The Bible

Because a Bible doesn’t do us much good if it just sits on a bookshelf, never getting read, never being studied, never having any notes written in the margins

It may look really nice for a really long time

But the best part about Bibles is not how much they look like they are brand new

The best part about Bibles is how often we read them, study them, and write down things God teaches us

I want to see all of our Bibles show the signs of being handled and read every day

Intro

Grab: “All I need is the Bible” - true or false?

[]

It depends on what you say you’re needing it for.

Eg: “In order to tie my shoes, all I need is the Bible.”

The Bible doesn’t give instructions on how to.

The Bible never prophesied about laces on shoes.

Even though in Scripture John says he’s not worthy to untie the sandals on Jesus’ feet, that doesn’t mean we rip that passage out of context to conclude that we shouldn’t wear shoes with laces.

Series RV

The Core: The core of what we believe and how it makes a real difference in our daily lives.

RV: God is God —> at our best when we pray.

PV: The Bible

It’s nature

It’s role in our lives

How it defines us when we are at our best

SoF

We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.

Prayer

We’re going to study what the Bible says RE the Bible = circular

It would be if it wasn’t true

But we know it is true from other witnesses

Illumine your Word by your Spirit - we can’t do this in a way that matters without you

Reading

Xit: Course RE writing 2-page papers about each statement. Overview only - too much, will publish.

Revelation: general and special, for salvation, ultimately about Jesus (Psa 19:1-6; Rom 1:19-20; Jn 14:6,11; Lev 11:45; Deut 29:29; 2 Tim 3:16; Rom 10:13-17; Jn 1:1; Heb 1:1-2; Matt 13:17)

God has chosen to reveal some of His nature to humankind. Creation is His general revelation, displaying His awesome power and intent (Psa 19:1-6; Rm 1:19-20). However, we need the special revelation of His Word to know of salvation in Christ (Jn 14:6, 11). The Bible reveals His nature (Lv 11:45), His instructions for living (Dt 29:29; 2 Tim 3:16), and the Gospel as the sole means of salvation (Rm 10:13-17). God’s greatest self-revelation is Jesus (Jn 1:1; Heb 1:1-2) and the Bible is ultimately about Him. God revealed His Word progressively (Mt 13:17).

Divine and human agency: “God-breathed”, through human authors, verbally inspired (Jer 37:2; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:19-21; Matt 5:18; 2 Cor 10:1; 2 Pet 3:15-16; Heb 1:1; Ezek 13:2-3; Luke 1:1-4; Rev 1:10-11; 2 Pet 1:21)

God initiated the writing of Scripture, speaking through people (Jer 37:2) flawlessly. The Bible is “God-breathed” (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pe 1:19-21) through human authors who wrote exactly what God intended, down to the word (Mt 5:18), while maintaining the authors’ individual writing styles (2 Cor 10:1; 2 Pe 3:15-16). The Bible is God’s Word incarnated through the words of men, verbally inspired. God communicated to us by various means (Heb 1:1), including dictation (Eze 13:2-3), research (Lk 1:1-4), vision reports (Rv 1:10-11), and the Spirit’s leading (2 Pe 1:21).

Authority: over humankind, sufficient (Deut 18:19; 1 Cor 14:37; 2 Pet 3:2; Rom 1:16; 2 Pet 1:3; Psa 119:105)

The Bible carries the authority of God (Dt 18:19) over humankind (1 Cor 14:37; 2 Pe 3:2). Whatever conflicts with it is subject to it. Scripture does not address every contingency, but it is sufficient for salvation (Rm 1:16), life, and godliness (2 Pe 1:3; Psa 119:105).

Interpretation: via Holy Spirit, humility, accessible, with faith (1 Cor 2:14; 1 Cor 3:1-3; James 4:6; Psa 19:7; 1 Pet 2:5-9; Deut 6:6-9; Matt 4:1-11; John 5:39-40)

The Holy Spirit illumines the words He inspired, aiding us to incorporate Scripture into our lives (1 Cor 2:14). However, this does not mean our interpretation of the inerrant Bible is itself inerrant (1 Cor 3:1-3). We are accountable to approach the Bible with humility and discipline (Jas 4:6). On the other hand, the main message of Scripture is clear (Psa 19:7) and remains accessible to all (1 Pe 2:5-9; Dt 6:6-9). Even Satan understands Scripture without affirming it (Mt 4:1-11), but it is more readily understood when approached with honest receptivity (Jn 5:39-40).

Inerrant: true, genres, affirmed by Jesus (John 17:17; Prov 30:5; Matt 23:24; Matt 19:4-5)

God speaks inerrantly, so His Word is also inerrant (Jn 17:17) in the original autographs. Therefore, all that it says is true (Prv 30:5), often using literary devices (e.g., poetry and hyperbole, Mt 23:24). We do not possess any original autographs, but the preponderance of evidence indicates that we likely possess a copy of every original verse and that we have reconstructed those originals with over 99% accuracy, with no pivotal statements of doctrine remaining in doubt. It is inadequate to say the Bible is “infallible” (i.e., reliable for faith and practice, but not necessarily for history and science) because the Bible integrates history and scientific claims with matters of faith and practice. Furthermore, Jesus affirms the historical and factual claims of the Old Testament (Mt 19:4-5). If the Bible is infallible but not inerrant, then we are relying on our reason more than the Bible.

Canon: 39 + 27

All of these statements apply only to the historic Protestant canon of Scripture – 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New. This canon was recognized, not created, by the Church, and is now closed. Criteria for canonization included an author’s relationship to an apostle and harmony with apostolic teaching. There are, of course, ancient, non-canonical Christian books valuable to history and discipleship, but they are not afforded the same credence as the Bible.

Primary text: teaching, counsel, power to transform along with the Spirit (2 Tim 2:2,15; Heb 4:12)

Because God’s Word is inerrant, sufficient, and authoritative, it is the primary text for the Church for study and teaching, requiring disciplined exegesis and hermeneutics. It is also the foundation for pastoral counseling (not necessarily nouthetic) as it accurately describes the human condition and God’s restorative involvement in our lives. Leaders and future leaders must be able to rightly handle the text (2 Tim 2:2, 15) because there is no power for transformation in discipleship other than the power of the Word and the Holy Spirit working together (Heb 4:12).

What the Bible is Not

Xit: Introduced the idea last week - we understand something better when we also understand what it is not. Kind of like understanding what Pizza Hut is not - it is not Italian food. I like it, but it’s not Italian. We see things more clearly when we see what they are not.

++The Bible is not primarily dictation from God.

There is some dictation. “Thus saith the Lord.” or “Say to the people …”

All of it is divine. It is from God.

But most of it is not dictated. “Hey, Paul - get out your pen and write this …”

It’s “incarnated.” Like Jesus was incarnate - God taking up residence in something very human, so that He is still divine but you can hear His voice and shake His hand. The Bible is from the divine even as it inhabits human words.

++The Bible is not merely the words of people.

Paul writes like Paul, and John writes like John. The personality of the human authors was not lost.

But it is still “God-breathed” through human minds and human hands and human languages.

It’s “incarnated.” Something divine taking up residence in something human - human words.

Even though human language is inadequate to convey all of God’s truth, it is capable of conveying God’s truth well enough for us to respond to God.

++The Bible has no peers.

There is no other writing, no matter how Christian or how good, that is on equal footing with the Bible.

All other writings are measured by the Bible and are always less than the Bible.

Other books can be great, but they should never replace the Bible as our primary book of study, both as a church and as individuals.

++Understanding the Bible is not just for the “experts.”

There is a need for the Bible eggheads.

But the main message of the Bible is plain. Children can understand it.

You are more than qualified to read it on your own and to know what to believe and how to live.

We get caught up in details, exceptions, and speculations, and that’s all fair game, but the primary message is plainly obvious.

Our problem is not our intellect, but our will - sometimes we want it to say something other than what it does say, and so we can struggle to accept it as it is.

++The Bible is not “less true” in some areas.

Some will say that it’s reliable for matters of faith and practice, but not of history or science. IOW, there are some parts that are less true than others.

This is where the experts come in handy - people educated deeply enough to correctly engaged other educated people who try to attack the truthfulness of the text.

We can know it’s true, but sometimes the experts are more equipped to show exactly why it’s true among the marketplace of ideas.

++Although the Bible is authoritative, sufficient, and inerrant, it does not eliminate the need for science, counseling, medicine, wisdom, and so on.

There’s no such thing as “faith vs. science.” We should embrace true, honest science, but be wise in the face of scientists who have an agenda against the existence of God.

We do not claim that “all you need is the Bible and enough faith” in order to be emotionally healthy, just like we don’t claim that all you need is the Bible in order to be physically healthy.

We can, and should integrate the Bible with other disciplines, such as counseling or history or archaeology, but never compromise the Bible for other disciplines.

We have a lot to learn from and benefit from people who don’t know God because God has allowed them to know a lot of good stuff - and the good stuff will always comport with what the Bible actually says (although sometimes it may challenge what we have assumed the Bible says).

We don’t just get our milk from Christian cows.

Core Focus: John 5:30-47

Xit: For every topic in this series, we'll flyover the major points, and then pick one aspect to focus on to see how the egghead stuff matters to real people in our daily lives. Today, we'll focus on John 5:30-47.

BG:

Jesus healed a man who couldn’t walk, but He did so on the Sabbath. Dun-dun-dunh!

Then He made a statement that put Himself on God’s level. Dun-dun-dunh!

Jewish leaders sought to kill Him. []

Jesus establishes His authority, and He claims to be the way to eternal life. []

Jn 5:30-35

John 5:30–35 ESV

“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

++Jesus is still the main topic (31-33).

What are all the witnesses about?

Not about the Bible or anything else.

Jesus is the main topic of the Bible, and not just the NT.

The Bible exists to point us to Jesus, not merely a history lesson with a moral code of conduct.

++Salvation is still the human goal (34).

The Father, the Spirit, and the Word all point us to Jesus so that we might be saved in Him.

++The Bible can get us excited about religious things - but that’s not enough (35).

The Phars were excited about the OT, and even some of the things John the Baptizer said. But JC says that’s not enough.

Even though we don’t like to think of ourselves as Phars, we can do the same - a cool new teaching, a bit of Bible knowledge that most people don’t know, a verse that we take out of context in order to claim a promise God never made to us

Jesus is still the main topic and the human goal is still salvation.

Jn 5:36-40

John 5:36–40 ESV

But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

++The Bible is in agreement with other witnesses (36-37).

John the Baptizer, Jesus’ miracles, the Holy Spirit, the Father’s own affirmation. I would add “true science.”

The fact that they all say the same thing is necessary.

Whenever we think one of them disagrees with another (or disagrees with itself), it must be us who are getting something wrong somewhere.

++The Bible without faith will not abide in you (38).

Scripture knowledge and Scripture memory are great.

The Phars had both. Demons have both. But the Word did not abide in them.

Faith in the God who gave us the Bible is necessary for the Word to abide inside of us.

Eg: Before I became a believer in Christ, I was reading the Bible. And it made some sense, but not deeply, and it certainly wasn’t abiding in me. The day I accepted Christ, as I was reading the same Bible I had been reading, it suddenly made tons more sense. But more importantly, it came alive within me, and I developed an instant hunger to know it more.

++Approaching the Bible without a willingness to surrender to it takes you nowhere (39-40).

Phars: “Jesus, don’t bother me, I’m reading the Bible.”

Are you trying to master God’s Word or do you want it to master you?

Jn 5:41-47

John 5:41–47 ESV

I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

++We can’t see JC when we’re chasing the wrong victories (41-44)

Phars more interested in “winning” in this world ~ “glory” (for them, religious power)

That blinds us - Jesus can walk right by and we would miss it

Which victories are we chasing after the hardest?

Are we trying harder to occupy institutions of human power or to occupy the Kingdom of God?

We run the risk of missing what Jesus is doing right in our midst

++The Word is no good to us if we don’t follow it to Jesus (45-47).

Instead of chasing the wrong victories, we need to follow where the Word leads

The Word is living and active, etc. But it also has a singular direction.

The Living Word is useless to us if we don’t follow where it’s leading us, and it’s leading us to Jesus.

SCT: The Bible is God’s Word, so we are best when we keep it

“Keep” =

Have it - make sure you have a good one, or several (& a priority to get it into the hands of those who don’t)

Know it - be in it regularly until you know everything it says, continual learner, able to share something you’re learning from it

Live it - Jesus said to teach others so that they would obey all that He had commanded - teaching for the purpose of obeying

Steward it - guard it’s original form; share it with others

We’re at our best keeping God’s Word

RE doctrine of God - we’re at our best when we pray

RE doctrine of the Bible - we’re at our best when we’re actively keeping it

God gave us His Word for this purpose

Only because the Bible is about Jesus. If we didn’t let it take us to Jesus, we become idolaters of the Bible. You’ve seen people who refer to the Bible all the time and yet are not serving Jesus as Lord.

Only Jesus saves, but the Bible guides us toward the only One who saves.

Summing up

[Worship team]

Reread

GN: Jesus Paid it All

We’re about to sing Jesus Paid it All:

JC paid it all

All to Him I owe (I don’t owe Him in the sense that there’s still a debt I need to pay in order to be saved, but just in the sense that He deserves my everything)

Sin had left a crimson stain (our sin makes us unfit for a holy God who deserves only perfection)

Jesus washed it white as snow - His death and resurrection can wipe away your sin forever if you put your trust in Him today