We believe that:
- The
Bible is the reliable, sure, dependable word of God, inspired by the
Holy Spirit and given by God for the benefit of humanity.
- The autographs—the
very original and first writings given by the direct and immediate
inspiration of the Holy Spirit—are the absolute words
of God, true in every respect. That being said, we do not believe—strictly
speaking—that the surviving papyrus copies in Greek and Hebrew,
or the translations made from them are the directly or immediately
inspired work of the Holy Spirit. Rather, they are the reproductions
of the inspired autographs, wherein the truth of the autographs has
been somewhat obscured by error and deceit of fallen, sinful human
beings and are therefore to a degree imperfect reproductions.
- Notwithstanding,
it is obvious to us that God has chosen to destroy the autographs
or else has chosen not to reveal them to us for His own inscrutable
reasons, and in order to suit His divine and infallible purposes.
That the autographs are not needed for the work of salvation is evident
and irrefutable.
- All translations,
including the KJV, are to one degree or another, imperfect reproductions
and are to be read and studied in that light. But to the degree that
a translation is closer to the surviving manuscript witnesses, is
a word-for-word translation of them or is functionally equivalent
to them, it can be considered dependable and true. In this regard
we believe that the Byzantine Text is a sufficiently true and accurate
copy of God’s inspired autographs. We have come to believe that
the Byzantine Text, and therefore the various translations based upon
it is, on balance, a completely dependable witness. But we also believe
this concerning the so called Critical Text. In any event, we must
ultimately cast ourselves upon the Holy Spirit, speaking to us from
His holy word (WCF 1:10; Matt 22:29, 31; Eph 2:20; Acts 28:25) trusting
in His providential care of His own precious Word. In
this regard, it is undoubtedly the meticulous and thorough exegesis
under the leading of the Holy Spirit that will produce the greatest
spiritual fruit.
- The claim made
by KJV Only advocates—that this translation, exclusive of any
and all other translations, is the very word of God, identical in
its direct and immediate inspiration with the autographs—we
believe to be untrue, not because of any lack of ability on the part
of God to have made it so, but because of the inherent and abiding
sinfulness of all people.
- The Bible, taken
as a whole, is the record of redemption of God's elect, made possible
and only possible, through the sacrifice of Christ for the expiation
of sin and the propitiation of God on behalf of all those who partake
of this saving grace. It is the story of God's love for His people
and His plan to redeem them and keep them forever.
- Any parts of
the Bible which we as individuals are unable to understand or that
seem to be contradictory or impossible are simply parts that have
not been revealed to us either because of our own ignorance and sin
or because God has, for His own inscrutable reasons, willed not to
reveal those parts to us until such a time as He sees fit.
- The Bible is
the reliable and sure guide for the Christian life. It is a living
book, having relevance for us today as it did for the people of previous
times. This is so because there can be no difference between God's
truth and His being. God's truth can only be an expression of who
God truly and surely is. In the pages of His truth, which is Holy
Scripture, God has clearly revealed how He would have us live, therefore
we are devoid of excuses to live otherwise.
- The Bible teaches
us to know, love and obey God in the three persons of the Godhead:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- The Bible teaches
us that we are to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, with
all our minds, with all our souls and with all our strength. But you
cannot truly love what you do not truly believe.
- The Bible, from
the first book to the last, bears witness to Jesus Christ, Son of
God, High Priest, King, Prophet, who died because of the love of God
for the world, to save us from sin in a loving relationship and so
provide those who believe with adoption by the Father through the
Son and, finally, resurrection at the last and life everlasting in
the presence of our God.
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