Is The Bible Reliable? (4)

The WORD you HEAR from us!

1 Thessalonian 2:13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it, not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe!

Someone has said the BIBLE stands for:

B-asic

I-nstructions

B-efore

L-eaving

E-arth

The word “BIBLE” is not found in the Old or New Testament. It is a word that meant “container of sacred writings.”

Eventually, the word “BIBLE” became a word used by Christians to mean the “Word of God.” Over the span of time, the word BIBLE replaced our use of the phrase the Word of God.

Satan has used our use of the word “BIBLE” rather than the “WORD of GOD” to undermine confidence in the authority and accuracy of the WORD of GOD!

In our lifetime, many people think of the BIBLE as simply being a compilation of writings of religious men, but NOT as the Word of God.

This has produced a culture of Moral Relativism where there is no such thing as Absolute Truth.

In our lifetime, people do what is right in their own eyes rather than what is right in God’s eyes!

This is causing the Gentiles “cup of iniquity” to become close to being full. When it is full, it will culminate with the Removal of the Church from the Earth, the Tribulation on earth to begin followed by the Return of Christ to the earth!

Today, I will release a powerful NOW word into the House that will address three powerful issues related to The Word You Receive From Us!

I. REVELATION: the act of making something known that was a secret!

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth

A. OUTWARD revelation can be OBSERVED through Creation!

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature . . .

Romans 1:20 . . . have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse!

God (ELOHIM), created the heavens and the earth in such a way that His invisible attributes, His eternal power and His divine nature,

can be clearly seen and understood through what is observed through what has been created!

B. INWARD revelation can be PERCEIVED through Conscience!

Romans 1:19 Because that which is known about God is evident WITHIN them; for God made it evident to them!

Romans 2:15 The Gentiles show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing them witness!

Outward revelation and Inward revelation reveals God’s invisible attributes, His eternal power and His divine nature to every human being on earth . . .

But, Outward revelation and or Inward revelation does not reveal to anyone HOW to have a personal relationship with this powerful, magnificent God!

C. REDEMPTIVE revelation can be EXPERIENCED through Scripture!

*Remember, revelation is the act of making something known that was a secret!

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall never perish, but have eternal life!

*God loves you so much that He created you--Jesus loves you so much that He died for you and rose from the dead--the Holy Spirit loves you so much He convinces you of sin, righteousness and judgment!

*As you are made aware of these truths, Scripture reveals what God requires from you to experience redemption!

Romans 10:8 But what does it say, The Word is Near You, in your mouth and in your heart—that is the Word of Faith—which we are preaching

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Redeemed)!

Romans 10:10 For with the HEART a person BELIEVES, resulting in righteousness, and with the MOUTH he confesses, resulting in salvation (Redemption)!

*The issue of Redemption is made known to us in Scripture, but how do we know Scripture is right?

II. INSPIRATION: refers to the divine origin and divine authorship of the Scriptures!

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God AND profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness!

A. Scripture claims VERBAL inspiration!

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God!

*You can’t have Scripture without Words, and the words are said to be INSPIRED by God. This phrase means “God-Breathed.”

God-Breathed the words that we often call Scripture but are really The Word of God!

B. Scripture claims PLENARY inspiration!

2 Timothy 3:16 ALL Scripture is inspired by God!

*Plenary means full, complete or total and ALL means ALL!

*It was not just some of the words that were inspired, and it means that not just some of the writings are inspired, ALL of them are God-Breathed! And God does not breathe errors!

C. Scripture claims SUPER-NATURAL inspiration!

2 Peter 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation!

*No prophecy of Scripture” means “no words 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!

*Men moved by the Holy Spirit” means to be carried along, or safely guided by someone from one place to another.

*God created you because He loves you and wants a personal relationship with you!

*Jesus loves you and died on the Cross and wants you to have a personal relationship with Him!

*The Word of God is Inspired by God so that you will know the Way and the Truth and can experience God in a personal way!

III. CANONIZATION: The term CANON came to be used by the Christian community to refer to the divinely inspired books or scrolls.

A. The NECESSITY of Canonization!

2 Thess 2:2 Do not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come

*Until the Canon of Scripture was complete, the Christian Community utilized letters or scrolls written by apostles or close associates of the apostles to teach the doctrine of the apostles:

Colossians 4:16 When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea!

1 Thessalonians 5:27 I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren!

Paul considered Luke’s gospel as Scripture (Luke 10:8; 1 Timothy 5:18)!

Peter recognized Paul’s letters as Scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16)!

It would not take Satan long before he began sending counterfeit letters to churches to deceive and or disturb them (2 Thess 2:2)!

The longer the time elapsed from the death of the apostles, the more necessary it became for the Christian Community to clarify and confirm the Canon of Scripture was closed and complete!

B. The PROCESS of Canonization!

*The Original Composition by an Apostle or close associate of an Apostle

*Widespread Circulation and Use by the Christian Communities as directed by the Apostles

*Consistency of teaching with other known Scripture, i.e. no obvious contradictions of doctrine and established revelation from God

C. The ACCURACY of CANONIZATION!

2 Peter 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation!

*It is important to remember, men did not Canonize Scripture; men simply recognized the authority of the books (scrolls), that God inspired!

*The Muratorian Canon A.D. 170; The Council of Laodicea A.D. 363; The Council of Hippo A.D. 393; The Council of Carthage A.D. 397 are some of the councils that all worked through the process to ultimately agree the Canon of Scripture is CLOSED!

In closing, I rejoice today and constantly thank God that when you received the Word of God which you hear from us, you accept not as the word of men, but for what it really is, The Word of God, which also PERFORMS its WORK in you who believe!