The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his101/doc07.arj/DOC07.TXT

Text File | 1988-06-17 | 15KB | 306 lines

              The Bible -- The Word of God

I. THE BIBLE CLAIMS TO BE THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD.  See 2 Tim.
   3:16,17.

    16) All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for
    teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in
    righteousness;
    17) that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every
    good work.

    "All scripture is inspired by God."  "Inspired" means that
    the Holy Spirit exerted His supernatural influence upon the
    writers of the Bible.  Therefore, the Scriptures are God
    inspired word for word.  By this is meant that every word, in
    the original, is fully and equally inspired in all of its
    teachings.  The Bible does not just contain the Word of God,
    it is the Word of God.

    2 Peter 1:21 -- for no prophecy was ever made by an act of
    human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

    2 Samuel 23:2 -- "The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His
    word was on my tongue."

    Psalms 119:89 -- Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in
    heaven.

    Matthew 24:35 -- "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My
    words shall not pass away."


II. THE BIBLE IS A DIFFICULT BOOK. See 1 Corinthians 2:14-16

    14) But a natural man does not accept the things of the
    Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot
    understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
    15) But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he
    himself is appraised by no man.
    16) For who has known the mind of the Lord, the he should
    instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

    The Bible is a difficult book because it came from the
    infinite to the finite -- from the unlimited, all powerful
    God, to limited man.  Therefore, you cannot understand the
    Bible as you would understand the writings of Plato or
    Socrates.  You can study the great philosophers with the
    natural mind, and by diligent application, grasp their
    profound meanings.  If the Bible could be understood by
    natural man, it would be a natural book, and could not be the
    Word of God.  Since the Bible is from God, and therefore
    spiritual, before you can receive its teachings, you must be
    born of the Spirit and filled with the Spirit.

    John 3:5,6 -- Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you,
    unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter
    into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is
    flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

    Ephesians 5:18-21 -- And do not get drunk with wine, for that
    is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to
    one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
    and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving
    thanks for all things in the name of your Lord Jesus Christ
    to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the
    fear of Christ.

    Always approach the Bible praying that the Spirit will be
    your teacher and will guide you to a better understanding of
    His Holy Word, or it will remain a difficult, closed book.

    John 16:12-15 -- "I have many more things to say to you, but
    you cannot bear them now.  But when He, the Spirit of truth,
    comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not
    speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will
    speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.  He shall
    glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it
    to you.  All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I
    said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you."


III. THE BIBLE IS A BOOK OF ONENESS. See 2 Peter 1:21.

    21) for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will,
    but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

    The oneness or unity of the Bible is a miracle.  It is a
    library of 66 books, written by over 35 different authors, in
    a period of approximately 1,500 years.  Represented in the
    authors is a cross section of humanity, educated and
    uneducated, including kings, fishermen, public officials,
    farmers, teachers, and physicians.  Included in the subjects
    are religion, history, law, science, poetry, drama,
    biography, and prophecy.  Yet its various parts are as
    harmoniously united as the parts that make up the human
    body.

    For 35 authors, with such varied backgrounds, to write on so
    many subjects over a period of approximately 1,500 years in
    absolute harmony, is a mathematical impossibility.  It could
    not happen!  The how do we account for the Bible?  The only
    adequate explanation is: "... men moved by the Holy Spirit
    spoke from God."


IV. THE BIBLE CLAIMS SPECIAL POWER. See Hebrews 4:12,13

    12) For the word of God is living and active and sharper than
    any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of
    soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge
    the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

    13) And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all
    things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we
    have to do.

    (1) The Bible claims dividing power as a sword (above verse).
    The Bible will separate man from sin, or sin will separate
    man from the Bible.

    Psalms 119:11 -- Thy word have I treasured in my heart, that
    I may not sin against Thee.

    Isaiah 59:2 -- But your iniquities have made a separation
    between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face
    from you, so that He does not hear.

    (2) The Bible claims reflecting power as a mirror.  In the
    Bible we see ourselves as God sees us -- as sinners.

    James 1:22-25 -- But prove yourselves doers of the word, and
    not merely hearers who delude themselves.  For if anyone is a
    hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks
    at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at
    himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind
    of person he was.  But one who looks intently at the perfect
    law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become
    a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be
    blessed in what he does.

    Romans 3:23-25 -- for all have sinned and fall short of the
    glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through
    the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed
    publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.  This
    was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the
    forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously
    committed;

    (3) The Bible claims cleansing power as water.  David prayed
    that God would wash him from iniquity and cleanse him from
    sin.

    Ephesians 5:25,26 -- Husbands, love your wives, just as
    Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her;
    that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the
    washing of water with the word,

    Psalms 51:1-4 -- Be gracious to me, O God, according to Thy
    lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Thy compassion
    blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my
    iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  For I know my
    transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.  Against Thee,
    Thee only, I have sinned, and done what is evil in Thy sight,
    so that Thou art justified when Thou dost speak, and
    blameless when Thou dost judge.

    (4) The Bible claims reproductive power as seed.  We are the
    children of God, because we have been born into the family of
    God by the imperishable seed of God.  This is the new birth.

    1 Peter 1:23 -- for you have been born again not of seed
    which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the
    living and abiding word of God.

    John 3:1-7 -- Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named
    Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Him by
    night, and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come
    from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You
    do unless God is with him."  Jesus answered and said to him,
    "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he
    cannot see the kingdom of God."  Nicodemus said to Him, "How
    can a man be born when he is old?  He cannot enter a second
    time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"  Jesus
    answered, "Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born of
    water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
    God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that
    which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not marvel that I
    said to you, 'You must be born again.'"

    (5) The Bible claims nourishing power as food.  The Bible is
    spiritual food for the soul.  No Christian can remain strong
    in the Lord and not study the Word of God.

    1 Peter 2:1-3 -- Therefore, putting aside all malice and all
    guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn
    babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may
    grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness
    of the Lord.


V. THE BIBLE COMMANDS THE BELIEVER TO STUDY THE SCRIPTURES.  See
   2 Timothy 2:15.

    15) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a
    workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately
    the word of truth.

    "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God" is a
    command.  As you study the Bible, you will discover that it
    does not just contain the Word of God -- it Is the Word of
    God.  You must also keep in mind that the Word of God
    contains the words of God, as well as the words of Satan,
    demons, angels, and man -- both good and bad.  God is truth
    and cannot lie.  Satan "... is a liar, and the father of
    lies."  Man is natural and is therefore limited, and does not
    always speak the truth.

    John 8:42-47 -- (Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees) Jesus
    said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me;
    for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not
    even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.  Why do you
    not understand what I am saying?  It is because you cannot
    hear My word.  You are of your father the devil, and you want
    to do the desires of your father.  He was a murderer from the
    beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is
    no truth in him.  Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from
    his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.
    But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.  Which
    one of you convicts Me of sin?  If I speak truth, why do you
    not believe Me?  He who is of God hears the words of God; for
    this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of
    God."

    Matthew 22:15-46 -- Then the Pharisees went and counselled
    together how they might trap Him in what He said.  And they
    sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians,
    saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the
    way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not
    partial to any.  Tell us therefore, what do You think?  Is it
    lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?"  But Jesus
    perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me,
    you hypocrites?  Show me the coin used for the poll-tax."
    And they brought Him a denarius.  And He said to them, "Whose
    likeness and inscription is this?"  They said to Him,
    "Caesar's."  Then He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the
    things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are
    God's."  And hearing this, they marveled, and leaving Him,
    they went away.

    On that day some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection)
    came to Him and questioned Him, saying, "Teacher, Moses said,
    'If a man dies, having no children, his brother as next of
    kin shall marry his wife, and raise up an offspring to his
    brother.'  Now there were seven brothers with us; and the
    first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife
    to his brother; so also the second, and the third, down to
    the seventh.  And last of all, the woman died.  In the
    resurrection therefore whose wife of the seven shall she be?
    For they all had her."  But Jesus answered and said to them,
    "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures, or the
    power of God.  For in the resurrection they neither marry,
    nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
    But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read
    that which was spoken to you by God, saying, 'I Am the God of
    Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?  He is
    not the God of the dead but of the living."  And when the
    multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

    But when the Pharisees heard that He had put the Sadducees to
    silence, they gathered themselves together.  And one of them,
    a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, "Teacher, which
    is the great commandment in the Law?"  And He said to him,
    "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and
    with all your soul, and with all your mind.'  This is the
    great and foremost commandment.  The second is like it, 'You
    shall love your neighbor as yourself.'  On these two
    commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

    Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked
    them a question, "Christ, whose son is He?"  They said to
    Him, "The son of David."  He said to them, "Then how does
    David in the Spirit call him 'Lord,' saying 'The Lord said to
    My Lord, "Sit at My right hand, until I put Thine enemies
    beneath Thy Feet"'?  If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is
    He his son?"  And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor
    did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another
    question.

    In this portion of scripture, we have the words of Jesus, of
    the Pharisees, of the Herodians, and of the Sadducees.  The
    Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees were trying to entangle
    Jesus in His teachings, that they might accuse Him of
    breaking God's law.  Their words were spoken with evil
    intent, revealing the thinking of the natural man, along with
    the words of God that came from the lips of Jesus.

    As you study the Bible, ask yourself these questions:
    1) Who is speaking: God, demon, angel, or man?
    2) To whom is being spoken: to the nation Israel, to the
    Gentiles, to the Church, to men in general, or to some
    individual man or being?
    3) How can this Scripture be applied to my own life to make
    me a better Christian?