More and more churches have focused their efforts on getting people inside their doors. They attempt to accomplish this through a variety of efforts, such as the Pastor presenting “pop-psych” sermon topics (that are kept very brief, highly emotional, and avoid “touchy” topics); high-tech, contemporary “worship” services; social and political activity programs; etc. But here at PFBC, we’re always emphasizing the Bible. Every class and church service is deliberately focused on an in-depth, expositional study of the Bible. Why?
First, because we believe the Holy Bible, the traditional sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, to be the one and only Word of the one and only living God. The majority of people on the earth, including the majority of those who claim to be “Christians,” believe there are many equally valid gods in many equally valid religions with their own equally valid religious texts. If this is so, then the Bible is the most corrupt and false book of them all; for the Bible claims to be the exclusive Word of the one and only God (De. 4:39; 1 Ki. 8:60; Is. 45:22; 1 Co. 8:4; Is. 55:11; Mt. 4:4; 5:17-18).
Second, because we believe in the verbal (the words), plenary (every one of them) inspiration (is “God-breathed”) of the Bible – that every word (no matter how small or “insignificant”) is God’s Word; and therefore, it is 100% inerrant (without mistakes), infallible (flawlessly preserved in the Original Texts), and the complete authority over life. It is not a book about God; it is the Book from God! The majority opinion in Christendom is that the Bible is a “good book” written about God by Jews and early Christians who were driven by mythical beliefs and adamant opinions, and that it is, therefore, filled with errors and myths. However, the Bible makes clear statements to the contrary (2 Ti. 3:16-17; 2 Pe. 1:19-21; 1 Co. 2:10-13; 1 Pe. 1:25).
Third, because we believe that the regular, systematic exposition of the Scriptures exactly as God gave (“inspired”) them is how we should approach the study of the Bible. Is there room for “topical” study? Of course, but never as a substitute for an expositional (verse by verse) exegesis (careful study) of the Bible. Such an approach to Bible study ought to be according to a strictly literal, historical, grammatical context – in other words, we believe that in His written Word, God said exactly what He meant and meant exactly what He said, to whom He said, when He said, the way He said the exacts words He said (1 Ti. 4:12-16; 2 Ti. 4:1-4).
Fourth, because we believe the Bible provides for us Christian everything we need to live life in a godly manner. Again, most who claim to be “Christian” have other ideas they consider to be equally as valuable, including the ideals of humanistic psychology, the principles of man-made religious rituals, and the emotion-driven feelings of mystical experiences. However, the Bible makes its claim quite clear – thus, God said it, that settles it, and we need to believe it (Mt. 4:4; Jms. 1:22; 2 Pe. 1:3-4).
If the Bible is not everything it claims to be then we Bible-believing Christians (what many derogatorily call “Bible thumpers”) are the most supreme dupes, for we are basing the entirety of our present lives and future hope on what it says. The Bible is either fully and exactly what it claims, or it is the most meticulously crafted lie in the history of the world!
If the Bible is everything it claims to be then we Christians ought to pay much more attention to it than we do. Can anyone among us truthfully say that we have read and studied and obeyed the Bible “enough”? Do we point others to God’s Word “enough”?
Why do we at PFBC emphasize the Bible so much? Because of what it is, what it says, who we are, what we need, and ultimately, Who the Author is.
Think about it!
