Modern Views Of The Bible

  1. INTRODUCTION:

    1. SCRIPTURE READING: I Timothy 6:20-21 = :O Timothy, keep that which is committed 
      to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babbling, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith, Grace be with thee, Amen.      "
    2. THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THE BIBLE HELD AT DIFFERENT 
      TIMES.
    3. THIS STUDY IS OF THE VIEWS NOW HELD BY THOSE WHO ARE RECOGNIZED 
      AS MODERNISTS.

  2. DISCUSSION:

    1. MODERNISM, WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT:
      1. Scheiermscher, "the father of modern theology" [1768-1834]
        1. A theology hostile to the supernatural revelation of Christianity.
        2. Religion is not a body of doctrine or system of conduct but man’s experiences.
        3. Feeling and "the Christian conscience" obviates, or makes unnecessary, the 
          authority of God’s word.
      2. Modernism is an ancient heresy with new and modern trimmings:
        1. It harbors many heretical teachings condemned by the early church such as:
          1. Arianism: The doctrine that Christ was not the eternal Son of God.
          2. Dynamic Monarchianism: That God is one in person as well as in nature.
          3. Socinianism: Rationalistic explanation of sin, salvation, and the like.
          4. ETC.
        2. Modernism, as a method of discovering truth, is relative new to today’s church.
      3. Modernism –
        1. Is not "modern things" in the church as Kitchens, fellowship halls, located preachers, and ETC.
        2. It is also known as:
          1. Liberalism: A movement in contemporary Protestantism emphasizing 
            intellectual liberty and the spiritual and ethical content of Christianity.
          2. Neo-orthodoxy: The holding of Christian faith as formulated in church creeds and confessions.
    2. MODERNISM, AS IT VIEWS THE ORIGIN OF THE BIBLE:
      1. The Bible did not come from God.
        1. It is not a supernatural revelation from a higher creature to a lower one.
        2. It does not contain absolute and unalterable truth.
        3. It is a product of evolution. Man grew into a religion then fabricated a Bible.
      2. The Bible originated in primitive and childlike ideas and concepts.
      3. It is no wonder that Modernism is totally different from Christianity as:
        1. The foundation of Christianity is the Bible.
        2. The foundation of modernism is the shifting emotions of sinful men.
    3. MODERNIST REGARD FOR THE BIBLE:
      1. The Old Testament:
        1. A record of human experiences written by ordinary men.
        2. A patchwork of imagination and superstitions.
        3. The problem is distinguishing between:
          1. What is truth and that which is false.
          2. What is myth and that which is reality.
        4. The idea of God:
          1. Cruel and blood thirsty.

            2. Genesis 6:5-7 = "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great 
            in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart 
            was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had 
            made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the 
            LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face 
            of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the 
            fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.            "

            Leviticus 10:1-3 = "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took 
            either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense 
            thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he
            commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, 
            and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses 
            said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be 
            sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I 
            will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.            "

          2. His morals are crude and vulgar.
          3. He is not a God to be desired.
      2. The New Testament:
        1. The gospels are pure fiction.
        2. The records of the New Testament cannot be proved.
        3. Christ, the main character, is an ethical Christ, not a saving Messiah.
          1. He is the supreme revelation of God whose ethical teachings are marvelous.
          2. His teachings establish a community where men serve one another out of 
            love.
          3. Redemptive power is in his life rather than in His atoning death.
        4. Miracles are all myths; or can be naturally explained.
        5. Second coming of Christ conjured by emotionally intoxicated disciples and is false.

  3. CONCLUSION:

    1. ALL FALSE DOCTRINES SEEK TO GET MEN AWAY FROM THE BIBLE.
    2. MODERNISM IS A DANGEROUS PHILOSOPHY IN THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND RELIGIOUS FIELD.
    3. YET THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY MEANS OF SUPPLYING ALL OF MAN’S NEEDS:
      2 Timothy 3:16-17       = "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
    4. CHRIST IS MAN’S ONLY WAY TO GOD:

      5. John 14:6 = "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
      cometh unto the Father, but by me.      "

      1. Christ binds His way of man for man’s own good.
      2. The contrast between good and evil. John 10:10 = "The thief cometh not, but for to
        steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.        "
        1. There is life to dead souls. Ephesians 2:1-5 = "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked
          according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power
          of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
          Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy,for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)          "
        2. We are complete in Christ. Colossians 2:9-10 = "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the
          head of all principality and power:          "
        3. Peace and joy come through Christ. Philippians 4:7 = "And the peace of God,
          which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus          .          "
      3. The gospel of Christ is a philosophy upon which every relationship of life can be safely sustained:
        1. With fellow creatures of God’s creation.
        2. With the world.
        3. With God.
        4. Or to put it in other words: Socially, Economically, and Spiritually
    5. THE WORLD WITH ITS PHILOSOPHY WILL BE JUDGED BY CHRIST:
      1. Worldly wisdom is foolishness with God. 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 = "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain."
      2. Everyone of us will give an accounting to the Lord. Romans 14:11-12 = "For it is
        written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue
        shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to
        God.        "
      3. Before the Lord every knee will one day bow. Philippians 2:10 = "That at the name of
        Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;        "
      4. The Word of God will judge every man. John 12:48-50 = "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. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak."
    6. WE ARE TOLD NOT TO LOVE THIS WORLD:
      1. The world will come to an end and pass away.

        2. I John 2:15-17 = "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If
        any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in
        the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is
        not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.        "

        2 Peter 3:10-18 = "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in
        the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements
        shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up        . Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
        To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.        "

      2. The only true rest for our souls is in Christ. Matthew 11:28-30 = "Come unto me, all ye
        that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light        ."

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