The Breath of God

I. THE BIBLE: We believe the Word of God, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, to be verbally inspired in all parts, and therefore wholly without error as originally given of God (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21). This record is final, authoritative, and unchanging! We believe the Bible to be the all-sufficient rule for faith and conduct (apart from integration with any other discipline) through the power of The Holy Spirit to regenerate, sanctify, and equip the believer for life and service (John 17:17, Heb. 4:12; James 1:18-27).

1. The Bible is the Breath of God

2 Timothy 3:16 a. From where did we get the Bible? {From God} b. What does it mean that the Bible is “inspired” or “God-breathed?” {qeo,pneustoj} {The words are God’s words. The Bible is the direct product of the creative act of God, in every stage and aspect of its formation, from its source in the mind of God until it reaches the hearts of men with it message.} KEY: Inspiration has to do with the {record} rather than the {act} of revealing. {The writers weren’t ‘inspired’, but the written words were. Example: all the letters Paul wrote were not put in the Bible – only the inspired ones were.} c. How much of the Bible is “God-breathed?” {ALL of it, every Scripture} i. Some teach that the Bible “ {contains} ” the Word of God. What is implied by this? {this neo-orthodox view of scripture. It implies that the entire Bible is NOT the actual word of God, but only some portions. How do you determine what is and is not inspired? Danger: we become a judge of the Law (James 4:11)} ii. Since all Scripture is “God-breathed” what does this imply about the historical or scientific accuracy of the Bible? {It is all true. Science is the handmaiden of the Bible. Bible history is fact.} {Neo-Evangelicalism views Gen. Chapters 1-11 non-literal} Conclusion: We believe the Bible is verbally inspired in all parts.

2. The Breath of God and Men

2 Peter 1:20–21 NASB95

20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

a. The writers were {prepared} by God. (Gal. 1:15; Jer. 1:4) Jeremiah 1:4

Galatians 1:15 NASB95

15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased

b. The writers were {moved/driven} by the Holy Spirit. {not an act of human will} {fero,menoi pres. pass. ptc. bearing them along, same word in Acts 27:15} Conclusion: We trust the Bible is therefore wholly without error as originally given of God.

3. The Breath of God and Jesus

a. Unchanging

Matthew 5:18 {the exact words and letters are preserved; cf Luke 16:17}

Matthew 5:18 NASB95

18 “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

b. Authoritative

John 10:35 NASB95

35 “If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),

John 10:35 {“the Scripture cannot be broken” (quoted Ps. 82:6: its authority cannot be annulled or denied} Conclusion: We believe this record is final, authoritative, and unchanging!

4. The Breath of God is Truth

John 17:17 NASB95

17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

a. Trustworthy

The Bible is absolutely {Trustworthy} . God’s {Character} is at stake.

b. Powerful

What does Jesus mean by “sanctify them in truth?” {God sets us apart from sin and to Himself by means of the powerful truth of His Word.} Conclusion: We believe the Bible to be the all-sufficient rule for faith and conduct.

5. The Breath of God in Action

2 Timothy 3:16 NASB95

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

What is the value of Scripture? Name the four uses listed in 2 Timothy 3:16.

a. Teaching

{instruction; imparting information or truth}

b. Rebuking

{confronting sin with the Word of God; convicting}

c. Correcting

{restoring to an upright state; improvement of character}

d. Training

{practical education; discipline; change in behavior}

2 Peter 1:3 NASB95

3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

{The Bible is completely sufficient for our personal victories over sin. Cf 2 Pet 1:3. Therefore, secular psychology is not needed to address soul or spiritual problems.} Conclusion: We believe the Bible to be the all-sufficient rule for faith and conduct (apart from integration with any other discipline).

6. The Breath of God is Alive

Hebrews 4:12 NASB95

12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

a. Convicting

The Word of God is {living} and {Powerful} ,convicting the soul.

b. Surgical

God’s Word probes the deepest recesses of the human {heart} , and through the power of the Holy Spirit, provides spiritual light for those who will accept its truth.

Jeremiah 17:9–10 NASB95

9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? 10 “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.

Conclusion: The Bible is all-sufficient rule for faith and conduct through the power of The Holy Spirit.

7. The Breath of God is Final

Revelation 22:18–19 NASB95

18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

What will happen to those who add to or subtract from God’s Word? Revelation 22:18-19 a. God has promised a {Curse} to all who would detract from the inspired Scripture.

{John’s writing of revelation finished the Canon around 95 AD}

8. The Breath of God is Complete

Jude 3 NASB95

3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.

b. The Bible is {Complete} (Jude 3). The cannon is {closed} .

{The 66 books of the Bible are the complete set of divinely inspired Scripture. The early church simply formalized the books that were always regarded as authoritative (Cf BB pg 11). Some denominations have added to the Scriptures non-canonical (non-inspired) books. The extra books of the Apocrypha were never regarded as sacred Scripture by the Jews, nor by Jesus, nor by any of the Church Fathers.}

Conclusion: We believe the Bible consists of the sixty-six books of the Old and New

Testaments

9. The Breath of God Applied

We need to apply God’s Word. James 1:18-27 (esp. v.22).

James 1:22–25 NASB95

22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

a. This passage warns us about listening to God’s word without {doing} what it says.

1 Thessalonians 1:5 NASB95

5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

b. The Word works in conjunction with the {Holy} {Spirit} .

1 Thess. 1:5 {2:13}

Conclusion: We believe the Bible to be the all-sufficient rule for faith and conduct through the power of The Holy Spirit to regenerate, sanctify, and equip the believer for life and service.