Many of those comments, of course, being made about, “This is not the original manuscript so how can we know that there is not error in it?”  Don’t get caught up in trying to defend the inerrancy of Scripture through King James, because that is just not the truth.  That should have no effect on the faith that comes through you and me spending time in study, memorization, meditating day and night upon this Word.  Our ways are then made prosperous and we will have good success; amen?  So, when someone comes up to us and tries to ask us questions like, “Do you believe the Bible is literal?  Do you believe, literally, that every word is literal that is spoken in the Bible?”  Whatever translation you may have, the King James, New American Standard, ESV, or whatever you have, make sure you answer that question correctly.

Many of us would be quick to say, “Yes, I believe that this Bible is literal, everything to be taken literally.”  Well, you know the Bible says God is our rock.  God’s not a rock; amen?  Anybody in here believe that God’s a rock?  Our God is a Spirit, and those that worship Him must worship in spirit and truth; amen?  So, what we say is, “I believe the Bible is literal where it’s meant to be understood literally.”  I believe that the Bible is poetic and therefore has statements like “the trees clapping their hands.”  We know when the Scriptures are to be understood metaphorically, we understand them metaphorically.  When it’s an attempt at the parabolic, truths and this information being transferred through parables, we believe that parable and the truth of that parable is literal truth from God, but it’s a parable.  So, just make sure in your own minds.  Because these things will be drawn out and you’ll be asked questions, and deeper questions than this, as the Word of God is challenged in our generation.  Just know this, God’s Word is truth and whichever of the versions is brought to us, the translations help us understand the literal meaning, so that we can rely upon these things.  So, rest in that.

I wanted to introduce that because we have a parable here that’s being brought to us.  Jesus is telling us that we will come to a clearer understanding of all the other parabolic truths if we understand the basics of this parable, and that’s that the Word of God is true.  It’s sure to a thousand generations; amen?  It builds a confidence and an understanding.  But it’s the main truth in this parable, and to teach this in depth takes, literally, months, so we’re not going to do that, but we are going to look at the basic truths.  In the teaching as we’ve done it over the years, we’ve made this one conclusion.  Good ground sown with perfect seed brings forth perfect fruit; amen?  That’s what this parable comes down to.  The parable is not as much about the seed as it is the ground.  God’s Word is perfect (Amen?) converting the soul, praise God!  We understand that and are thankful for the great revelation that comes to us.  The Word is God’s responsibility.  The Word, the Bible tells us very clearly, is unified, is one, initiating from, declared by, and evidenced in the person of Jesus Christ.  These truths, God and His Word are—say it—one, praise God!  “In the beginning,” 1 John says, “was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God."  Hallelujah!  So, we see, then, that this is vital for us to understand.