2024-04-13 Doctrine 6 - Preservation of Scripture

Doctrine - Preservation of Scripture

Intro: In 1947 the discovery of the DEAD SEA SCROLLS confirmed that we still have the same OT as they did in the days of Jesus. There were thousands of NT manuscripts also found. The QUESTION among textual scholars is not whether some words are missing, but which variant readings, in a few minor cases, are the correct ones.

Other classic books have survived with less copies from around 900 AD where these copies are from 300 AD and there are more of them.

God’s Word survived intense efforts to destroy it:

175 BC, King of Syria, Antiochus Epiphanes, ordered the Jews, on pain of death, to destroy their Scriptures and worship the Greek gods. But Judas Maccabaeus saved the books, led a revolt and won independence for the Jewish nation. Today this event is still celebrated, its Hanukkah.

Roman emperor Diocletian, he ordered to have Christianity outlawed, its leaders killed, their Bibles burned. However the next emperor Constantine, legalized Christianity and paid for fifty new hand-written copies of the Bible.

https://answersingenesis.org/the-word-of-god/the-preservation-of-the-bible/

Today God’s Word is translated into:

736 Full Bibles

1,658 NT

1,264 Partials

3,658 Total languages, representing 97% of all people in the world have God’s Word available in their language

https://www.wycliffe.net/resources/statistics/

Link: Folks, one thing I love about God is that He didn’t just tell us something and expect us to blindly believe it on our own as humans for millennia. He has given us, over and over through many means, proof of who He is, what He did for us and factual evidence to back up His promises to us.

Prophecy

Israel

Preservation of His Word

Preservation of Scripture - Definition : God has chosen to reveal Himself to humanity through the text of Scripture, having inspired it and directed it to be free from error. God has also acted providentially throughout the course of history to ensure the biblical text is faithfully preserved for future generations. Our belief in the preservation of Scripture is supported by investigation into how the canon of Scripture was formed and how manuscripts were faithfully transmitted throughout the centuries.

I. Jesus' Affirmations of God’s Word

A. Permanence of God's Word -

Matthew 5:18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

1. Not even the smallest detail will disappear.

B. Enduring Nature of God's Word -

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

1. God's Word will outlast everything.

AIG: Jesus Christ made an amazing prophesy about this preservation of His Word: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Mark 13:31; also Matthew 24:35). He believed that God’s Word is indestructible (“And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle (small mark in Hebrew lettering) of the law to fail” Luke 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail. ).

Moreover, Jesus believed His words would spread around the world: Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. ; Mark 13:10 And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. And that is what we find today. God’s Word has been preserved.

II. Men of God share the truth of the everlasting Word of God

A. Eternal Nature of God's Word

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.

1. In the previous few verses were told that all flesh are the blades of grass here and we die, our loveliness is like the beautiful flower, but that dies too. We live and we die but God's Word is everlasting it will never die, never fade away and will always be ever powerful, unlike all the temporary things that surround us.

B. Peter confirms Isaiah's message.

1 Peter 1:24–25 because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, 25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

2162My friend, Dr. Pierson, sent me an imitation of an American banknote, and on one side of it were these words: “My God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19. A splendid note it was! It had my friend’s name on the back, “Arthur T. Pierson,” and he said to me, “If the Lord does not pay you, I will, for I have endorsed the note.” I shall never have to look my brother Pierson up and tell him that the note he endorsed is of no value. There it stands, and stands forever. God will keep His word.—38.199

Charles Spurgeon

III. God wanted His word to be Accessible to all - HIS LOVE FOR US

A. Purpose of Scripture - Teaching and Encouragement

Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

1. God's Word is meant to be used by humanity.

Ask the audience: “FOR WHAT REASONS do we use God’s Word?”

Importance of the Gospel Message in Scripture

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

1. Salvation is linked to the message in God's Word.

Spreading the Gospel Message

Acts 13:47 For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.

1. Scripture's message needs preservation for global reach.

Edification of the Saints

Ephesians 4:11-13 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

This is done by Men of God using the Word of God.

Conclusion:

God has shown to us that He promises to preserve His Word, He has and we can see that through evidence, both factual and physical.

If we can believe this then we can believe the Words and Promises within the pages of the Bible.

Unsaved: That God loves you in spite of your sin, that He made a perfect way by sending God the Son, Jesus to die for you so that you won’t have to die in your sins. That He will forgive you if you believe in Him and confess your need for Him and that you trust Him as your Savior.

Saved: Have you trusted Christ already? What is the next step in your walk with Jesus then?

This week I want to encourage you to focus on the goodness of God and His wonderful gift of the Bible. Take time to spend with Him in His Word. Pray, asking God what is my next step with you?