Christ Exalting, Self Abasing

As Christians, we must never be self promoting but always Christ promoting. The Bible teaches Christ-esteem, not self-esteem. We learn this from John the Baptiser who was a servant of God par excellence because of his humility. He knew His Lord and Saviour, and his place and role in God’s kingdom. He knew his position in relation to His Master who preceded him and who is preferred before him. John knew only too well that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God Himself, and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He pointed and directed people to Christ all the time. He realised that his ministry came from God in the first place. Without God, he was nothing. His ministry and the success that followed came from God Himself. There was nothing for him to boast about. All credit must go to God and God alone.

When Jesus finally went into public ministry, John rejoiced over the fact that more people were going to Jesus for baptism than to him (John 3:25-36). John reminded the people that he was not the Christ, just His forerunner. Christ is the Bridegroom. The Church which is His Bride belongs to Him and no one else (2 Cor 11:2). John was but a “friend of the bridegroom” or the bridegroom’s best man. The bridegroom is the centre of attention at a wedding, not the best man. He is there only to assist the groom. That was why John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” This ought to be the motto of every believer and servant of God.

John exalted Jesus by telling the people who Jesus really is. Jesus is God Himself. He comes from heaven. He speaks the Word of God infallibly and authoritatively. He is filled with the Spirit without limit. The Father loves Him and has given all things to Him. All of mankind will have to answer to Him. He is both Saviour and Judge. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36).

We are nothing, He is everything. “Him exalting, self abasing—This is victory.” JK

“Is the Bible Perfect Today?”

A Report by Dr Jose Lagapa on the Bible Conference at Central Mindanao University, Philippines, 19-20 December 2011

Praise the Lord for the successful Bible Conference held in Central Mindanao University, Bukidnon, the Philippines last December 19-20, 2011. The Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo spoke on the theme, “Is the Bible Perfect Today?” He taught the twin doctrines of the Bible’s Verbal Plenary Inspiration (VPI) and Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP) to 87 registered participants comprising mostly pastors from Fundamental Baptist, Bible Baptist and Independent Baptist churches in Mindanao. Deacons, Bible women, church leaders and other interested Christians were also present.

The conference was organised because of a burden from the LORD. It is sad to see many of the fundamental and conservative Christian churches in the Philippines switching from the good old King James Version (KJV) to the modern English versions such as the New International Version (NIV) and New American Standard Bible (NASB). Recent graduates from Bible seminaries are now using more of the modern versions than the KJV. They claim that these versions are more readable and understandable. Many of the Bible-believing and Bible-defending pastors in Mindanao who saw this tragic downgrade have been praying for such a Bible conference. Indeed the LORD paved the way for this conference to be held all for His glory and honour.

Dr Khoo started the series of lectures on the Inspiration of the Bible. He underscored the inspiration of the written words of Scripture, not the writers of Scripture. The second lecture was on the canonicity of the Bible. Dr Khoo highlighted the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding the Christians in the 4^th century to identify the inspired books that comprise our Bible today. The third lecture was on the preservation of the Bible. Dr Khoo expounded on the many verses from the Old Testament and New Testament where God promised He would always preserve His inspired words. The promise of the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 5:18 on the preservation of His words to the jot and tittle was particularly emphasised.

The final lecture concentrated on the translation of the Bible. Dr Khoo explained why the Hebrew Masoretic Text underlying the KJV has to be taken as the inspired and preserved Old Testament Text. He also showed the differences between the two Greek Texts available today, namely, the Textus Receptus (Received Text) which is the divinely preserved text and the Westcott-Hort Text (or Critical Text) which is the corrupt text. He showed how the modern translations today reflect the corruptions found in the Westcott-Hort text. The KJV, on the other hand, is based on the authentic and authoritative text of the Reformation which is the Textus Receptus.

Dr Khoo also emphasised the need to use Bible versions which employ the correct method of translation, namely the word-for-word or verbal equivalence method as used by the KJV translators. The dynamic equivalence which is a subjective and interpretive thought-for- thought method has resulted in further corruptions in many of the modern English versions.

Since the KJV is based on the divinely preserved text and translated by means of the verbal equivalence method, it can be held up as the Word of God. After four centuries, the KJV has proven itself to be the best, most faithful, most accurate, most beautiful translation of the Bible in the English language. There was a Q&A session at the end for the pastors to ask any questions they might have about the Bible. Many questions regarding alleged errors, mistranslations and archaic words used in the KJV were cleared up.

The video—“The Indestructible Book” (Vols 3 & 4)—screened one evening revealed the terrible persecution Christians who loved the Bible had to go through during the Dark Ages. Men who translated the Scriptures into their native tongues were cruelly tortured and burnt to death by the Roman Catholic Church. The participants were greatly moved by the video that they desired to have their own copies for their own members to watch. They claimed one of the reasons for the lukewarm attitude of Christians today is their ignorance of how the early believers lived and died for their faith.

The conference concluded with testimonies from pastors who had been yearning and praying for years for this kind of a conference. It was encouraging to hear testimonies from participating pastors who testified of their joy to hear such wonderful teachings based on the sole and supreme authority of the Holy Scriptures. They shared that many of the things they heard were not taught to them during their seminary days. They were blessed by the precious doctrines of God’s Word. One pastor commented that the lectures left no place for dispute; it’s either you obey the truth or you continue in the false way (the use of modern English versions). In fact, all of them requested for another conference of the same nature next year.

We praise the LORD for His mercy and compassion upon His people in Mindanao, Philippines. The LORD is so good to give them the opportunity to hear the truth. God showered His blessings upon His people, providing for all their physical needs, meals, lodging, travelling expenses. Praise the LORD for the Christians of like- minded Bible-Presbyterian churches in Singapore for their support of this conference.