” What “is written” is the final authority. The world and world leaders might as well get used to it’s authority, now! Americans should get used to it’s authority, now! Baptist need to accept it’s authority, now! We preachers are to bound by it’s authority! Churches need to accept it’s authority, now! Satan might as well get used to it’s authority now! All of us need to accept what “is written” and apply it to our hearts and our lives, now. Romans 14:11 “For ‘it is written,’ As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”

    True preaching is authoritative. Titus 2:15 “… rebuke with all authority...” Most don’t like scriptural authority! Many believe in the authority of human power or human feelings, the authority of what they think, the authority of money, the authority of politics, the authority of the people, (or of certain people), the authority of the men, the authority of the women, the authority of church clicks, coups, and clans, the authority of the lodge, the authority of the denomination, the authority of committees, the authority of the church, the authority of the deacons, or the authority of the preacher!

THE FUTURE “IS WRITTEN”; TRUTH IS ETERNAL! Eternity, future has been “written” in the past. The future is pre-”written.” Read the prophecies that are “written.” I have read the Bible and I haven’t found an expiration date in it. Psalms 119:89 “Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” Forever...settled — forever “written!” Time has absolutely no effect on eternal things. Jesus said in Luke 21:33, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” Temporal things soon become out dated. What “is written” is just as effective against the devil today as it was when Jesus used it. The Bible is a continuous and relevant book which is up to date during any century, past, present, or future.

THE LIFE OF CHRIST “IS WRITTEN”. Psalms 40:7 Hebrews 10:7 “...Lo, I come (in the volume of the book ‘it is written’ of me,) to do thy will, O God.” Luke 24:44-49 Christ did everything according to what was “written.” As He was bound to what “is written”; so are we bound to what “is written”. 

THE MINISTRY OF JOHN “IS WRITTEN”. Mark 1:1-4 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As ‘it is written’ in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” Of whom was it “written”? Of John the Pentecostal?, of John the Methodist?, John the Presbyterian?, John the Catholic?, of John the nondenominationalist? John the evangelical? It was “written” of John the Baptist. The first Baptist was prophesied of. ARE YOU A REAL BAPTIST?

“It is written” that only Baptists have the scriptural right to baptize. Baptist baptism and it alone is accepted by God! So says the Trinity. Matthew. 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 

THE WORD OF GOD “IS WRITTEN”. And it continues to be “written”! Jesus did not say it was written; but “it is written”. (present tense) Even, if what Jesus quoted was “written” centuries before; He said of what was “written” in the past, “it IS written.” Even if it was “written” in the past, it is as powerful as ever. The Bible was not just written; “it is written”. I Corinthians. 13:8-10 “IT IS WRITTEN,” it has been completed, AND IT STANDS “WRITTEN” once and for all and forever!

    The present perfect tense in the Greek describes an action which is viewed as having been completed in the past, once and for all, and not needing to be repeated ever again. Thus, what “is written” has continuous action, ongoing results, and final authority.

    Revelation 22:18-19 “...If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are ’written’ in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are ‘written’ in this book.” DO NOT MESS WITH WHAT “IS WRITTEN”! THIS IS WHAT GOD WROTE! THE SCRIPTURES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN RELEVANT! What “is written” was up to date 2000 years ago. “IT IS” STILL “WRITTEN” TODAY! WHAT “IS WRITTEN” IS AS GOOD IN 2025 AS IT WAS IN THE FIRST CENTURY. THE SCRIPTURES ARE JUST AS REVELANT TODAY AS THEY WERE WHEN THEY WERE “WRITTEN.” WHAT “IS WRITTEN” IS STILL AT LEAST 1007 YEARS AHEAD OF OUR TIME! Not only is the Bible not out of date; it is still far ahead of our time! We have the seven year tribulation period and the thousand year reign of Christ ahead. The Bible has always been ahead of it’s time and it will always continue to be ahead of the times. The Bible is high tech and low tech humanity has problems understanding it. It was “written” and completed at least 3007 years ahead of it’s time. And the human race has not caught up with what “is written”. The human race is behind the times and what “is written!” Compromising Baptist are behind the times. Get with what “is written” and catch up with the times. Quit being backward and get on the cutting edge of theology. Quit being a backward, contemporary, present day Christian and start living in the future! Get back to the future. Get back to “it is written”. GET BACK TO THE BIBLE!

THE GOSPEL“IS WRITTEN”. I Corinthians 15:1-4 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

    The Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus “according to the scriptures.” There never has been and there never will be any other Gospel nor way of salvation other than the one which “is written!” 

DOCTRINE“IS WRITTEN.” II Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” There is no need for new doctrines or should I say heresies. Those who ignore doctrine need to realize that the doctrines of the Bible which are inspired by God are the first profit of the scriptures? Please, do not put doctrine last! Get back to the most profitable things; get back to doctrine. The greatest need among Baptists is doctrinally sound preachers, missionaries, and church members. Why is that the further away that we get from what “is written” the more you hear the words, exciting and amazing, etc.? I’ll get excited when and if Baptists ever get back to what “is written”! Then I will be amazed. We need to be crying over our backward contemporary situation which has been caused by forsaking God and His written Word. Why do so many have problems with what “is written”? Are you having problems with this article?

    The same thing is true concerning reproof, correction, and instruction. It must also be in harmony with “it is written”.

CHURCH TRUTH “IS WRITTEN”. Jude 1:3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

Why are so many trying to rewrite church truth and call themselves conservative? They are not conservatives, they are compromisers! Apparently Jude was a converted “evangelical.” Don’t get upset with those who are faithful to what “is written!” Get upset with yourself for being unfaithful to God and to what “is written” concerning the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” 

THE TRUTH ABOUT BAPTISM “IS WRITTEN”. It is a church ordinance, only. It is not an individual ordinance, a Christian ordinance, nor a denominational ordinance. Matthew 28:19 “...baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Jesus was speaking directly to His church and only His Church when He gave the command to baptize. Please notice the content of the verse.

THE TRUTH ABOUT COMMUNION “IS WRITTEN”. The Lord’s supper is a local church ordinance, ONLY! If you believe in the local church; you must also believe in closed communion in order to be consistent; since truth is consist with itself. For centuries all Baptists have practiced closed communion until the last few years. This was not because of tradition, it was because it “is written!” And it still “is written!” Jesus held the first communion behind closed doors in the upper room with only the members of the first church. It was definitely closed communion. You cannot successfully argue with what “is written!” Mark 14:17, 18 “And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. And as they did eat…” THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE “IS WRITTEN”. Romans 1:17 “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as “it is written’’, The just shall live by faith.” God predetermined that all of the saved should live by faith and not by sight.

CHURCH PRACTICE “IS WRITTEN”. Luke 24:44-49 “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were ‘written’’ in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus ‘it is written,’ and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem…” Jesus had a great habit of saying, “it is written”. Here, Jesus tells his church what to do-preach, “repentance,” how to preach-“in his name”, where to preach “among all nations,” and even where to began to preach-“beginning at Jerusalem”. This was all in accordance with what had been previously “written.” Here Jesus refers to some church history that was pre-written in the Old Testament in the Book of Joel.

    “...he said unto them.” Who is them? In all five accounts of the Great Commission, Jesus was speaking directly to His local church. The local church is not been previously “written.” Here Jesus refers to some church history that was pre-written in the Old Testament in the Book of Joel.

    “...he said unto them.” Who is them? In all five accounts of the Great Commission, Jesus was speaking directly to His local church. The local church is not the primary agency for the spread of the Gospel; she is the only scriptural authorized agency for it. The scriptures give her no right to re-delegate her authority to another. This “is written” very plainly!

    There is no need for new methods. God’s work is sometimes done in the wrong way. David moved the ark on an ox cart instead of carrying it on the shoulders of the priests. A man lost his life because they did the right thing the wrong way. Do the right thing and do it the right way as “it is written.”

    The truth about mission work “is written.” In Joel 2:28-32 “it is written.” “in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.” The great commission wasn’t given to a board nor a group of preachers; it was given to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was given to the Jewish remnant who made up the congregation of the First Baptist Church of Jerusalem as “it is written” in Joel. We do not need the mission ox carts used by the Southern Baptist Convention nor others. 

MORAL PRINCIPLES ARE “WRITTEN.” Moral principles have never changed. I am not getting legalistic. I’m talking about being what you ought to be; not one who curses, drinks, does drugs, uses tobacco, sleeps around, shacks up, or gambles. I Peter 1:16 “Because ‘it is written’, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” What a positive passage of scripture! This is a direct quote from the book of Leviticus. I’m tired of being in the moral minority! We need to get back to church discipline the way “IT IS WRITTEN.” You would have to backslide to be in fellowship in some churches!

WHAT “IS WRITTEN” IS AUTHENIC. John 17:17 “...thy word is truth” All kinds of demonic religious lies are floating around. But what “is written” is truth. What “is written” is not optional. You can follow the “written” truth or be wrong!

    Truth is not an alternative. Truth is not a choice. What “IS WRITTEN” is an ultimatum. Follow what “is written” as Jesus did. If it is not written avoid it.

    “Truth is absolute, but some folks think it is made out of putty and can be changed into anything they want. When it comes to the truth, you can accept it, reject it, ignore it, or despise it but you can never change it.” — Joseph Harris What is wrong with going by the Bible? What is wrong with standing up for what “IS WRITTEN”? What is wrong with being right with God?

WHAT “IS WRITTEN” IS QUICK AND SHARP! Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

    There are many perversions of the English Bible; but the only true version is the King James. The 400 year old sword has not lost its edge, its quickness, nor its temper. People just don’t like getting cut with it. Dull perversions are useless for spiritual surgery.

     What “is written” is ahead of the modern day psychology books, which will soon be out of date. Get on the cutting edge of Bible psychology and quit using dull versions that tear instead of making a clean cut. Quit using surgical instruments that do a sloppy job!

THE CONCLUSION OF “IT IS WRITTEN”: The answer for our problems “is written.” Are you having problems sleeping? Forget sleeping pills and read what “is written,” Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said We will not walk therein.” Are you walking therein? Or are you a traditional, backward, Baptist that says, I ain’t gonna do it? WHAT CENTURY ARE YOU LIVING IN? LIVE IN THE FURTURE BY FOLLOWING WHAT “IS WRITTEN”

    MAY WHAT “IS WRITTEN” DIRECT OUR LIVES, GUIDE OUR CHURCHES, FORM OUR BELIEFS, CONTROL OUR PREACHING, SATURATE OUR MINDS, SANTIFY OUR BEINGS, AND RULE OUR HEARTS! “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved ...” I Thessalonians 5:23