February 12, 2006

 

 

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 Readings for the Week of February 12-19

                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

 

·         I am preaching today for the Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Princeton, New Jersey. Bro. Larry Criss will preach the gospel to you today.

·         Missions Offering Next Sunday

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  Nancy Bailey-13th

 

NURSERY DUTY THIS WEEK

Today: Shante’ Birchum (AM) Pam Wood (PM)          Tuesday: Ruth Wall

 

Holy Bible, Precious TreasureDon 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

“Spurious Texts”

 

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

 

February 12, 2006

 

GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH of DANVILLE

2734 Old Stanford Road-Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

Telephone (859) 236-8235 - E-Mail don@donfortner.com

 

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor

 

SCHEDULE OF REGULAR SERVICES

 

Sunday

10:00 A.M. Bible Classes

10:30 A.M. Morning Worship Service

6:30   P.M. Evening Worship Service

Tuesday

7:30 P.M. Mid-Week Worship Service

 

 

Television Broadcasts

 

Danville

Channel 6 - Sunday Morning 8:00 A.M.

Channel 6 - Wednesday Evening 6:00 P.M.

Channel 6 - Friday Evening 7:00 P.M.

 

Web Pages

http://www.donfortner.com

http://www.sovereign-grace/gracechurch.htm

http://www.freegrace.net/danville/default.asp