The Scriptures:

“To understand the Bible, one must know something about the God who stands behind it. God is both transcendent (i.e. he is “above” space and time) and personal. He is the sovereign and all-powerful Creator to whom the entire universe owes its existence, yet He is the God who graciously condescends to interact with us human beings whom he has himself formed in his own image. Because we are locked in time and space, God meets us here; He is the personal God who interacts with other persons, persons He has made to glorify Him and to enjoy Him forever.”

The Bible is a gift of grace…We are people who deserve to have no understanding of God whatsoever…and yet…God chose to reveal himself to us…What a gift.

The Bible you hold in your hands....guys…do you understand what a miracle it is? Yes…the construction and authorship is mirraculous…but the greatest mirracle is the fact that God chose to step down out of heaven…and get down on our level…and he says to us… “Here, I want you to know me...”

Do you treat your Bible as a gracious gift from God?

“The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.”

The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation.

Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.

Who Wrote the Bible

The Bible was Written by Human Authors who were Divinely Inspired:

The BFM acknowledges the reality that the Bible was penned by human beings.

The BFM acknowledges this reality because the Bible acknowledges this reality.

Hebrews 1:1–2 ESV

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Exodus 24:4 (ESV)

4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

1 Peter 1:10–12 (ESV)

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

The authors of the Bible were not secretaries taking down dictation… They searched and inquired carefully…they

Their personalities are in the books…

John 20:1–8 (ESV)

1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;

Why does it matter that the Bible was written by humans?

—Because it helps us understand how to read and interpret it.

The Bible can never mean to us what it never meant to the authors.

This is called Plenary Inspiration.

The Bible is rooted in Authorial Intent…whatever the author intended…rooted in that historical context…that is what it means...

Our job is to understand that context the best we can

If the Bible was written by human authors, why should we assume that it is without error?

What the Bible is About:

The Bible is God’s Revelation of Himself

“The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.”

Two Types of Revelation:

General Revelation:

General Revelation puts the divine hole in the heart of every man…and it is why men and women search for meaning and significance in all sorts of things (from money, to sex, to religion).

The Locus of General Revelation:

Internal- God has placed a natural desire for “good” in the heart of every man, even the evilest of people.

“All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.” -Blaise Pascal

External

Romans 1:18–21 ESV

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Psalm 19:1 ESV

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

But no-one can be saved by natural revelation…natural revelation is actually what leads people to be condemned.

Through Natural revelation people can only know about God…but they cannot know God.

To know God, God has to reveal himself...

Therefore, in salvation…God always moves first. Always.

Yes, human beings are responsible to believe and accept…but God is the one who reveals himself in order for people to know Him.

How does He do that? Through the next type of Revelation...

2) Special Revelation:

Special Revelation is God’s specific revelation of Himself whereby men might know Him, what he requires, and ultimately so that they might be saved.

Knowledge of God is only possible through the work of the Holy Spirit, sending one to preach the Christ that is revealed to us through the scripture.

Romans 10:13–15 (ESV)

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?

And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Why do you think the Scriptures are explained at the front of

Why is it important to know what you believe about the Scriptures?

How can we better appreciate the Word of God?