The Bible: The Final Court of Appeal

 

It is not a question of what I think, or of what any one else thinks—it is, What says the Scriptures? It is not a matter of what any church or creed teaches—it is, What teaches the Bible? God has spoken, and that ends the matter: “Forever, 0 Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven.” Therefore, it is for me to bow to His authority, to submit to His Word, to cease all quibbling and cry, “Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.” Because the Bible is God’s Word, it is the final court of appeal in all things pertaining to doctrine, duty, and deportment.

This was the position taken by our Lord Himself. When tempted by Satan, He declined to argue with him, He refused to overwhelm him with the force of His superior wisdom, He scorned to crush him with a putting forth of His almighty power—”It is written” was His defense for each assault. At the beginning of His public ministry, when He went to Nazareth where most of His thirty years had been lived, He performed no wonderful miracle but entered the synagogue, read from the Prophet Isaiah and said, “This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:21). In His teaching upon the Rich Man and Lazarus, He insisted that “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16: 31)—thus signifying that the authority of the written Word is of greater weight and worth than the testimony and appeal of miracles. When vindicating before the Jews His claim of Deity (John 5) He appealed to the testimony of John the Baptist (vs. 32), to His own works (vs. 36), to the Father’s own witness—at His baptism (vs. 37), and then—as though they were the climax—He said—”Search the Scriptures, they are they which testify of Me” (vs. 39).

This was the position taken by the Apostles. When Peter would justify the speaking with other tongues, he appealed to the Prophet Joel (Acts 2:16). When seeking to prove to the Jews that Jesus of Nazareth was their Messiah, and that He had risen, again from the dead, he appealed to the testimony of the Old Testament (Acts 2). When Stephen made his defense before the “counsel” he did “little more than review the teaching of Moses and the prophets. When Saul and Barnabas set out on their first missionary journey they “preached the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews” (Acts 13:5). In his Epistles, the Apostle continually pauses to ask—”What saith the Scripture?” (Rom. 4:3, etc.)—if the Scripture gave a clear utterance upon the subject under discussion that ended the matter: against their testimony there was no appeal. – A. W. Pink

 

The Lord’s Day Services

 Sunday, July 3rd 11:00a.m. Morning Service – Dr. McClelland
Communion Service – Rev. Sterritt
6:00p.m. Pre-Service Prayer Meeting
6:30p.m. Evening Service – Pastor Daniel Olson – Immanuel Bible Church

Weekly Announcements

Wednesday, July 6th 7:25p.m. Prayer Meeting & Bible Study

– Mr. Steven McClelland

Advance Announcements

Sunday, July 10th 11:00a.m. Morning Service – Mr. Roger Valenziano
6:00p.m. Pre-service prayer time
6:30p.m. Evening Service – Dr. McClelland
Wednesday, July 13th 7:25p.m. Prayer Meeting & Bible Study – Rev. Alan Dunlop

Please Pray For:

Sunday School Summer Schedule

Starting July 3rd, all Sunday school programs will commence at 11:00a.m., this will give our teachers a break over the summer months.

Front Entrance Project

For over a year now the church board has been working on plans for a major renovation to the front entrance of the church to allow for easier access. This will include a reworking of the driveway to allow vehicles to drop off passengers closer to the door and a canopy for weather protection. The church has already received a substantial donation towards this project and if you would like to contribute, please mark your envelope “Front Entrance Project”. Construction is to begin mid July and alternative access to the church will be posted. Thank you for your patience and pray that all will be done to the glory of God.

Vacation Bible School – August 8 – 12, 2016

We will be holding our Vacation Bible School program during the week of August 8th – 12th in the evening, if you are interested in helping, please sign the sheet in the foyer of the church.

40th Anniversary Services – September 16th – 19th, 2016

Please be in prayer for these special meetings, marking 40 years of God’s grace and provision in this ministry.

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An anniversary choir is being prepared for these special services. Anyone who has been in our church choir in the last 40 years is welcome. Rehearsals will begin in late August. Please plan to join us.