Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning and evening, July 1, 2001, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
THE SHOCKING, SWEET SPIRIT OF CHRIST ABOUT THE SCRIPTURES
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Matthew 15:1-14
Text: Matthew 15:12
Matthew 15:12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
Introduction: Liberals sometimes accuse us fundamentalists of not having a good spirit. They find fault with what we say, and they find fault with how we say it.
I have an idea that leftwingers would be shocked if the Lord Jesus Christ were here today in the flesh, and they were to hear Him speak. The religious leaders were offended by the things our Lord said. Sometimes He made them so mad that they wanted to kill him.
We who stand for the authority of the word of God, the King James 1611 Authorized Version Bible, find ourselves criticized for having a “bad spirit.” I like what Dr. Hyles said. His response was, “Yes, I have worked extremely hard to GET this bad spirit, and I intend to KEEP it!”
You know, thinking about leftwingers … I was talking to our assistant pastor on the porch a little while ago about this. It’s interesting how the Lord has worked with the English language. Not only do left and right refer to directions, but they have other meanings, as well. For instance, the word, left, has come to mean liberal. California is on the “Left Coast.” It also means departed. The Bible speaks of people departing from the faith, which is true of leftwingers. The word also means remaining, as in left behind. I’m not saying that all leftwingers will be left behind at the Rapture, but … By the way, did you ever look at what Jesus is going to say to those on the LEFT hand at the Judgment of the Nations?
The word, right, also means conservative. Additionally, it means correct or accurate. I do want to be right, don’t you? Did you know that God is ALWAYS right? His precepts concerning ALL things are RIGHT!
I humorously pointed out to Brother Richmond that Jesus told the disciples to gather up the fragments that remained, after the feeding of the 5,000, “that nothing be LEFT.”
Let’s look at some of the things the Lord said while He was here on earth and see how “sweet” He was. We will just take one subject today: THE WORD OF GOD., If you are offended about OUR “bad spirit” about the Bible,
YOU MIGHT BE SHOCKED BY HOW AND WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT:
I. THE RECEPTION OF THE SCRIPTURES
John 8:47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
Notice what Jesus said about
A. A characteristic of God’s people
B. The cause of rejection
If you are offended about OUR “bad spirit” about the Bible,
YOU MIGHT BE SHOCKED BY HOW AND WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT:
II. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES
Mark 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
People replace the word of God with their
A. Traditions of scholarship
| Even religious scholarship |
B. Traditions of society
| About the home | |
| About homosexuality |
C. Traditions of science
| Evolution is a tradition and a theory, not fact |
If you are offended about OUR “bad spirit” about the Bible,
YOU MIGHT BE SHOCKED BY HOW AND WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT:
III. THE RETAINING OF THE SCRIPTURES
John 5:38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
John 14:23-24 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
Those who keep God’s words are those who are
A. Fond of the Lord
| They love him |
B. In Fellowship with the Lord
| “we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” |
If you are offended about OUR “bad spirit” about the Bible,
YOU MIGHT BE SHOCKED BY HOW AND WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT:
IV. THE RETRIBUTION OF THE SCRIPTURES
John 12:48 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.
A. It will destroy the wicked at the Second Advent
B. It will determine the fate of the lost at the Great White Throne Judgment
C. It will declare our works at the Judgment Seat of Christ
If you are offended about OUR “bad spirit” about the Bible,
YOU MIGHT BE SHOCKED BY HOW AND WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT:
V. THE READING OF THE SCRIPTURES
Matthew 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Some people have NEVER read parts of the Bible!
A. These people are leaders
| Many preachers, deacons, and Sunday School teachers have never read the Bible completely through |
B. These people are lazy
C. These people are loving the wrong thing
If you are offended about OUR “bad spirit” about the Bible,
YOU MIGHT BE SHOCKED BY HOW AND WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT:
VI. THE RELIABILITY OF THE SCRIPTURES
Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
John 5:46-47 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
They are reliable! According to Jesus, in Luke 24:25, a person is a FOOL who doesn’t believe ALL of the Bible!
A. About creation
| Jesus verified the Genesis account of Adam and Eve |
B. About the catastrophe of the Noahic flood
| He said, “As it was in the days of Noah …” |
C. About conversion
| Ye MUST be born again |
If you are offended about OUR “bad spirit” about the Bible,
YOU MIGHT BE SHOCKED BY HOW AND WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT:
VII. THE REQUIREMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES
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.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Life comes from God’s word. You HAVE to have it:
A. For salvation
| Romans 10:17 | |
| 1 Peter 1:23 | |
| James 1:18 |
B. For strength
| Acts 20:32 |
C. For sanctification
| John 17:17 |
D. For a sword
| Hebrews 4:12 | |
| Ephesians 6:17 |