The Bible is the
word of the living God. Each letter was penned by an Almighty finger. Each word
came from the everlasting lips. Each sentence was dictated by the Holy Spirit.
The very words of the Book are God's words, the words of the eternal, the
invisible, the almighty God. When I pick it up, I can almost hear it saying,
"I am the Book of God; man, Open my pages, read me, and hear God speak!”
Daily
Sunday Numbers
3-4 Thursday Numbers 15-16
Monday Numbers 5-7 Friday Leviticus
17-19
Tuesday Numbers
8-10 Saturday Numbers 20-22
Wednesday Numbers
11-14 Sunday Numbers 23-26
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I am preaching today for the Sovereign Grace Fellowship
in
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Missions Offering Next Sunday
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Nancy Bailey-13th
Today: Shante’ Birchum (AM)
Pam Wood (PM) Tuesday:
Ruth Wall
Holy Bible,
Precious Treasure — Don Fortner
(Tune: #144 — Hark! Ten Thousand Harps and Voice
—87.87 D)
1.
Holy Bible, precious treasure! Here redemption’s story’s told!
May
it be the Spirit’s pleasure its great myst’ry to unfold,
And
illuminate its pages with His light and grace divine!
Oh,
what hope and joy He raises, showing Christ in ev’ry line!
2.
Here we see grace and glory of the Triune God above,
On
each page we read the story of His great redeeming love.
Here
we read of our creation, and a greater wonder’s told: —
God
proclaims complete salvation for poor sinners young and old!
3.
Read, my soul, and weep and wonder, how the holy, righteous God,
Silences
the law’s great thunder, by sweet mercy’s gentle word.
By
His grace He saves transgressors, bowed so low with sin in fear,
Making
us heaven’s possessors, and with Christ, His Son, joint-heirs!
4.
Oh, how sweet the revelation of our God and His great love!
Let
us join, in admiration, with the ransomed hosts above.
Tell
abroad the wondrous story! Tell it with renewed delight!
And
in this great flood of glory, be my soul forever bright!
19
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7)
Back in 1857, when men were only discussing the
possibility of producing a more modern translation of Holy Scripture (The
Revised Version), J. C. Philpot wrote, “If
the revision and re-translation were once to begin, where would it end?”
Obviously, Mr. Philpot’s concern was justified. I have fifteen English
translations in my library. One thing offered as a justification for the
continual revision of Holy Scripture is that there are certain “spurious texts”
(plausible, but false texts) that need to be corrected. In other words, we are
told that a good many of those portions of Holy Scripture, by which our
hearts have been melted before God, are really not true, and need to be
eradicated from the text of Holy Scripture. One of the text that is omitted
from every modern revision of Holy Scripture is 1 John 5:7.
1 John
5:7 gives such a clear statement of the doctrine of the Trinity that every
effort is made to eradicate it from the Book of God. I stated that every modern
translation omits it, but that is not exactly correct. A few do actually
include the text. But those few give a note stating that it should not be
included. Nothing could be further from the truth.
We are
told that this blessed passage is not found in the best and the oldest
manuscripts. But according to John Gill, that simply is not true. Gill wrote,
“There never was any dispute about it, until Erasmus left it out in the first
edition of his translation of the New Testament.” Once he was made aware of his
unintended omission, Erasmus included 1 John 5:7 in later editions of his
translation.
The fact
is, if you try to read 1 John 5 without verse 7, it is obvious that without
this verse, something is missing. Verses 6 and 8 are incomplete without verse
7. And verse 9 plainly refers back to verse 7 and the three-in-one God that
bears record in heaven.
Without
question, the doctrine of the Trinity is taught throughout the Scriptures. We
do not build any doctrine upon isolated texts. However, this is the only
passage in all the Word of God that clearly and unmistakably states this
blessed, gospel doctrine. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit
are three distinct persons, “and these
three are one.” In all the works of creation, providence and grace,
throughout the Bible, we see the Triune God working for the salvation of his
elect. Here, God the Holy Spirit states plainly that all three of the Divine
persons bear record in heaven that the work is done! This is not a “spurious
text,” but a glorious text! It is not uncommon for men to assert as loudly as
possible that those things they cannot understand are false. We must never
allow anyone, under any pretense of scholasticism and sincerity, to rob us of
any portion of Holy Scripture. Everything written in the Book of God was “written for our learning, that we through
patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4).
20
The Book of
God
I write this brief article, as your pastor, to you who are dearest to my heart. I hope it will be helpful to you, by the blessing of God the Holy Spirit. If you have a copy of the Bible nearby, pick it up. Look at the cover. You will find these words — “Holy Bible.” Those words mean “Sanctified Book.” That is what God has given you. He has given it to you in your own language. Cherish it, read it, study it, believe it, and thank God for it. You hold in your hand the Book of God, God’s holy, sanctified Book, the only Book in which God reveals himself.
Perhaps you ask, “With so many translations of the Bible, can I be sure that I really have the Book of God before me? Can I trust it?” Sadly, such questions are reasonable in this day. Please understand me. I do not totally denounce all other translations of the Bible. I recognize that our old King James Version is itself a translation. But I do contend that the countless translations of modern times have done nothing to improve upon the King James. And I fear that they have only succeeded in causing people to raise such questions.
Yes, you can be sure that the Book you hold in your hands is the Book of God. I assure you that there is nothing revealed in the original languages that is not plainly and clearly stated in your King James translation of Holy Scripture. But you must not take my word for that fact. Many who are far more brilliant than your pastor would dispute that statement. I ask you to test the Book by the Spirit of God. Does God the Holy Spirit open this Book to you, as he does no other? Does he speak to your heart by it? Has he, or has he not sealed its words to your soul repeatedly, melting you to repentance, reviving you by his grace, and continually giving you faith through the effectual testimony of his Word?
Let others call these things emotionalism, experimentalism, and fanaticism, if they desire. Does your experience verify that the Book you hold in your hand is indeed the Book of God? Perhaps you have read passages from other translations, and found them helpful. I do not doubt that at all. I have as well. I have found them helpful, but not inspiring, — helpful, but not uplifting, — helpful, but not convicting. I have found them helpful in understanding a phrase here and there; but I have never (I speak only from my own experience.) found any other translation uplifting to my soul.
God has been pleased to show me my Savior in the pages of this blessed Book. I have it open before me as I write. Here I see Christ crucified. Here I see the blessed revelation of salvation accomplished by our all-glorious Substitute, the incarnate Son of God. Here I see God’s eternal, unalterable purpose written out in bold letters and have completely verified, irrefutable assurance that his purpose has been, is being, and shall be perfectly accomplished in the everlasting salvation of this sinner, and countless multitudes like me, chosen in the Father’s eternal love, redeemed by the Son’s precious blood, and saved by the Spirit’s omnipotent grace. If a hundred more translations come off the press next year, I may buy them and use them. But they will primarily collect dust. By the light of this Book I have lived. In the light of this Book I walk. And by the light of this Book, I hope to die in Christ.
21
Grace Bulletin
GRACE BAPTIST
CHURCH of DANVILLE
Telephone (859) 236-8235 - E-Mail don@donfortner.com
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor
Sunday
10:00 A.M. Bible Classes
10:30 A.M. Morning Worship Service
6:30 P.M.
Evening Worship Service
Tuesday
Channel 6 -
Sunday Morning
Channel 6 -
Wednesday Evening
Channel 6 -
Friday Evening
http://www.donfortner.com
http://www.sovereign-grace/gracechurch.htm
http://www.freegrace.net/danville/default.asp