Sermon Tone Analysis

Psalm 19 (ESV)

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.

4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun, 5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors?

Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me!

Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Introduction

As the Church of Christ grew it became necessary for a systematic declaration of what is believed to be published.

Perhaps the earliest form was the ‘Apostles Creed’ formulated n 2nd Century which states:-

I believe in God, the father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

(He descended to the dead.

Fifth Century) On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Various other Creeds were published,particularly when false truth was being taught.

Subsequent to the Reformation in the 16th Century more detailed statements were published know as Confessions of Faith namely:-

The Westminster Confession 1646 - Presbyterian, infant baptism, hierarchy of presbyteries and synods.

The Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order 1658 - Independent, infant baptism.

The First London Confession of Faith 1644 - Seven London Particular Baptist Churches

The Baptist Confession of Faith 1689

Articles of Faith - Homerton Row Baptist Church 1905

We Believe The Baptist Affirmation of Faith 1966

In the Fear of God and in the bonds of Christian love, we, assembled Pastors and Deacons of the Strict Baptist denomination, solemnly avow our faith as set out in the Strict Baptist Affirmation of Faith, to be published in the form adopted in this assembly, May 21st, 1966

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1.

The Holy Scriptures

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a. Revelation

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WE BELIEVE that in creation God has given a revelation of his power and glory leaving all men without excuse before him, but none by the light of nature alone can attain to a saving knowledge of God.

This revelation leaves all men without excuse before God.

For this reason it pleased God to give by the Scriptures a written revelation of that knowledge of himself and his will necessary to salvation.

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Psalm 19:1 (ESV)

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

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b.

The Bible

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By the Scriptures, or Bible, we mean only the sixty six books of the Old and New Testaments.

The books known as the Apocrypha, not being inspired, form no part of the Scriptures.

In the absence of the original manuscripts, God has divinely preserved his work in many faithful copies.

Careful translations are to be made that all men might personally read God’s Word in their own language.

Word for Word = Formal Equivalence

Thought for Thought = Dynamic Equivalence

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Isaiah 40:8 (ESV)

8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

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c. God-Breathed

The Scriptures have their origin in God himself; they are God breathed, given by inspiration of God.

This inspiration extends to all the books in their totality, down to the very words used, and is not limited in any way whatever either by man’s understanding or response.

The Scriptures do not therefore merely contain God’s Word, they are God’s Word.

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2 Samuel 23:1–2 (ESV)

1 Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel: 2 “The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on my tongue.

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Jeremiah 1:9 (ESV)

9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth.

And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.

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2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

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2 Peter 1:19–21 (ESV)

19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.

21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

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Conclusion