The Bible is the Word of
God. Part One.
Bible Reading: 2
Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21.
“All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for DOCTRINE, for
REPROOF, for CORRECTION, for INSTRUCTION in righteousness, that the man of God
may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy
men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” 2 Peter 1:21.
The
Word of God is the infallible, all sufficient rule for faith and practice. Many
today challenge all authority, whatever that authority is. Be it socially,
politically, intellectually, morally, and religiously. Mankind has become
rebellious to all authority, even to the authority of God. When men live
outside the law, we will have a lawless world.
Our nation and many of the nations of the
world have thrown out God and His Word. Then they live by their own laws and
rules, every man for himself. Sadly, even some church leaders will not accept
the Word of God, and its truth! So, let us be faithful to the Word of God.
For God’s Word is still the only
source for the moral and spiritual needs of His people. There is still
only one guide for our Christian life, and that is the Word of God (Bible),
which leads to the holiness of life. When will God’s people learn that His Word
is still profitable even for today and this 21st Century.
Next to the gift of Christ Jesus as our
Saviour, and the Holy Spirit as our Helper, the Bible is the third greatest
gift given to us, for it is the Word of God for our lives. The Bible
does not contain the Word of God; the Bible “IS” the Word of God.
1.
Introduction and
background to the Bible.
A few generations ago the Bible was
accepted as the only authoritative “Word of God.” But sadly, today this is no
longer the rule.
Men today consider it clever to challenge
the authority of God’s Word, adding to it and taking away from it, even disapproving
its truth. Yet, the same men believe in life coming into existence by chance
(Evolution) or in Aliens from over planets coming here.
Men’s knowledge of this earth is so
limited, that we cannot reach or understand the deeps of our seas. And we have
so small a knowledge of the nearest planets. Yet, men say that they have
greater understand then God.
If the Bible were just a book written by a human author, we
could read it like any other book, BUT the Bible is written by the mind and
will of God.
a. In
the Old Testament, there are 2,600 quotes saying, “This is the Word of God.”
b. In
the New Testament, there are 525 quotes saying, “This is the Word of God.”
The Bible required sixteen centuries to write it; the
first writer died 1,450 years before the last writer was born. The Bible is
read all over the world and has been translated in whole or in part in more
than a thousand languages and tongues.
a. The
Bible is the oldest book in existence.
b. The
Bible has the most copies in existence over time than any other book.
c. The
Bible is the world’s best seller.
d. Yet,
the Bible as the smallest number of readers.
e. There
are more leaders and scholars set out to destroy the Bible then another book in
the world.
f. The
Bible is the oldest book in existence.
g. The
Bible has the most original copies in existence than any other accepted works
of literature today.
There are more than 24,000 partial and complete manuscript copies of the
New Testament. Example: more copies than Shakespeare writings.
h. The New Testament Versus Other Ancient Books
By comparing the manuscript support for the Bible with manuscript
support for other ancient documents and books, it becomes overwhelmingly clear
that no other ancient piece of literature can stand up to the Bible. Manuscript
support for the Bible is unparalleled!
There are more (New Testament) manuscripts copied with greater accuracy
and earlier dating than for any secular classic from the distant past.
No other book is even a close second to the Bible on either the number
or early dating of the copies. The average secular work from earliest times
survives on only a handful of manuscripts; the New Testament boasts thousands.
2.
SEVEN
WONDERS OF THE BIBLE.
ONE:
The wonder of its formation.
One book is written in one language (e.g.,
Psalms written in Hebrew). And another book was written in another country,
centuries later in another language (e.g., Romans in Greek).
TWO:
The wonder of its unity.
It is a library of 66 books, yet it is
only ONE BOOK, for it has but ONE AUTHOR, who is the Holy Spirit. With each
book in unity with the others.
THREE:
The wonder of its age.
It is the earliest of all books
because it speaks of the Ancient of Days. Its subject is from the beginning of
time to the end of time. From the Creation of all things to the end of all
things.
FOUR:
The wonder of its sale.
It is the best seller of all time.
Writers have come and gone, books have come and gone, but the Bible is still
the best seller of all time.
FIVE:
The wonder of its interest.
It is the only book that is read by
all classes, and all ages of mankind. It is read by children, to the heads of states
and nations.
SIX:
The wonder of its language.
It was written largely by uneducated men, yet it is
considered a historical masterpiece.
SEVEN:
The wonder of its preservation.
It has been the most hated of all
books. Time and time again rulers and governments have sought to burn and
destroy it, yet God has preserved and protected the Word for us today, and it
can almost be found in every home and nation of the world.
End of part one, part two to follow.
