This morning I was glancing at Facebook and stumbled across a post by Franklin Graham that goes along with the sermon from this past Sunday concerning God’s immutability. His information evidently came from a recent survey of evangelical pastors. The following is what Mr. Graham posted:
‘I don’t know which 1,000 pastors this group surveyed, but the results are concerning. 39% of “evangelical” pastors surveyed recently said there is no absolute moral truth and that “each individual must determine their own truth.” What a lie. They also said that, shockingly, 30% of evangelical pastors do not believe that their salvation is based on having confessed their sins and accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior. Researchers also found that one-third or more of the senior pastors they surveyed said they believe that people can merit salvation based solely on their good works. The Bible is God’s Word, from cover to cover. It is the absolute truth – we should live by it, and we can die by it. On Christ the Solid Rock I stand. I can only agree with Mr. Graham’s conclusion, as thisis nothing less than an attack on God’s Word, from the inside.
Unfortunately, when God brought judgment on His two Old Testament nations, first Israel and then twice on Judah (by the Babylonians and then the Romans), it was first and foremost because of a rejection of Him and His Word. II Timothy 3:16 declares that ‘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 thoroughly furnished unto all good works.’ This means that all that is in the Bible is inerrant, for God (The Holy Spirit), who gave it to us, cannot err.
Proverbs 14:12 says that ‘There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.’ If this survey, provided by Franklin Graham is accurate, this is where their shepherds are leading them.
In Ezekiel 34, God pronounced judgment on the false shepherds of Israel that were supposed to be feeding and caring for His flock, but only cared and looked after themselves, so that the sheep were scattered. Because of this, God declared that He Himself would search out His sheep and put one shepherd over them to look after them. We know that God did this in the person of His Son, who is ‘The Good Shepherd’ (John 10:11).
After Peter’s repentance from denying His Lord during the Crucifixion, Jesus three times commanded Peter to “Feed My sheep” (John 21:15-17). It was Jesus’ way of telling Peter to look after His flock and feed them the true message related to eternal life. That is the shepherd’s job, to feed His sheep the right spiritual food (sound teachings of Scripture) while, also, protecting them from wolves in sheep’s clothing (‘false prophets’ – Matthew 7:15). It is our determined purpose at Airport Baptist Church to do just that.
Come join us this Sunday, and feast with us on the bread of life (John 6:35) that God has provided for us in His Holy Word.
For God’s glory and His alone,
Pastor Terry.