Word Perfect: Is the Bible God's Protected Word

I Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”

We live in a day where the “in thing” is to doubt everything and question all. We live in a culture that has gone through a major social upheaval through the ‘60's even through today. We still carry that “hippy” legacy. That generation wanted to question, doubt, and destroy every cultural “sacred cow.”

Some of the things that were questioned, should have been. There were somethings that you were not allowed to talk about, that need to be discussed. Unfortunately, some of the cultural things that were destroyed should not have been. The social revolution revolted against some of God’s standards that should never be changed.

One of the casualties of the social revolution is the Word of God, itself. As the American culture threw out the “bath-water” of narrow-mindedness, it also threw out the “baby” of every good Biblical standard that made our country great.

So, today, there is every conceivable translation of God’s Word, a translation to fit your favorite hobby. If you are an intellectual, there is one version. If you are an intercity African American, there is the “Ebonics” version. If you are a “Women’s Libber,” there is the “gender neutral” version. If Jesus is not God, there is the Watchtower’s version (New World Translation).

The problem with today’s smorgasbord of Bible versions is what you are not told. You are missing your essential spiritual nutrients. Most, if not all, modern translations are based on flawed Biblical studies. These modern versions rely on those critics that have decided that some of our Bible passages are flawed, untrustworthy, or wrong.

If you look, for example, at the NIV and compare what is there to what is in our traditional King James Bible, you will find numerous words, phrases, verses, and even large passages of Scripture that are taken off the page. The NIV takes these verses and moves them off to the small print and then calls them untrustworthy.

This practice by almost all (if not all) new translation brings us to a crisis of faith. Did God not promise to protect His holy Word. So, what Jesus did not protect his Bible for the last 400 years? For the last 400 years, people were stuck with the “flawed” King James Bible. But now we learn that the “King James is wrong.” That is what they say. So for the last 400 years, no one had a Bible that they could trust.

What is more, people today do not have a Bible they can trust either. Is the last chapter of Mark God’s Word or isn’t it? Which translation should you use? They do not even agree between themselves on which verses, phrases, or verses are God’s Word.

Here is my conclusion.

God is strong enough to create the World. God loves us. So if those two things are true, then we know that He would communicate that love to us. If He is strong enough to create everything, He is strong enough to write down His Word for us. If He is strong enough to provide His Words to us, He is strong enough to protect it. So, there must be a preserved Word for us right now, and in all times since its writing.

God promised to protect His Word. He linked His Word to our salvation, that is how important the Bible is to Him. So, if He has protected it, it is here somewhere. The only Bible that has been here since the time of the Apostles is the one that has been handed down by use since then. I know “scholars” will disagree with me, but that Bible is protected and present. For us in the English language, the only Bible that fits the bill is the King James. But what ever version you use, you better be able to defend it as God’s protected Word because God said He would protect it.

I. Incorruptible Seed (errors in the text) (vs. 23) Matthew 13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 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.

We are born again by the Seed of the Gospel of God’s Word.

God says that the Seed here is the Word of God. God says that the seed falls on different kinds of soil. Now, every preacher teaches this parable in relation to salvation. Indeed, it does relate to salvation. The seed is the Gospel that God sends for the salvation of all men. But this passage also has application to the Christian’s heart.

Even after a person has been converted by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God, God’s Word comes to our hearts. If we have not prepared our hearts for the seed of God’s Word, that passage will not take root in that area of our life. The passage of love (I Cor. 13:) can bring the fruit of love into our lives if we let that passage take root. The seed of humility (Phil. 2:) can bring forth the fruit of humility if we allow that passage to take root in our hearts. The same with the fruit of victory over sin (Rom. 6) or the fruit of faith (Heb. 11)

A. The Dead Ground

The dead ground is when our heart is cold and hard. Jesus calls this ground the “wayside.” In that day, salt was distilled from sea water and such sources. It would have many minerals in it beside what we call salt (sodium). They would keep the box of “salt” outside. If the rain washed out the sodium, the salt loses its saltiness and it is cast out. So, when the sodium is gone, they would take what was left over and throw it beside the roadside. It would compact and make a hard place, similar to our asphalt. But those minerals would make it so that nothing could grow on the road because the soil would be sealed off by these minerals.

In the same way, our hearts are closed to the influence of God and His Word. The seed cannot take root because it cannot get to a tender place in the soil. We have a stony heart. That is why God says that He wants to take away our stone heart and give us a new heart of flesh. Ezekiel 11:19 “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh:” (Ezekiel 36:26)

If we do not allow God to give us that fresh heart, Satan will come along and snatch away the seed before it can grow. We need the Spirit of God to break our hearts in order for His Word to find soft ground for it to grow.

B. The Distressed Ground

This the ground that does not have the hard crust. It has good dirt, but there are stones in the ground. These are the people that hear the Gospel and it begins to grow. But there is no room in the dirt for the roots to grow. So, the Word of God cannot continue.

This is when people have not prepared the heart for God’s Word. There are things that will stunt the growth in our lives if we do not take the plow to the ground. When trials come the growth fails because we were not prepared.

C. The Distracted Ground

This is the ground that is good ground and the roots can grow down. The problem is that this ground allows the cares of this world to choke out any fruit. These people are so close being effective, but they never really accomplish anything. They have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof.

You can spend your whole life trying to convince yourself and others that you really are disciples of God without bringing any fruit. You think you can show me your faith without your fruits? I will show my faith by my fruits. If God’s Word really gets into your heart, it will bring forth fruit, changes, works for God’s glory.

D. The Desirable Ground

This is the ground where things can grow. They can remain because they have roots. They have room to bloom and bring forth fruit because the cares of this world are cut away enough for God to make something happen in your life. By your Fruits, ye will know them.

We are born again by this incorruptible seed. If we allow it take root in our lives, it will bring forth the fruit of salvation.

II. Immortal Survival (preservation of text) (vs. 24)

I Peter 1:24 compares the Word of God to the life span of man. We are like the grass of the field and we shall pass away like a vapor. But this is in stark opposition to the Word of God. We know that the Word of God is preserved by God Himself. We see this throughout the Bible. Because God is all powerful, He is able to keep His Word. We see that He has done this in three places.

     A. In Heaven. Psalms 119:89 “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”

God’s Word is settled in Heaven. This is an assurance to us because God rules Heaven. Since it is settled, it is unchangeable. Satan cannot change the Word of God that is settled in Heaven. It is impervious to Satan’s attack. It stands in Heaven no matter the attack from man or Satan or government.

     B. In Earth. Isaiah 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Even though we as man will fail and fall and die, God’s Word will not change. But so many people say that this is why we cannot trust the Bible. They say that men wrote it and men change the stories over time. Memories fail, etc.

Here is the problem with that argument. It assumes that men are the guardians of the Bible. While men are frail and fail to keep human histories perfectly, we know by faith that the Bible is not kept by men. It is kept by God. He is not frail. He is not limited in His power to protect.

Agnostics rant and rave about how the Bible will fail. Yet it still stands as the all time best seller. Agnostics die like the grass. They pass away like stubble in the wind. But the Word of God still stands. It still changes lives. It will remain because it is not protected by man but by God.

     C. In Time. Psalms 119:160 Thy word [is] true [from] the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments [endureth] for ever.

It does not matter how old God’s word it. It stands outside of time. Antiquity cannot tarnish the truth that is in the preserved Bible. It will outlast the world. It is eternal, because it is a reflection of Jesus Christ, who is the Word.

     D. In Eternity

The Word of God was settled in Heaven even before the first moment of creation, before the creation of space or time. It is settled in Heaven. So, it does not matter what the textual critics say. God protects it. We do have a Bible that we can trust to read, memorize, study, and meditate on.

III. Irrevokable Salvation (importance of text) (vs. 25)

The Preservation of the Bible is so important for many reasons. But one of them is that God says that the presvervation of the Bible is linked to the salvation of our souls. Notice what God says about salvation and the Bible.

A. Repenting Seed Psalms 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves [with him].

Why is the sower weeping? He is weeping over souls that are separated from God. He is weeping over the penalty for sin, eternal death in Hell. He is weeping over careless and callous people that do not care that they can be saved. He weeps over those that do not want to hear.

The sinner weeps over the Word of God too. Every sinner is offended by the fact that we are sinners and cannot come to peace with God on our own terms. We can only come to God as paupers with no payment for our sin. Jesus paid it, but to receive that, we have to admit that we cannot do it our selves. There is weeping by the sinner at the Gospel of God.

B. Rejoicing Seed Psa. 126:6

Though everyone is offended in the Gospel, some are offended unto repentance and salvation. Some are offended to the rejection of the Bible. For those that are offended unto repentance, there is rejoicing. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. Repent and He will give you the joy of salvation.

There is also rejoicing by the sower. There is no greater joy to the evanglist than to see someone trust in the Gospel unto salvation. There is also rejoicing in Heaven. The angels also rejoice when even just one sinner repents.

C. Remaining Seed. I John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Notice what this verse in I John says. It says that once a person is saved, there is a part of them (the spirit) that cannot sin because it is born of God. God says that the seed remains. What seed? It is the seed of the Gospel. There is a point at which the Gospel comes into a person’s life that it can no longer be stolen away by Satan. This is a reflection of the truth that when God’s saves us, it is without repentance. We will not lose our salvation because the seed of the Gospel remains with us once we are born again.

If God can not protect Scripture, how can He protect your Salvation?

by Pastor Andrew Grosjean

 Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I know that I am a sinner and have disobeyed your laws. But I know that you love me and that Jesus died for me. Now, I ask you to come into my life and save me. Please, forgive me of all my sin. Please be the Lord of my life. In Jesus name, Amen.

If you just prayed that prayer, drop me a note and let me know. I would like to pray for you.