Sermon #2: His Word: The Bible As Our Foundation
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Intro
Intro
Life is much like sailing on the ocean. We each set-out on life’s adventure with child-like excitement and hope. There are some times in life when the sea of life is calm and we can see a what lies out on the horizon. There are other stages of life where the sea of life is rough + uncertain. We do all we can to keeping life from overwhelming us.
It is because of the uncertainty of life that we must have an objective reference to guide us. Much like a light-house for a ship, this objective reference, must be unchaining, not based upon the moments at hand. This objective reference must not based upon the newest thoughts of the day, emotions, ideas. It must be based timeless, with a track-record of guiding others to their destination, for being life-giving and life-changing.
What is this objective reference, this timeless truth? Where are those guiding principles found?
As we continue our short series to begin the fall looking at who we are as a church, we are going to take some time to examine how we orient ministry here at Bethany Church, [Slide - 2] we are going to ask ourselves the question…
Question: What guides us?
Question: What guides us?
What Is Trust?
What Is Trust?
Transition: I can say with full confidence that, at Bethany Church...
I. God’s Word Is Our Objective Truth
I. God’s Word Is Our Objective Truth
Asking if the Bible is true means that we need to have some understanding of...
A. “Truth”
A. “Truth”
How’s that for a loaded word?
That’s a loaded word, isn’t it?
Today, it seems like its harder and harder to figure-out what is the truth? (Fake-news, Social Media, etc.)
[Slide - 3]
Albert Mohler - Today the concept of “truth has been internalized, privatized, and subjectivized. Absolute or objective truth is denied outright. Research indicates that most Americans believe that truth is internal and relative. No one, the culture shouts, has a right to impose truth, morality, or cultural standards.”
When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Scary proposition
However, Oxford English Dictionary defines truth as - the quality or state of being true
The quality or state of being true
That which is true as opposed to false (corresponds to reality)
The evidence is overwhelming. Moral relativism has so shaped the culture that the vast majority of Americans now see themselves as their own moral arbiter. Truth has been internalized, privatized, and subjectivized. Absolute or objective truth is denied outright. Research indicates that most Americans believe that truth is internal and relative. No one, the culture shouts, has a right to impose truth, morality, or cultural standards.
What is real is true and what is unreal is false
People in Jesus day even question what was “truth” [Slide - 4]
Websters
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
the quality or state of being true.
▶ (also the truth) that which is true as opposed to false.
▶ a fact or belief that is accepted as true.
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.
tion
What is truth?
“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
B. What is truth?
B. What is truth?
Luke 18:
Consequently, what is real is true, what is unreal is false.
The Bible makes some very distinctive truth claims.
What is truth? While this question is often presented as a deep philosophical puzzle suitable only for the “brainy” to tackle, the answer is not so complex. Truth is what corresponds to reality. Consequently, what is real is true, what is unreal is false.
The Bible makes some very distinctive truth claims
The Bible makes some very distinctive truth claims. It claims, for instance, that God exists. It also claims that He has chosen to communicate with us through His creation, our moral conscience, and via the Bible. Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh and that the only way for human beings to be saved is through Him (). Moreover, the death and resurrection of Jesus are also key to Christian theology.
[Slide - 5] Claims God exists
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
[Slide - 6] Claims God has chosen to communicate with us through His creation, our moral conscience, and through the Bible.
Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
[Slide - 7] Claims Jesus is God in the flesh and that the only way for human beings to be saved is through Him (death and resurrection)
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
These claims the Bible makes either correspond to reality or they do not.
These claims the Bible makes either correspond to reality or they do not.
Christians believe that they do correspond to reality, meaning that the Bible is true.
We believe God really exists, Jesus is not a myth, and the resurrection really happened.
Transition: How do we know this? How do we know that the Bible is true?
C. The Bible Is True Because It Says It’s True
C. The Bible Is True Because It Says It’s True
All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
Psalm
Now, there are two halves to that psalm. That’s the way the psalms are. They’re parallel, lots of times symmetrical like this. The first half, “The sum of your Word is truth,” sounds collective. Like, “If you want to know what is truth, this is truth. This is truth. This whole thing right here.” And the next line is, “And every one of your righteous rules, your statutes, are enduring forever because it’s true too.” So, there’s a summation of truth, your word, and there’s an individualization, every one of them is truth. So what is truth? Truth is God’s mind, thought, word, about anything you’re wondering about the truth of.
Quoting the Bible as true to prove it as true, isn’t that circular reasoning? Sounds illogical?
It makes sense to be rightly cautious of this approach
But what if the Bible can be shown to be a reliable document?
But what if the Bible can be shown to be a reliable document, accurately recorded and transmitted through history, from God to us, then we can build a strong case that the Bible is indeed true.
Evidence for the Bible can take many forms
Copies upon copies of manuscripts = prove Bible has been transmitted accurately
NT records show minimal changes to the text (variants) but none change any key Christian beliefs or claims
Archaeological finds - prove again and again that Bible’s historical data is true
Bible presents a coherent theological and worldview as it answers the four main questions life: (Ravi Zacharias) [Slide - 8]
Origin
Meaning
Morality
Destiny
Greatest Evidence Is Jesus & The Gospel
Life changing + powerful
Transition: Why is God’s Word so life-changing and powerful? God’s Word is so powerful because...
We have copies of the manuscripts and throughout history these copies show that the Bible has been transmitted accurately. Despite common skeptical claims that the Bible has often been changed through the centuries, the physical evidence tells another story. The New Testament records are incredibly accurate. There are minor differences in manuscripts, called variants, but none of these variants impact or change key Christian beliefs or claims.
Other physical evidence includes archeological finds. The Archaeological Study Bible presents many notes and articles documenting how archeology has again and again proven that the Bible does correspond to historical reality.
There are other kinds of evidence that the Bible is true. These have to do with internal consistency and coherence. Although the Bible was written over many centuries by different writers, the messages it contains are coherent and consistent. The Bible presents a coherent theology and worldview and presents this material consistently. Moreover, the Christian worldview is robust, reasonable and grounded in history.
But if the Bible can be shown to be a reliable document,
There seems today to be hard times figuring-out what truth is
II. God’s Word Is God’s Best For Us
II. God’s Word Is God’s Best For Us
[Slide - 9]
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
A. Divine Inspiration
A. Divine Inspiration
A. It’s Given To Us By God
A. It’s Given To Us By God
A. It Teaches Us
A. It Teaches Us
“God-breathed” = Inspired
The Bible’s Divine Inspiration
[Slide - 10] Holy men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired.
A. The Word Inspiration literally means ”breathed.” ()
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
B. The Holy Spirit is the Author of the Bible, the means by which God “breathed” every word. ()
The Scriptures were inspired free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be, preserved for all eternity.
C. Holy Men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired. ()
D. The Scriptures were inspired free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be, preserved for all eternity. ()
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
B. It Contains What We Need
B. It Contains What We Need
It “teaches” us what is right
The psalmist gladly acknowledges God’s right to issue commands and humbly accepts that all these commands are right. “I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,” he says ().
All God’s commandments are sure (v. 86).
The psalmist gladly acknowledges God’s right to issue commands and humbly accepts that all these commands are right. “I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,” he says (). All God’s commandments are sure (v. 86). All his precepts are right (v. 128). I sometimes hear Christians admit that they don’t like what the Bible says, but since it’s the Bible they have to obey it. On one level, this is an admirable example of submitting oneself to the word of God. And yet, we should go one step further and learn to see the goodness and rightness in all that God commands. We should love what God loves and delight in whatever he says. God does not lay down arbitrary rules. He does not give orders so that we might be restricted and miserable. He never requires what is impure, unloving, or unwise. His demands are always noble, always just, and always righteous.
All his precepts are right (v. 128). I
We should love what God loves and delight in whatever he says. God does not lay down arbitrary rules. He does not give orders so that we might be restricted and miserable. He never requires what is impure, unloving, or unwise. His demands are always noble, always just, and always righteous.
God does not lay down arbitrary rules. He does not give orders so that we might be restricted and miserable. He never requires what is impure, unloving, or unwise. His demands are always noble, always just, and always righteous.
He does not give orders so that we might be restricted and miserable.
He never requires what is impure, unloving, or unwise. His demands are always noble, always just, and always righteous.
His demands are always noble, always just, and always righteous.
It “rebukes” us about what is wrong [Slide - 11]
B. It Rebukes Us About What Is Wrong
B. It Rebukes Us About What Is Wrong
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
It “corrects” us so that we can be restored
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
It “trains” us on how to live
[Slide - 12] Guiding us in God’s ways so that we can experience God’s best that He has for us
so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
With it we can provide the best spiritual leadership to others - complete, capable, proficient in the sense of being able to meet all demands
The Bible Knowledge Commentary 3:16–17
guiding new believers in God’s ways)—for all of these and more the written Word of God is profitable.
D. It Trains Us On How To Live
D. It Trains Us On How To Live
The Bible Knowledge Commentary 3:16–17
With it the man of God (one who must provide spiritual leadership to others) is artios—“complete, capable, proficient in the sense of being able to meet all demands.”
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
The Bible’s Divine Inspiration
A. The Word Inspiration literally means ”breathed.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
B. The Holy Spirit is the Author of the Bible, the means by which God “breathed” every word. (2 Peter 1:19-21)
C. Holy Men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired. (1 Cor. 2:13)
D. The Scriptures were inspired free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be, preserved for all eternity. (Psalm 12:6-7)
so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
‘
Conclusion
Conclusion
What does this all mean to us? It means that we MUST be in God’s Word!
Pastor Cornell’s Bible
When the storm of life gets crazy we need to run to it to find those timeless truths, that objective reference point to guide us. And when life is easy, we can rejoice in it’s truths and goodness for us.
So, may God’s Word always speak to us today that we may see God in all of His majesty!