The reason for this message is to be able convey the understanding that the Bible is the inspired word of God and is not in error so that you may trust that what is in the Bible can be relied on.
Have to know what is the Bible – Hagios Biblios means Holy books, 66 in total (39 O.T. & 27 N.T).
1. How did God communicate his word to Man? - God chose to use many individuals, over thousands of years to write His words down.
The Bible clearly claims to have revealed information about God. Deuteronomy 29:29 declares that, "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law."
1 Corinthians 2:12-13 –
The unique nature of the Bible is made clear by Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16. Paul tells Timothy that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."
None of the original writings, or autographa, still exists. Nevertheless, textual criticism has confirmed that the transmission of these writings have been very accurate.
The accuracy of the Old Testament documents are attested to by the Dead Sea Scrolls which gives us copies of parts of the Old Testament almost a thousand years closer to the original texts than previously available. The dependability of the New Testament is confirmed by the availability of a remarkable volume of manuscripts, which were written very near the time of the original events.
The Bible says that the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit (1 Cor 2:14). The Greek word for "accept" means "to take something willingly and with pleasure.". The key role of the Spirit is not to add information to the text, or to give us special translating abilities, but to soften our hearts in order to receive what is there.
2. Proof supporting the accuracy of the Bible.
a. Statements Consistent With Paleontology
i. Dinosaurs are referred to in several Bible books. The book of Job describes two dinosaurs. One is described in chapter 40 starting at verse 15, and the other in chapter 41 starting at verse 1.
b. Statements Consistent With Astronomy
i. Genesis 22:17
ii. Jeremiah 33:22
iii. Even today, scientists admit that they do not know how many stars there are. Only about 3,000 can be seen with the naked eye. We have seen estimates of 10 to the 21st power of stars—which is a lot of stars.
iv. The number of grains of sand on the earth’s seashores is estimated to be 10 to the 25th power. As scientists discover more stars, wouldn’t it be interesting to discover that these two numbers match?
v. The Bible also says that each star is unique.
1. 1 Corinthians 15:41
There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
vi. All stars look alike to the naked eye.* Even when seen through a telescope, they seem to be just points of light. However, analysis of their light spectra reveals that each is unique and different from all others.
vii. The Bible describes the precision of movement in the universe.
viii. Jeremiah 31:35,36
1. The Bible describes the suspension of the Earth in space.
ix. Job 26:7
c. Statements Consistent With Meteorology
i. The Bible includes some principles of fluid dynamics.
1. Job 28:25
To establish a weight for the wind,
And apportion the waters by measure.
ii. The fact that air has weight was proven scientifically only about 300 years ago. The relative weights of air and water are needed for the efficient functioning of the world’s hydrologic cycle, which in turn sustains life on the earth.
d. Statements Consistent With Biology
i. The book of Leviticus (written prior to 1400 BC) describes the value of blood.
1. Leviticus 17:11
2. The blood carries water and nourishment to every cell, maintains the body’s temperature, and removes the waste material of the body’s cells. The blood also carries oxygen from the lungs throughout the body. In 1616, William Harvey discovered that blood circulation is the key factor in physical life—confirming what the Bible revealed 3,000 years earlier.
3. So, is the Bible really true?
a. Baseball, turn to Gen 1:1 (Big Inning)
i. Either we have faith that God created the heaven and the earth, or we do not.
ii. I choose to believe that it is true not only because of the facts presented here today, but by my experiences in my life that go way beyond any scientific or apologetic or any other proof that can be presented.
