30 October 2016

My dear readers,

THE BATTLE FOR THE KING JAMES BIBLE IN THE BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - II

(Dr SH Tow, Reprinted from The Burning Bush July 2006 Vol 12 / 2)

Gospel Safeguard: VPP

Reader, pray as you ponder on this "12-point Statement," a statement which will lead us into "green pastures and still waters."

1. All true sons of the Reformation believe: "The just shall live by faith and faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom 1:17; 10:17). Stated another way, "We are born again of the incorruptible word of God, which word endureth for ever and by it the gospel is preached" (1 Pet 1:23, 25).

2. As true sons of the Reformation we believe that God’s Word which is incorruptible and endureth for ever is equally "inerrant" (without mistake) and "infallible" (incapable of making mistake).

3. Since its founding the Bible-Presbyterian Church has written into its Constitution belief in the inerrant and infallible Word of God (Article 4.2.1): "We believe in the divine, verbal and plenary inspiration of the Scriptures in the original languages, their consequent inerrancy and infallibility, and, as the Word of God, the Supreme and final authority in faith and life."

4. In this "article of faith" the "Scriptures in the original languages" refer to the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek words in the autographs (which over time and with "wear and tear" are no longer in existence) and the apographs (which are the continuously preserved and uncorruptedcopies of the autographs, presently existing, accessible, and identifiable).

5. The Scriptures we use today are the King James Version (KJV, KJB), the time-honoured and beloved Bible of the Reformation. Whenever we refer to our Constitution 4.2.1, we hold up the KJV or KJB as God’s Word, "inerrant and infallible" precisely because it is derived from the original language Scriptures that God has verbally and plenarily inspired.

6. By the fruit we know the tree: the KJB is the "fruit" derived from the "tree" the "source texts" or "MSS" (manuscripts). We believe that God’s inerrant and infallible Word, as represented by the KJB had been derived from totally inerrant and infallible source texts or "MSS" or "Apographs" (copies of the Autographs).

7. Question: Can we identify these texts?

8. Answer: Absolutely. Our great God did not leave Himself without witness, but preserved perfectly a body of MSS: the Masoretic Hebrew Old Testament Text and the Received Greek New Testament Text (Textus Receptus). From these perfectly preserved copies of God’s inspired, inerrant, infallible Scriptures, is derived our KJB.

9. What is "VPP"? "V" is "Verbal," meaning "word for word" (Websters Dictionary). "P" is "Plenary," meaning "complete or absolute" (Websters Dictionary). "P" is "Preservation" meaning "kept from corruption or error."

10. "VPP of Scripture" refers to the supernatural and special providential care of God over the ages (Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter I, VIII; see also Ps 12:6,7; Matt 5:18, 24:35; 1 Pet 1:25), safeguarding the transmission of the MSS by scribes or copyists, so that the body of texts (Masoretic Hebrew OT and Received Greek NT) has been kept pure as the "good tree" giving us the "good fruit," the KJB.

11. As the attacks on God’s Word increase in intensity, God’s faithful remnant people also increase and intensify in their loyalty to God’s Word without which the Gospel’s entire foundation would collapse.

12. The inspired and preserved Word of God for the Bible-Presbyterian Church is upheld by a "threefold cord" which cannot be broken, namely: (i) Constitution 4.2.1, (ii) the VPP of God’s Word, (iii) the KJB, the Reformation Bible.

Mark these words: The present attack on the VPP will lead ultimately to a denial and betrayal of the KJB. This is a prediction worth watching. God bless all readers with spiritual discernment.

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

(Martin Luther)

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

God bless all readers.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,

Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor