This series is a response to Lane Keister’s response to my previous series about his heresy. You can read his response here. It’s a doozy. In 532 words he promotes 12 distinct heresies and demonstrates he doesn’t understand the basic principles of hermeneutics.
Final Exhortation: Holding Fast to the Truth
In every age, the church faces challenges that test its commitment to the authority and integrity of Scripture. Compromise on foundational doctrines, particularly the preservation of God’s Word, inevitably leads to spiritual decay, doctrinal instability, and the erosion of the church’s mission. As we conclude this series, we must consider the cost of compromise and the necessity of standing unwaveringly for the truth of God’s preserved and infallible Word.
1. The Cost of Compromise
A. Rejecting Textual Preservation: A Path to Decay
The doctrine of textual preservation, rooted in God’s promises to safeguard His Word, is essential to the church’s faith and practice. When this doctrine is compromised or redefined, the church opens itself to the following dangers:
- Loss of Doctrinal Authority
- The Bible’s authority rests on its trustworthiness as God’s unchanging Word. If textual preservation is reduced to conceptual preservation, the church can no longer confidently assert that it holds the very words of God. This undermines doctrines derived from Scripture and creates room for relativism.
- Doctrinal Relativism and Fragmentation
- When preservation is viewed as conceptual rather than verbal, interpretations of Scripture become subjective. This fosters theological pluralism, allowing individuals or institutions to redefine biblical teachings according to personal or cultural preferences.
- Erosion of Confidence in Scripture
- Believers rely on the assurance that God has preserved His Word in its entirety. Without this foundation, doubts arise about the reliability of the Bible, weakening personal faith and the church’s witness to the world.
- Departure from Biblical Fidelity
- The church’s mission to proclaim the gospel is directly tied to its adherence to Scripture. Rejecting textual preservation risks substituting human ideas for divine revelation, leading to a compromised gospel message that lacks power and truth.
B. Historical Lessons on Compromise
Throughout history, the church has suffered when it failed to hold fast to God’s Word:
- Israel’s Decline: The Israelites’ departure from God’s commandments led to idolatry and exile. Their failure to preserve and obey the law resulted in divine judgment (2 Kings 22:8-17).
- The Reformation’s Call: The Reformers restored the authority of Scripture by rejecting the corruptions of the medieval church. They upheld the verbal preservation of God’s Word as essential to faith and practice.
Today, the stakes remain just as high. To compromise on textual preservation is to compromise the foundation of biblical truth itself.
2. Standing for the Word
A. Encouragement to Uphold the Authority and Integrity of Scripture
Believers are called to guard the treasure of God’s Word with vigilance and faithfulness:
- Trust in God’s Promises
- God has declared His commitment to preserve His Word:
- “The words of the Lord are pure words… Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever” (Psalm 12:6-7).
- “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
- “Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89).
- These promises assure believers that the Bible remains uncorrupted and trustworthy, a foundation for faith and practice.
- God has declared His commitment to preserve His Word:
- Hold Fast to the Truth
- Paul exhorts Timothy: “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13). The church must resist the pressure to conform to modern reinterpretations of Scripture and instead uphold the truth as it has been handed down through the ages.
- Defend the Faith
- Believers are called to contend earnestly for the faith: “Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). This includes defending the doctrine of preservation against those who would dilute or redefine it.
B. A Call to Boldness and Faithfulness
The cost of standing for the truth may be high, but the cost of compromise is far greater. Faithful believers must:
- Resist False Teachings: Confront errors that undermine confidence in the Bible, including conceptual preservation and doctrinal relativism.
- Proclaim the Word Boldly: Declare the whole counsel of God without fear or hesitation, trusting in the power of His Word to convict, save, and sanctify.
- Rely on the Holy Spirit: Depend on the Spirit of Truth to guide and sustain them in the battle for biblical fidelity.
Conclusion: A Solemn Charge to the Church
The church must heed the warning of compromise and remain steadfast in its commitment to the infallible Word of God. As Paul charged Timothy:
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2).
May the church hold fast to God’s promises, defend the truth with courage, and uphold the authority and integrity of Scripture for His glory. Let us remember that our confidence is not in human reasoning but in the God who has spoken and preserved His Word, ensuring that His people have an unshakable foundation for faith and life. Soli Deo Gloria.
Final Exhortation: Holding Fast to the Truth
In every age, the church faces challenges that test its commitment to the authority and integrity of Scripture. Compromise on foundational doctrines, particularly the preservation of God’s Word, inevitably leads to spiritual decay, doctrinal instability, and the erosion of the church’s mission. As we conclude this series, we must consider the cost of compromise and the necessity of standing unwaveringly for the truth of God’s preserved and infallible Word.
1. The Cost of Compromise
A. Rejecting Textual Preservation: A Path to Decay
The doctrine of textual preservation, rooted in God’s promises to safeguard His Word, is essential to the church’s faith and practice. When this doctrine is compromised or redefined, the church opens itself to the following dangers:
- Loss of Doctrinal Authority
- The Bible’s authority rests on its trustworthiness as God’s unchanging Word. If textual preservation is reduced to conceptual preservation, the church can no longer confidently assert that it holds the very words of God. This undermines doctrines derived from Scripture and creates room for relativism.
- Doctrinal Relativism and Fragmentation
- When preservation is viewed as conceptual rather than verbal, interpretations of Scripture become subjective. This fosters theological pluralism, allowing individuals or institutions to redefine biblical teachings according to personal or cultural preferences.
- Erosion of Confidence in Scripture
- Believers rely on the assurance that God has preserved His Word in its entirety. Without this foundation, doubts arise about the reliability of the Bible, weakening personal faith and the church’s witness to the world.
- Departure from Biblical Fidelity
- The church’s mission to proclaim the gospel is directly tied to its adherence to Scripture. Rejecting textual preservation risks substituting human ideas for divine revelation, leading to a compromised gospel message that lacks power and truth.
B. Historical Lessons on Compromise
Throughout history, the church has suffered when it failed to hold fast to God’s Word:
- Israel’s Decline: The Israelites’ departure from God’s commandments led to idolatry and exile. Their failure to preserve and obey the law resulted in divine judgment (2 Kings 22:8-17).
- The Reformation’s Call: The Reformers restored the authority of Scripture by rejecting the corruptions of the medieval church. They upheld the verbal preservation of God’s Word as essential to faith and practice.
Today, the stakes remain just as high. To compromise on textual preservation is to compromise the foundation of biblical truth itself.
2. Standing for the Word
A. Encouragement to Uphold the Authority and Integrity of Scripture
Believers are called to guard the treasure of God’s Word with vigilance and faithfulness:
- Trust in God’s Promises
- God has declared His commitment to preserve His Word:
- “The words of the Lord are pure words… Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever” (Psalm 12:6-7).
- “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
- “Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89).
- These promises assure believers that the Bible remains uncorrupted and trustworthy, a foundation for faith and practice.
- God has declared His commitment to preserve His Word:
- Hold Fast to the Truth
- Paul exhorts Timothy: “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13). The church must resist the pressure to conform to modern reinterpretations of Scripture and instead uphold the truth as it has been handed down through the ages.
- Defend the Faith
- Believers are called to contend earnestly for the faith: “Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). This includes defending the doctrine of preservation against those who would dilute or redefine it.
B. A Call to Boldness and Faithfulness
The cost of standing for the truth may be high, but the cost of compromise is far greater. Faithful believers must:
- Resist False Teachings: Confront errors that undermine confidence in the Bible, including conceptual preservation and doctrinal relativism.
- Proclaim the Word Boldly: Declare the whole counsel of God without fear or hesitation, trusting in the power of His Word to convict, save, and sanctify.
- Rely on the Holy Spirit: Depend on the Spirit of Truth to guide and sustain them in the battle for biblical fidelity.
Conclusion: A Solemn Charge to the Church
The church must heed the warning of compromise and remain steadfast in its commitment to the infallible Word of God. As Paul charged Timothy:
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2).
May the church hold fast to God’s promises, defend the truth with courage, and uphold the authority and integrity of Scripture for His glory. Let us remember that our confidence is not in human reasoning but in the God who has spoken and preserved His Word, ensuring that His people have an unshakable foundation for faith and life. Soli Deo Gloria.
