THE HOLY SPIRIT: The Inspiration of Scripture

Memorial Drive 11/4/18 THE HOLY SPIRIT: The Inspiration of Scripture Various Texts When a source so clearly, accurately, and consistently speaks verifiable truth about other things, and when its content is of such a nature that it can only have come from a divine source, then that source is qualified to speak the truth not only about other things but also about itself. “The Bible is not a book that could have been written by men if they would, nor would have been written by men if they could.” (Evidence, McDowell) … THE INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE ... “Inspiration” Defined “Inspiration is that extraordinary, supernatural influence … exerted by the Holy Spirit on the writers of our Sacred Books, by which their words were rendered also the words of God, and therefore, perfectly infallible (without error)” (Benjamin Warfield, DBC Bibliology notes). “Inspiration is God’s superintending of human authors so that using their own individual personalities they composed and recorded without error His revelation to man in the words of the original autographs (writings)” (Charles Ryrie, DTS, Study-Graph, Bible Doctrine 1). … The Biblical Teaching Concerning Inspiration “All Scripture is INSPIRED by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16) What about the New Testament writings? “… our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also THE REST OF THE SCRIPTURES, to their own destruction.” (2 Peter 3:15b-16) “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for NO PROPHECY WAS EVER MADE BY AN ACT OF HUMAN WILL, but men MOVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE FROM GOD.” (2 Pet 1:20-21) “ … and when the ship was caught in it, and could not face the wind, we gave way to it, and let ourselves be driven along.” (Acts 27:15) … Striking Confirmations Of the Divine Origin (Inspiration) of the Scriptures “As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven-- things into which angels long to look.” (I Peter 1:10-12) There is a “divine intellect behind the Old and New Testaments” (Evidence, 144) Professor Stone considers 8 of 61 major prophecies of 300 written about Christ Place of birth, time of birth, manner of birth, betrayal, manner of death, people’s reactions of mocking, spitting, staring at him as he died, being pierced through in his death, and his burial The chances of JUST 8 coming true in a single man = 1017 To count … 250 per minute, 24 hours a day, 19 million years! The chances of 48 of the 61 coming true in a single man = 10157 The line of electrons is TOO SMALL! Consider a CUBIC INCH of electrons! To count … 250 per minute, around the clock, 19million years X’s 19 million years X’2 19 million years! Send a man to ONE MARKED ELECTRON in a cubic inch! This is the chance of Scripture accurately prophesying 48 of these prophesies concerning Christ! What an amazing gift of God – The Scriptures! What an amazing SPIRIT of God who gave us the Scriptures!