IS THE BIBLE THE WORD OF GOD?

Is The Bible the Word of God?

I Peter 1:18-25

Introduction:

A common name for the Bible is “the Word of God.”

That’s a big claim to make. What does it mean, and how do we know it’s a true statement? Furthermore, if it is true, how does it affect our lives?

We are living in a society today that really shuns the idea of being Biblical in our beliefs and values.

Much of our country lives in some sort of moral relativism in which they decide on how to deal with issues according to how they feel at the moment.

You can understand it when it is the unsaved people that make these decisions, yet the truly sad and serious concern is that many “Christians” make their decisions based on these same fleshly feelings.

“We need to do the right thing because it is the right thing to do”

“Do right till the stars fall” “It is never right to do wrong in order to do right”-Bob Jones Sr.

In other words the ends DO NOT justify the means. The journey is just as important as the place of arrival.

The direction is just as important as the destination.

Note – Why have we become so passive toward the corrupting trends and behavior of today’s society?  I believe, to a great degree,it is because Americans have bought the lie that the Bible is an archaic, irrelevant document.

Note-Many believe that the Word of God holds no relevance to them today.

Note- many have questions as to whether the Book that we call the Bible is indeed the very Word of God.

Note – But this morning, let us See – The Bible is the Living Word of God, and we would be wise to give heed…

Outside proofs demonstrating the Bible is the Word of God:

1.    Influence:no book has survived nor received the universal acceptance that the Bible has enjoyed.

2.    Archeology: Archaeologists continue to unearth proof after proof of the Bible’s accuracy in its account of ancient history. A serious study of archeological findings cannot help but strengthen one’s confidence in the Word of God.

3.    Transformed lives: every man, woman, boy or girl can attest to the fact that the Bible is the very Word of God. No other Book has consistently and permanently changed the lives of those that have heeded it’s teachings.

4.    Fulfilled Prophecy: one fourth of Scripture is prophetic, and most of the prophecies have been fulfilled.

a.     Birth of Jesus Christ

b.    Death of Jesus Christ

5.    The Spirit of God: when one first decides to accept the Bible as the Word of God, he believes it is and chooses to accept by faith its validity. It is not long before the Spirit of God makes the Word such a vital part of one’s life that you cease to believe it to be the Word of God, but rather, you know it is the Word of God!!!

The is a confidence that rests in something higher than logic, higher than that which is scientifically demonstrated, higher than reason. It is a confidence in the Spirit of God that is far superior to all the other senses.

When we read the Word of God it is the Spirit of God that communicates to us what is Truth-

John 8:32- and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. 

I. The Preservation of the Word of God-vs. 24-25   

“Word of the Lord endureth forever”

A. Originated with God

John 1:1,2

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Psalms 119:152

Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

Psalm 12:6-7

6 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7 Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever.

2 Tim. 3:16

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

Note – Inspiration = God-Breathed   Doctrine-what is right

·       Reproof- what is not right

·       Correction- how to get right

·       Instruction- how to stay right

Turn – 2 Peter 1:21

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Illustration – A man picking up a writing instrument and writes on a piece of paper…He may say, “I have written this…” Strictly speaking, the writing was done by the pen. However, it could not move without the hand of the man. ( God moved on men to give us His word.)

B. God Preserved in Every Word – verse 25

There are essentially two positions in Bible-believing circles regarding the Word of God. The first one states, “We have it….” The second one believes, “We have it in a body of manuscripts and we’re still working on getting it into English.” In other words, “We have most of it, and we are working on the rest.”

In other words, some believe in a preserved Word and others believe in a progressive Word. Some believe in truth that has been delivered and others believe in truth that is still being discovered—at least as far as the English language is concerned.

Ouelette, R.B.. A More Sure Word: Which Bible Can You Trust? . Striving Together Publications. Kindle Edition.

At the heart of the translation issue is which Greek text are we going to trust? The Received Text which is based on 5210 out of 5255 texts or the Critical Text which is based in 45 out of 5255 texts.

The overwhelming evidence always points to the text that our King James Bible is translated from. ALL of the New versions are based on the Critical Text and causes doubt and confusion. Many verses are missing or changed in order to take away from the truth presented in those verses.

For example:

1 John 5:7 KJV 1900

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Most modern bibles either completely skip this verse or change it:

English Standard Version Chapter 5

7 For there are three that testify:

Most of the New International Versions will simply skip the verse and the number. There numbering will look like 1 John 5.6; 1 John 5.8 without a number seven even printed.

Remember these other bibles are based on a corrupt trail of manuscripts that were “found” in the 1800’s in a trash bin in a catholic monastery.

The overwhelming number of physical manuscripts that exist today is astounding, especially considering that these are all handwritten.

No other ancient book or writings has more existing evidence today than the Bible.

Example: 5500+ Manuscripts preserved, many from just a few hundred years after the life of Jesus Christ.

Copies of these manuscripts are located throughout the world, many of which have been preserved in historic collections.

At the age of sixteen, Swiss-born Martin Bodmer started what would become one of the best collections of early books and writings. At the time of his death in 1971, he had amassed 150,000 works in eighty languages.

In 2003, the present-day Bodmer Library of World Literature opened in Cologny, Switzerland, showcasing his collection of rare and valuable books.

When God gave His words to man, He also preserved them so that man would have God’s truth forever.

Note – The Bible is “incorruptible seed.”

Matt. 5:18

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Note-We mean the very “words” of Scripture are God’s Words. This goes beyond the concepts and ideas but to the very words being inspired and preserved.

Note – God would not go to the trouble to inspire His word without also preserving it…

Note – There have been many attempts to destroy the Word of God.

Illustration – 303 A.D. Roman Emperor Diocletian ordered all Bibles to be burned.

Illustration – During the Dark Ages – Pope Nicholas I in 860 A.D. made a decree opposing personal use of the Bible.

Illustration =- 1198 A.D. Pope Innocent III issued a decree that all who read the Bible should be put to death.

Illustration – During the reign of ‘Bloody Mary’ in the 1550’s in England, Bibles were used to burn Christians at the Stake.

Illustration – 1536 William Tyndale was burned at the stake for translating the Bible to English.

Note – Yet, through all these trials the Word of God, preserved in the King James Bible (English); Italia Bible(Italian); Luther’s Bible(German) and several other languages, emerged and prospered around the world.

II. The Proclamation of the Word of God-vs. 23-25

What does that the Word of God seek to accomplish and how does it go about completing its mission?

A. It Proclaims the Truth

Note – The Word is an incorruptible seed – verse 23

Note- All seed is corruptible (plant, animal, human), it must die before it produces life. The Word of God is incorruptible in that it will never die.

Note- The truth of the Word of God is the source of its power.

John 14:6 KJV 1900

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 17:17 KJV 1900

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Psalm 119:160 “Thy word is true from the beginning: And every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”

Heb. 6:18

18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

·    The truth about origins of the world. (Not Billions of years ago, but less than 10,000 years)

·     The truth about right and wrong.

·   Truth about where man is going to spend eternity.

B. It Proclaims the Gospel – verse 25b

It is by this word the gospel is preached. Beware of any gospel from another source. Beware of any gospel message that adds to or takes away from Jesus Only as Saviour.

It is by this gospel we are born again.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 KJV 1900

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures

The gospel message includes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

The gospel message concludes with a call to action for the hearer of the gospel.

The preservation of the Word of God

The proclamation of the Word of God

III. The Purification of the Word of God-Vs. 22

A. Purification of our Lives (Spiritually)

Note – “Seeing ye have purified in obeying the truth...”        

At Salvation we were cleansed/forgiven if we believed the truth of the gospel.

Essentially in order to believe you must obey the call of the Holy Spirit.

Pure only through obeying the truth.

James 4:8 KJV 1900

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Obedience pleases God.                                                                                                     

Acts 15:9 KJV 1900

And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Psalm 119:11 KJV 1900

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee.

Psalm 119:9 “BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

Ezra 7:10 KJV 1900

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

Proverbs 16:1 KJV 1900

The preparations of the heart in man, And the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.

The word of God has the ability to purify your soul, heart and mind. As a result we will live differently.

There is no limit to what God can do through us if we are His yielded and purified people, worshiping and showing forth His glory and His faithfulness. Romans 6:19; Ephesians 2:8–10; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:2–3 Whatever Happened to Worship?, 101.

B. Purification of our Love – verse 22

Note – Once we are born of His Spirit – we have the capacity to love with a deeper love.

Note – When the ‘incorruptible seed’ of the gospel blossoms into salvation – we can bear fruit and love like never before.

Matthew 22:36–40 KJV 1900

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

As our love for God and His word grows, then our love for the sinful things of this world will dim.

Conclusion – God Preserves His Word, The Word Proclaims the Truth, The Truth will Change Our Lives.

Come to Christ – Even the right decision is wrong if made too late.

“It doesn’t matter what your past used to be, your future is spotless in Jesus.”

Christian- when was the last time that the Word of God convicted you and you allowed it change you?

Are you spending daily time reading and meditating on the Bible?

What verses are you currently memorizing?

Since we KNOW that the Bible is true; did you share your faith with anybody this week?

If you didn’t then either you do not believe the Bible or you have been unfaithful to God!!! Which is it?

Unsaved friend-

The Bible is the Word of God at it very clearly teaches where you will go when you die lost and without Jesus.

Do you realize that time is getting shorter and shorter for you everyday?

Today is the day to accept Christ; today is the day to KNOW for sure that when you die you are going to Heaven!!!