Grace Baptist Church
3616 Broadwater Avenue
Billings, Montana
406-656-8333
info@gracebaptistbillings.org
The Authority of the Word of God and Missions
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“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mr 16:15 KJV) I have been reading a book entitled “An Understandable History of the English Bible” this past several days. And as I was contemplating messages this morning on Missions a question came to my mind. If the Bible is the Word of God, if it is His Revelation to us, if the Words of this book are accurate and final, If the words of this book reveal the will of God, and if it is as we claim our final authority, then what is our Responsibility to Missions? We could preach several messages on the truth of the conditional parts of the question, in the Future we may. But we will only touch on it briefly this morning and see what some of the Old Testament and New Testament Writer had to say. Then we will proceed to a consideration of what our Response to Truth should be. And Finally we will make an application to missions. I. Is the Bible the Word of God. A. What Does the Old Testament Writers Have to Say about the Source of their writings and words. “10 ¶ And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I [am] not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I [am] slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. 11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. 13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand [of him whom] thou wilt send. 14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, [Is] not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. 15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.” (Ex 4:10-15 KJV) “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.” (De 4:2 KJV) “7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I [am] a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I [am] with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.” (Jer 1:7-9 KJV) “And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.” (Eze 3:4 KJV) “But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.” (Mic 3:8 KJV) 1. “The Lord Said” = 219 verses 2. “The Lord Spake”= 144 verses 3. “The Word of the Lord came”=92 verses 4. “Thus saith the Lord”= 413 verses 5. These are other such phrases are used 3808 times. B. What to the New Testament Writers have to say. “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.” (2Pe 1:20-21 KJV) “10 ¶ Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come] unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” (1Pe 1:10-11 KJV) “Men [and] brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.” (Ac 1:16 KJV) “And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,” (Ac 28:25 KJV) “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1Co 2:13 KJV) “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.” (1Co 14:37 KJV) “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” (1Th 2:13 KJV) “1 ¶ This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in [both] which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:” (2Pe 3:1-2 KJV) “For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” (Mt 10:20 KJV) “But when they shall lead [you], and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.” (Mr 13:11 KJV) “For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.” (Lu 12:12 KJV) “Settle [it] therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:” (Lu 21:14 KJV) “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Ac 2:4 KJV) C. Satan’s Attack has consistently been against the Word of God 1. Beginning in Alexandria, Egypt with the corruptions of scripture by Origen, 2. In the Rome Church with Jermon’s Latin Vulgate, to Replace the Old Latin Vulgate 3. Versions that come out of Egypt and Rome can not be trusted. 4. These are the sources for all of the modern day translations. 5. Satan has always tried to get men to doubt the Word of God. D. We Believe that we hold in our hands the Word of God or better still the Words of God. 1. I was talking to Bro. Russell this week and he shared with that a Polish couple who they dealing with would like a Bible in their language, but they don’t want a Catholic Bible. But they can not find one that has not been translated from the corrupt text of the Vatican. 2. We thank the Lord for what we have in our hands. II. Two Responses to Truth A. Negatively 1. We can be ignorant of truth. a) It is evidences by (1) Lack of love “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (1Jo 4:8 KJV) (2) Not keeping his commands “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1Jo 2:4 KJV) (3) Living in sin “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Tit 1:16 KJV) “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” (1Jo 3:6 KJV) b) Ignorance of God and His Word Leads to (1) Error “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” (Mt 22:29 KJV) (2) Idolatry “And none considereth in his heart, neither [is there] knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten [it]: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?” (Isa 44:19 KJV) “29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” (Ac 17:29-30 KJV)
(3) Alienation from God “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:” (Eph 4:18 KJV) (4) Sinful lusts “Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:” (1Th 4:5 KJV) “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:” (1Pe 1:14 KJV) (5) Persecuting saints “But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.” (Joh 15:21 KJV) “And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.” (Joh 16:3 KJV) 2. We can deny the Truth a) This is a characteristic of a False Prophet or Teacher “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” (2Pe 2:1 KJV) “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:4 KJV) b) This is the characteristic of Antichrist “22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [(but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also].” (1Jo 2:22-23 KJV) “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (1Jo 4:3 KJV) c) Christ will deny those guilty of “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” (Mt 10:33 KJV) “If we suffer, we shall also reign with [him]: if we deny [him], he also will deny us:” (2Ti 2:12 KJV) d) Leads to destruction “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” (2Pe 2:1 KJV) “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:4 KJV) “To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard [speeches] which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jude 1:15 KJV) 3. We can deal with truth deceitfully as false teachers and they a) Are workers of “For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.” (2Co 11:13 KJV) b) Preach “Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.” (Jer 14:14 KJV) “How long shall [this] be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, [they are] prophets of the deceit of their own heart;” (Jer 23:26 KJV) c) Impose on others by “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Ro 16:18 KJV) “That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” (Eph 4:14 KJV) d) Sport themselves with “And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, [as] they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;” (2Pe 2:13 KJV) B. Positively 1. Worship God in truth “God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.” (Joh 4:24 KJV) “The LORD [is] nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” (Ps 145:18 KJV) 2. Serve God in truth “Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.” (Jos 24:14 KJV) “Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great [things] he hath done for you.” (1Sa 12:24 KJV) 3. Walk before God in “That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.” (1Ki 2:4 KJV) “I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done [that which is] good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.” (2Ki 20:3 KJV) a) Keep religious feasts with “Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth.” (1Co 5:8 KJV) 4. Esteem, as inestimable “Buy the truth, and sell [it] not; [also] wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” (Pr 23:23 KJV) 5. Rejoice in “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;” (1Co 13:6 KJV) 6. Speak, to one another “These [are] the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:” (Zec 8:16 KJV) “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.” (Eph 4:25 KJV) 7. Meditate upon “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.” (Php 4:8 KJV) 8. Write upon the tables of the heart “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:” (Pr 3:3 KJV) 9. God desires in the heart “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden [part] thou shalt make me to know wisdom.” (Ps 51:6 KJV) 10. The fruit of the Spirit is in “(For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)” (Eph 5:9 KJV) 11. MINISTERS SHOULD a) Speak “For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but [now] I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me [to be], or [that] he heareth of me.” (2Co 12:6 KJV) “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Ga 4:16 KJV) b) Teach in “Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, [and] lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” (1Ti 2:7 KJV) c) Approve themselves by #“But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” (2Co 4:2 KJV) “7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and [yet] true;” (2Co 6:7-8 KJV) “For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which [I made] before Titus, is found a truth.” (2Co 7:14 KJV) III. What are your option? A. You can become as a false teacher, an ignorant man, a willing fool, or a list of other unpleasantness. B. Or you can Act upon the truth of the Word of God. IV. What is the Truth Concerning Missions. A. Missions are an imperative duty “And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” (Lu 19:40 KJV) B. If Christ died for ALL—There is No Other Sacrifice or Satisfaction for sin—Then ALL are dead and doom to hell outside of Christ. There fore we have a Mission, a Calling, and Burden laid upon us. “And [that] he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” (2Co 5:15 KJV) “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:” (2Co 5:14 KJV) C. As a chosen people we have a calling. “But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1Pe 2:9 KJV) “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These [are] the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” (Ex 19:6 KJV) D. We have the Great Commission, But I am afraid that we have made it our Great Omission. 1. We pride our selves on what we refrain from doing 2. But do we abhor in us that with we are leaving undone. E. We claim with love this Old Book, We claim it is our only rule of faith and practice, We would fight over the KJV Bible, But do we faithfully practice its command to Go.
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