From the Series: The Gospel According to the Whole Counsel of God
“For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”
—Acts 20:27 (NKJV)
The story of Scripture is one unified testimony pointing to Jesus Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His plan of redemption through promises, prophecies, covenants, and fulfillment in His Son. When Paul stood before the Ephesian elders, he could say with confidence that he had declared the whole counsel of God. Nothing was held back, nothing was hidden, and nothing was reserved for a select group.
Christ Himself confirmed this unity when He opened the Scriptures to His disciples after His resurrection. “Beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). Again He said, “These are the words which I spoke to you… that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me” (Luke 24:44).
The Word of God reveals the Son of God, and the Spirit of God illuminates these truths to the people of God. This is the whole counsel—comprehensive, Christ-centered, Spirit-illumined.
Not Partial, Not Hidden
Man-made systems often emphasize certain passages while neglecting others, creating a narrow lens instead of the full picture. But the Word of God is not fragmented. It is a seamless testimony of God’s character, will, and purpose. To receive the whole counsel means to allow Scripture to interpret Scripture, holding every truth in balance under the light of Christ.
The Witness of the Early Church
The Ante-Nicene believers treasured the entirety of God’s Word. They did not have elaborate creeds or rigid systems in the earliest days; they had the Scriptures, the apostolic teaching, and the Spirit’s illumination. Their lives were shaped by the whole message of God’s Word: holiness, love, perseverance, and hope in the return of Christ.
They resisted efforts to reduce the faith to human philosophy. They rejected attempts to blend the gospel with the traditions of men. Their testimony was clear: cling to Christ, cling to the Scriptures, and walk by the Spirit.
Our Call Today
We too are called to embrace the whole counsel of God. Not a partial gospel, not a philosophy, not a system of men—but the full revelation of the Father in the Son, made alive by the Spirit. This is what sustains us in trials, guides us in truth, and equips us for every good work.
The whole counsel of God is not complicated. It is rich, but it is simple: Christ revealed, Christ proclaimed, Christ obeyed.
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean to you personally to embrace the “whole counsel of God” rather than a partial view of Scripture?
- How do Luke 24:27 and Acts 20:27 show us that all of Scripture is centered on Christ?
- What lessons can we take from the Ante-Nicene Church’s reliance on the whole Word of God without human systems?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for giving us the whole counsel of Your Word. Thank You that all of Scripture points to Christ and that the Spirit guides us into truth. Keep me from clinging to partial truths or man-made systems. Teach me to live by every word that proceeds from Your mouth. Help me to walk in the same simplicity and devotion as the early believers, holding fast to Christ until the end. Amen.
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