John Linton (1888 – 1965) John Linton is not normally listed among the elite of the evangelists in this century: Moody, Sunday, Bob Jones, Sr., Appelman, John Rice. But he was not some lesser light—God mightily moved through his ministry. He left a trail of converts to Christ as well as revived, restored, rejoicing churches.
His gospel soundness, his compelling delivery, his Scotch brogue and his devotion to our Lord made him widely acceptable. You cannot hear the inimitable Scotch brogue in his sermon, but you can enjoy its sweet and powerful message.
He died at age 77 in the pulpit while conducting evangelistic services.
The Bible – A Supernatural Book – Introduction
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God . . . – 2 Timothy 3:16.
Modernism or present-day unbelief in the Bible is the greatest danger confronting the church since Pentecost. Unbelief in the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures, both in pulpit and pew, is the root cause of spiritual impotence, prayerlessness, worldliness and barrenness of thousands of churches all over the world.
Literally millions of church members are strangers to the new birth, uncleansed by the blood of Christ. They are following the modern gospel of salvation by character instead of faith in Calvary’s sacrifice. This dread leprosy of modernism has spread even to the mission fields, imported by seminary graduates whose aim is social service rather than spiritual regeneration.
When we speak, therefore, of the divine authority of Scripture; when we marshal before our people proofs of Bible inspiration; when we show by a scientific demonstration the supernatural element in this Book attesting its divine origin, we are not only combating the greatest danger of the church, but also meeting the greatest need of Christians in a day of unbelief.
It is not enough for our young people to believe that the Bible is the Word of God. They must know why they believe this. They must be fortified with evidence proving Bible inspiration. Modernism can be shown to be unscientific, spiritually barren and, in many cases, merely infidelity garbed in religious clothing. The evidence proving this is overwhelming and should be spread all over the land.
Following a Sword of the Lord sermon contest, an influential layman in Virginia asked and received permission to reprint my sermon on “Modernism or the Bible—Which?” He purposed to sow it like autumn leaves in pamphlet form among the churches of his denomination, opening their eyes to the greatest issue before the churches today.
Think what could happen all over America if godly laymen were to do likewise with these messages of warning and instruction which God is giving His servants to preach and write. Similar effort by others could start a back-to-the-Bible movement all over the land as a precursor to nationwide revival.