I thoroughly enjoyed the message by Dr. Sexton. Regarding the question, “Where do I stand?” in my opinion, there is only one right answer. I am not trying to be cliché, nor am I trying to be vague, but the only place we have any right to stand is on the content of the Word of God. Truth, if there is to be such a thing, cannot be subjective or relative and still retain its meaning. Truth is not relative. I don’t have the right to pick and choose my convictions. Truth by being truth is absolute, and that is what we have in God’s Word. My job is to dig in and learn the Book. As Dr. Sexton stated in his sermon, “We are to be people of the Bible.”[1]
Paul certainly believed this, for over and again he prescribed actions such as, “Study…the Word of Truth” and “Preach the Word,” in II Timothy 2:15 and in II Timothy 4:2. We are told by him that the Word is God breathed, profitable for doctrine (among other things), and it is sufficient to equip unto “all good works,” in II Timothy 3:16-17. The author of Hebrews makes it clear that in both the Old and New Testament it is God that has spoken in Hebrews 1:1-2, and then in chapter two verse one he tells us how to respond to what God has said, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” The church, as Dr. Sexton alludes to in I Timothy 3:15, is to be the “pillar and ground of the Truth.”
A firm and honest stand on the Word of God will protect a person from making tradition and preference the guiding factors regarding faith and practice. Where do I stand? I stand on The Book. If I can’t stand on The Book my belief ceases to be conviction and becomes preference, and at that point if my view is to be espoused with any level of integrity, it must be espoused as such or not at all. As Dr. Sexton put it, “We need to be found standing right where God gave us to stand.”[2]
[1] Sexton, Clarence. “Here We Stand.” Temple Baptist Church. Auditorium, Knoxville. 8 April 2008
[2] Sexton, Clarence. “Here We Stand.” 8 April 2008
Paul certainly believed this, for over and again he prescribed actions such as, “Study…the Word of Truth” and “Preach the Word,” in II Timothy 2:15 and in II Timothy 4:2. We are told by him that the Word is God breathed, profitable for doctrine (among other things), and it is sufficient to equip unto “all good works,” in II Timothy 3:16-17. The author of Hebrews makes it clear that in both the Old and New Testament it is God that has spoken in Hebrews 1:1-2, and then in chapter two verse one he tells us how to respond to what God has said, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” The church, as Dr. Sexton alludes to in I Timothy 3:15, is to be the “pillar and ground of the Truth.”
A firm and honest stand on the Word of God will protect a person from making tradition and preference the guiding factors regarding faith and practice. Where do I stand? I stand on The Book. If I can’t stand on The Book my belief ceases to be conviction and becomes preference, and at that point if my view is to be espoused with any level of integrity, it must be espoused as such or not at all. As Dr. Sexton put it, “We need to be found standing right where God gave us to stand.”[2]
[1] Sexton, Clarence. “Here We Stand.” Temple Baptist Church. Auditorium, Knoxville. 8 April 2008
[2] Sexton, Clarence. “Here We Stand.” 8 April 2008
RSS Feed