How You Can Know The Bible Is The Word Of God, Pt. 1

HOW I KNOW THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD

“Questions People Ask”

II. Tim. 3:14-4:4

The major division between professing Christians today is: no longer the denominations. The division is between those who believe the Bible is true, and those who do not.

Our passage tonite predicted this would happen: that those who believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God would become fewer in number, and would be looked down upon.

I want to say, w/ out stuttering or stammering, that everything we do at GBC is built upon the fact that this is the very Word of God…and w/out the assurance that this IS the Word of God, and that every word of it is true, we have no certainty about the way of salvation, we have no promise of a home in Heaven, and we have no standard to live by. If a church does not believe that the Bible is the word of God, then it has become nothing more than a social club…dedicated to the betterment of the community, always trying to make the world a better place to go to hell from!

We need to recommit ourselves to being more than just a social club/civic organization/ we must recommit ourselves to being a soul-winning/life-changing/bible-believing, NT church…and our final authority isn’t some headquarters in Atlanta/a committee/deacon board/even the Pastor…it’s the inerrant, infallible, God-breathed book called the Holy Bible…so we need to know it’s accurate, and dependable!

That’s why we read this passage today, because it contains 3 great truths which will help us lay a foundation:

These verses answer the questions:

1. What does it matter?

2. Who cares if it’s true?

These verses tell us that:

1. The scriptures are inspired II Tim. 3:16

Inspired means—“God-breathed”

Right now, you are hearing my words, by my breath…and while my breath passes thru my larynx, out of my throat, and is articulated by my tongue and lips, it all starts w/ breath…that’s why we shouldn’t cuss: it’s bad breath!

Bro. Gary blows his trumpet, it makes a certain sound…he could take his same breath and blow it into a trombone, or a tuba, and it would make an entirely different sound! In the same way, God breathed His inspired words into 40 different men thru the ages, and while they sound out in different tones, they all originated w/ the same source…the breath of God!

We’re talking about inspiration:

II Pet. 1

16For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

(I’ve heard His voice, live and in person, and let me tell you…)

19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21For 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.

We’re not talking about “partial inspiration”…for it says, “all scripture…”

We’re not talking about “progressive revelation” …for the book of Job and Genesis, the most ancient of texts, are just as much inspired as Revelation!

We believe in “verbal, plenary inspiration”, which means the very words are inspired, not just the concepts or thoughts.

Fact: You cannot have thoughts w/out words any more than you can have music w/out notes/mathematics w/out numbers.

Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”/ “Heaven and earth shall pass, but not one jot or one tittle shall pass from the law, ‘til all be fulfilled (jot and tittle are the smallest part of the hebrew language, so in essence, Jesus was saying not one comma, or apostrophe…dot every i cross every t!

And so, we see inspiration…

But the scriptures are also,

2. Instructive

They show us what is right

Look at 3:16—“profitable for doctrine” (teaching)

There must be an absolute truth…there has to be a final authority, saying this is right and this is wrong.

Preachers used to stand and say, “The Bible says…”/then, “the church believes”/now, “it seems to me”

I want to know what God has to say, my opinion is worthless!

The scriptures show us what is wrong