Page 485 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

PRESBYTERY - PRESERVATION

marriage, but rather justice-love. ... Where there is retreat to the position of skepticism in regard to
justice-love, sexual expression has ethical integrity. That preservation. Jack Moorman, in his excellent manual
moral principle applies to single, as well as to married, Forever Settled, states the solution to this problem
persons, to gay, lesbian and bisexual persons, as well as plainly: “A far better principle is given in Romans 14:23
to heterosexual persons.” The report indicated that a —‘Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.’ If I cannot by faith
person can have sexual relations outside of marriage take the Bible in my hand and say this is the preserved
and still be right with God. [See Adultery, Divorce, Word of God, then it is sin. If we do not approach the
Fornication, Modesty, Nakedness, Sodomy.] study of how we got our Bible from the standpoint of
PRESBYTERIANS OUTSIDE OF THE U.S.A. faith, then it is sin. If I cannot believe what God says
Presbyterian denominations in many lands are being about the preservation of His Word, then I cannot
absorbed into larger ecumenical bodies. The believe what He says about its inspiration either—all is
Presbyterians in India united with Methodists, Anglicans sin.”
and others to form the Church of South India in 1947 THE BIBLE’S TEACHING ON THE PRESERVATION OF
and the Church of North India in 1970. Seventy-five SCRIPTURE
percent of the Presbyterians in Australia united with Faith stands on the Word of God. Let us see exactly
Congregationalists and Methodists in 1977 to form the what the Bible says about this matter of its own
Uniting Church of Australia. The Presbyterians in preservation:
Canada merged with the Methodists, Congregationals, “The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried
and Evangelical United Brethren in 1968 to form the in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt
United Church of Canada. Similar ecumenical accords keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this
have happened in Nigeria, South Africa, and Belgium. generation for ever.” Ps. 12:6-7
[See Ecumenism, World Council of Churches.] “The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the
PRESBYTERY. The elders who laid hands on thoughts of his heart to all generations.” Ps. 33:11
Timothy (1 Ti. 4:14). The Greek word presbuterion is “For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his
used three times in the N.T. In Lk. 22:66 and Acts 22:5, truth endureth to all generations.” Ps. 100:5
it refers to the elders of Israel. [See Church, Ordain, “The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all
Pastor, Presbyterian.] his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever
PRESENTLY. At once (Mt. 26:53). and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.” Ps.
111:7-8
PRESERVE. To maintain; to protect; to keep (Ge. “... the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye
19:32; 45:5, 7; De. 6:24; Jos. 24:17; 1 Sa. 30:23; 2 Sa. the Lord.” Ps. 117:2
8:6; Ne. 9:6; Ps. 16:1; 31:23; 32:7; 36:6; 40:11; 64:1; “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” Ps.
79:11; 86:2; 97:10; 116:6; 121:7-8; 140:1; 145:20; 119:89
146:9; Is. 49:8; Mt. 9:17). The Bible says God preserves “Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that
His saints (Ps. 37:28; 41:2; 97:10; 1 Th. 5:23; 2 Ti. thou hast founded them for ever.” Ps. 119:152
4:18; Jude 1). [See Eternal Security.] “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of
PRESERVATION - BIBLE. The doctrine that God has thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Ps.
preserved His Word pure through the ages. The same 119:160
God that inspired the Scripture has promised to “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word
preserve it—not merely its teachings, but its very words. of our God shall stand for ever.” Is. 40:8
To argue for a divinely-inspired Bible that no longer “As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the
exists is vain jangling. The bottom line in this matter is Lord; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which
that the same Bible that claims to be divinely inspired I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy
also claims to be divinely preserved. Our faith in this is mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the
not based on common sense (though it is sensible to mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the Lord, from
believe that if God gave a perfect Bible He would henceforth and for ever.” Is. 59:21
preserve that very Bible); our faith is based on the “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass,
promises of a God that cannot lie. one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law,
Many evangelical and even fundamentalists write till all be fulfilled.” Mt. 5:18
udgament “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall
not pass away.” Mt. 24:35
volumes defining and defending what the Bible says “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
about its own inspiration, but they are strangely silent incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth and
on what the same Bible says about preservation. They abideth forever.” 1 Pe. 1:23
take the position of faith in regard to inspiration but

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 485