"THE INSPIRED WORD"
Intro. The Bible claims that God who exists outside of space and time, created the Universe and all of the life forms in it, has revealed Himself to man, and that the Bible is that revelation.
I. "ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD."
A. David made the claim that the Spirit of God was speaking through him.
2SA 23:2 The spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in my tongue.
B. Jesus confirmed that David's words were inspired by the Holy Spirit.
MAR 12:36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
C. Peter also declared that the Holy Spirit was speaking through David.
Act 1:16 Men [and] brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
1. Peter not only affirmed that the Holy Spirit was speaking through David, but that because it was inspired by the Spirit that it had to come to pass.
2. Thus the scriptures are not only inspired, but infallible.
3. These truths are being challenged and denied by many today.
a. It is sad that much of the challenge comes from the seminaries where men are being trained for the ministry.
b. The Bible has become fair game for those who want to attack the claims of the Bible.
c. They say that the stories in the Bible are myths, even as the Greeks and the Romans had their myths so also the Hebrews had their myths, and the stories of what God did for them are just myths.
d. The claim is that the exploits of Sampson, David, Daniel and Jonah are only myths, and they have come under great ridicule from the Bible critics. The story of the young Salvation Army lassie witnessing in a Chicago Park.
D. Peter wrote,
2PE 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 Spirit.
E. There are many who claim that God was speaking to them or through them.
1. In Greece they would go to the Oracle at Delphi to receive guidance from the gods.
2. Today there are people who claim to be channelers for spirits who supposedly speak through them and provide wisdom from supernatural sources.
3. The Mormons claim that the book of Mormon was divinely revealed to Joseph Smith.
F. Is there any way by which these claims can be validated?
1. Through Isaiah the prophet, God challenged the false prophets to prove that what they were saying was valid,
ISA 41:21 Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong [reasons], saith the King of Jacob.
ISA 41:22 Let them bring [them] forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they [be], that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.
ISA 41:23 Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye [are] gods:
2. In contrast to the false prophets who could not accurately foretell the future, God said,
ISA 42:9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
ISA 45:21 Tell ye, and bring [them] near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? [who] hath told it from that time? [have] not I the LORD? and [there is] no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; [there is] none beside me.
ISA 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else.
3. God, having thus challenged and boasted of His ability to prove His cause, gave some very interesting insights into the future. 250 years before Cyrus was born, he spoke of him even naming him as the one chosen by God to aid the Israelites in their return from the Babylonian captivity.
ISA 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I [am] the LORD that maketh all [things]; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
ISA 44:25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise [men] backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
ISA 44:26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:
ISA 44:27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:
ISA 44:28 That saith of Cyrus, [He is] my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
ISA 45:1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
ISA 45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
ISA 45:3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call [thee] by thy name, [am] the God of Israel.
ISA 45:4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
4. Jesus said to His disciples,
JOH 13:19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am [he].
5. Joseph Smith of Mormon fame attempted to prophesy the future, and declared that some day they would discover that men were living on the moon. This was in keeping with his doctrine that if you would be a faithful Mormon, and if your marriage was sealed in the Temple rites, that you would ascend to the god status, and would be able to have a planet in the Universe to rule over and populate with your off spring.
II. THE SCRIPTURES ARE NOT ONLY INSPIRED BY GOD, BUT ARE PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, REPROOF, CORRECTION, AND INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.
A. Here he declares the purpose of the Bible.
1. That you might have the correct systematic understanding of God, Jesus the Messiah, the Holy Spirit, man, sin, the plan of redemption, the hope of our heavenly future.
2. That you might know how God would have you to live. To reprove us when we go astray from His straight path.
3. To correct us when we are wrong, or do wrong.
4. To instruct us in the right way to live. How to live so that our lives might be pleasing to God, and that we might live in fellowship with Him.
5. That we might come into a spiritual maturity.
6. That we might become thoroughly furnished for every good work.
a. That we might become equipped to be all that God would have us to be.
b. The Word of God in our hearts will give us power over sin. "Thy Word, have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee."
B. The solemn charge to Timothy,
2TI 4:1 I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2TI 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Verse-Reference
Square — [Jhn 1:1 KJV]
Abbreviate Books
Use SBL Abbrev.
