WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE BIBLE - The Certainty of Life 7-27-25

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE BIBLE - The Certainty of Life 7-27-25 

INTRODUCTION

New series about the Bible

In the following story we get an entirely different view of the world of words. "A New York columnist set out one time not long ago to prove that no one really listened to what anyone said at a cocktail party and, when he was invited to such a party, he always would arrive late. When he arrived the hostess greeted him and he explained why he was late. ’I had to stop for a moment and murder my mistress, and it took longer than I thought.’ Without blinking an eye, the hostess said she understood perfectly, ’I was almost late myself, everyone is quite busy. Enjoy yourself. Have a good time.’ As he mingled around the party, someone asked him what I he did for a living. ’Oh, I am the executioner for the State Penitentiary.’ The person continued, ’Well, that must be an interesting line of work. How does business look this year?’"

Tim Zingale, "The World of Words" 1/26/2009.

What does the Bible say about the Bible?

Restoration Movement - Scottish Common Sense Philosophy

The doctrine of the clarity of Scripture (often called the "perspicuity of Scripture") teaches that "the meanings of the text can be clear to the ordinary reader, that God uses the text of the Bible to communicate His person and will...ordinary people, who approach it in faith and humility, will be able to understand what the Bible is getting at, even if they meet with particular points of difficulty here and there."

Theopedia

The Power of Words

A careless word may kindle strife,

A cruel word may wreck a life,

A bitter word may hate instill,

A brutal word may smite and kill,

A gracious word may smooth the way,

A joyous word may light the day,

A timely word may lessen stress,

A loving word may heal and bless.

T. J. Bach, Pearls from Many Seas.

On October 7, 1857, C. H. Spurgeon preached to his largest audience ever, some 23, 654 assembled in the mammoth Crystal Palace for a national day of fasting and prayer. A few days before the event Spurgeon had gone to the huge hall to test the acoustics. Stepping into the pulpit, he lifted up his voice like a silver trumpet and proclaimed:

"Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

Then Spurgeon repeated the one verse again: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

Satisfied with the acoustics, he left and went his way.

Unknown to him, there were two men working in the rafters of that large auditorium, neither one Christians. One of the men was pricked in his conscience by the verse Spurgeon quoted and became a believer later that day! Such is the penetrating power of God's eternal word! Little wonder that Paul is so insistent on our "preaching the Word."

Dr. Larry Petton, Sermon Central, January 25, 2021.

The source of life is the Word.

LET US PRAYER!

I.  THE WORD WILL STAND FOREVER

The late Pastor Valbracht says in his book, Exit Interstate 0, the following about words. 

"It was in the early years of my ministry that one Sunday preaching my sermon, and I had just gotten well into the sermon, when a baby started to cry down in one of the front pews. The mother, very much embarrassed, snatched up the baby and started out the aisle aisle. I stopped right in my sermon, and I said, ’Madam you don’t have to take that baby out. He isn’t bothering me.’ She said, ’No?’ Well, you’re certainly bothering him.’

Louis H. Valbracht, Exit: Interstate 0, C.S.S. Publishing, 1976.

Isaiah 40:6-8 NIV

“A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.””

‭‭ Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  Eternal

B.  Enduring

1 Peter 1:22-25 NIV

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.”

‭‭ 1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

II.  THE WORD WILL NOT PASS AWAY

Matthew 24:35 NIV

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  God’s Word and Jesus’ words

B.  Outlasting this world

C.  Still relevant to life

We don’t need to change or add to the Word.

Years ago, my Dad's physician told him to take one aspirin a day for his heart. My Dad was a very smart man, but he figured if one aspirin is good, two would be better. So my dad "added" to the word of his physician, and day after day my dad took two aspirin.

Everything went well until one day his nose began to bleed... and it bled, and bled, and bled. He panicked and rushed to the ER.

You know what the problem was? TWO aspirin.

Dad had added to the word of his physician...and it hurt him.

Jeff Strite, Sermon Central, January 22, 2012.

Malachi 3:6a NIV

“I the Lord do not change.”

‭‭ Malachi‬ ‭3‬:‭6a‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

As Jack Hayford describes,

Consider the one thing this world which you and I can touch that has "eternity" written into its fabric. It’s the Word of God. Every time I take a Bible in hand, I hold eternity, because the life-force inherent in that Word exceeds all time and space: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Word shall not pass away."

III.  THE WORD WILL REMAIN FOREVER

Norma Lauby, of La Mesa, California, was browsing in the ladies’ department one day with her son who was just learning to read. Trying to read all the signs he could, he came upon one in the maternity department. “Look, Mom!” he said excitedly as he pointed at the sign. “They’re even making clothes for eternity now!” 

Norma Lauby, La Mesa, CA, “Heart to Heart,” Today’s Christian Woman.

Psalm 119:89-96 NIV

“Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you. If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life. Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts. The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes. To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless.”

‭‭ Psalm ‭119‬:‭89‬-‭96‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  The Word “stands firm in the heavens.”

B.  “Your laws endure to this day.”

1.  “All things serve you.”

2.  “I would have perished in affliction if your law had not been my delight.”

3. “(Your precepts) have preserved my life.”

4.  “For I am yours; I have sought out your precepts.”

5.  “I will ponder your statutes” even though “the wicked are waiting to destroy me.”

C.  “Your commands are boundless.”

“All that is not eternal is eternally useless.”

C.S. Lewis

CONCLUSION

The Word will stand forever.  The Word will not pass away.  The Word will remain forever.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.