TRUTH

TRUTH will always triumph. TRUTH is Revealed, Absolute, Propositional, Transcendent, Incarnate and Transforming!

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Sound Doctrine & Ministry Effectiveness



God is always pleased with our genuine expression of humility and dependence on him. Today as we consider the Doctrine of Bibliology, the Scriptures, listen to the words of the Prophet Jeremiah. He ministered at a time in Israel that has many parallels with our current culture in America. 

Jeremiah 23:26-32  How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal? Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the LORD. Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who steal my words from one another. Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who use their tongues and declare, 'declares the LORD.' Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the LORD, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the LORD.

Our Heavenly Father, hear our prayer. We plead with you to send Reformation & Renewal to the American church. You alone are able to change the hardness of men’s hearts. You alone are able to awaken and mobilize those who truly know you to live in obedience to your word. We trust you to do that LORD. May it be soon and may it be a powerful and lasting renewal. AMEN!

Our focus is the Reformation & Renewal of the American church. What is necessary for this to come to pass? A foundational factor is Sound Doctrine. The message of the gospel is rooted and grounded in the Special Revelation God has graciously given to man – the Bible. The mantra of ministry that I have applied for 47 years is this - - ‘What does the text say?’ 

Discovering with precision and accuracy what God’s word declares is central to knowing his blessing and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. In the NT we find the phrase sound doctrine used in Titus 1:9 is literally ‘healthy doctrine’. ἐν τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ τῇ ὑγιαινούσῃ καὶ τοὺς ἀντιλέγοντας ἐλέγχειν. That phrase sound doctrine is used 12 times in the NT. It has the following meaning(s);

to have sound health, i.e. be well (in body); figuratively, to be true in doctrine.

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Authority of Scripture



We are examining the American Church and the prospects of doctrinal corruption due to ecumenical initiatives. We stated that the church is in trouble with a capital T. Our focus today is on the Scriptures. 66 Books that are truly one Book. From Genesis to Revelation there is one theme, the incredible story of Redemption provided by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ to purchase a people for himself. His death did not merely make salvation possible. It actually accomplished salvation for his chosen people (Rev. 5:9-10).

And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.

The OT provides the history of Israel. The NT informs us of the body of Christ, the church. It is through God’s gracious revelation to man that we have knowledge of the church, heaven, hell, and eternity.

The Nature & Authority of the Bible, is the single most critical factor in identifying Theological Orthodoxy, sound doctrine. Error on this essential virtually guarantees there will be a multitude of unorthodox and flat out false doctrines issuing from those who embrace such error. Church History confirms this fact. 

What is the Nature of our Bible? It is God’s Word. The orthodox position on the Bible for thousands of years has been it is inerrant and infallible. It is our guide for faith and practice. Many denominations have abandoned this perspective. This is a major factor in the decline of the American church. When this principle is compromised it is all downhill from there. The PCUSA as a Denomination has lost 21% of its membership in just the past 4 years as a result of abandoning the Authority of Scripture. Are you in a church that has done this? 

What is the Authority of Special Revelation, our Bible? It is the final arbiter, the ultimate source of TRUTH absolute. Jesus said straight up to Pilate that his purpose in coming was ‘to bear witness to the truth.’ (John 18:37) The culture of America has become saturated with relativism. The claim of our culture is there is no such thing as Absolute Truth. The Bible is TRUTH Absolute. All Scripture is inspired and profitable. Case Closed!!

What does the church that you are a part of believe and practice on this vital matter?