The righteous shall live by faith. (Romans 1 v 17)

This Sunday we celebrate as Bible Sunday; the day Churches thank God for His Word, and this year we also celebrate the anniversary of the Protestant Reformation which was 507 years ago on Thursday.

Martin Luther was a law student walking home, when a violent thunderstorm took place and frightened him so much, he prayed that if delivered safe he would become a monk. This he did, and became a bible tutor at Wittenberg University in Germany.

The Roman Church at that time was using indulgences, as it was held when a person died, they went to a place called purgatory, whilst their ultimate fate was decided, but if you paid a sum of money to the Church, your soul would be released and go straight to heaven. It was even extended, so that you could pay an indulgence for someone close, and further extended, so you could pay for any sins you may commit in the future. Then one day whilst studying Romans 1, he came to verse 16/17 where we are called not to be ashamed of the gospel.

 

This story is continued to the ongoing account of the Protestant Reformation

Which will be related next Sunday.

The Bible states, ‘do not be ashamed of the gospel, it is the power of God for salvation’. But the Church from the very highest level is ashamed; it leaves a group of Muslim mothers to protest at the sexual indoctrination of young children, a process being ordered by the government, without parents being allowed to object. It is the church which should be protesting loud and vigorously.

The Gospel, is that Jesus died on the Cross in order that we may be forgiven of our sins, He taking the penalty for us, in order that God would accept us.  God, as a righteous God hates sin, which separates us from Him. We believe the gospel is the power of God for salvation.

The gospel tells us, how God makes us as being righteous in his sight, through faith; it is through faith that this occurs. Jesus didn’t deserve to die, but did so for us; we don’t deserve to live, but can because of Jesus.

When Luther read this, he realized the corruption in the Church’s message, for one could be saved by just believing in Jesus Christ. He read whilst studying Romans,

The righteous shall live by faith. He realized the importance of those words, and the Reformation was begun.

 

He then posted a list of 95 theses on the door of the Cathedral in which this was explained, and then had to be protected by retreating to a castle where they ensured his safety.

He was called before the Pope and Church leaders, and told he must recant, but said the epic words, ‘my conscience is taken captive by the Word of God, I cannot recant, so help me God. Here I stand I can do no other.’ How wonderful if all clergy could say likewise when we are called to compromise on our preaching.

Luther’s courage and brilliance of mind caused seismic reaction throughout the Church in Europe and across eventually the world, and still has effects today. How dearly there is a need for a new Reformation in the Church today, which has capitulated to outside forces, obsessed with causes which are abhorrent to Scripture, yet are readily accepted by the highest echelons of the Church. How God must weep when He sees how His Church has let Him down, and betrayed him. This why we cannot expect God to bless the Church, when it colludes with a decadent society.

There are multiple Churches, where today will not be so recognized Bible Sunday, for their Ministers treat the day as just another Sunday.

We have to face the fact, however deplorable it is, that the bible is not given the recognition it merits, based on the fact the Bible is the heart of the service. The Bible has in fact been cast aside, in places where it is preferred to bow to modern culture, so that we have leaders in the Church calling for the bible’s teaching of morality to be ruled as unacceptable.

 

How ludicrous, we who recognize the supreme authority of the Bible, have to advise people to attend a Church which is bible based, when that should bethe normal practice of all Churches; this is the whole purpose of the existenceof the Church. When people attend worship, they have the right to expect they will hear the Bible preached and taught.

 

 Allied to this, is the fact that the Bible has become less relevant, to even many people within the Church, including those whose duty is to teach the Scriptures. Thereby, whereas once people might have thought twice before acting in consideration of what the Bible taught, there is less restraint.

For those of us who love the Church and want to see it grow, the present state is a matter for concern. Congregations are generally falling due to members dying or becoming too unwell to attend, or just becoming disenchanted at the way the Church has departed from its origins.

The Church of England has less than a million members out of a nation of 66 million, and is losing members at a rate of 1,000 a week. The Methodist Church is closing Churches by the week.

The Bible also states, ‘guard the gospel’. Jesus Christ created the Church and gave command to his Apostles to take into the world all He had taught and commanded them to do. We exist for that purpose, and anything else is superfluous. Bible illiteracy is at an all -time high.

We may use the words of Paul, when writing to the Galatian Church. “I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the living mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the gospel, but is not the gospel at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or an angel from heaven, who preaches a different gospel than the one we preached to you”.

Paul told Timothy he is to preach in and out of season, meaning Timothy should use every opportunity of getting the gospel message out to people. Paul realised this would not be easy, for there were those who would not wish to hear anything which did not fit in with their way of thinking, and more especially with their way of living.

There were preachers willing and desiring to give that teaching, they are called false preachers. This is so to-day, which is why some are trying desperately hard to re-interpret the Bible to make it more acceptable.

The message we have for the world, is centred upon the person of Jesus Christ and provides for a stable and well-balanced society. In God’s plan, the people who have been touched by the gospel have a role in influencing the world, to be as salt and light. God gave Himself in Christ for us.

God took the initiative, because we are all sinners who cannot save ourselves, and Jesus died on the cross, so that we could be saved. He died, and laid on himself God’s judgement for all the sins of those who would believe on Him.

He is the only way. There is no other name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved. When we accept that sacrifice, the Holy Spirit of God comes into our lives and changes us from within.

This is the gospel we should be guarding and proclaiming. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ which must constantly be guarded. We have the responsibility to make sure that the message of the cross continues to go forth.

This tells us our faith is not like that which someone has made up, but rather comes from God. Furthermore, it was given with the understanding that nothing needs to be added, amended or subtracted from. Anyone who does so is a false teacher. God will not ignore false teaching, and will pass judgement on such people.

When Christians lose the beliefs that have kept the Church together, they begin to fall apart and disintegrate. It is fatuous and irrational, to suggest that biblical injunctions, which do not conform to modern requirements can be re-written. If people are to be saved, they must know the truth.

But there is a basic question that we should all ask ourselves from time to time: Why do we go to church? Is it just to sing hymns or to meet other people, both of which are commendable? But when you go to Church, what do you hope to hear? Is the sermon something you find boring and wish there was none? Or do you look forward to hearing an exposition of God’s Word’.

The first Christian Church, met for the purpose of hearing the teaching of the Apostles, for fellowship with other Christians, the partaking of Holy Communion. This is a good example to follow. We have that same teaching as they received, it is called the ‘New Testament’

The primary reason we attend Church on Sunday, is to learn about God, to grow closer to Him and know how we can have a relationship with Him, all else is secondary. Knowing Christ, becoming like Christ, is what we are here for. Knowing what God wants us to believe and do what God thinks.

If ever the Word of God was needed in its original unadulterated form, it is never more so than now. We need to call people to turn back to God, who is ready and able to meet the needs of everyone who turns to Him.

People are right to expect that the church will declare the Word of God as it was given, even if they choose to reject it. .

There is a desperate need for a Church, which will speak above culture, which is obsessed with issues of gender and sexuality; a Church which defines God’s order of creation as gender being male and female; which proclaims the Bible’s definition of marriage as heterosexual, between a man and a woman.

A Church where the men and women in the pulpits are prepared to put God’s Laws above human law; where those men and women are not prepared to be afraid to follow the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ, and teach the gospel He delivered; and ready to confront the bullies who desire to silence them, even those within their own church.

People need to know, there are still Ministers we really do believe what they say, and are not all hypocrites, making our own rules as we go along.

 

 May all respect God’s Word and may God’s Holy Name be praised and glorified.

For I am not ashamed of this good news about Christ. It is the power of God at work saving anyone who  believes- the Jew first and also the Gentile . This good news tells us how God makes us right in His sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, it is through faith that a righteous person has life. Romans 1 v 16/17

In 1517 Martin Luther influenced by the corrupt Church of the day, studied the Scriptures whilst teaching the Bible at a University in Germany.  In the Letter of the Apostle Paul to the Roman Church He came to find in Chapter One in verses 16/17, words which changed the Church, and swept across the world.  This will be the subject of the sermon Sunday week.

Luther based his subject on Faith. Grace, and Scripture which is the sermon of this coming Sunday.  Bible Sunday, the day in the year when we celebrate and thank God for giving  us His Word and teaching.

A Minister is entitled to appoint Bible Sunday, on a date of his  choice from the established day, and I have done so in order that on the following Sunday we can more fully celebrate Reformation Sunday, such a memorable day for the Church.

There are many Churches where Bible Sunday will not be recognised, for their Ministers treat the day as just another Sunday, and I have been told by Ministers they will not recognise Reformation Sunday, for they don’t agree it was necessary. Such a statement indicates an ignorance of Church history.  Until Luther intervened, the Church was corrupt, especially with calling for payment to be paid for access to heaven.   We have to face the fact, however viewed it is, that the bible is not given the recognition it merits, based on the fact the Bible is the heart of the service, and should be recognised as such. 

The Bible has in fact been cast aside, in places where it is preferred to bow to modern culture, so that we have leaders in the Church calling for the bible’s teaching of morality to be ruled as unacceptable.   Allied to this, is the fact that the Bible has become less relevant, to even many people within the Church, including those whose duty is to teach the Scriptures.  Thereby, whereas once people might have thought twice before acting, in consideration of what the Bible taught, there is now less restraint.

The Church has to recognise and face the fact the world with people who are biblically illiterate, this include people attending and within he Church whose only contact with the Bible is listening to lessons being read. Yet, on the other side there are people longing to hear the Scripture  and learn the teaching and life of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are hungry and starving, for the stories and  lives of the great men and women of the Bible

For those of us who love the Church and want to see it grow, the present state is a matter for concern.  Congregations are generally falling, due to members dying or becoming too unwell to attend, or just becoming disenchanted at the way the Church has departed from its origins.    The Church of England, the established Church of the nation, has less than a million members out of a nation of 66 million, and is losing members at a rate of 1,000 a week.  The Methodist Church is closing Churches by the week.

The Bible also states, ‘guard the gospel’. Jesus Christ created the Church, and gave command to his Apostles to take into the world all He had taught and commanded them to do. We exist for that purpose, and anything else is superfluous. The Church now, is showing signs of corrupt teaching.  Bible illiteracy is at an all -time high because people are not being encouraged, I have heard preachers stating the Bible shouldn’t be treated too literally; that any preacher who preachers that marriage is between a man and a woman is hate speech(the Archbishop of Canterbury thinks so).  People have been discouraged from listening to real evangelical preachers. 

 How can the Church act in direct contradiction of Scripture, and make provision to do so. A petition was called, asking for the Archbishop to ban the allowing of explicit sex teaching, by an activist organisation to be given in Church schools to children of a tender age. How can a Church hold services in support of same sex marriage, and  second service of baptism to accommodate a change of gender.

Gone are the days when children attended Sunday Schools and learned parts of the Bible and a foundation was created which would grow and lead to a more pure and honest character. Gone too are the assemblies in state schools, where hymns were sung with bible stories. Our children are being taught subjects which many adults would resent, taught by people who have no interest in normal ways of life. What kind of future is there for them?

How can a Church allow  its leaders to actively campaign for the Bible to be set aside.  If people wish to follow anti-Christian teaching that is a personal decision they are free to make, but the Church cannot justify just to be popular. The Church is not here to be popular, it is to be voice of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

When writing to the Galatian Church, Paul stated he said “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ, and are turning to a different gospel, not that there is another one.

 Paul told Timothy he is to preach in and out of season, meaning Timothy should use every opportunity of getting the gospel message out to people. Paul realised this would not be easy, for there were those who would not wish to hear anything which did not fit in with their way of thinking, and more especially with their way of living.  There were preachers willing, and desiring to give that teaching, they are called false preachers. This is so to-day, which is why some are trying desperately hard to re-interpret the Bible to make it more acceptable.

 The message we have for the world is centred upon the person of Jesus Christ and provides for a stable and well-balanced society.  In God’s plan, the people who have been touched by the gospel have a role in influencing the world, to be as salt and light. God gave Himself in Christ for us.

 God took the initiative, because we are all sinners who cannot save ourselves and Jesus died on the cross, so that we could be saved. He died and laid on himself God’s judgement for all the sins of those who would believe on Him.  He is the only way to God. There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

 When we accept that sacrifice, the Holy Spirit of God comes into our lives and changes us from within.   This is the gospel we should be guarding and proclaiming. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ which must constantly be guarded. We have the responsibility to make sure that the message of the cross, continues to go forth.    This tells us our faith is not like that which someone has made up, but rather comes from God.  

 Furthermore, it was given with the understanding that nothing needs to be added, amended or subtracted from.  Anyone who does so is a false teacher.   God will not ignore false teaching, and will pass judgement on such people.   When Christians lose the beliefs that have kept the Church together, they begin to fall apart and disintegrate.  It is fatuous and irrational to suggest that biblical injunctions which do not conform to modern requirements can be re-written.  If people are to be saved, they must know the truth.

 But there is a basic question that we should all ask ourselves from time to time: Why do we go to church? Is it just to sing hymns or to meet other people, both of which are commendable?  But when you go to Church what do you hope to hear?  Is the sermon something you find boring and wish there was none? Or do you look forward to hearing an exposition of God’s Word’.  The first Christian Church met for the purpose of hearing the teaching of the Apostles, for fellowship with other Christians, the partaking of Holy Communion.  This is a good example to follow.  

 The  same teaching as they received, it is called the ‘New Testament  and every reason we attend Church on Sunday is to learn about God, to grow closer to Him and know how we can have a relationship with Him, all else is secondary. Knowing Christ, becoming like Christ, is what we are here for and knowing what God wants us to believe, and do what God thinks.

The larger attendances we find on easter and Christmas or special events indicates how people are still ready to attend if they find true bible passages taught accompanied by tuneful hymns.

 If ever the Word of God was needed in its original unadulterated form, it is never more so than now.  We need to call people to turn back to God who is ready and able to meet the needs of everyone who turns to Him.    People are right to expect that the church will declare the Word of God as it was given, even if they choose to reject it.  People have the right to hear the true Scripture when coming to Church.

There is a desperate need for a Church which will speak above culture, which is not obsessed with issues of gender and sexuality. The   Church has to  define God’s order of creation,  as gender being, male and female; which proclaims the Bible’s definition of marriage as heterosexual between a man and a woman.  A Church where the men and women in the pulpits, are prepared to put God’s Laws above human law; where those men and women are not prepared to be afraid to follow the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ, and teach the gospel he delivered; and ready to confront the bullies who desire to silence them, even those within their own church.    People need to know there are still Ministers, who really do believe what we say, and are not all hypocrites, making our own rules as we go along.

 The Bible in v 16 states, ‘do not be ashamed of the gospel, it is the power of God for salvation’. But the Church from the very highest level is ashamed; it leaves a group of Muslim mothers to protest at the sexual indoctrination of young children, a process being ordered by the government, without parents being allowed to object loud and vigorously.

We believe the gospel, was the power of God for salvation.  The gospel tells us how God makes us as being righteous in his sight, through faith; it is through faith that this occurs.  Jesus didn’t deserve to die, but did so for us; we don’t deserve to live, but can because of Jesus. He voluntarily went to the Cross, knowing the suffering He would have to face, by the most horrific form of execution, but He went just to save our lives by forgiving our sins.  What a Savior. Only Jesus was a Church leader to make such a sacrifice; Only Jesus can save people; Only Jesus rose from death; Only Jesus was the Son of the true living God.

Remembering that cruel suffering, and the shed blood, that we may be made righteous in God’s sight, we should never forget that it is our duty to consider how we can serve and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Inclusion, I earnestly ask all true Christians especially, but also anyone else. to join a Church where there is solid Bible teaching being given. The Bible is of much importance in that it guides people in to  what is right or wrong and helps in everyday living .

The words of John Wesley said, ‘I want to know one thing; the ay to heaven, how to land on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way; He hath written it down in a book. Give me that book, at any price give me that book’.

 

In preparation of Reformation Day, I am preaching this week on the subject which Martin Luther emphasized on in his preparation to reform the Church. This week turning to the two subjects of Faith and Grace.

Everybody has a faith, even the atheist who when trouble really comes along will turn to God.  I heard a humanistic preacher expounding his atheism, telling of how to respond to a problem, and as he finished he stated ‘ and if all that does not work you will just have to ask God’

Faith, means having the belief and conviction that something is true. A clear believing that something hoped for but not seen will be fulfilled.

For Paul, faith was a treasured word combining loyalty and fidelity. When he wrote to the Church at Thessalonica, he stated he would know about their faith. He expected them to continue to stand firm and loyal on their faith. He told the Corinthians that if Jesus had not risen from death, their faith was in vain and all they claimed to believe was broken. Faith is a belief the Christian message is true.  Sometimes faith is equivalent to strong hope, we walk by faith not sight,  Paul believed in the total  acceptance and absolute trust your life on the fact there is a God.  It is firmly believing in the stability of Jesus at all times, and having assurance on that belief

The Bible makes it clear that we are saved by grace through faith, and it is a free gift from God, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

In His many healings, Jesus abled the blind to see. When He did that he was persecuted by the Pharisees, who were determined to state this was impossible, because no one could make a blind man see.

Faith however, can be true or false. Just as in oldest times ,people say today they believe in God, so that ensures them a place in heaven without further ado. I would be a rich man, if I received five pounds for every time I heard that. One woman gave me firm assurance there was nothing more necessary

Christianity, instead of it inspiring everyone who hears it, so often goes the other way and encourages falsity.  People say I am a Christian to create an impression  Jesus was just a good man, for their belief.

The Apostles Creed causes so many people, clergy included, to tell lies.  I believe in the Virgin Birth; I believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They just don’t.  I have challenged so many men and women and clergy of false faith, as I know from their talk at odd times, they just do not believe in those two doctrines, and is shameful.

Again, people see the Creed as a passport to heaven.  People will jump on any

and remotest of statements to justify a claim of being a Christian.  they have convinced themselves, and expect others to believe.

Faith, true faith is inspired in us by God.  We cannot be true Christians by just doing good deeds. Such are worthy, and will come as a result of becoming a Christian.

Do not rely on saying I believe in Jesus Christ, unless you mean it.  You must accept believing in Jesus is more than words.  You have faith, that accepts that Jesus  died on a Cross to take the penalty for your sins, in order to have God forgive you, and you in return live a true faith, which follows the teaching of Christ. If you accept, you have been pardoned and the sins forgiven, you can be saved and one day perhaps meet Christ to thank Him.

The  final stage in your new life as a Christian, will be when the mental acceptance is made credible in your daily life.

                             **************************

Grace is a lovely Christian name for females; it is a prayer said before meals; a period of time; a title for an Archbishop; a greeting; but it is essentially a gift from God.  Whilst is mainly a Christian term, I am confident there are many within the Church would shy away if asked to describe it; it is however not an easy task unless you had studied theology.

The Bible states, For by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not the result of works so that no one may boast

Martin Luther stated, the true treasure of the Church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God.

Grace saves us when we have faith in Jesus Christ. It is a free gift from God through faith. We are so used to have ‘free’ gifts offered to us, which are not really free, but are meant to lure us into something else. Grace is absolutely free.

This is why God alone gets the glory in your salvation. Jesus did all the work when he died on the cross. As the hymn states, ‘ to God be the glory, great things he has done , so loved he the world that he gave us his Son, who yielded his life as an atonement for sin, and opened the life gate that all may go in.

God is so gracious He is ready to forgive all those who have sinned and who have repented and turned to Him, He wants to save all. But God is perfection and cannot accept sin and it will never be possible to be in relationship with God unless cleansed of their sin.  This is only possible by the blood of Christ shed on the Cross. 

When  we speak about grace in Church, inevitably we think of the most favored hymn across the world,  especially in the United States. Amazing Grace, written by John Newton in 1772. It is a beautiful hymn sung to a lovely tune, which is often spoiled by young women being over dramatic in contrast to Katharine Jenkins whose singing of the hymn is magnificent.

Newton wrote the words from personal experience. He was not originally a religious man, but having joined the Navy, he became engaged in the slave trade.  He became in charge of a ship which passed through troubled waters and faced a storm of such power that the ship was in danger.  He called on God for mercy and offered his life if delivered safely; so leading to his   conversion.  He continued in the salve trade until 1775 when he began studying theology and became an abolitionist.  He became ordained into the Church of England and was Vicar at Olney in Bedford and later moved to London.

Grace is an important word for he Bible states, by grace are we saved. We are all sinners in some way, bearing in mind sin is more than sexual behaviour although most people fail to recognize that. Sin is any action against the Word of God, thereby including lies, malice, theft, envy etc.

God is hurt when we offend, and grace is from the heart of God to be given to us freely when we do not merit or deserve.  This country comes from a Christian heritage after monks and Archbishop Augustine became the first  bishop.  It has been Christian through the ages, gradually turning to secularism, so that now we are more secular, than previously.  Other faiths with their own religion have come here and by law are to be recognized with the same respect.

Grace is actually amazing.  It is totally undeserved, unmerited, unearned . but it is also so special in that you cannot seek it, there is no way at all in which you can get grace.  Grace is God’s own gift, which we receive from Christ who paid for us in that horrifically cruel death at Calvary.

When Paul wrote to Timothy he said we do not become timid we have the power of God which can overturn any opposition, we have His grace where the power is overwhelming.

Grace is so precious that it can transform a life, and indeed a great many lives. Luther’s finding of the verse in the Letter of Paul to the Roman Church, which spoke about grace being the way to salvation through faith, he started a new teaching to that of the Roman Church which spread right across Europe.

Salvation starts with God, not with man. He takes the initiative.  If God didn’t make the first move, you would never make any move at all.

The passage today contains the message. The word ‘amazing’ means something astonishing, quite beyond the ordinary.  The spiritual meaning of ‘grace’ refers to that special gift which only God can give.

There is nothing we can do to earn or add, the grace of God confers a blessing on us, and if we take this gift, our salvation is granted to us. Like any gift offered to us, we have to accept, do nothing else to earn salvation; it is solely a gift of God. Salvation starts with God, not with man. He takes the initiative, he makes the first move.

 No one is too bad to turn to God, he is ready to forgive all sin, past and present, for all who truly repent, and turn and accept Jesus into their life.

You have to accept we all have sinned and need forgiveness, but some will not accept they are a sinner.  A Vicar at one Church in the South of England once put a notice outside his Church with the intention of letting people know they were welcome to join in worship. The notice said, ‘this church is here for sinners’. The following week over half the congregation were absent.

But God is perfection and cannot accept sin and it will never be possible to be in relationship with God unless cleansed of their sin.  This is only possible by the blood of Christ shed on the Cross. 

We have to accept that when Christ made his sacrifice, dying a cruel death on that Cross, he was providing forgiveness for us, for all our sins committed past and present. When we accept that Jesus did so for us and in faith believe he is our Savior, God in his infinite mercy and goodness forgives us, and by his grace accepts us as one of his children.

 

Grace is the reason why God sent Jesus into the world. “For God so loved the

world that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16)

  

May God ‘s Holy Name be praised and may God be glorified

 

 

 Turn now with me to Paul’s 2^nd Letter to Timothy in Chapter 3 v 10 to 4 v.4

.Paul is in a Roman prison, and this is the last Letter he will write, he knows this and wants to ensure he passes on his ministry to someone he can trust, to faithfully carry on in the manner he has done so. He has addressed to Timothy, a young man whom he wants to continue the ministry he is ending, and is giving advice with the earnest plea that Timothy will persist in preaching the true gospel. For not only does Timothy face much opposition from society, he also faces false teachers within the Church, and we know all about that .A common practice now.

The passage begins, with Timothy being told he knows what Paul teaches and the purpose he had for life, how he preached with patience and love, for no one can learn by force. Christianity is a peaceful faith.

Paul contrasts all that, with the way Timothy has been brought up with a love of Scripture, something children of several generations have been deprived of in the present ages.  The Ten Commandments have become Ten Suggestions, or pick any four from ten.  We have raised a generation, who are unaware of even the most basic beliefs. A majority do not even understand the true meaning of Easter and Christmas.

It is a disturbing situation, where all the traditional manners are  not practiced, because few know what they were. Children are denied the basic details of the Bible or its characters, and Jesus is just a word they hear adults use when they swear.

Many of us here to-day grew up in a totally different culture.  We may not have had all the wonderful technological aids and comforts that now are available, but we benefited in other ways. Like Timothy we were taught about the Bible at home, and went to Sunday school as youngsters, learning the stories about Jesus, which gave us standards and values and a good foundation for life. 

We had morning assemblies in all schools, now largely avoided in (state) schools. This may not have been widely followed up in life, but the basics had been laid, and our lives were directed by Christian values. Children are now denied these foundations, and are growing up without knowing the country’s religious faith and heritage. 

In the first nine verses of Chapter 3 Paul talks of godlessness, describing the very conditions we find today; lovers of selves and money, unholy, children having no respect and disobedient. This is what happens when a nation turns its back on God. We live in an age of relativism, in which there are no absolutes no basic morals, a case of if it feels right it is. They become lovers of themselves, and there is a moral collapse as the pursuit of money becomes so important.   Have you noticed, that much of what is offered for entertainment, are programmes in which people try to win vast sums of money?

 

In v10 Paul expresses his faith, purpose in life, endurance love and patience and living a godly life, and warns of impostors.

He then points out the suffering he endured, and Timothy must be prepared as every Christian must, to find he suffers be it mild or harder.

In v14/5, he refers to the teaching Timothy had, having been  brought up in the faith by his mother and grandmother,( and also had been taught much by Paul, and in fact Peter had helped a little, so he had the two Apostles who wrote much of the new testament.) Now Timothy had the wisdom to receive salvation, by trusting in Jesus Christ, the only way to God.

 

In v16 we come to an important verse when Paul reminds him that ALL Scripture is inspired by God, and tells what is right and true, so we can recognize wrong way.

In v17 God prepares his people to do good work. This will mean Timothy to be fully equipped for his ministry, when he has to correct people who are not speaking the truth, rebuke those who mislead, and encourage with patience those who are learning the gospel.

We are told God inspired and guided forty men, using their different characters and occupations, to write the Scriptures which would be His message to the world.  We can reasonably presume that if God gave us these words, He would not have done so just to fill pages, but meant us to take note of all that was given.  God wants us to understand and know Him, and the only way we can do that is by Him telling us, which He does in this book. He tells, we listen and obey him.

There are 66 books in the Bible, 39 of which are in the Old Testament and 27 in the New, written by 40 men, all but one being Jewish.  God used their individual personalities and occupations, to communicate His words, and none of them would claim it was any thoughts of their own. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, all state they did not feel worthy, but God laid a burden on them.  This was done over many years, without any collusion, they did not meet each other, yet there is no contradiction in writings.

The Bible is given to teach us and guide us in the way God wants us to live.  It is the supreme authority for the Church containing the very words of God and does not need any amendments.

This is a very stressful world in which we live.  This is a post Christian age, when most people under the age of 40 have little if any knowledge of the Christian faith or Church. 

 It may have been written by men, but these men were inspired by God, to give us the message that God wished us to have.  We are therefore enabled to live according to God’s teaching.

  The important word is, ALL.  Once you start discounting parts you challenge, the whole credibility and authority of the Bible is destroyed. When we fully understand God’s Word, we are more able to inform others.

In Chapter 4, Paul having told Timothy of the importance of Scripture, then tells him to go out and ‘preach the Word’. He does so in the presence of God the Father and God the Son. The term Word, means, the teaching of God, which we have fully in the Bible,  and an essential message,  is that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins; that after three days He rose from the dead, and later ascended to heaven to sit at God’s right hand; that one day He will return and bring in His Kingdom, and all will face the judgement.  At the same time, Paul is warning all preachers of the serious responsibility, to be faithful to Scripture as one day they will be called upon to give answer.

Paul calls on Timothy to keep preaching sound doctrine, but warns him there will be those who won’t accept such doctrine and will want to hear preachers telling them what they want to hear.

I don’t think even Church members, give the Bible the attention one would expect.  I know there are many whose sole connection with it is in the Sunday service. But even then, is mainly a case of listening to it being read.  In evangelical Churches, it has been the practice of having Bibles in the pews, or at least available, so that members can follow the readings, and I always found it helped to follow the sermon, (when the sermon is Bible based that is.)  I went to take a service at one Church where there wasn’t even a Bible to read the lessons from, and someone had to go out and borrow one.

I am very impressed  by some Churches I have seen in the United States, which have large congregations. When the Pastor announces the Bible reading, the whole congregations turn to their own Bibles, this is revealed when the cameras show all different Bibles; such is the attention paid by the people, they are making notes of the sermon.  This was once common in our Churches, but after many years in ministry, I never saw it happen.

The  Church is plagued, by disputes over issues and the image it gives, so that it does not have any clear or authoritative belief. The Bible restricts behaviour which people like to indulge in, and frankly what gets support from some preachers, and clearly defines human beings are defined as man and woman, which many of us recognise as a precious gift of God. Mand woman are therefore to marry and have

Children; marriage being a stability in a nation.

There can be no doubt, that all the problems facing the Church are due to a departure from Scripture, to an attitude of let us make Scripture relevant to modern thinking.  We all have to decide do we accept the Bible as the Word of God, the sole authority in matters of faith and practice, or not.  You cannot have a pick/n mix way.

In the Free Churches, there are those who have different preachers each week, a most unreliable practice.  One week there could be an evangelical preacher, followed by a liberal  minded one.  This causes confusion to listeners as to who  should be accepted.

Sadly, people in general judge all Christians by what they read in the newspapers, and they lump all by what happens in the Church of England.  The various denominations hold different liturgies and practices, which is acceptable, God didn’t create all flowers to be roses, but all flowers grow in good soil carefully laid down, so the various Churches should have the same ground to preach sound doctrine.

Christians have had many disagreements, Methodism was the result of one, but at heart has always been the Bible. John Wesley said, ‘I want to know one thing; the ay to heaven, how to land on that happy shore.  God Himself has condescended to teach the way; He hath written it down in a book.  Give me that book, at any price give me that book’.

We are called on in those inspiring words, from one of the nation’s greatest Ministers, to turn to the Bible for guidance in all spiritual matters, and use it to correct wrong thinking; rebuke those who abuse; and encourage the depressed. How John Wesley would grieve if he saw how the current leaders have abused Scripture, who have cast aside the marriage service he laid down in the Methodist Worship Book.  This is one reason why so many Methodist Churches are so empty.

There is nothing more important than for us to be well grounded in what we believe about the Bible. It’s more than just a statement of faith. What we believe about the Bible is fundamental and foundational to everything else we are trying to do as a church.

Today there is a tendency for the Church to become worldly, and to compromise on doctrine.  The Church has been given exemption from the same sex marriage act, yet bishops and senior clergy were campaigning to be allowed to conduct such false ceremonies which directly contradict Scripture.  What Paul wrote all those years ago, can be clearly seen coming true today, people turning away from truth to suit their own desires.  Once you depart from the Word of God you are in a spiritual wilderness.

We live in a world of itching ears.  One clergyman told me we have to make people feel happy; that doctrine is boring and makes people feel guilty. But preachers are not here to tell people what they want to hear, so much as what they need to hear.  We are not maintaining a spiritual dispensary.

Jesus said ‘I will build my Church and the gate of hell shall not prevail against it’.  It seems at time as there are those within the Church who want to open the gates.

There is a basic question we should all ponder.  Why do we come to Church?  There are many answers, but the real purpose should be to worship God with reverence and awe; to learn about God and how He would want us to live.

In order to do this we need to know our Bibles and be prepared to accept what is taught there.  I know this will not be acceptable to some people within the Church, for it may condemn the way they are conducting their lives. 

The Bible has to be the supreme authority of the Church. I heard a Vicar state in her sermon that we should not take the Bible literally, and there are other Ministers who will say the same.  You should question them as to why not. We have been saturated by a world that is committed to falsehood. That is why, as Paul sets forth here, we must increasingly proclaim the truth as it is in Jesus.

The apostle reminds us that the most effective thing is, preach the word, announce the truth, tell of reality, make it clear, spread the word. and declare that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

You and I are called to advance that work. Like Timothy we are a tiny minority amidst an overwhelming majority committed to unbelief.  We face hostility on every side. Do not let anybody tell you that your life as a Christian does not count. It counts tremendously. Glory in what God has called you to do, and be faithful to his commands.

We are God’s representatives on earth and are losing the very essence of the Great Commission, which our Lord gave to his Apostles.

I have stated the Bible does not need any amendments,  A suggestion was made recently, to not call the place where we worship as a Church for some inane abstract reason. But JESUS stated I will build my C H U R C H,

Another suggestion was to begin the Lord’s prayer as Our Parent.  JESUS said, And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.  Pray like this, Our Father in heaven.

 There can be no doubt whatsoever that all the troubles in the Church to-day, and most of the troubles in the world, are due to a departure from the authority of the  Bible which has become to many people as just another old book, if its means anything.

The whole purpose of the Church is to preach the Word of God, we are not only failing to do that, there is actually preaching contrary to the Bible.

God has been forgotten in the modern Church

 

May the Lord open our hearts to His Word and may His Holy Name be praised and Glorified