Book, Chapter, & Verse

By Dan C. Bailey

Recently, a good brother led a prayer to God that we might be a book, chapter and verse church. He meant by this, that the church should stay with the Bible and should follow the authority of the word of God. There are those in the church who do not like "book, chapter, and verse" preaching. They love to hear the smooth things. We read about such in Isaiah: "Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits" (Isaiah 30:8-10).

Those who do not like book, chapter, and verse preaching are a rebellious people. They refuse to hear the word of God, and refuse to walk according to God's authority.

Moses told the children of Israel long ago: "Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you" (Deuteronomy 4:1-2).

In the book of Proverbs we read, "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar" (Proverbs 30:5-6).

We are warned in the book of Revelation, "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, 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" (Revelation 22:18-19).

It is clear that we are not to add to nor to subtract from the teachings of the Bible. The Lord's church should be concerned about true worship according to book, chapter, and verse. The Lord's church should teach God's plan of salvation according to book, chapter, and verse. Preachers need to preach about godly living according to book, chapter, and verse.

Jesus our Lord and Savior said: "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48).

He also said, "He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God" (John 8:47). And let us never forget what He said in Mark 8:38: "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

My friend do you believe in book, chapter, and verse preaching: Is this you desire, or are you like those in Jeremiah's day? "A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?" (Jeremiah 5:30-31).