BIBLE

Whatever happened to the B I B L E. Yes that’s the book for me? I stand upon the Word of God the   B I B L E.  Well I guess in our modern day we can quit singing that song.

The supreme question for the 20^th century Christian is. The Bible, is it evolution or inspiration? How do we know the text of the Bible we have today is really the same texts we started with?

What guarantee do we have that nothing has been deleted or added.

Christianity is rooted in Bible history. Jesus was counted in the Roman census. If the historical references in the Bible are not true, grave questions may be raised about the reliability if other parts of the message based on historical events.

It is crucial for us to know that we have substantially the same documents in our time as people had almost 2000 years ago. Is the Bible infallible and inerrant? With it’s 3,566,480 letters…733,746 words, 31,102 verses; 1,189 chapters; 66 books. I believe every letter is inspired of God, sent to man through the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

ILLUS.  Sir Walter Scott said to his nurse on his deathbed. Bring me the book, Knowing that he had written many books, the nurse asked, “What book, Scott answered, there is only one book for me --- The Bible. You see you can read Shakespeare the newspaper, or even T.V. guide but when one is dying there is only one book that can comfort you.

John 3:16, we believed the Bible to be infallible because it paints a picture of a Loving God, a caring God, we could go on and on about the attributes of a God, that loves His people so that He gave His only begotten Son for our Salvation. Yes God is love to know God as Lord of your live is to know how to love. I believe you can never know real love, until you know the one who is love.

ILLUS. Rev. J.R. Miller tells of a young lady who purchased a book and read a few pages but failed to become interested in it. But some months later, she met the author and a warm friendship developed, she fell in love and they were united together in wedlock. The book she had purchased sometimes ago took on a different meaning in her life. Each word meant something to her. Why because she knew the author. Do you know the author of the Bible? “Jesus Christ.”

If you know Jesus, you can find Him in every book of the Bible. You see --- when you know the author you have someone who can give you understanding about it. The Bible will take on a new meaning. For those who don’t personally know Jesus --- He is in every book of the Bible like a casket of jewels glowing with beauty and light. Yes, even better you can see a beautiful love letters addressed to you. The key for interpretation “is” you must know the author. You cannot know the things of God unless you know God.

II. The Bible is a book of prophecy.

You can find a picture of Jesus in every Old Testament book.

(Nun. 24:17) promise seed of Jacob fulfilled.(Luke 3:34)

(Mi. 5:2) His place of birth fulfilled.(Matt. 2:1)

(Dan. 9:25) Time of birth fulfilled (Luke 2:1,2)

(Isa. 7:14) Born of virgin fulfilled (Matt. 1:18)

(Zech. 11:13) Money that was paid for His betrayal would be returned for Potter field. Matt.27:25).

(Ps. 69:4) He was hated without cause (John 15:23-25) relates that very fact.

The Bible is the only religious book that dare to predict the future and it has a 100 % fulfillment rate thus for.  In the Bible you can find salvation is foretold.

(Gen. 3:15). He would come through the seed of a woman – (Gal. 4:4).

(Is. 53:9) To be buried with the Rich. (Matt. 27:57-60).

(Ps. 16:10) His resurrection (Matt. 28:9)

(Ps. 68:18) His return to Heaven (Lu. 24:50-51)

The Bible also meets man basic spiritual needs.

To have peace (John 16:33)

To have forgiveness of sin (Col. 1:14)

To have fellowship with God (I John 1:3)

To have assurance of sins forgiven ( I John 1:9)

To have hope based on the infallible. ,Word of God. (Acts 24:15).

To have comfort in a dying hour (John 5:24)

To have assurance of an eternal home in Heaven (Rom. 8:38,39).

III. Yes friends, the Bible is the eternal word of God.

There are two things besides the Godhead that will last forever. Man’s Soul’s and the Bible, which is the word of God the written word of God. The Bible is the only God breathed word. When it was written it became a closed Book. (Rev. 22:18,19). God has not since given any man a new revelation either. Why, because the Bible says it is a closed book?

The Bible has been translated into more than 1,130 languages and dialects. Few books out live their author but the Bible has and is still the all time best seller. The Bible exist today because it is God’s word, not because it is the best story every told. The Bible is from everlasting to everlasting. (Ps. 90:2). Men die, fortune fail, nations come and go, crown’s tumble, and star’s will rot out of their socket, but the Word of God will endured forever. Heaven and earth will past away, but my word shall not pass away. Matt. 24:35.

The Bible has the greatest author to ever write a book. Friends, criticism of the Bible begins in 15 and 16 century and in recent time took on two forms of criticism, Lower criticism, and higher criticism.

Lower criticism concern the establishment of the exact wording of the Bible and great progress has been made to stamp out the form of criticism with some great discoveries.

The Dead Sea Scrolls have done much to confirm the reliability of the wording of Old Testament in particularly, and to clear up quotations by the New Testament, writers from the Septuagint, which is different from the Masoretic Text.

Higher criticism rejects supernaturalism as a general principle. Critics have endeavored to prove that Moses did not write the Pentateuch; that Isaiah did not write the entire book designated by his name; that the fourth gospel was not written by John the apostle.

I want to say, He who created the universe and created man, gave salvation and built a home in Heaven for the eternal soul has the power to inspire a book that will meet the needs of all mankind (II Peter 1:20,21). “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

God is the author who used man hand to open it. It is God-breathed. There were over 40 different Bible writers, most of whom never seem each other.  It was written over a period of 1500 years yet there has not been proven one contradiction in it. (Heb. 1:1).

Jesus testified to the authenticity of the Bible if it was good enough for Him, it is surely good enough for us. (It is written --- Emmaus Road                     (Luke 24:44-46)). The apostles testify to the authorship of the Bible.               (I Thess. 2:13).

The bible testified to its authenticity (II Tim. 3:16).

The Bible has the greatest message every told.

The soul purpose of the Bible is to reveal God in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. You take cross from the Bible and there is nothing lifts but darkness.

It reveals God to us, and tells about Him whose blood was shed for our sins

(I Cor. 15:3-5).

The Bible nourishes Christian experiences and promotes growth through systematic Bible study, which is indispensable for the Christian life. The Scripture are the breathed Word of God, which proceeded out of the mouth of God. The Bible repeatedly claims that the Holy Spirit spoke by its writers.

Paul’s gospel received not from men but from God. Hundreds of time the Bible claims to speaks for God. Literally, hundreds of times the Bible says “The Word of the Lord” came to Isaiah or statement like that.

The Bible claims and describes in literal events, about which no human without direct information from God could knows. The promises and warnings of the Bible enter the realm of the moral righteousness of God.

The Old Testament writers didn’t even understand what they were writing.

The Bible claims for itself perfection and permanence, which only a God-given book could have. The Bible makes a striking statement about indestructible word.(Isa. 40:6-8).

Jesus emphatically taught the eternal perfect quality of the word.

St. Augustine, said (A.D. 354).The dark places in the Bible come from the Dark places in our hearts. A heart must be fully surrendered to God and earnestly seeking to please Him, if one is to truly understand the Bible.

Luther said to Spalatin concerning the method of studying the Bible: He said, “about all things, it is quite certain that one cannot search into the Holy Scripture by means of study. Nor by means of the intellect, therefore begin with prayer, that the Lord will grant unto you the true understanding of His Word.

Dr. C.A. Criswell says: The Bible is our friend court of appeal. It is not a question of what I think or what anyone else thinks. The question is always. “What saith the Scripture.” It is even as the psalmist wrote, “Forever, O Lord, the word is settle in Heaven.” (Ps. 119:89).

Therefore it is for me to bow to God’s authority, to submit to His Word and to obey His teaching. Because the Bible is God’s word, it is the final court of appeal in all things pertaining to doctrine, duty. For us who love the Lord and who have received him as our Savior, His word concerning the infallibility of the Holy Scriptures is full, final and complete.                     The authority of Christ settles for us forever the question of the inspiration of the Bible. It is wholly inspired and is our medium of God’s power in this life and of God’s salvation in the world that is yet to come.

Dr. C.I. Scofield says! The better Mohammedan or Hindu a man is the worse he is. But the nearer a man comes to being a Bible Christians the better he is. I think every body knows that. We all know that; all the books produces by man and called sacred and religious are not only the Bible can with stand that test and it is because of a God of Love.

To this I say you must know the author to know what it saying. If the Bible is what God says it is then you need to listen to what this great Book says about a Hell and Heaven. (Matt. 7:13).

Get the young to read and study it, it will helps them walk in that path which grows brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. Get the old who know the word take heed to these words, which Urges us to give strength and time to the words, in the word of our God.

If you don’t know Jesus and want to know the author, then the Bible tells you the way.