Astatula Baptist Church
HOME
Articles
|
THIS PAGE WILL HAVE ARTICLES RELATING TO OUR KING JAMES BIBLE AND OUR BAPTIST HERITAGE. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES!!!
|
Baptist's and the Bible - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Since this issue of the Astatula Lighthouse will cover Our King James Bible Revival in October and our Baptist Heritage Conference in December, I want to include some things about the Bible and Baptists. All true Baptists are Bible Believers. This means that there are many who claim to be something they are not. We are Bible Believers FIRST. It is because we are Bible Believers that we are Baptist. We Believe the King James Bible is infallible, inerrant, INSPIRED, and preserved. Note the period at the end of that sentence. Baptists emphatically believe the Bible to be Gods written words to man. Divine preservation without divine INSPIRATION is a divine waste of time! Either we have Gods words or we don't. Those who claim to have Gods word without believing in the Inspiration of the King James Bible can NEVER know for sure that they are saved, how to be saved or where anyone is going when they die. If they don't have a Bible that's inspired, then how, in the name of God and good sense, can they believe they have something that a bible that may or may not be inspired tells them they have? Amen! Romans 10:17 says “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Notice that the Bible says something, it speaks. It speaks because it's ALIVE. Heb 4:12 SAYS “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” We have Bibles out today that have the words of Christ in red. I'm not against having a red letter edition but it really should all be in red. All of the Bible is the words of Christ. The Bible is the most important book in the world today. It is the only eternal thing that you can actually hold in your very hands. We can say with John the Apostle “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;”John 1:1. It can't be the Word of life if it's not inspired. I understand that this is speaking of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Word according to John 1:1. But, remember, everything that Jesus was in the flesh the Bible is in print. The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be saved, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you. Its the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilots compass, the soldiers sword, and the Christians charter. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened and the gates of hell are disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, carefully, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and remembered for ever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents. We are Baptist because we are Bible believers. To say that Bible Doctrine is Baptist Doctrine is certain. The two are as inseparable as faith and repentance. There are many people today that claim to be Baptist who are not. They simply have a name that they do not hold to. True Baptists HOLD to the King James Bible, which means we HOLD to the doctrines of that book, which are Baptists doctrines. If you have a problem with this it is because you have a problem with the Bible. Those that have a problem with the name Baptist, first and foremost have a problem with the Bible. We are not baptistic in our beliefs. We are Baptist in our beliefs. Baptists have historically been a people of the book. All of our beliefs are Bible based. No Jesus was not a baptist in name any more than the Lollards, Waldenses or Albigenses. Baptist is a belief, not just a name. There have always been, since the time of Christ, a group and at some times even a small remnant, who though living in caves and even running for their lives, held to the body of doctrines that are solely Baptist! When the Roman Church killed, torched, beheaded, tortured, maimed, decapitated, impaled, or drowned Baptists, they did so based on the Baptists belief in a book. These great men and women who died for THE FAITH (Jude 3) did so for refusing to deny the faith delivered to them. What man in his right mind would die for something WRITTEN in a book? What woman would stand near as her children were torn asunder for believing something WRITTEN in a book? What townspeople would see their neighbors decapitated then used for lanterns because of doctrines WRITTEN in a book? No sane man would EVER do that, unless he BELIEVED those WRITTEN words in a book. The sole reason we have had fewer martyrs in the last one hundred years is because there is no longer just one book that people call a Bible. Although, the King James Bible is still the one and only Bible that the LORD is using for revivals, missions and salvation there are many that are deceived into thinking that any version will do. Did you know that all the Baptist Distinctives are found in a King James Bible? Did you know that ALL of the laws that were used to govern our country in its infancy were taken from a King James Bible. The following is the actual account of the death of Jerome of Prague. This man was killed for believing doctrine that was contrary to that of the Roman Church. “He was seized to Bohemia by an officer, who hoped thus to receive commendation from the council. He was accordingly conveyed in irons, and on his way was met by the elector palatine, who caused a long chain to be fastened to Jerome, by which he was dragged like a wild beast to the cloister, whence, after some insults and examinations, he was conveyed to a tower, and fasted to a block with his legs in stocks. In this manner he remained eleven days and nights, till, becoming dangerously ill, they in order to satiate their malice still further, relieved him from that painful state. He remained confined till the martyrdom of his friend John Huss upon which he recanted his beliefs and his doctrines during a weak time in his manhood. Shortly thereafter being put on trial for that same faith he had denied just days before was led to the martyrs stake . His persecutors that led him to the stake prepared for him a cap of paper, painted with red devils, which being put upon his head, he said, “Our Lord Jesus Christ, when he suffered death for me, a most miserable sinner , did wear a crown of thorns upon his head; and I for His sake will wear this adorning of derision and blasphemy”... Two days they delayed his execution, hoping he would recant. He did not. On his way to the place of execution he sang several hymns, and on arriving at the spot, the same where Huss had suffered, he kneeled down and prayed fervently. He embraced the stake with great cheerfulness and resolution; and when the executioner went behind him to light the faggots, Jerome said, “Come here, and kindle it before my eyes; for had I been afraid of it, I had not come here, having so many opportunities to escape.” When the flames began to envelope him he sang another hymn and the last words he were heard to say were - “This soul in flames I offer Christ, to thee!” He was a fine and manly form, and possessed a strong and healthy constitution, which served to render his death extremely painful, for he was observed to live an unusual time among the flames. He, however sang, until his aspiring soul took it's flight, as in a fiery chariot , from earth to heaven.” Taken from Foxe's Book of Martyrs pg. 93-97. If you are a Bible Believing Baptist you too can say with the Psalmist in Psalm 16:6 “The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.” We have the right BOOK therefore we have the right BELIEF!!! Study it carefully Think on it prayerfully Deep in thy heart let it’s oracles dwell Ponder its mystery Slight not its history None can ‘er love it to fondly or well - This article taken from "The Astatula Lighthouse" published for the members of Astatula Baptist Church in October 2009.
|
Is the King James Bible INSPIRED?
The King James Bible is an amazing book. The Bible is the only thing that we can hold in this life that is eternal. It is like apples of Gold according to Proverbs 25:11. It is like as a fire and like a hammer according to Jeremiah 23:29. It’s like a two edged sword according to Hebrews 4:12. It’s like honey to the taste according to Psalm 119:103. His words are more than my necessary food according to Job 23:12 It is like these things but it is these things… The King James Bible is alive according to Hebrews 4:12. It is eternal according to Matthew 24:35. It is pure according to Psalm 12:6-7. It is where faith comes from according to Romans 10:17. It is holy according to 2 Timothy 3:16. It is what will judge those that reject it according to John 12:48. It is Inspired according to 2 Timothy 3:16. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” Now how can that be complicated? Here is what we must think of. If that Bible is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction, it has to be inspired. That means our doctrine as Bible believers is inspired when it comes from the pages of the Holy Writ. When we reprove someone based on the King James Bible it is inspired.Every time we rightly divide the Scriptures we are under the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit. After all it is He whom Jesus said would "guide" us into all truth. John 16:13 It’s the same with correction and instruction. Now, understand I didn’t say that every time a preacher preaches that he is inspired. The words of God that we preach from are inspired. Did you know that if you don’t hold an inspired Bible you don’t hold an eternal salvation! Our salvation is based on the words of God according to Romans 10:17. There are two main thoughts concerning inspiration today. Those of us who believe that the King James Bible is the inspired words of God that was copied from copies of copies that were copied from copies of copies,( Do you copy?) We have no problem believing that God almighty can preserve His word and that He did just that in the King James Bible. A true Bible Believer has no problem with the italics being inserted for proper flow of the language. We believe that God moved on these men in a way that kept the Bible pure, holy, undefiled and separate from sinners. You do realize that the Bible is not Holy unless it’s inspired? The whole thing is based on FAITH! Then there are those who believe that “the King James Bible is the preserved word of God, just not inspired.” How absurd can one be? God has the power to inspire it initially and preserve it, but when the King James translators came along some how the inspiration was lost? Poppycock! By the way if you believe it is preserved don’t you know that it was preserved through COPIES? Don’t give me this “well it says given by inspiration and that means the originals.” That’s preschool stuff man. Everyone knows that no one in the last 1900 years has seen a Greek original. Who are you kidding? And I know what happened to the original Hebrew. Moses busted them all to pieces at the foot of Mount Sinai. Copies, man Copies. Divine preservation without Divine Inspiration is a divine waste of time. Did you get that? Go back and read it again. Remember, no inspired Bible means, no eternal salvation! 1John 5:13 says “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” Written. Where is it written? Either we have Gods words or we don't. Those who claim to have Gods word without believing in the Inspiration of the King James Bible can NEVER know for sure that they are saved, how to be saved or where anyone is going when they die. If you don't have a Bible that's inspired, then how, in the name of God and good sense, can you believe you have something that a bible that may or may not be inspired says you have? Amen! Romans 10:17 says “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Notice that the Bible says something. It speaks. It speaks because it's ALIVE. Its Alive because it was given by inspiration! No one is alive without breath! If you don’t have an inspired bible how are you going to instruct in righteousness? You aren’t! How are you going to have the right doctrine if the bible you have is not inspired. You aren’t. How are you going to reprove and correct your children and your church members when they do wrong? You aren’t because you have destroyed the standard. Instead of letting the Bible judge you, you are judging the Bible. Well aren’t you something. You mean to tell me that after all these years of revivals from a King James Bible. And all these years of world wide missions from a King James Bible. You mean to say that after all those millions of souls led to the Lord Jesus Christ from a King James Bible that this and much much more came through a Bible that wasn’t inspired? I trow not! Why don’t you admit that you never did believe in that book! You just used it to earn a salary and now that some of your well known preachers and popes have let the cat out of the bag you feel it necessary to side with the simple minded. I would have and do have more respect for a man that believes the NIV is God’s word and is honest than a charlatan who preaches from a book he doesn’t believe to people he cannot reprove, instruct, indoctrinate, or correct. You take a check from them and tell them that you believe the Bible is God’s word but you don’t believe its inspired. Why don’t you get an honest job. I have been saved for nearly 25 years. I have never had a problem with the King James Bible. Even in my teenage years I knew enough to know that God wrote a Bible and that I had a COPY of it. You see the problem the fighting Fundamentalists have is with authority. Think about this for a minute. If the King James Bible is not inspired which one is. Because if it isn’t then you better get the one that is and read it because your eternal soul is depending on some words that you read in a book that someone told you were the words of God and you believed them then. Why now are the words of God brought into question? Could it be perhaps you never did believe it to be inspired? These simpletons USE a Bible for correction, reproof, doctrine, and instruction that they don't believe is inspired. I have known for years that Americas pulpits are filled with men who are simply preaching because they are lazy. This is evident in their sermons. They do not practice what Paul told Timothy in 2Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The Problem with America is her preachers have quit preaching the Bible. No wonder, most don’t even think they have one. That’s whose to blame. The Pulpits across America are filled with white washing, spaghetti back, spineless, ear tickling, lust filled, weaklings who don’t have the guts to stand on their hind legs and preach the word. How could you feel the burden to if it’s not inspired? When I read the words of God I know God is talking to me. It is like a fire in me. When I read God’s words its hammer beats down the sin in my life. When I read Gods words they taste like honey in the honeycomb. His words are more than my necessary food. How could they not be when they ARE INSPIRED! THIS ARTICLE TAKEN FROM "THE ASTATULA LIGHTHOUSE" PUBLISHED QUARTERLY FOR THE MEMBERS OF ASTATULA BAPTIST CHURCH IN APRIL 2009.
|
|
|