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Chapel: The Bible Part 3.
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Answers About The Bible. What is The Bible? Part 3.
THE BIBLE -
GOD'S REVEALED WILL
Introduction: New Testament
Christians have a common allegiance to a book - the Bible. Let's look at
some principles concerning God's revealed will, the Bible.
BODY
I. GOD HAS SPOKEN.
A. The whole Bible is based on this
truth
1. Genesis 1:1-3 "In the
beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was
without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God
said, Let there be light: and there was light."
B. God has created us & He wants
to speak to us.
1. We should want to hear Him.
2. Hebrews 1:1,2- "God,
who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto
the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us
by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also
he made the worlds;"
II. THE BIBLE IS A REVELATION OF GOD'S
WILL.
A. The Bible is not man's effort
to reach up to God, but God's effort to reach down to man.
1. ILLUS: Children don't go to
school to teach teachers.
2. Bible is a product of God
teaching us what we c/o learn by ourselves
B. The is ample proof that the Bible
is that record of God to man.
1. Marvelous unity of the
Scriptures.
a. 40 writers wrote 66 books
over a span of about 1500 yrs.
2. Its overwhelming miracles.
3. The abundance of irrefutable
prophecies.
4. The grand scope of the whole
book.
5. Its scientific and
historical accuracy.
6. The unexcelled moral tone.
7. The genuine uniqueness of
its material.
C. The Bible itself claims to be
God's revelation.
1. 2 Peter 1:21- "For the
prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of
God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
2. 1 Corinthians 14:37-
"If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let
him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the
commandments of the Lord."
3. Galatians 1:11,12- "But
I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is
not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I
taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."
4. Ephesians 3:5- "Which
in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now
revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;"
5. 1 Corinthians 2:10-
"But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the
Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."
6. Revelation 1:1- "The
Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto
his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and
signified it by his angel unto his servant John:"
III. THE BIBLE HAS BEEN ACCURATELY
TRANSLATED.
A. The Bible was not originally
written in English.
1. O.T. was written in Hebrew
& Aramaic languages.
2. N.T. was written in Greek.
a. Bible must be translated into
language we know & commonly speak.
B. Dedicated scholars have
meticulously translated the Bible.
IV. THE BIBLE IS INERRANT, INFALLIBLE
AND INSPIRED.
A. Meaning of these words.
1. Inerrant = free from error.
2. Infallible = incapable of
teaching deception.
3. Inspired = God breathed, or
breathed out of God.
B. The Bible is verbally and
plenarily inspired.
1. Verbally = every word that is
in Bible is there because God willed it.
2. Plenary = full, all parts of
the Bible are inspired.
a. We must trust in the
Scriptures completely.
3. 2 Timothy 3:16,17- "All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly
furnished unto all good works."
V. THE BIBLE IS COMPLETE AND FINAL.
A. The Bible contains all that God
wants it to contain
1. Jude 3- "Beloved, when I
gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was
needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should
earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the
saints."
2. It is perfect
a. 1 Corinthians 13:8-10
b. James 1:25- "But
whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth
therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work,
this man shall be blessed in his deed."
c. 2 Peter 1:3-
"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things
that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him
that hath called us to glory and virtue:"
3. If we need more, then the Word
of God isn't perfect.
B. The Bible is God's complete
record for our lives.
1. We cannot outgrow it.
2. "The Bible, the water
of life is like a pool of water. It is cool and inviting to those
who are thirsty for spiritual truth. All, even the most simple, can
take of it's refreshing truth. But that pool is deep and wide,
allowing for the most thirsty to never drink it's refreshing waters
fully. You can never drink your full of the Bible."
VI. THE BIBLE IS INTELLIGIBLE.
A. The Bible is first, last and
always a message.
1. God has something to say to man
that is important.
2. God through the H.S. has
moved men to write His word.
a. A. Campbell - God has spoken
by men, to men, for men.
(1) The language of the Bible
is then, human language.
3. God has always wanted men to
hear & understand Him (Rom 15:4).
4. Romans 15:4- "For
whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our
learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures
might have hope."
B. The Bible is a revelation, and a
revelation is an uncovering of that which is hidden.
1. ILLUS: Crowd gathered around
the uncovering of a statue.
VII. THE BIBLE CAN BE UNDERSTOOD BY
MAN.
A. Man is a rational being, made in
God's image to think & to reason.
1. By reasoning man is able to
read the mind of God-that portion God revealed.
2. God expects us to use our
minds in searching out His divine will.
B. The mind is not our God, but it
should be used to know God.
1. Our minds must be filled with
the word of God not other way around
a. Romans 10:17
C. Understanding the Bible is a
duty.
1. When God speaks, we are to
listen.
D. God never expects the impossible
of man.
1. His word can be understood.
2. Ephesians 3:1-4 "For
this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
{2}If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is
given me to you-ward: {3}How that by revelation he made known unto
me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, {4}Whereby, when ye
read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)"
3. 2 Timothy 2:7, 15-
"Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in
all things....Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman
that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth."
4. 1 John 5:3 - "For this
is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his
commandments are not grievous."
VIII. THE BIBLE RIGHTLY UNDERSTOOD IS
AUTHORITATIVE.
A. Jesus has all authority in
matters of religion.
1. Matthew 28:18
B. Jesus placed that authority in
the words He spoke.
1. John 12:48- "He that
rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:
the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last
day."
C. Jesus gave that all authoritative
word to his apostles.
1. Given personally & through
the Holy Spirit.
a. John 14:25,26- "These
things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the
Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in
my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to
your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
b. John 16:13- "Howbeit
when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all
truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall
hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to
come."
D. The inspired disciples have
written Jesus' authoritative word.
1. 1 Corinthians 14:37- "If
any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him
acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the
commandments of the Lord."
2. 1 Corinthians 2:13 -
"Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's
wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing
spiritual things with spiritual."
E. The truth is always there for
those who seek it.
1. Matthew 13:14 "And in them
is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye
shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and
shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and
their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed;
lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their
ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be
converted, and I should heal them."
IX. THE WORD OF GOD IS INDESTRUCTIBLE
A. Listen to the Psalmist.
1. Psalm 119:142 - "Thy
righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the
truth."
2. Psalm 119:144 - "The
righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me
understanding, and I shall live."
3. Psalms 119:89 - "LAMED.
For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."
B. It will live forever.
1. 1 Peter 1:23 - "Being born
again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of
God, which liveth and abideth for ever."
2. Matthew 24:35 - "Heaven
and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
CONCLUSION: THE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE
DEMANDS SUBMISSION. WILL YOU SUBMIT TO IT'S AUTHORITY?
Copyright
1999 by Grady Scott may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes at no
cost to others.
a.
The Bible:
What is The Bible?
Part
1,
Part 2,
Part
3,
How to Study the Bible?
Part 1,
Part 2,
Part
3,
b. Who is Jesus?
Part
1,
Part 2,
Established 1972, All
Rights Reserved.
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