WHAT IS GOD’S WORD
Lesson No. 2
(INTRODUCTION
TO INTERNAL EVIDENCE)
Romans 4:3
For what saith the
scripture? Abraham believed
God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Galatians
Under the
American system of law, a man is considered innocent until proven
guilty. That same law allows the accused to defend himself
and testify on his own behalf. When it comes to the charges made against the
King James Bible by its critics, can Christians do anything less than the law
of the land? Should we not afford the King James Bible (AV 1611) an opportunity
to defend itself and consider it innocent until proven otherwise?
The King James Bible, originally
known as the Authorized Version, has laid claim for better than 380 years to
being God’s Holy Word. It has held its place against increasing attack
beginning in the early 1700’s (with just a few dissenters) to the present day
(where the majority of the so-called Bible ‘scholars’ and critics have rejected
it as being God’s Holy word or even the best translation). And in its place
they have given us innumerable translations in English, at the rate of
approximately 1 per year for the last 80 years, to the point where most people
(most Christians) don’t know where or
what is God’s word.
I believe when we approach this
matter of whether the King James Bible is the Holy Word of God, we must be very
careful and not be too hasty to condemn the innocent before we have examined
the evidence. Please don’t pre-judge this issue, for it is not a matter of personal preference.
I firmly believe that we owe the Book an opportunity to stand up and defend
itself. If it must go on trial, then that trial should be fair and all of the evidence must be reviewed,
and the verdict should be decided at the end of all the
testimony, not at the beginning!
The King James Bible is The Bible responsible for the saving of more souls than any other version, translation, or even the “originals” themselves. It is The Bible that sent out more missionaries than any other. And it is The Bible which has been preached and taught to more people than any other Bible ever in existence. Before we toss it aside for one of the ‘newer’ and ‘more up-to-date’ models, we’d better be sure that the criticisms leveled against it are accurate and true.
Is the King James Bible God’s Holy Word? Or is it just an “Old” and “Archaic” relic from the past? Is it innocent, or guilty as charged? That is what we are here for today, to receive the testimony of the accused. Let us prayerfully and carefully consider this testimony.
Should
anyone undertake this same study with any of the “new” or “modern” English
bibles other than the AV-KJB they will end up with different answers and
conclusions. For it is impossible to arrive at the Truth, the whole Truth,
and nothing but the Truth with any
English bible (since 1881) with the exception of the AV-KJB.
One
of the first things that becomes apparent in studying
what The Bible has to say about Itself is that God has placed WARNINGS in His word about how men are
to handle It.
These WARNINGS are found near the:
Front of The Bible: Deuteronomy
4:2 Ye shall not add
unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it,
that ye may keep the commandments
of the
LORD your God which I command you.
Middle of The Bible: Proverbs 30:5 Every
word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
6 Add thou not
unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
End of The Bible: Revelation 22:18 For I testify
unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If
any man shall add unto these things, God shall
add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words
of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of
life, and
out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this
book.
There can be no doubt as to the
"meaning" of these WARNINGS! ! !
Man is commanded
NOT to:
#1 ADD
to the WORDS OF GOD!
#2 SUBTRACT
from the WORDS OF GOD!
#3 CHANGE
the WORDS OF GOD!
I believe that God means what He
says (Numbers
Two very
important Biblical Truths that are practically unknown today are that: #1. God's word is equal
to His WORDS. (John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not
the Spirit by measure unto him. John
5:47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? John 8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of
God. John
#4 REJECT the WORDS OF
GOD = EVIL!
The following is The
Bible's own definition of what God's word is:
SWEET ‑ PSALMS
119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
HONEY – PSALMS
119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey
to my mouth!
BREAD – DEUTERONOMY 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with
manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make
thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
BREAD – LUKE. 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
WATER – EPHESIANS
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to
himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but
that it should be holy and without blemish.
MILK – 1 PETER 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby:
MEAT - HEBREWS 5:12
For when for the time ye ought to be
teachers, ye have need that one teach you
again which be the first principles of the oracles of God;
and are become
such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth
milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are
of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to
discern both good and evil.
GOOD – JEREMIAH
29:10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be
accomplished at
PURE ‑ PSALMS 12:6
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth,
purified seven times.
TRIED ‑ PSALMS 18:30
As for God, his way is perfect: the word
of the LORD is tried: he is a
buckler to all those that trust in him.
RIGHT ‑ PSALMS 33:4
For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are
done in truth
POWERFUL – HEBREWS
POWERFUL ‑ PSALMS 33:6
By the word of the LORD were the heavens
made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
TRUTH – PSALMS
119:43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth;
for I have hoped in thy judgments.
TRUTH – JOHN
SETTLED FOREVER –
PSALMS119:89
For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
VERY PURE – PSALMS 119:140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
TRUE ‑ PS.ALMS
119:160 Thy word is true
from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
RIGHTEOUS ‑ PSALMS
119:172 My tongue shall speak of thy
word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
FOREVER – ISAIAH 40:8
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the
word of our God shall stand for
ever.
A FIRE ‑ JEREMIAH
HAMMER ‑ JEREMIAH
FAITHFUL
‑ TITUS. 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath
been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine
both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
QUICK ‑ HEBREWS
A SWORD ‑ HEBREWS
A DISCERNER - HEB.REWS
MORE SURE ‑
II PETER
1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye
take heed, as unto a light that shineth
in a dark place, until the day
dawn,
and the day star arise in your hearts:
The Bible is also very clear about what the word of God does.
TRIES – PSALMS
105:19 Until the time that his word came: the word
of the LORD tried him.
CLEANSES ‑ PSALMS 119:9
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
KEEPS FROM SIN ‑
PSALMS
119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin
against thee.
STRENGTHENS – PSALMS
119:28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
GIVES HOPE ‑
PSALMS
119:49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon
which thou hast caused me to hope.
GIVES COMFORT ‑
PSALMS
119:50 This is my comfort
in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
QUICKENS ‑ PSALMS
119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word
hath quickened me.
UPHOLDS – PSALMS
119:116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not
be ashamed of my hope.
GIVES LIGHT – PSALMS
119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth
understanding unto the simple.
GIVES UNDERSTANDING
– PSALMS
119: 130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
RUNS VERY SWIFTLY –
PSALMS
147:15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his
word runneth very swiftly.
ACCOMPLISHES – ISAIAH
55:10-11 55:10 For as
the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth
the earth, and maketh it bring forth
and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth
out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I
please, and
it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
PROSPERS - ISAIAH 55:
10 For as the rain cometh down, and
the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and
maketh it bring forth and bud, that it
may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word
be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it
shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper
in the thing whereto I sent it.
JUDGES ‑ JOHN
48
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth
not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have
spoken, the same shall judge
him in the last day.
WORKS EFFECTUALLY –
I
THESSALONIANS 2:13 For this cause also thank we God
without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God
which ye heard of us,
ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the
word of God, which effectually
worketh also in you that
believe.
SAVES – JAMES
EPHESIANS
ROMANS
I
PETER
23 Being born
again, not of corruptible
seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God,
which liveth and abideth for ever.
I am not
suggesting
that
the Bible and God are equal, but if a
person
will compare what the word is
and what the word does with the Lord God
Almighty Himself, the only possible conclusion that any reasonable person could
reach is that GOD and HIS HOLY WORD are INSEPARABLE!
The Bible plainly states what our attitude ought to be
towards the word.
PRAISE – PSALMS 56:10 In God will I praise his
word: in the LORD will I praise
his word.
REBEL NOT AGAINST –
PSALMS 105:28 He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against
his word.
TAKE HEED – PSALMS 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
HIDE ‑ PSALMS 119:11 Thy word
have I hid in mine heart,
that I might not sin against thee.
NOT FORGET – PS.ALMS
119:16 I will delight myself in thy
statutes: I will not forget
thy word.
KEEP ‑ PSALMS 119:17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.
KEEP ‑ PSALMS 119: 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
TRUST – PSALMS 119:42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
HOPE – PSALMS 119:74, They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word
HOPE – PSALMS 119:81 My soul
fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope
in thy word.
ESTEEM ‑ PSALMS 119:128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things
to be right; and I hate every false way.
ESTEEM – JOB
WALK IN - PSALMS
119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any
iniquity have dominion over me.
MEDITATE ‑ PSALMS 119:148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.
IN AWE OF ‑
PSALMS 119:161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my
heart standeth in awe of thy word.
REJOICE ‑ PSALMS 119:162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
SPEAK ‑ PSALMS 119:172 My tongue
shall speak of thy word:
for all thy commandments are righteousness.
HOLD FAST ‑
II TIMOTHY
RIGHTLY DIVIDE ‑
II TIMOTHY
PREACH ‑ II TIMOTHY 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
DESIRE ‑ I PET. 2:2 As
newborn babes, desire the sincere
milk of the word, that ye
may grow thereby:
JOY – JEREMIAH
of hosts.
TREMBLE ‑ ISAIAH 66:1Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and
the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
2 For
all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the
LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite
spirit,
and trembleth
at my word.
3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew
a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a
dog's neck; he that offereth
an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that
burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol.
Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth
in their abominations.
4 I
also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because
when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did
evil
before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
5
Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your
brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the
LORD be glorified: but he
shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
After
reading all of the wonderful things the Psalms have to say about God's word, is
it any wonder that despite David's terrible sins that God could say about this
man: “I have found David the son of Jesse, a
man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all
my will.” (Acts
In order for us to determine what God's Attitude towards His word is
we'll have to first look at the importance of His Name.
THE IMPORTANCE
OF HIS NAME:
THE
WORD OF GOD ‑ REVELATION
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were
many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
KING
OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS –
REVELATION 19:16
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND
LORD OF LORDS.
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by
inheritance obtained a more excellent
name than they.
JESUS' NAME IS ABOVE EVERY NAME ‑
PHILIPPIANS 2:9
Wherefore God also hath highly
exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
AT JESUS' NAME EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW ‑
PHILIPPIANS
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in
heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
AT JESUS' NAME EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS
‑ PHILIPPIANS
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
HE IS FAR ABOVE EVERY NAME ‑ EPHESIANS
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion,
and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in
that which is to come:
HIS NAME DECLARED THROUGHOUT THE EARTH ‑
ROMANS
For the
scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up,
that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared
throughout all the earth.
NONE OTHER NAME WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED
‑ ACTS
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among
men, whereby we must
be saved.
HIS NAME ALONE IS EXCELLENT ‑ PSALMS 148:13
Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone
is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
After reading the above verses as to how highly God regards His Name,
what do you think God’s attitude is towards His written word?
GOD HAS MAGNIFIED HIS WORD ABOVE
HIS NAME ‑ PSALMS 138:2
Psalms 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy
temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou
hast magnified thy word
above all
thy name.
Finally, let us
examine God's Promises concerning His word.
PURIFY – PSALMS 12:
6
Psalms
12:6 The words
of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried
in a furnace of earth, purified
seven times.
KEEP - PSALMS 12:
6 & 7
Psalms
12:6 The words
of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a
furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou
shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
PRESERVE
FOREVER ‑ PSALMS 12: 6 & 7
Psalms
12:6 The words
of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a
furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD,
thou shalt preserve them
from this generation for ever.
HIS TRUTH
TO ENDURE TO ALL GENERATIONS ‑
PSALMS 100:5
Psalms
100:5 For the LORD is good; his mercy
is everlasting; and his truth
endureth to all generations.
ABLE TO
BUILD US UP ‑ ACTS
Acts
ABLE TO
GIVE US AN INHERITANCE ‑ ACTS
Acts
BUT HIS
WORDS SHALL NOT PASS AWAY
‑ LUKE
"God is not a man, that
he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should
repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath
he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19)
Did you know that the
New Birth is dependent on the word of God being incorruptible?
(1 Peter 1:22-25, James 1:18).
If we aren’t sure of what the word is, or where it is – Then what assurance do
we have of our salvation?
God’s word isn’t dead; or stale; or
old fashioned; archaic; or out of date - So let’s revise it; or change it; or bring
it up to date (ala Madison Avenue). GOD’S WORD IS ALIVE! God inspired it. God
caused it to be written. God has guided men down through the ages to preach and
teach it. God preserved it. God is using it today, just as He did nearly 2,000
years ago. There is nothing in the world to compare with it!
THERE IS NO
SUBSTITUTE FOR THE WORD OF GOD!
“For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.”