Temple Baptist Church - 1-16-2019
Hebrews 4:12
Introduction:
A. Verse 12 is one of the most powerful verses in the Bible concerning the Word of God that we hold in our hand.
B. As Paul writes to the “strangers scattered,” it does us well to realize that he is not referring to the original manuscripts that many maintain are the only perfect Word of God. These dispersed Jews did not have and probably had never seen an original manuscript!
C. Our verse says that the Word of God “is,” not “was.” When writing to Timothy in 2 Timothy, Paul declared that the Word of God that Timothy had in his youth was “holy scriptures” and “inspired scriptures.” I do not feel the need to define what “is” is!
Psalms 19:7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (8) The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD ispure, enlightening the eyes. (9) The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. (10) More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. (11) Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (We must hear the Word of God in our day to be saved.)
2 Timothy 3:13-17 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (14) But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All scripture (that which Timothy was raised with, which was not the original autographs) is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (If I do not have the Word of God in my hand, and I do not have the original manuscripts, then I cannot be “perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.)
Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hearhis voice,
1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (If we do not have the incorruptible seed of God’s Word, then we cannot be born again. I know some do not believe this, but I believe the Bible.)
D. Therefore, before I dissect verse 13, we need to know that this old King James Bible that we hold in our hand tonight is “inspired scripture.”
E. We cannot be the pillar or ground if we do not have the truth! Not “a” truth, not a “partial” truth, but THE truth.
F. I know that, as a church, this is where we dogmatically stand, but we too must be careful not to let this precious, foundational truth “slip.” We have a new generation growing up in this church that must be as firmly grounded as those of us who are now passing on.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: (5) And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (6) And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: (7) And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (8) And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. (9) And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
G. Our children will face more resistance and animosity than we have faced over the Bible. They will face false teachers, false preachers while being mocked and maligned over this precious old King James Bible that we hold so dear.
H. I will not take the time to preach in depth concerning inspiration and preservation as I believe that everyone here this morning is here because we are a Bible believing church. If I were to leave the Word of God, you would leave me. If you were to leave the Word of God, I would leave the church.
I. There was a reason for verse 3 of the Book of Jude. The Bible has and always will be under satanic attack.
1. Majoring on a minor? Jesus said more about hell than He did heaven, but preachers say more about heaven than they do hell.
2. The Bible says more about biblical preservation than it does biblical inspiration, but preachers tend to think more about biblical inspiration than they do biblical preservation.
J. Thus, we have the “bone of contention” that must be contended for: our King James Bible.
K. I have no use for a preacher, local church, or teacher who does not uphold this Bible! “It is the cardinal doctrine upon which we stand and cannot be compromised.”
1. As fundamental Bible believers, we believe in the Divine Inspiration of the Bible.
Exodus 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2. As fundamental Bible believers, we hold to:
a. The Verbal inspiration of the Bible. Every word was given by inspiration of God. Not the thoughts of God and not just the doctrines of God, but the words of God.
b. The Plenary inspiration of the Bible. Full or All of the Word of God with nothing to be either added to it of taken away from it. No extra-biblical revelations are needed.
3. As fundamental Bible believers, we believe in the Divine Preservation of the Bible.
Exodus 34:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest. (The First Mention of biblical preservation: man made the tablets and God wrote the words.)
Psalms 12:6-7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (7) Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Matthew 5:17-19 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (18) For verily I say unto you,Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (19) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
2 Timothy 3:14-17 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (Inspired Scripture is required for the salvation and spiritual maturity of the saint.)
1 Peter 1:23-25 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (24) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (25) But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
2 Peter 1:16-21 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (17) For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (18) And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. (19) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
4. Biblical Inspiration without Biblical Preservation is virtually useless! Just look at what so-called Bible Scholars have done to the Word of God over the past 130 years!
a. To declare that only the Original Manuscripts were perfect is useless as we have none of them in our day.
b. If God did not preserve His Word, then all we have is a man-made book that may contain some of the Word of God mixed with the errors, additions, and subtractions of men over thousands of years.
5. As fundamental Bible believers, we must earnestly contend for the faith ONCE delivered.
Jude 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 deliveredunto the saints. (The Bible is now in our hands! Our forefathers have passed the “torch” down to us and it lives or dies with us. We are maligned, scoffed at, and ostracized for believing the Bible instead of man. “Earnestly contend” means to struggle, to fervently fight.)
6. Four things can be your spiritual authority.
a. The Church – Catholicism
b. Personal Experience – Pentecostalism
c. Human Reason – Intellectualism
d. The Bible - Fundamentalism
7. I choose the Bible over all else!
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