The Bible is Good For You

How did we get the Bible?

This question relates to Canonicity.

The word Canon comes from the root word reed (Cane): This was used as a measuring rod and came to mean “standard.”

Essentially it became to be known as “what we do” or our “rule of faith.”

The canon of scripture is what we use to measure and evaluate the things regarding our beliefs.

You might be thinking, who go to decide what was a part of this book and what was not included?

Know this first and foremost...

The church did not create the canon of scripture. It neither determined which books would be called scripture.

The church recognized, or discovered, which books were inspired by God.

There were actually “tests” that aided the early church in identifying these divinely inspired books...

Canon Tests Principles for the OT

Was the book written by a prophet of God?

The book was written by someone who spoke on behalf of God.

Was the writer confirmed by acts of God?

Miracles are what separate true prophets from false prophets!

Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World Chapter 2: How We Got the Bible

“Moses was given miraculous powers to prove his call of God (Ex. 4:1–9). Elijah triumphed over the false prophets of Baal by a supernatural act (1 Kings 18). Jesus was ‘attested to . . . by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him’ (Acts 2:22)

A miracle is an act of God to confirm the Word of God given through a prophet of God to the people of God. The miracle confirms the message.

3. Did the message tell the truth about God?

2 Corinthians 1:17 ESV

17 Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time?

He cannot contradict Himself.

Hebrews 6:18 ESV

18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

He cannot speak falsely.

4. Does it come with the power of God?

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

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

The Word of God consequently has a power to transform and edify.

Does it lead to evangelism?

5. Was it accepted by the people of God?

1 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV

13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

*SIDE NOTE

Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World Chapter 2: How We Got the Bible

the people in the best position to know its prophetic credentials were those who knew the prophet who wrote it. Hence, despite all later debate about the canonicity of some books, the definitive evidence is that which attests to its original acceptance by the contemporary believers.” (Geisler and Nix, GIB, 229) When a book was received, collected, read, and used by the people of God as the Word of God, it was regarded as canonical. This practice is seen in the Bible itself. One instance is when the apostle Peter acknowledges Paul’s writings as Scripture on par with Old Testament Scripture (2 Pet. 3:16).

Canon Tests Principles for the OT

Apostolicity

Gaining the approval of the apostles themselves.

Reasons for their Collection

They were prophetic.

These were warning signs for the church!

The needs of the early church

Helped address problems and situations

The rise of heretics

The circulation of different writings

Missions

Needed to compile the books to translate around the world.

Persecution

Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World Chapter 2: How We Got the Bible

The edict of Diocletian (AD 303) called for the destruction of the sacred books of the Christians. Who would die for a book that was perhaps religious, but not sacred? Christians needed to know which books were truly sacred.

So there you go- the basic foundations for how the Bible was created...

Any questions?

Why is the Bible good for you?

John Piper a pastor out of Georgia, offers 10 compelling reasons for why you should read your Bible.

1. Scripture Saves

1 Timothy 4:16 ESV

16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

This is an active truth for God’s people throughout our time here on earth!

2. Scripture frees from Satan.

John 8:32 ESV

32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The enemy is Satan… We are not stronger than he is!

1 John 2:14 ESV

14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Even Jesus defeated the lies of Satan with scripture.

3. Scripture provides grace and peace.

2 Peter 1:2 ESV

2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Knowledge brings about peace through the means of grace.

4. Scripture Sanctifies.

John 17:17 ESV

17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

5. Scripture give joy.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 ESV

6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

Psalm 1:2 ESV

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

6. Scripture protects us from destructive error.

Ephesians 4:13–14 ESV

13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

7. Scripture is the hope of Heaven.

Full enjoyment of scripture and truth will be in heaven!

1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV

12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

8. Scripture will be resisted by some.

2 Timothy 4:3 ESV

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,

9. The right handling of scripture is approved by God.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

We have been assigned to handle the word of God. This is an opportunity.

10. Scripture gives and sustains life.

Matthew 4:4 ESV

4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

It is the truth that will set you free...

Who needs to make a commitment to the reading of God’s word tonight?