Monday, August 3, 2009

Upon that Rock I stand

Years ago, the great American preacher, Vance Havner, preached a message called "Upon that Rock I stand". It was a great and inspirational message. If you ever find it on the 'Net, it is worth your time and bandwidth to download and listen to it.

I wanted to use this post to make it abundantly clear upon what Rock I stand.

I am saved by the grace of God, by faith in Jesus Christ, and repentance from sins. Upon that Rock I stand.

I am a Baptist, and an Independent one at that. No local Church ought to look to any authority anywhere on earth, other than in the pages of the King James Bible. Upon that Rock I stand.

I am a Baptist, and an Independent one at that. But I am not a Baptist Brider. They have done more damage to the cause of Christ than any other group of saved people I know of. And upon that Rock I stand. Christ said "Upon this rock I will build my Church". I have heard Brider preachers actually deliberately MISquote this as "upon this rock I will build my Churches", but it did not say that. Christ's Church is singular. If you want to be a Baptist Brider, please at least have the integrity to admit that you are not a King James Bible believer. You CANNOT be both. Every brider eventually corrects the King James Bible. They have to, because the King James Bible exposes all of the errors of the Brider position. Aund upon that Rock I stand.

I am a King James Bible believer. By this, I mean that the Bible I read on a daily basis (don't try to cloud the waters by talking about differences between a 1611, 1613, or 1769 etc.) is Supernaturally GIVEN BY INSPIRATION (as it says) and is therefore EQUAL TO any "original manuscript" in authority, but in most senses actually SUPERIOR TO the "original manuscripts. And upon that Rock I stand. (Superior in that you can read a King James Bible, but the originals no longer exist. Superior in that it is my native tongue, and Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew are not my native tongues. Superior in that the English KJV is more wide-spread than the original tongues ever were. Superior in that more people were saved through the KJV than through the original tongues.

I am wise to the brethren, nice folks though they might be, who seek to APPEAR to be Bible Believers, when they are not. They "use" the KJV. They "prefer" the KJV. They "use nothing but" the KJV. And yet the call me a "Ruckmanite". For the record, I am NOT a Ruckmanite. It is a name used to smear anyone who stands strongly for the King James Bible. For the record, most Independent Baptist Preachers in Australia DO NOT BELIEVE the King James Bible is 100% free from error, given by inspiration. Don't believe me? Ask them! And be aware - they are very clever at avoiding the issue, and making it SOUND LIKE they are, when they really aren't, and they know they aren't, but they are "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. From such turn away." And upon that Rock I stand. And sometimes, you have to be in the minority to make the right stand.

I am confident that my Saviour will return at the Rapture during my lifetime. The sooner the better. Until then, I will seek to build a Philadelphian Church whilst surrounded by Laodiceans. Yes, it is "hard to soar like an eagle when surrounded by turkeys", but I also know that "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me". And upon that Rock I stand.

It is about time God's people started taking a stand. Corny but true, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything". Ephesians 6 says "And having done all, to stand." Don't cower. Don't stoop. Don't waver. Don't apologise. Don't retreat. STAND!

Purpose of my Blog.

Welcome to my blog!

Finally, I, an IT nerd of all people, bite the bullet and join the 21st century. Blogging. How unlike me. I intend to use my blog, not for work purposes, and not really so much for social purposes, but to provide my Christian brothers and sisters up to date information on our ministry at Bible Baptist Church.

Of course, there is a lot of other stuff happening in life too, and from time to time, I may comment on other things. The impending birth of our second son is a notable example.

I trust you don't find my blog too boring. If it is, well, you are always welcome to leave and read someone else's blog. Or better yet, stop blogging. Get off the Internet, and soak your head in the Bible for a while. It will do you a world of good!

Cheers for now,
Ben Smoker.