The Church and the Word
Introduction
Acts 2:41-47
Someone has said “The Bible is a book of answers, not a book of questions.”
It is no wonder why there are troubles and confusions with such neglect of the Word of God today.
The church is sending conflicting messages to the lost. Great denominations of the past have turned away from the clear teachings of Scripture. The church that remains true to Jesus the Living will remain true to the written Word, the Bible.
In the very dawn of the twentieth century, a distinguished Bible scholar, James Orr, predicted wisely that the theological battle of the new century “will have to be fought . . . round the fortress of the worth and authority of Holy Scripture.”
George Whitefield: “God has condescended to become an author, and yet people will not read His writings. There are very few that ever gave this Book of God, the grand charter of salvation, one fair reading through.”
I. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WORD
A. BIBLE’S AUTHOR.
God is the Author of the Holy Scriptures. God superintend the writing of the Bible while men wrote it down. The original manuscripts of the Bible were precisely what God wanted to be written.
The church has historically believed the plenary verbal inspiration of the Bible.’
The word “plenary” means “complete” and that all of Scripture is inspired by God.
The word “verbal” means “word for word” or the very words of Scripture are inspired of God.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” 2 Tim. 3:16
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Pet. 1:20-21
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally and completely inspired Word of God as contained in the original manuscripts. The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter.
B. BIBLE’S ACCURACY.
The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed and, therefore, are the all-sufficient authority in matters of faith, doctrine, and Christian living.
The Bible is inerrant meaning free from error in all that it affirms, including statements on history and science as well as morals and theology.
The Bible is infallible in the sense of being unfailingly accurate. It is inerrant meaning that the Bible does not contain any error and never mislead or deceive. It is impossible for God to be the author of error.
Jesus Christ affirmed the inspiration and infallible accuracy of the Old Testament, and He predicted the writing of the New Testament. (Luke 24:44-45)
In John 17:17 Jesus said: “thy word is truth.”
“Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Psalm 119:160
C. BIBLE’S AUTHORITY.
The Word of God is the sole authority of the Christian Church and for Christian living.
“It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
“For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” Psalm 119:89
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Matthew 24:35
“. . . the word of the Lord endureth forever.” 1 Peter 1:25
II. SAVED BY THE WORD
A. REACTION TO THE WORD. (v. 37)
The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to convict us of sin, righteousness, and judgment; to guide us in all truth; and to glorify Christ.
The preaching of the Word of God will always bring a response from the hearers. They may respond in anger like those who stoned Stephen after hearing his message in Acts 7. Some will mock the message like the people in Athens to the preaching of Paul in Acts 17. Others will be convicted of their sins like the people in Jerusalem when they heard the message of Peter.
Salvation requires hearing ears and a believing heart. In the parable of the sower, the seed, and the soil, Jesus said “Who hath ears to hear, let him heart.” Matt. 13:9
Jesus described for types of hearers and their hearts: 1) Hard hearts 2) Stony hearts 3) Thorny hearts 4) Fruitful hearts.
John MacArthur: “The only barrier to salvation is unbelief, any anyone who is willing to accept Jesus Christ on His terms is good soil.”
Faith is required for a person to be saved. Saving faith must come from the Word of God. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
B. RECEIVING THE WORD. (v. 41)
In Jesus’ parable concerning the seed and those who received the word, only one of the four was saved. The difference was the heart of those who heard the Word of God.
“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Matthew 13:23
The same sun that softens the wax hardens the clay; and so the very same gospel message that humbles the honest heart and leads to repentance may also harden the heart of the dishonest listener and confirm that one in their path of disobedience.
III. STEADFAST IN THE WORD
A. DEVOTED TO THE WORD.
(v. 42) “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine”
The Jews in Berea heard Paul and Silas and “they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. Acts 17:11-12
“As newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” 1 Peter 2:2-3
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2
B. DISCIPLED BY THE WORD.
Jesus said: “blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” Luke 11:28
Jonathan Edwards: “Holy practice is the proper evidence of saving faith.”
George Barna made the statement, "Christianity is so shallow there's not depth to build on." He pointed out that 58% of American adults cannot name even half the Ten Commandments. Barna "warned that in the next ten years Americans may well see 'massive moral anarchy take over our country'."
He goes on to point out for many years that "a majority of people who 'make decisions' to become Christians have dropped out of church participation within six to eight weeks.’We lose them not temporarily but eternally. They think they got it already. We've given them the false impression that they've got it together spiritually'."
LESSONS FOR LIFE:
Jesus made the gospel simple so even a child can be saved but He never made it easy. Today, the gospel is given without any demand upon the hearers. Jesus is offered as a deliver from the penalty of sin while allowing the sinner to continue on in his sin. If you are unwilling to turn from your sins (repent), Jesus said you will perish. (Luke 13:3, 5)