God’s Oracles of Revelation
Dr. Robert Barnett
July 19-20, 2006
We thank our host Pastor Michael Monte and the
families of Calvary Baptist Church in Robbinsdale, Minnesota for
your gracious invitation to be with you for our 28th
Anniversary meeting of the Dean Burgon Society. It is a privilege to
be in Minnesota again. We remember being here with Pastor Charles
Nichols at Independent Baptist Church in Ramsey, MN back in 2001.
It is always a privilege to be on the platform
with our faithful DBS Founder and President, Dr. D. A. Waite. Dr.
Waite as our resident scholar in Bible Defense, it will be
encouraging to all of us to hear you answer again this traditional
question: Dr. Waite, over your many years of studying each book,
chapter, verse and word in the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek scriptures
underlying the translation of the Authorized 1611 King James Bible,
have you ever found any translation errors or mistakes in our 1769
Cambridge edition of the King James Bible?
The great theme of the book of Romans is the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ::
Romans 1:14 (KJV)
14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to
the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
Romans 1:15 (KJV)
15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to
preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Romans 1:16 (KJV)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:17 (KJV)
17 For therein is the righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live
by faith.
Paul said he owed all human beings the gospel of
Jesus Christ – "I am debtor." Paul said, "I am ready to preach the
gospel. Paul said, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ."
The gospel of Jesus Christ can never be presented
completely or biblically unless it includes God’s wrath upon those
who reject His gospel as well as God’s love upon those who will
believe and receive it.
Romans 1:18 (KJV)
"18 For the wrath of God is revealed from
heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold
the truth in unrighteousness."
The Pagan man is proven to be under God’s wrath
in Romans 1:19-32.
The Moral man is proven to be under God’s wrath
in Romans 2:1-16
The Religious man is proven to be under God’s
wrath in Romans 2:17-29
To those Jews who may have taken offense at being
told they were also sinners under God’s wrath, Paul reminded them of
their privileged position and opportunity:
A. The Question of Jewish blessings from God v. 1
Romans 3:1 (KJV)
1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what
profit is there of circumcision?
Paul had just reminded them of how proud they
were of being called a Jew. They thought being Jews, and knowing
God’s law, and being circumcised were all that was necessary for
their salvation. But Paul reminded them they needed an inward
circumcision in their hearts and not just outward symbols and
ceremonies.
Romans 2:17 (KJV)
17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and
restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
Romans 2:28 (KJV)
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one
outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in
the flesh:
Romans 2:29 (KJV)
29 But he is a Jew, which is one
inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the
spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of
men, but of God. John the Baptist:had also warning them.
Luke 3:8 (KJV)
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of
repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have
Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is
able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Jesus Christ had warned them in John 8:37-44 they
were following their father the Devil and not father Abraham..:
John 8:41 (KJV)
41Ye do the deeds of your father.
Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have
one Father, even God.
Like Esau they had sold their birthright for a
mess of pottage:
Genesis 25:32 (KJV)
32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the
point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
Hebrews 12:16 (KJV)
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or
profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his
birthright.
Malachi described their nation which had reached
this point:
Malachi 3:14 (KJV)
14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve
God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance,
and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
Even Job’s wife would say:
Job 2:9 (KJV)
9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou
still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
But Job’s testimony of faith would remain:
Job 1:21 (KJV)
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s
womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD
hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
A. The Question of Jewish blessings from God v. 1
B. The Quantity and Quality of Jewish blessings
from God v. 2
Romans 3:2 (KJV)
2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto
them were committed the oracles of God.
1. The Jews had much in every way because they
possessed God’s oracles.
Romans 9:4 (KJV)
4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth
the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants,
and the giving of the law, and the service
of God, and the promises;
2. The oracles of God are the Holy Scriptures of
God
The Bible is a Jewish book which reveals a Jewish
God, a Jewish Savior Jesus Christ, a Jewish land, Israel, a Jewish
capital Jerusalem, a Jewish throne of David, and a Jewish kingdom to
come. All these truths were revealed to the Jews in the oracles of
God.
3. The Jews were aware of this glorious
privilege:
Deuteronomy 4:7 (KJV)
7 For what nation is there so
great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD
our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
Deuteronomy 4:8 (KJV)
8 And what nation is there so great, that
hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law,
which I set before you this day?
4. The Jews knew they had a God-given command and
responsibility to preserve the Holy Scriptures generation by
generation in an unbroken traditional text..
Psalm 78:4 (KJV)
4 We will not hide them from
their children, showing to the generation to come the praises
of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath
done.
Psalm 78:5 (KJV)
5 For he established a testimony in
Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he
commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their
children:
Psalm 78:6 (KJV)
6 That the generation to come might know
them, even the children which should be
born; who should arise and declare them to their
children:
Psalm 78:7 (KJV)
7 That they might set their hope in God,
and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
5. The oracles of God which were entrusted
or placed in trust to the O.T. Jews, were also entrusted to His
saints in N.T. churches:
Romans 3:2 (KJV)
2Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them
were committed the oracles of God.
1 Timothy 3:15 (KJV)
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest
know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which
is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of
the truth.
6. The oracles of God’s Scriptures were received
as living oracles to share
Acts 7:38 (KJV)
38 This is he, that was in the church in the
wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and
with our fathers: who received the lively oracles
to give unto us:
a. The lively oracles were received by divine
revelation
b. We are born-again with this living word:
1 Peter 1:23 (KJV)
23 Being born again, not of
corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which
liveth and abideth for ever.
c. We are born-again unto a living hope
1 Peter 1:3 (KJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath
begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead,
d. We are build up as living stones in a
spiritual house
1 Peter 2:5 (KJV)
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up
a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
7. The oracles are God’s Scriptures of
milk & meat to nourish us.
Hebrews 5:12 (KJV)
12 For when for the time ye ought to be
teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the
first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such
as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
a. The oracles of God are milk for newborn babies
1 Peter 2:2 (KJV)
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk
of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
1 Corinthians 3:1 (KJV)
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you
as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes
in Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:2 (KJV)
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with
meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it,
neither yet now are ye able.
Hebrews 5:13 (KJV)
13 For every one that useth milk is
unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
b. The oracles of God are meat for mature
believers
Hebrews 5:14 (KJV)
14 But strong meat belongeth to them
that are of full age, even those who by reason of
use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
1 Corinthians 2:12 (KJV)
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of
the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the
things that are freely given to us of God.
1 Corinthians 2:13 (KJV)
13 Which things also we speak, not in the
words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost
teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
8. God’s oracles remain as God’s Scriptures to be
preached by us
a. Our preaching must be as the oracles of God
1 Peter 4:11 (KJV)
11 If any man speak, let him speak
as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it
as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be
glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for
ever and ever. Amen
1 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV)
13 For this cause also thank we God without
ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye
heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is
in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you
that believe.
c. Our preaching must be the traditional text as
preserved by believers in churches.
1 Thessalonians 2:14 (KJV)
14 For ye, brethren, became followers of
the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye
also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they
have of the Jews:
1 Timothy 3:15 (KJV)
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest
know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which
is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the
truth.
Like O.T. Jews who preserved their text
generation by generation, N.T. Christians believe and follow the
preserved, traditional, received text of the churches of God down
through the centuries.
A. The Question of Jewish blessings from God v. 1
B. The Quantity and Quality of Jewish blessings
from God v. 2
C. The Quandary about Jewish blessings from God
v. 3,4
1.. Unbelief does not change or negate God’s
oracles of truth
Romans 3:3 (KJV)
3 For what if some did not believe? shall
their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? Unbelief in
God’s words changes neither the facts or faith God has revealed.
Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out
of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall
accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing
whereto I sent it.
Numbers 23:19 (KJV)
19 God is not a man, that he should
lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said,
and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not
make it good?
2 Timothy 2:13 (KJV)
13 If we believe not, yet he abideth
faithful: he cannot deny himself.
Hebrews 4:2 (KJV)
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as
well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not
being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
1.. Unbelief does not change or negate God’s
oracles of truth
2. Unbelief does not change or negate God’s
person as true v. 4
Romans 3:4 (KJV)
4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but
every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified
in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
a. King David emphasized this truth when he
confessed his sins
Psalm 51:4 (KJV)
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned,
and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be
justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Hebrews 6:13 (KJV)
13 For when God made promise to Abraham,
because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
Hebrews 6:14 (KJV)
14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless
thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
Hebrews 6:15 (KJV)
15 And so, after he had patiently endured,
he obtained the promise.
Hebrews 6:16 (KJV)
16 For men verily swear by the greater: and
an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
Hebrews 6:17 (KJV)
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to
show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel,
confirmed it by an oath:
Hebrews 6:18 (KJV)
18 That by two immutable things, in which
it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong
consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set
before us:
Deuteronomy 32:4 (KJV)
4 He is the Rock, his work is
perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and
without iniquity, just and right is he.
Psalm 138:2 (KJV)
2 I will worship toward thy holy temple,
and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for
thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
John 3:33 (KJV)
33 He that hath received his testimony hath
set to his seal that God is true.
Closing:application:
1. The wrath of God is revealed against all who
hold God’s truth in unrighteousness:
Romans 1:18 (KJV)
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from
heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold
the truth in unrighteousness;
2. Holding God’s truth in unbelief is
holding God’s truth in unrighteousness.
Romans 3:3 (KJV)
3 For what if some did not believe? shall
their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
If unbelief of God’s oracles by the O.T. Jews did
not alter God’s facts or faith, how can higher or lower criticism by
so-called N.T. Christians alter God’s facts or faith today?
On the contrary, Their unbelief only confirms
their sinful position of abiding under God’s wrath for holding God’s
truth in unrighteousness.
This is why we should stand up and say with Paul:
Romans 1:16 (KJV)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:17 (KJV)
17 For therein is the righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live
by faith.
Unbelief in any part of God’s Holy Scripture is
the antithesis or direct opposite of faith. Therefore, just as faith
in God’s word reveals God’s righteousness, unbelief in God’s word
reveals God’s wrath for holding God’s truth in unrighteousness.
3. Holding God’s truth in unbelief is
holding God’s person to be a liar.
Romans 3:4 (KJV)
4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but
every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified
in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Unbelief in God’s Holy Scripture proves
ungodliness and unrighteousness in men for holding God’s person to
be a liar. As the psalmist said in Psalm 138:2: "I will worship
toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness
and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy
name."
For man to understate, undervalue, cast doubt
upon or deny any portion of God’s word is to question or deny the
veracity of God’s name and person.
4God forbid: yea, let God be true,
but every man a liar…." Anyone who denies any part of God’s
oracles concerning His person, work, or word is a liar! I believe
anyone who denies a single book, chapter, verse or word of the Bible
I hold in my hands is a liar.God will judge him or her some day with
the very words they deny.
John 12:48 (KJV)
48He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my
words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the
same shall judge him in the last day.
"All our hopes for eternity, the very
foundation of faith; our nearest and dearest consolations, are taken
from us, if one line of that sacred book (the Bible) be declared
unfaithful or untrustworthy." (Excerpt from Protest of the
Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of England in united protest
to Bishop Colenso, 1863).
We know absolutely beyond a shadow of a doubt
that we have forgiveness of sins and eternal life through faith in
God’s record concerning His Son!!
1 John 5:12 (KJV)
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and
he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
1 John 5:13 (KJV)
13 These things have I written unto you that
believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have
eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
(Bold Print Added for Emphasis)
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