WE ARE STARTING A SERIES THROUGH THE 32 ARTICLES OF THE BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH 1689. A CONFESSION OF FAITH IS SIMPLY A STATEMENT OF DOCTRINE OF WHAT WE BELIEVE AS BAPTISTS - IT SO HELPFUL BECAUSE WE CAN SO EASY SLIP ANCHOR AND DRIFT OUT OF DOCK.
IT WAS CH SPURGEON IN 1855 WHO ORDERED THE REPRINT OF THESE ARTICLES FOR HIS OWN CONGREGATION IN DIVISIVE TIMES - TODAY IS NO DIFFERENT WE WILL BE FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS AS WE UNPACK THESE 32 ARTICLES OF THE BAPTIST FAITH. THE BOOKS YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE CHURCH WILL BE HELPFUL IN YOUR OWN PERSONAL STUDY AS WE JOURNEY TOGETHER THROUGH THESE ARTICLES.
• READ THE PREFACE OF CH SPURGEON (THE BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH 1689)
SELECTIVE HEARING: THERE ARE MANY VOICES IN OUR WORLD TODAY ALL COMPETING FOR OUR ATTENTION, THROUGH THE MEDIA WE MEET UP WITH ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION FROM FREE THINKERS, JOURNALISTS, POLITICIANS, SCIENTISTS , PHILOSOPHERS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS EVEN THEOLOGIANS ALL BOMBARDING US WITH INFORMATION AT TIMES CONTRADICTORY, WE ALL ABSORB THIS INFORMATION WE RETAIN SOME AND WE DELETE OTHERS AT TIMES WE CAN APPEAR TO BE LISTENING BUT OFTEN WE ARE SELECTIVE DEPENDING OFTEN UPON OUR OWN WORLD VIEW. OF COURSE THAT IS A GOOD TRAIT TO DEVELOP WHEN IT COMES TO HUMAN KNOWLEDGE BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE WORD OF GOD ITS VERY DANGEROUS.
A FORMER PARK RANGER AT YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK TELLS THE STORY OF A RANGER LEADING A GROUP OF HIKERS TO A FIRE LOOKOUT. THE RANGER WAS SO INTENT ON TELLING THE HIKERS ABOUT THE FLOWERS AND ANIMALS THAT HE CONSIDERED THE MESSAGES ON HIS TWO-WAY RADIO DISTRACTING, SO HE SWITCHED IT OFF. NEARING THE TOWER, THE RANGER WAS MET BY A NEARLY BREATHLESS LOOKOUT, WHO ASKED WHY HE HADN’T RESPONDED TO THE MESSAGES ON HIS RADIO. A GRIZZLY BEAR HAD BEEN SEEN STALKING THE GROUP, AND THE AUTHORITIES WERE TRYING TO WARN THEM OF THE DANGER.
ANY TIME WE TUNE OUT THE MESSAGES GOD HAS SENT US, IN HIS WORD, WE PUT AT PERIL NOT ONLY OURSELVES, BUT ALSO THOSE AROUND US. HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE NEVER TURN OFF GOD’S SAVING COMMUNICATION THROUGH HIS BIBLE .
BIBLE FACTS: IT WAS WRITTEN:
• OVER A 1500 YEAR SPAN (FROM 1400 B.C TO A.D. 100)
• OVER 40 GENERATIONS
• OVER 40 AUTHORS FROM MANY WALKS OF LIFE (I.E. - KINGS, PEASANTS, PHILOSOPHERS, FISHERMEN, POETS, STATESMEN, SCHOLARS)
• IN DIFFERENT PLACES (I.E. - WILDERNESS, DUNGEON, PALACES)
• AT DIFFERENT TIMES (I.E. - WAR, PEACE, PERSECUTION)
• IN DIFFERENT MOODS (I.E. - HEIGHTS OF JOY, DEPTHS OF DESPAIR)
• ON THREE CONTINENTS (ASIA, AFRICA, AND EUROPE)
• IN THREE LANGUAGES (HEBREW, ARAMAIC, AND GREEK).
OT 39 BOOKS: 17 HISTORICAL BOOKS – 5POETICAL BOOKS- 17 PROPHETIC BOOKS.
NT 27 BOOKS: 4 GOSPELS – 1 ACTS (HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE EARLY CHURCH) 21 EPISTLES – (CHURCH DOCTRINE AND LIFE)1 REVELATION – ESCHATOLOGICAL.
THE BIBLE HAS TO BE SEEN AND TAKEN AS A WHOLE FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION FROM THE OT TO THE NT WE SEE GODS UNFOLDING PLAN FOR THE WHOLE OF HUMANITY. IN THE OT WE HAVE JESUS CHRIST CONCEALED AND IN THE NT WE HAVE HIM REVEALED.
• THE BIBLE IS INSPIRED: BIBLICAL INSPIRATION IS THE ACT OF GOD BY WHICH HE DIRECTLY CONTROLLED THE WRITERS SO THAT WHAT WAS WRITTEN WAS THE VERY WORD OF GOD(ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPHS).
• THE BIBLE IS INERRANT: THIS MEANS THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS DO NOT AFFIRM ANYTHING WHICH IS CONTRARY TO THE FACT. THEY WERE FREE FROM ANY ERROR.
• THE BIBLE HAS ITS OWN INDEPENDANT AUTHORITY AND IS SELF AUTHENTICATING.
• THE BIBLE IS INSTRUCTIVE: OUR ONLY SOURCE OF INSTRUCTION FOR THE CHURCH IN ALL MATTERS OF BELIEF AND BEHAVIOUR.
1. 3:16.THE BIBLE IS INSPIRED. GOD BREATHED (ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPH)
ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD BREATHED FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION, NOT THE PART BUT THE WHOLE. CHRISTIANS NEED TO ACCEPT THE FULL COUNCIL OF GOD OF HIS DIVINE REVELATION TO US. TO REJECT PARTS OF THE BIBLE, WHICH ARE UNPALATABLE, WHICH CAST LIGHT ON HUMAN SIN, OR CHANGE PARTS, WHICH DON’T FIT IN WITH A OUR PRESENT WORLD VIEW IS COMPLETELY WRONG.
SADLY SOME PEOPLE COME TO THE BIBLE AS IF THERE AT A EAT ALL YOU WANT BUFFET- WHERE A VAST SELECTION OF FOOD IS ON OFFER - YOU CAN PICK AND CHOOSE – EAT WHAT YOU WANT LEAVE WHAT YOU WANT. OF COURSE WE CAN DO THIS WITH FOOD BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE BIBLE SPIRITUAL MALNUTRITION WILL SET IN. BECAUSE ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD BREATHED.
• AUGUSTINE SAID; IF YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU LIKE IN THE BIBLE AND REJECT WHAT YOU LIKE, IT IS NOT THE BIBLE YOU BELIEVE IN BUT YOURSELF.
WHEN WE BEGIN TO EMBRACE HUMAN REASON AND IMPOSE MANS REASON TO BEAR ON SCRIPTURE INSTEAD OF SUBMITTING TO THE AUTHORITY OF GODS WORD. WE WILL END UP WITH A FAULTY VIEW OF GOD.
• MARK TWAIN WHO SAID “ITS NOT WHAT I DON’T UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE BIBLE THAT BOTHERS ME. ITS WHAT I DO UNDERSTAND.” ONCE WE UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE (WILL OF GOD) WE DO NOT NEED A SECOND OPINION.
B). SCRIPTURE IS GOD BREATHED – IT IS INSPIRED OF GOD.
THE BIBLE IS NOT A COLLECTION OF JEWISH MYTHS (GENESIS) OR JEWISH FOLKLORE PASSED ON FROM GENERATIONS, ABOUT WHAT GOD MIGHT BE LIKE. ITS NOT EITHER THE VIEWS OR OPINIONS OF WHAT SPIRITUAL PEOPLE THOUGHT ABOUT GOD AT THAT TIME. NEITHER IS IT THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE INSPIRED TO WRITE LIKE SHAKESPEARE WAS INSPIRED TO WRITE HIS PLAYS OR BEETHOVEN HIS UPLIFTING MUSIC.
THE BIBLE IS A BOOK, WHICH IS GOD, BREATHED: IT’S A DIVINE REVELATION FROM GOD HIMSELF TO HUMANITY. THIS BOOK OWES ITS ORIGIN AND CONTENTS TO HIS DIVINE BREATH. AS GOD BREATHED THE BREATH OF LIFE INTO ADAM, HE HAS SPOKEN HIS WORD TO US THROUGH THE PATRIARCHS, PROPHETS AND APOSTLES ALL OF WHOM WERE MEN FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
• BISHOP HANDLEY MOULE WROTE “THE BREATH OF GOD WAS IN EACH ‘SCRIPTURE,’ AS MANS BREATH IS IN HIS WORDS, MAKING THEM TO BE THE VEHICLE OF HIS THOUGHTS.”
2PET1:21. FOR PROPHECY NEVER HAD ITS ORIGIN IN THE WILL OF MAN, BUT MEN SPOKE FROM GOD, AS THE HOLY SPIRIT CARRIED THEM ALONG.
A SIMILAR PICTURE IS SEEN IN THE FOLLOWING TEXTS. EX.20: 1. AND GOD SPOKE ALL THESE WORDS.(THE TEN COMMANDMENTS) 2.SAM 23:2. KING DAVID WHO SAID, THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SPOKE THROUGH ME HIS WORD WAS ON MY TONGUE. MAT.1: 22. ALL THIS TOOK PLACE TO FULFIL WHAT THE LORD HAD SAID THROUGH THE PROPHET. (THE SAVIOURS BIRTH AND PURPOSE) JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES JOHN14:26. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS AND REMIND YOU OF EVERYTHING I HAVE SAID TO YOU
FOR THESE MEN IT WAS ORGANIC (NATURAL) AND NOT MECHANICAL (POSSESSED) GOD DID NOT SUPPRESS THEIR PERSONALITY OR TAKE AWAY THERE FACULTIES BUT ENLIGHTENED THE INDIVIDUAL TO BE ABLE WRITE DOWN WHAT GOD WAS TEACHING HIM TO CONVEY IN SCRIPTURE AS SUCH ALL SCRIPTURE IS COMPLETELY INERANT AS IT IS FROM GOD WHO IS TRUTH INCARNATE..
2. THE BIBLE HAS ITS OWN INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY AND IS SELF AUTHENTICATING.
WHAT GIVES THE BIBLE ITS AUTHORITY AND AUTHENTICATION? IS IT BECAUSE OF THE CHURCH COUNCILS OF HIPPO 393 AD, CARTHAGE 397 AD WHERE THE BIBLE WAS RATIFIED AND CANONIZED?
NOT AT ALL THE ONLY REASON FOR THESE COUNCILS RATIFIED AND CANNONISED SCRIPTURE WAS AS A RESULT OF HERETICAL GOSPELS INFILTRATING THE EARLY CHURCH, SUCH AS THE GNOSTIC WRITINGS.
THE JEWISH TORAH WAS PRESENT SINCE 1400 BC AND NT LETTERS HAD ALREADY BEEN RECOGNISED AT THE END OF THE 100 AD AS SCRIPTURE AS THEY WERE ALREADY CIRCULATING THE CHURCHES THEY WERE SIMPLY RATIFIED AS SCRIPTURE AND THE CANNON CLOSED LATER. THE SCRIPTURES THEMSELVES HAD THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY OF BEING GOD INSPIRED.
A. FIRSTLY THE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE NEVER DEPENDS UPON A MAN OR CHURCH BUT WHOLLY UPON GOD AS AUTHOR (WHO IS TRUTH ITSELF) THEREFORE SCRIPTURE IS TO BE RECEIVED WITH OBEDIENCE BECAUSE IT IS THE WORD OF GOD (INERRANT), IT HAS AUTHORITY. IN OTHER WORDS WHEN GOD SPEAKS WE BELIEVE IT, NOT BECAUSE A MINISTER PROVES TO US THE TEACHING IS REASONABLE OR REWARDING BUT BECAUSE ITS GODS INERRANT WORD AND CARRIES GODS AUTHORITY.
• THE CHURCH OF ROME CLAIMS THAT THE CHURCH DISCERNED, GAVE AND GUARANTEED THE SCRIPTURES AND THAT THE CHURCH ALONE HAS THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO INTERPRET IT, TO ADD TO IT (APOCRYPHAL 4TH CENTURY FURTHER 3 OTHER BOOKS ADDED AT THE COUNCIL OF TRENT 1546) TO TAKE AWAY FROM IT.
• BUT THE SCRIPTURE CAME FIRST, WAS GIVEN BY GOD AND ITS THE SCRIPTURES WHICH HAVE THE AUTHORITY AND RULES THE CHURCH 2PET1:19-21. ( THIS IS SO IMPORTANT)
• THE BIBLE IS OUR FINAL AUTHORITY IN ALL MATTERS OF FAITH, CHURCH AND CONDUCT. ITS NOT THE PASTOR, THE LEADERSHIP, THE MEMBERSHIP THAT GOVERNS A CHURCH, BUT THE SCRIPTURES ALONE - WHEN A CHURCH MOVES AWAY FROM IT CEASES BEING A TRUE CHURCH OF GOD.
B. THE BIBLE IS SELF-AUTHENTICATING ( IT DOESN’T NEED A SEAL OF APPROVAL.)
THE EVIDENCE FOR ITS OWN SELF AUTHENTICATION IS ALL AROUND THIS ROOM TODAY, BECAUSE WHEN THE WORD OF GOD IS APPLIED TO THE HEARTS OF BELIEVERS, IT IS AFFIRMED AS THE LIVING ORACLES OF GOD ,AND IT CAUSES A RESPONSE, AN INWARD CHANGE IN THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS AND THE CHURCH AT LARGE.
• TRUE BELIEVERS WILL ALWAYS BE FILLED WITH DEEP REVERENCE WHEN HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD THROUGH HOLY SCRIPTURE. IT CAUSES THEM TO RESPOND IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, FROM PRAISE TO PRAYER, REPENTANCE TO REJOICING FROM OBEDIENCE TO THANKSGIVING.EVEN NON-BELIEVERS COME UNDER CONVICTION OF THE WORD AND ARE CHANGED BY THE POWER OF GOD. HERE WE SEE THE SELF AUTHENTICATING POWER OF THE BIBLE.
• 2 KING 22: 8- 11 READ. YOUNG KING JOSIAH WHEN THE SCRIPTURES WERE DISCOVERED. V11 TORE HIS CLOTHES V19 JOSIAH HAD A RESPONSIVE HEART TO GODS WORD.
• KING DAVID COULD SAY PSL. 119. 11. I HAVE HIDDEN YOU WORD IN MY HEART THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST YOU.
• THE JEWS AT PENTECOST CRIED OUT! ACTS 2.37 BROTHERS WHAT MUST WE DO?
• IN THESSALONICA PAUL PREACHED THE WORD OF GOD, NOT WITH MERE WORDS BUT WITH POWER! THEY TURNED TO GOD FROM IDOLS.
THE WORD OF GOD CHANGES LIVES, TRUE STORY.....
MANY YEARS AGO IN A MOSCOW THEATER, MATINEE IDOL ALEXANDER ROSTOVZEV WAS CONVERTED WHILE PLAYING THE ROLE OF JESUS IN A SACRILEGIOUS PLAY ENTITLED CHRIST IN A TUXEDO. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO READ TWO VERSES FROM THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, REMOVE HIS GOWN, AND CRY OUT, “GIVE ME MY TUXEDO AND TOP HAT!” BUT AS HE READ THE WORDS, “BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN, FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED,” HE BEGAN TO TREMBLE. INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING THE SCRIPT, HE KEPT READING FROM MATTHEW 5, IGNORING THE COUGHS, CALLS, AND FOOT-STAMPING OF HIS FELLOW ACTORS.
FINALLY, RECALLING A VERSE HE HAD LEARNED IN HIS CHILDHOOD IN A RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, HE CRIED, “LORD, REMEMBER ME WHEN THOU COMEST INTO THY KINGDOM!” (LUKE 23:42). BEFORE THE CURTAIN COULD BE LOWERED, ROSTOVZEV HAD TRUSTED JESUS CHRIST AS HIS PERSONAL SAVIOUR.
HEB4: 12 THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND ACTIVE SHARPER THAN ANY DOUBLE EDGED SWORD, IT PENETRATES EVEN TO DIVIDING SOUL AND SPIRIT, JOINTS AND MARROW: IT JUDGES THE THOUGHTS AND ATTITUDES OF THE HEART.
3. THE BIBLE IS INSTRUCTIVE V16 –17 TEACHING AND REBUKING
HERE WE SEE 4 USEFULNESS’, THAT CAN BE PUT IN TWO COUPLETS ONE COUPLET REFERS TO 1ST BELIEF (TEACHING AND REBUKING) AND THE OTHER BEHAVIOUR (CORRECTING AND TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS)
WE SEE BELIEF AND BEHAVIOUR ARE CONJOINED TWINS THEY CANNOT BE SEPARATED , IF THEY ARE YOU WILL LIVE AN INADEQUATE CHRISTIAN LIFE! YOU WILL DIE UNPRODUCTIVE UNFRUITFUL AND UNHAPPY BUT BY APPLYING THE INSTRUCTIVE NATURE OF THE SCRIPTURES YOU WILL LIVE LIFE HOW GOD INTENDED IT TO BE.
• OLD MAN IN A ROWING BOAT HAD ON EACH OAR BELIEF AND BEHAVIOUR! IMAGINE.... BOTHS OARS NEED TO BE USED OTHERWISE WERE SIMPLY GOING AROUND IN CIRCLES.
CONTENT OF BELIEF.
• GEORGE WHITFIELD WAS PREACHING TO COAL MINERS IN ENGLAND. HE ASKED ONE MAN, “WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?” “WELL, I BELIEVE THE SAME AS THE CHURCH.” “AND WHAT DOES THE CHURCH BELIEVE?” “WELL, THEY BELIEVE THE SAME AS ME.” SEEING HE WAS GETTING NOWHERE, WHITFIELD SAID, “AND WHAT IS IT THAT YOU BOTH BELIEVE?” “WELL, I SUPPOSE THE SAME THING.” WE PERSONAL NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE BELIEVE, MANY ARE LIKE THE MAN IN THE STORY, LEAVE IT TO THE CHURCH. AND JUST STATE “I’M CHURCH OF ENGLAND, METHODIST, EVANGELICAL, BAPTIST, U.R.C ETC.
AS CHRISTIANS WE NEED TO DEVELOP A GRASP OF SOUND DOCTRINE . C.B.C AIMS TO BE A CHURCH THAT IS BIBLICALLY CENTRED, THAT THE BIBLE RUNS THROUGH OUR VEINS. THIS WILL ONLY HAPPEN AS WE ARE INSTRUCTED IN THE SCRIPTURES AND OBEY THEM AS JESUS COMMANDED. JHN.14:23 -24. IF ANYONE LOVES ME , HE WILL OBEY MY TEACHING, HE WHO DOES NOT LOVE ME WILL NOT OBEY MY TEACHING.
A. TEACHING IS POSITIVE: THOSE EARLY APOSTLES WERE TEACHERS 3:10 PAUL HAD TRAINED TIMOTHY. 2TIM 1:,13, 3: 10,14.
• TRADES MEN ARE TRAINED WITHOUT TRAINING THEY COULD TURN OUT SUB STANDARD WORK.
THE PARALLEL IS THAT GIFTED TEACHERS WHO HAVE IN TURN BEEN TAUGHT BY THE SCRIPTURES CAN TEACH THE SCRIPTURES TO OTHERS AND SO ON. 2TIM 2:15 READ .
V16-17 TO TEACH WAS TIMOTHY’S CHARGE AT EPHESUS. OUR REFERENCE IS ALWAYS THE BIBLE TO BE TAUGHT SOUND DOCTRINE. JUST LIKE TRADESMEN HAVE TOOLS FOR THE TRADE SO THE CHRISTIAN HAS A TOOL AT HIS DISPOSAL THE BIBLE. SO THAT HE/SHE MAY BE EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.
IN THE SECULAR WORLD TEACHING IS SO IMPORTANT, YOU HEAR THE POLITICIANS WHO CRY OUT EDUCATION! EDUCATION! EDUCATION IT EQUIPS PEOPLE. OUR CHILDREN CAN EXPERIENCE OVER 20 YEARS OF EDUCATION. ALL OF US INTRINSICALLY DESIRE TO BE TAUGHT AND BOOKS ARE A MEDIUM OFTEN USED. AS WE DO WE ARE BUILT UP WE GATHER INFORMATION, WE ABSORB KNOWLEDGE , FACTS AND FIGURES, YET WE TEACH THE BIBLE ITS NOT MERELY INFORMATION, THE BIBLE TAKES US BEYOND THE NORM.
• THE BIBLE IS LIKE A TELESCOPE. IF A MAN LOOKS THROUGH HIS TELESCOPE HE SEES WORLDS BEYOND; BUT IF HE LOOKS AT HIS TELESCOPE, HE DOES NOT SEE ANYTHING BUT THAT. THE BIBLE IS A THING TO BE LOOKED THROUGH TO SEE THAT WHICH IS BEYOND; BUT MOST PEOPLE ONLY LOOK AT IT AND SO THEY SEE ONLY THE DEAD LETTER. - PHILLIP BROOKS
IT TRANSFORMS LIVES.
B. TEACHING IS ALSO NEGATIVE: REBUKING ERROR, CHRISTIANS CAN WANDER FROM THE TRUTH AND CAN BECOME CORRUPT LIKE HYMEANUS AND PHILETUS 2 TIM.2:17 –18 WHO HAD WANDERED AWAY FROM THE TRUTH. 1TIM.1:3 TIMOTHY WAS SENT TO REBUKE FALSE TEACHERS IS BASIS WAS THE APOSTLES DOCTRINE AND THE OT SCRIPTURES.
• SCHOOL FAILING/OUSTED/ NEW HEAD SENT IN, TO TEACH IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
TIMOTHY WAS SENT INTO THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS TO POINT RIGHT THAT WHICH WAS WRONG AND ANY PASTOR (TEACHER) HAS THE SAME RESPONSIBILITY TO TEACH SOUND DOCTRINE BUT ALSO TO REBUKE ERROR. I PRAY IN A SPIRIT OF GENTLENESS AND LOVE. 2TIM 4:2 –5. YET NO MATTER HOW IT IS SPOKEN, IT WILL NOT ALWAYS BE RECEIVED WELL BY THOSE WHO PRACTICE ERROR.
• TEACHERS WILL NEED STRONG CONVICTIONS V14
TIMOTHY WAS IN AN ENVIRONMENT, WHICH WAS HOSTILE BESIEGED WITH FALSE TEACHERS AND HAD THE PRESSURE OF A GROWING MINISTRY. TIMOTHY COULD OF EASILY ABANDONED HIS FAITH OR MODIFIED HIS DOCTRINE TO PLEASE OTHERS.
SO WHAT WAS IT THAT ENABLED HIM TO STAND?
WE SEE THE ANSWER IS IN PAUL’S CHARGE TO TIMOTHY V14 IS TO CONTINUE UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS REMINDING TIMOTHY OF WHAT HE HAS LEARNT AND BECOME CONVINCED OF GODS WORD.
V14,15.HE WAS TAUGHT THE SCRIPTURES FROM A CHILD - TIMOTHY WAS A 2ND GENERATION CHRISTIAN AND HAD BECOME ONE NOT BECAUSE OF SOME GREAT SERMON, BUT BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN TAUGHT THE SCRIPTURES FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE V15 (GENESIS TO MALACHI) FROM HIS MOTHER EUNICE (JEW’ES) AND GRANDMOTHER LOIS WHO HAD COMMUNICATED THEIR STRONG CHRISTIAN FAITH 2 TIM..1:5. AND LATER FROM PAUL ALSO V13. HE WAS CONVINCED BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN TAUGHT THE TRUTH OF GODS WORD. DEUT 6:4-7 TEACH AND TRAIN YOUR CHILDREN JEWISH CULTURE
4. THE BIBLE IS INSTRUMENTAL IN OUR BEHAVIOR: V16 -17. CORRECTING AND TRIANING IN RIGHTOUSNESS SO THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.
IN OUR ZEAL FOR CORRECT DOCTRINE AND BELIEF WE MUST NEVER FORGET THE ANOTHER PURPOSE OF THE THE SCRIPTURES IS SO THAT WE MIGHT BE CORRECTED AND TRAINED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS SO THAT WE MAY BE EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.
CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR
• AS SOMEBODY ONCE SAID. “IF YOU DON’T LIVE IT YOU DON’T BELIEVE IT!” AND IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IT THEN YOU WONT LIVE IT!”
THIS IS THE REAL ACID TEST FOR THE PROFESSING CHRISTIAN DOES YOU BEHAVIOUR MATCH YOUR BELIEF ARE YOU LIVING IT OUT? IF NOT THEN WE NEED TO REPENT OF THOSE THINGS WE NO ARE WRONG IN OUR LIVES, PUT A STOP TO IT – FOR YOU HAVE THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO PUT TO DEATH THOSE THINGS AND PUT IT RIGHT, THOSE THINGS THAT ARE GRIEVING GOD.
I THINK OUR PROBLEM IN OUR CHRISTIAN CULTURE IS NOT THE PHARISICAL ONE. IN THAT ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKS HOLY BUT INSIDE WERE CORRUPT. OUR PROBLEM IS THAT TODAY CHRISTIANS THINK THAT ON THE INSIDE THEY ARE HOLY , YET ON THE OUTSIDE THERE BEHAVIOUR AND LIFESTYLES ARE UNHOLY. SUCH PEOPLE NEED TO BE CORRECTED, GENUINE SAVING FAITH WILL ADDRESS THESE UNHOLY ISSUES AND IF THEY ARE NOT WE NEED TO QUESTION OUR WHOLE FAITH.
• IN HIS BOOK I SURRENDER, PATRICK MORLEY WRITES THAT THE CHURCH’S INTEGRITY PROBLEM IS IN THE MISCONCEPTION “THAT WE CAN ADD CHRIST TO OUR LIVES, BUT NOT SUBTRACT SIN. IT IS A CHANGE IN BELIEF WITHOUT A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR.” HE GOES ON TO SAY, “IT IS REVIVAL WITHOUT REFORMATION, WITHOUT REPENTANCE.”
WE MUST SUBMIT OUR BEHAVIOUR TO THE HOLY SCRIPTURES NOT SIMPLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF INCREASING OUR KNOWLEDGE OR TO PREPARE US TO WIN ARGUMENTS. THE WHOLE POINT OF STUDYING THE BIBLE SO THAT WE WILL KNOW HOW TO DO CHRIST’S WORK AND LIVE OUT CHRIST LIKE LIVES IN THE WORLD.
WE READ GODS WORD BECAUSE IT EFFECTS OUR BEHAVIOUR, IT BRINGS CHANGE, WHERE THERE IS NEED, AND THERE IS NEED FOR ALL OF US, WHERE EVER WE GO WE NEED TO LEAVE A FRAGRANCE OF JESUS CHRIST NOT ONLY THROUGH OUR BELIEF BUT IN OUR BEHAVIOUR ALSO.
ARTICLE 1 THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
SO WE HAVE SEEN THAT THE BIBLE IS INSPIRED, INERRANT, INSTRUCTIVE AND INSTRUMENTAL IN OUR BEHAVIOUR. ITS ALL THE AUTHORITY WE NEED TO GOVERN GODS CHURCH AND TO REACH A LOST WORLD, ITS SELF AUTHENTICATING AND IT’S OUR SOLE SOURCE IN ALL MATTERS OF FAITH AND CONDUCT AND THAT’S WHY WE NEED TO BE A CHURCH THAT UPHOLDS THE BIBLE FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION.
