The Preservation of the Scripture

Our doctrinal Position is fundamental. We believe that the bible is the inspired and the infallible, authentic word of God. We understand that the word of God should be taken seriously in all our christian daily life and conduct.

In as much as is not possible to live the christian life to a full satisfaction without an adequate grasp of the bible. As a matter of fact no christian ministers can really be qualified for the ministry in the church without a thorough study of the word of God and no christian worker can be fully effective without a sound knowledge of the bible.

Every christian believer, worker and minister should be a specialist in the bible. The bible is the God`s revelation to mankind. It has an answer to every problem in this life both for individual and for all nations. Although the sixty-six books of the bible were written by over forty different authors in a period of about 1800 years, yet there is a powerful unity and harmony throughout the bible. The bible has met the need of so many nationalities and tribes who differ in languages, custom and background.

The Scripture reveals God`s Justice, Holiness, Mercy, Compassion, Love, Power, Sovereignty, Wisdom, Goodness, Faithfulness e.t.c. The central theme of the bible is Christ and his redemptive work. (John 5.39;20.31; Rev.1.1) However to understand God`s word and be able to benefit from it, you need the divine surgical operation of the heart. (Dt.30.6;Hess.36.26; Heb.8.10)

Anyone who intends to profit in the study of God`s word must be so determined to be influenced by the scriptural evidence and avoid grieving the holy ghost by unbelief and hypocrisy. In all preaching and teaching of the bible, the practical aspect should always be kept in mind (2Tim.3.15-17; Rom 15.4)

Doctrine, to the church, is what a foundation is to a building. It is the article of faith on which a believer’s faith is anchored. A building with a weak foundation will collapse under intense unfavourable weather and environmental conditions while a building with solid foundation will weather through storms (Matthew 7:24-27).

A believer’s steadfastness and stability in the Lord is dependent on a firm grasp of the Truth revealed in the Bible (Ephesians 4:13,14). Whereas, lack of knowledge leads to backsliding and destruction (Hosea 4:6). In a world of error and deceit engineered by Satan and his hosts (John 8:44) a believer needs to be well grounded in the truth in order to frontally attack every lie of Satan if he is to remain in faith (Matthew 4:3,4).

The early believers understood perfectly the need to be grounded in the doctrines. Both old and young engaged in spiritual activities that built up their Christian character and convictions. They studied the doctrines, prayed and celebrated the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:41-47). It should be observed that the study of the doctrines took a place of pre-eminence in their ministry.

These Spirit-directed activities of the early saints led to the phenomenal growth of the early Church. Apart from this, it brought about boldness, steadfastness, and growth (Daniel 11:32; Acts 4:19,20), to the extent that the whole of Jerusalem was filled with Christ’s doctrine (Act 5:28).

The Preservation of the Scripture:    Matthew 5:17,18

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” What is referred to as “the law or the prophets” in verse 17 is called “the law” in verse 18. When “the law” is used in this way, it is referring to the entire Old Testament. Compare Matthew 23:23 with Proverbs 21:2,3; Hosea 6:6; 2 Chronicles 20:20; Isaiah 43:10-12; John 10:34,35 with Psalm 82:6; John 12:34 with Psalms 89:36; 110:4; John 15:25 with Psalm 35:19; 1 Corinthians 7:39 with Malachi 2:14-16; 1 Corinthians 14:21 with Isaiah 28:11,12. These passages of Scripture reveal that the entire Old Testament is referred to as “the law.” Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the inspired Scripture, the Old Testament.”

“The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat” (Matthew 23:2). They misinterpreted God’s Word and still projected themselves as the true teachers and interpreters of God’s Word. Our Lord opposed them and criticised their erroneous teaching. They then accused Him of coming to destroy “the law and the prophets” because He would not support their false religious system. Jesus came to destroy all the false interpretations of the Old Testament but He did not come to destroy the Old Testament, He came to fulfil.

Christ’s Authority and the Scriptures:   Matthew 5:18; 7:28,29

Ephesians 1:20-22; Philippians 2:5-11; Acts 3:22,23; Deuteronomy 18:18,19; John 5:21-27; Romans 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10,11; 1 Peter 3:21,22.

Christ taught and preached with absolute and final authority. This authority had been conferred on Him by God, the Father. He taught with the authority of a Judge, with the authority of a King. As a “Teacher come from God,” His authority is far above that of any teacher, prophet or Apostle. Christ’s authority far exceeds the authority of all the true prophets of God, past, present and future. He is God’s final voice (Hebrews 1:1-4). Christ is greater than
(1) the angels Hebrews 1:4;
(2) Moses Hebrews 3:3-6;
(3) the temple and the priests Matthew 12:5-8;
(4) Solomon Matthew 12:42;
(5) Jonah Luke 11:32;
(6) John the Baptist Luke 3:16;
(7) Abraham and the prophets John 8:53-56.

His authority is greater than that of angels and all men that ever lived. Yet in His authority He confirmed the infallibility and permanence of the Scripture. He saw nothing to correct, change, modify or amend. “For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

Christ’s Affirmation of the Scriptures:    Matthew 5:18

Luke 16:17; 21:33; John 10:34, 35; Luke 18:31-34; 21;22; 10:25-28; 22:37; Matthew 4:1-11.

It is clear to every sincere reader of the gospels that Christ affirmed the Old Testament as inspired by God, infallible, incorruptible, indispensable, imperishable, instructive, irreproachable and irrevocable. To Christ and to all true believers in Christ the Scripture is the Word of God (Luke 4:4; Mark 7:6-13; Romans 9:6; 1 Peter 1:23-25; Isaiah 40:8). There is no doubt that Jesus believed every jot and every tittle of the Word of God.

When Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you ...” He was impressing on His hearers the absolute trustworthiness of Scripture in every minute detail. In these two verses (Matthew 5:17,18) our Lord, Jesus Christ, affirms and confirms the Old Testament. He puts His seal of authority, His stamp of approval upon the whole of the Old Testament canon. Jesus believed it all, not only certain parts of it. He declared it as the Word of God having a unique authority which nothing else has ever possessed nor can ever possess. Those who think they believe in Christ and yet reject the Old Testament are deceived. If we truly believe in Christ as Saviour and Lord we cannot pretend to be wiser than Him. We ought to have the same attitude as He had to the entire Word of God.

Christ’s Authentification of the Scriptures:    Matthew 5:18

Psalm 119:89,152,160; Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:24,25; Psalm 102:25-27; Isaiah 34:16; Daniel 10:21; Romans 15:4; Acts 17:11,12.

According to Christ, everything in the Old Testament is the Word of God. Not only that, it is all going to stand until it has all been fulfilled. Every jot and every tittle, everything has meaning. And the Lord gave the same authority to the New Testament.

“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass away” (Luke 21:33).

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall TEACH YOU ALL THINGS and BRING ALL THINGS to your remembrance, WHATSOEVER I HAVE SAID UNTO YOU ” (John 14:26).

“Howbeit when He, the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, is come, He will GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH ... and He will SHEW YOU THINGS TO COME” (John 16:13).

The Old Testament and the New Testament, the entire Word of God has final authority. The moment you begin to question the authority of the Old Testament or the New Testament, you are of necessity questioning the authority of Christ, our Saviour and Lord. To Him, “the Scripture cannot be broken.” It is God’s own Word that is going to be fulfilled to the minutest detail and which will last while heaven and earth are in existence.

The Bible stands

1. The Bible stands like a rock undaunted
’Mid the raging storms of time;
Its pages burn with the truth eternal,
And they glow with a light sublime.

The Bible stands tho’ the hills may tumble,
It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble;
I will plant my feet on its firm foundation,
For the Bible stands.

2. The Bible stands like a mountain tow’ring
Far above the works of men;
Its truth by none ever was refuted,
And destroy it they never can.

3. The Bible stands and it will for ever,
When the world has passed away;
By inspiration it has been given,
All its precepts I will obey.

4. The Bible stands ev’ry test we give it,
For its Author is divine;
By grace alone I expect to live it,
And to prove it and make it mine.