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CHRIST IS KING |
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Faith & the Bible |
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&By Inspiration —“God Breathed”— The Scriptures are were written by God to His people. These words of God have been preserved by the Spirit of God; “being immediately inspired by God, and by His singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical” (Westminster Confession of Faith 1. 8). The Spirit teaches us that “Knowing this first that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21). &Is Profitable! “The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture ...we acknowldge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word ...they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that, the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship Him in an acceptable manner; through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, may have hope” (WCF 1.6; 1. 8). &For Doctrine!—The teaching or instruction of the Scriptures; the truth of God revealed to us written form and illumined to our hearts and mind by the Holy Spirit. The Scripture word for doctrine also refers to the authority of the teacher. We might ask ourselves whether it is the authority of God or that of man that informs us as to what we ought to believe, and therefore, how we are to act upon that belief. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning (doctrine), that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom.15:4). “The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man, or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth) the author thereof and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God” (WCF 1.4). &For Reproof!—This is a conviction which brings about a change as truth is revealed by the Spirit. The change comes from within and is (should be) manifested by an outward change of one’s character and actions. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1); “through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome, and so, the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (WCF 13. 3): “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever” (2 Peter 3:18). &For Correction!—the word Correction is found only in 2 Tim. 3:16, meaning to set something that was wrong, right again; to be corrected when wrong, especially concerning moral and ethical belief and behavior. An example is the use of the teaching of the moral law of God in our homes and churches, as well in the government of nations to the glory of Christ the King! The Heidelberg Catechism asks this question (# 115), “Why will God then have the ten commandments so strictly preached, since no man in this life can keep them?” Its answer: “First, that all our lifetime we may learn more and more earnest in seeking the remission of sin and righteousness in Christ, likewise, that we constantly endeavor and pray to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we may become more and more conformable to the image of God, till we arrive at the perfection proposed to us in a life to come.” &For Instruction—The word Instruction originally referred to the teaching of children. Children are true learners, thus, as children of our Father in heaven, the Lord applies this kind of instruction to each of us who are redeemed by the precious blood of His Son, our Savior, Christ Jesus. Instruction has much to do with discipline, which the world around us abhors. The instruction is to be “in righteousness,” referring to that which is right and just as claimed by the Triune God of Truth and Righteousness. He alone is the standard of our faith and practice; i.e., “The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man” (Westminster Larger Catechism # 5). We, in the righteousness of Christ alone, are to die to sin and live to Him. We are to put on the new man and “be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph. 4:23-24). Rev. Robert L. La May, Litt.D |
All Scripture is given |
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“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” —2 Timothy 3:16-17 |
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The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, were given to the Church, the Body of Christ, and as such we are responsible for the proper translation of the Received Text of the Greek and Hebrew. The Word of written is the Divine Scripture of the Holy Spirit, and is to be received as authoritatively as the Original. It is the ‘Received Text’, the underlining Word written in its particular languages, that makes the Geneva Bible of 1599 a trustworthy translation of the Word of God. We need a translation in the vernacular that is faithful to the underlining text that our God has preserved through the ages. Let our prayers and praise resound in faithfulness to our Lord’s revealed Word, saying, “The words of the Lord are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” —Psalm 12:6-7 |