What Does the Bible Say?

2 Peter 1:16-21

Sean posed a questions a couple of weeks ago to us at Pleasant View Missionary Church for some sermon topics on questions we might have about what the Bible says about blank… He left the door wide open and then asked me to preach…LOL. You can go to our Facebook page and see that there are some responses to that very question already. What does the Bible say about divorce, marriage and the homosexual lifestyle? What does the Bible say about the living out, the giving and receiving of the gifts of the Holy Spirit? What does the Bible say about the power of our words and our responsibility of them? What does the Bible say about the unforgivable Sin? What does the Bible say about vaccine mandates and passports and what is our church going to do about it when we can’t buy and sell because of it? I would be happy to talk about any or all of those questions with any of you one on one and I am sure that Sean will be looking at some of those questions as he prepares for next Sunday but I am going to hopefully answer a different question that is of vital importance to how we see all of these others? Can we trust the Bible on these questions and why?

You see, it doesn’t matter one bit what the Bible says about any of these things if we do not believe that the Bile is the inerrant word of God and that it is the final authority on these and all matters. So today I want to do my best to make the case for the Bible as true and reliable so that we can go to it and by the help of the Holy Spirit allow God to answer these questions and not us. The last thing we need on any of these topics is another opinion. When we look at the Bile as we should, and I will make my case here in a minute, we should allow our opinions to be changed based upon the truth we see in what God has said and not what we might have heard or dare I say felt about any given subject. God has spoken…are we listening… Let’s pray

We are in a church. I am preaching on a Sunday morning. You would expect nothing less than for me to say the the Bible is true and that we should base our faith and lifestyle upon what the Bible says because it is God’s word to man. That is expected. Do we truly believe it? If we truly believe that this is the word of God and that it has led to life, then we should revolve our thoughts, actions and lives around what it says. Do we? Is that just the Pastor and elders jobs? Let them keep up with current events and tell me what the Bible says about it and then maybe I will change my mind about what I already know from what I feel or think. I have to be blunt here. Look at these questions…when the most non-controversial question has to do with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we need to have answers and we need to be willing to bend our will, thoughts and actions around the answers that God gives us and not by how we feel and think and what we read in the comments about our Facebook posts. Satan has not stopped trying to deceive by asking us the question, Did God really say? The question is, can we trust the Bible as God’s authority on these and all other matters?

The answer is YES.

John 3:16

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

That is good news and I think that most of us in here would wholeheartedly agree with that statement and if you do not agree come talk to me after the service. The Gospel is the most important truth that we can believe and know and convey to others and we believe it because we believe the Bible. We believe that what is written about Jesus is true, why? Here we go…

Why should we trust the Bible? 1 Peter 1:16-20

2 Peter 1:16–21 ESV

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

This Bible is not a myth…it is reliable

2 Peter 1:16

2 Peter 1:16 CSB

For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

Bible facts...

It was written over around a 1500 year span

It is comprised of 66 Books

It was written on 3 continents

It was written originally in 3 languages

There are over 1500 translations of the New testament

It does not shy away from controversial topics

It has 1 central theme

Now let’s think about all of these facts. this book took 1500 years to complete and it is actually a set of books that were written by over 40 people on 3 continents in 3 languages about hundreds of controversial topics and focuses on one central theme, the Glory of God and His redemption of man through Jesus Christ…We couldn’t get 40 people in this room to agree on one controversial topic and we speak the same language and live in the same community. But God did because He inspired the writers of the Bible and ensured that the words contained in His holy book were honoring to Him and life giving to us. OK, you might say…that doesn’t prove anything about the truthfulness of the words written in it. Well, the Bible does provide evidence to it’s own truthfulness in the supernatural way that it’s authors were able to predict future events.

Prophecy in the Bible...

The Bible itself has a strict standard that it poses to ensure that it is the ONLY reliable resource we can turn to to affirm God and give wisdom and life to us, the reader.

Deuteronomy 18:17-22

Deuteronomy 18:17–22 ESV

And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

Jeremiah 28:5-9

Jeremiah 28:5–9 ESV

Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Hananiah the prophet in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord, and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord make the words that you have prophesied come true, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the Lord, and all the exiles. Yet hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.”

There are many other instances where the Bible specifically warns us to only listen to those who speak the truth prophetically. As it is said in Deuteronomy, do not be afraid of the ones who’s prophecies do not come true. Our passage today speaks of this specifically because there were many then…as there are now… predicting things in the name of the Lord that were not true… 2 Peter 1:19-21

2 Peter 1:19–21 ESV

And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Ok, so that gives us the standard, but how do we know that the Bible fits it’s own standard… Well, I mentioned that the Bible was written over a 1500 year span. There have been thousands of fulfilled prophecies spoken of in the word. Those words that were written by the Lord through His chosen authors all have come to pass or will eventually…we know this because they have passed the test. There were many prophecies that were fulfilled in the lifetime of the prophets who gave them and there were many that were fulfilled later. most notably the messianic prophecies. There were over 300 prophecies written about Jesus. They were all fulfilled. There were other prophecies that had to do with secular leaders as well. Daniel 11 has over a hundred prophecies fulfilled in like 45 verses! It is amazing…He basically provided the history of the known world before it happened…including the rise and fall of Alexander the great, his successors and how they came into power…it is all verified by historical sources…and this happened in the time that God was silent…between the testaments. the best example, I think though for fulfilled prophecy is in Psalm 22 a messianic prophecy that Jesus himself quoted while on the cross...

Psalm 22:1-8

Psalm 22:1–8 ESV

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

Psalm 22:14-18

Psalm 22:14–18 ESV

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

Not only did he quote the first line of this Psalm....which by the way, was the way someone would identify a passage of scripture before we had the convenience of chapters and verses. He was reminding those that were there what was going on and pointing them to the prophecies pointing to this very moment…how cool is that? In His pain and suffering, He was testifying to who He truly was. This was all written before crucifixion was even invented. These words were penned before the Roman empire was even formed. This was 700 years prior to the events and described with precise detail what happened.

Prophecy alone proves the legitimacy of the Holy authorship. The test of the prophet warns us against false prophets and we are wise to listen. Very few other religions try to hang their hats on prophecies…and the ones that do, fail the test miserably. I don’t have time to go into the failed prophecies of the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses but there are many. Other mainstream faiths don’t even try…

Bottom line....the Bible is not a myth as Peter rightly states here…we can trust it on that alone....but wait there’s more!

Prophecy and Eyewitness Accounts

2 Peter 1:16-19

2 Peter 1:16–19 ESV

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

We can know that the Bible is authentic because it contains information that cannot be explained, like prophecy. It is also verifiable. Meaning, the people that were told the things they were told could check it out for themselves. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

What is Paul saying here? Check it out, do your research. If you don’t believe me, ask these guys…they were there! Many people get really hung up on the Bible, especially the New Testament because that is the best historical document that we can find about Jesus…Duh. The people who try their hardest to disprove Jesus and Christianity get a free pass from their own bias but we point out the bias of the christian. No one comes to this unbiased. How does this hold up though, because it is true…the most reliable evidence for Jesus comes from those who followed Jesus..which in any other circumstance makes perfect sense but not here… we do have a Biblical author from the New Testament who was not an eyewitness to Jesus that gives a compelling testimony based on research.

Prophecy and Eyewitness Accounts and The Claims Were Researched

Luke 1:1-4

Luke 1:1–4 CSB

Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. So it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.

Luke goes back and decides to write a well researched and well thought out record of what transpired for someone who seemed to be a believer but Luke wanted him to have assurance that he wasn’t being fooled. Luke travelled with Paul and many believe that he recieved much of his information first hand from Mary, mother of Jesus and other early church leaders. His writing style is that of a biographer of his time. He details many facts that give credence to the authenticity of his accounts.

Luke 3:1-3

Luke 3:1–3 ESV

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

If this was not true, the readers would have known…period. He is trustworthy.

Prophecy and Eyewitness Accounts,The Claims Were Researched and The Eyewitnesses Had Everything to Lose

Acts 5:26–40 ESV

Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

They did not recant or deny what they had seen in the face of brutality…and we know that not much later Stephen pays the ultimate price for sharing his faith in Jesus which begins a persecution that displaces many believers. Causing both physical and financial hardships on the early followers of Jesus. During the time of the writing of the Gospel.

Prophecy, Eyewitness Accounts,The Claims Were Researched, The Eyewitnesses Had Everything to Lose and There Are Extra Biblical Accounts

Tacitus

Tacitus, in his history Annals 15:44, describes the torture and murder of Christians by Nero and mentions Christ by name and the fact that he was given the death sentence under Pontius Pilate...

Therefore, to scotch the rumour, Nero substituted as culprits, and punished with the utmost refinements of cruelty, a class of men, loathed for their vices,​27 whom the crowd styled Christians.​28 Christus, the founder of the name, had undergone the death penalty in the reign of Tiberius, by sentence of the procurator Pontius Pilatus,​29 and the pernicious superstition was checked for a moment, only to break out once more, not merely in Judaea, the home of the disease, but in the capital itself, where all things horrible or shameful in the world collect and find a vogue.

Pliny the Younger

Pliny the Younger in around 110 AD wrote to Emperor Trajan a letter describing what he found out about early Christians as a result of torturing them and executing some.

Pliny learned that Christians met together on one particular day of the week before dawn.

He learned that when Christians gathered, they would sing hymns to Christ as to a god.

He learned that Christians promised not to steal or commit adultery, and vowed to pay back money when they owed it.

He learned of a role in the Christian community called a deaconess, and furthermore learned that slave women could become deaconesses.

He learned that Christian associations were comprised of males and females, older and younger, and people of various social classes.

He learned that Christians were not just found in towns, but were spread out in villages and rural areas as well.

He learned that many Christians believed that a true Christian would never recant one’s faith even under duress.

There are others that speak

Josephus

Josephus was a 1st Century Jewish historian who wrote the Antiquities of the Jews and in it had a snippet about Jesus...

“At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good, and [he] was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Accordingly, he was perhaps the Messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders.” (10th Century Arabic Text)

There are many who believe that there was some Christian manipulation of the text later on but there is no doubt that Josephus confirmed that Jesus existed.

We Can Trust The Bible because; Prophecy, Eyewitness Accounts,The Claims Were Researched, The Eyewitnesses Had Everything to Lose and There Are Extra Biblical Accounts

The Bible is a collection of 66 books written over 1500 years on 3 continents in 3 languages by 40 people about many subjects with one overwhelming theme that can bring clarity to the issues we face today! We can trust its authenticity because of the supernatural revelations through prophecy and miracles that we read about and have been verified from eyewitness accounts and even those who do not believe it testify to its truthfulness. I hope that this has helped in some measure to have confidence in the validity of the Holy Scriptures to give us insight and wisdom to navigate these weird times we face. God has spoken and we can trust Him. The question is…do you? Not with simple questions about vaccinations but with the greater question of your life and eternity. If the Bible is true and it tells us how we can have eternal life, we should pay close attention. John 3:16

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Trust in Him today and open up His word and allow Him to guide you through the tough decisions of this life!