Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning and evening, December 8, 2002, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

BIBLE-BELIEVING FUNDAMENTALISTS RESPECT THE BIBLE

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Psalms 119:161-168

Text: Psalms 119:161

Psalms 119:161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

Introduction: We are Bible-believing, fundamental, independent Baptists. Our church paper is called “The Bible-Believing Fundamentalist.” Our website is also called The Bible-Believing Fundamentalist.

What IS a Bible-believing Fundamentalist? As I mentioned last week, not every Bible-believer is a fundamentalist, and even worse, not every fundamentalist is a Bible believer. I showed that it’s possible to USE the Bible, as many colleges do, without BELIEVING the Bible. It’s also possible to believe the Bible without obeying the Bible.

What then, is a BIBLE-BELIEVING fundamentalist? With the emphasis on “Bible-believing,” I pointed out last Sunday that one characteristic of Bible-believing fundamentalism is A RECOGNITION OF THE BIBLE. This morning I want to say that another characteristic is

A RESPECT FOR THE BIBLE

Bible-rejectors accuse us of bibliolatry. We don’t WORSHIP the Bible, but we do REVERE the Bible. We MAGNIFY the Bible. Today I want to give some reasons that Bible-Believing Fundamentalists RESPECT the Bible.

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.

I. WE RESPECT THE BIBLE BECAUSE OF ITS INSPIRATION

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Psalms 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

It is GOD’S word, not man’s!

A. It is God’s message

B. It is God’s mouth

C. It is God’s mind

D. It is God’s miracle

II. WE RESPECT THE BIBLE BECAUSE OF ITS INTEGRITY

Psalms 119:164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

A. It is without fault

B. It is without favor

III. WE RESPECT THE BIBLE BECAUSE OF ITS IMPACT

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

A. Upon the mind

B. Upon the mouth

C. Upon a marriage

IV. WE RESPECT THE BIBLE BECAUSE OF ITS INTIMACY

Psalms 119:174 I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.

It told me about JESUS, the sinner’s friend, and this Book became my friend!

A. It is my love – Psalms 119:167

B. It is my life – John 6:63

C. It is my loyal companion – Psalms 119:24

The Precious Bible

Though the cover is worn
And pages are torn,
And though places bear traces of tears,
Yet more precious than gold
Is the Book, worn and old,
That can shatter and scatter my fears.

When I prayerfully look
In the precious Book
Many pleasures and treasures I see;
Many tokens of love,
From the Father above
Who is nearest and dearest to me.

This Book is my guide,
Tis friend by my side,
It will lighten and brighten my way;
And each promise I find,
Soothes and gladdens my mind,
As I read it and heed it today.

V. WE RESPECT THE BIBLE BECAUSE OF ITS ILLUMINATION

Psalms 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

A. We can see the facts as they really are

B. We can see the face of Jesus in His word

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

C. We can see the future

Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

VI. WE RESPECT THE BIBLE BECAUSE OF ITS INVINCIBILITY

Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

A. It overcomes the devil

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

B. It overcomes death

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

VII. WE RESPECT THE BIBLE BECAUSE OF ITS IMMUTABILITY

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

A. Morals come and go and change

B. Men come and go and change

The Anvil

Last eve I paused before a blacksmith’s door
and heard the anvil ring the vesper chime.
And looking in, I saw old hammers on the floor,
Worn by the beating years of time.
“How many anvils have you had,” said I,
“To wear and batter all these hammers so?”
“Just one,” said he, then with a twinkle in his eyes,
“The anvil wears the hammers out you know.”
And so I thought, the anvil of God’s word,
For ages skeptic blows have beat upon.
Yet though the noise of falling blows was heard
The anvil is unharmed-the hammers gone!