Volume No. 2009 Issue No. 25a Date: July 19, 2009
Publication of the BIBLE BAPTIST MINISTRY, 48 Alexie Rd, Hanover Township, PA 18706
Phone: 570.829.5216 pdmikBBM@aol.com pastormiklas@aol.com
Since this is the 233rd anniversary month of America, I would like to address the issue of the Bible in our History and why we believe this Book to be the Word of God. In Psalms 33:11-12 we read, "The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. (12) Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD…"
You know as well as I do liberals of our generation would like us to believe this nation was not founded upon Godly principles. However, it is very evident from everything we can gather that this nation from its very inception was founded upon and planned to be a Christian nation by the providence of God. It is well to remember that the Bible has always occupied an important place in building our nation, and is part and parcel of our heritage. The threads of Scripture glisten everywhere in its social and legal fabric. America has been blessed because it was founded on biblical principles.
Note these quotations from great Americans of the past:
George Washington, "It is impossible to rightly govern without God and the Bible."
Patrick Henry, "It cannot be emphasized too strongly that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
Andrew Jackson, "The Bible is the Rock upon which our republic rests."
John Adams, "The Bible is the best Book in the world. The earlier my children begin to read it, the more confident will be my hopes that they will prove useful citizens."
Benjamin Harrison, "It is out of the Word of God that a system has come to make life sweet. If you blot out from your statute books, your Constitution, and your family life, all that is taken from the sacred Book, what would be left to bind this great society together?"
Horace Greeley, "It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible-reading people. Its principles are the groundwork of human freedom."
Ulysses S. Grant, "To the influence of the Bible we are indebted for the progress made in true civilization. It is the anchor of our liberties."
Woodrow Wilson. "America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture. There are a good many problems before the American people today…but I expect to find the solution to those problems just in the proportion that I am faithful in the study of the Word of God."
Daniel Webster, "If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering. But if we in our prosperity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity." "If religious books are not widely circulated among the masses in this country, I do not know what is going to become of us as a nation. If truth be not diffused, error will be. If God and His Word are not known and received, the devil and his works will gain the ascendancy… If the power of the Gospel is not felt throughout the length and breadth of the land, anarchy and misrule, degradation and misery, corruption and darkness will reign without mitigation and without end."
America has been blessed because it was founded on biblical principles. True freedom can never be enjoyed by people who refuse to fear God. Unfortunately:
We live in a nation that has separated itself from the Word of God by declaring a wall of separation between the church and state.
We have made this book, that we hold dear, just a secular book written by men.
We have taken it upon ourselves to dissect the Word of God and declare some parts are God’s word and others are not in order to satisfy our present day political or religious correctness.
However, there is such an overarching wall of evidence that the Bible is the Word of God, that there is no excuse for any honest person not believing this truth. The Bible is UNIQUE because it first CLAIMS to be written by God and then PROVES its divinity by many infallible proofs.
First: I believe the Bible because of its endurance. There has never been a book so hated as the Bible.
The Bible endures in spite of criticism and ridicule and liberalism and atheism that has pounded on the Word of God for centuries.
The Bible endures in spite of persecution by political leaders throughout the years.
The Bible endures in spite of religious persecution. It’s amazing how much religious animosity there is against the Bible. It is even within the circles of so-called Christendom.
Because of its endurance, I believe the Bible is an indestructible book, for:
In Isaiah 55:11 we read, "My word…shall not return unto me void."
In Isaiah 40:8 we read, "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth but the Word of our God standeth forever."
In Matthew 24:35 we read, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
Many years ago in England, a group of Bible scholars posed this thought-provoking question, "Suppose the New Testament had been destroyed and every copy lost at the end of the third century; could it be reconstructed from the writings of the Church Fathers of the second and third centuries?" Sir David Dalrymple (1726-1792), accepted the challenge. After searching through the documents of the second and third century church leaders, he reported back to the group that, in spite of his limited time and resources, he had been able to reconstruct from the writings of those early expositors of God’s Word the entire New Testament except for eleven verses.
Second: I believe the Bible because of its scientific accuracy. Although the Bible was not written as a science book; when the Bible speaks concerning matters of science, it is scientifically accurate. Long before man discovered these facts, the Bible accurately taught that:
There are countless numbers of stars: Jeremiah 33:22, "The host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured."
The composition of man and the earth is identical: Psalm 103:14, "He remembereth that we are dust."
The atmosphere has weight: Job 28:25, "to make the weight for the winds"
The earth is round: Isaiah 40:22, "It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:"
The wind moves along a circuit: Ecclesiastes 1:6, "The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits."
The earth rotates on its axis: Job 38:13-14, "The earth…is turned as clay to the seal"
That tides vary in the late evening and early morning: Job 26:10, "He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end."
That blood sustains life: Leviticus 17: 11, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood."
Where did these writers of scripture get this scientific information? The only possible answer is God who is the real author of the Bible.
Third: I believe the Bible because of its archaeological accuracy. Dr. Nelson Glueck widely recognized as the dean of Palestine archaeologists said, "It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference. Scores of archaeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or in exact detail historical statements in the Bible…"
Fourth: I believe the Bible because of its fulfilled prophecies. It has been said, "That the Bible is 3/4 pre-written history. And that 3/4 of that pre-written history has already been fulfilled." Concerning perhaps the greatest statement on prophecy in the Bible we need to see Isaiah 46:9-11, “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, (10) Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (11) Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it." Speaking of prophecy fulfilled, for example, just look at all the Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Christ:
In His virgin birth, Isaiah 7:14, with Matthew 1:20,
In the place of His birth, Micah 5:2 with Luke 2:4-7,
In His triumphal entry, Zechariah 9:9-10 with John 12:12-19,
In His agony on the Cross Psalm 22, 34, 69,
In His burial, Isaiah 53:9 with Matthew 27:57-60, and
In His resurrection Psalm 16:10 with Luke 24:1-7.
Fifth: I believe the Bible because of its unparalleled unity. Listen to this, "There are 66 books in the Bible written by 40 different writers over a period of 1500 years coming from every walk of life and belonging to every level of society, which included Kings, statesmen, laborers, fisherman, farmers, priests, prophets and shepherds." Most of these men never knew or met one another because of time and distance. Yet there remains evidence of only ONE AUTHOR, because all 66 books are unified – as to the person of God; the prophecies and person of Christ and as to the plan of God’s eternal redemption. The only possible explanation of this unity is the fact that all the books had a common origin, God.
Sixth: I believe the Bible because of the witness of God. God’s name and character is inscribed in every part of The Word of God.
Genesis 1:1, "In the Beginning God created the Heavens and the earth."
In Timothy 3:16, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God…"
Hebrews 11:3, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God… "
Psalms 90:2, "From everlasting to everlasting Thou art God."
Seventh: I. believe the Bible because of the witness of Christ. In Matthew 24:35, Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass way." We have the testimony of Jesus as He continued to create the Old Testament. For example:
Jonah and the great Fish, Matthew 12:40
Creation and Marriage, Matthew 19:3-9
The Flood, Luke 17:26-27
The Brazen Serpent, John 3:14.
Eight: I believe the Bible because of the witness of the writers. Such phrases as:
"And the Lord spake unto… " "And God said… "
"The Word of the Lord came unto… " “Thus saith the Lord"
were said some 3,808 times in the Old Testament. Thus we have verified for us in II Peter 1:20, "Holy men of God spoke as they were driven (or moved) by the Holy Ghost."
Ninth: I believe the Bible because of its acceptability. From time immortal, people have accepted the Words of this Book and found the answer to life. They have found the answer to the need of their human soul. They have found the blueprint of how to live, and that has changed their lives.
To lose the Bible is to lose the knowledge of the true God. If you believe the first four words of the Bible "In the beginning, God," you have no problem believing all of the Bible.
To lose the Bible, you would lose the wisdom that leads to salvation. Paul said this to Timothy in II Timothy 3:15, "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."
To lose the Bible, you would lose your civil liberty and personal freedom. In His prayer in John 17:17 Jesus said, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." And then in John 8:32 Jesus said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you FREE."
Tenth: I believe the Bible because of its impact and influence upon the lives of men and women. The impact it has on the lives of people as it changes them from sinner to saints is all powerful. In Hebrews 4:12 we read, "For the Word of God is quick (literally alive) and powerful and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Think of the Apostle Paul in his testimony in I Timothy 1:12-15.
Think of the testimony of John Newton from slave trader to Saint.
Think of your own testimony, of your own salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ.
What a Book is the Bible! There is no substitute for it. first, let this book REVITALIZE you, which in turn will REVOLUTIONIZE you!
Jeremiah 15:16, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart."
Psalms 119:130, "The entrance of thy word giveth light."
What a delight it is to go to the Word of God and watch the Holy Spirit unfold its truths to my soul and mind. Oh, this Book is truly the "Wonderful Words of Life."
Sing them over again to me, Wonderful words of life.
Let me more of their beauty see, Wonderful Words of Life.
Words of Life and beauty, Teach me faith and duty,
Beautiful words, Wonderful words, Wonderful words of life.
We close where we began in Psalms 33:11-12, "The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. (12) Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD…
Let us ask the help of God in these days, when there are evils that would lead our greatest to the grave and leave the world no example. Let us ask the help of God in these days lest our country become a despised lchabod among the nations on earth.
In His Amazing Grace,
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