Why I believe in the bible

I am not ashamed!

Why do you believe what you believe? Are you confident, able to be bold about what you believe? How about what you believe about the bible?

Romans 1:16 NASB95

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Paul said he was not ashamed (Rom1:16)

The gospel that was made known through the inspired words of the Bible.

Expand on why I believe the bible to be true

Josiah was committed (2Kings23:1-3)

2 Kings 23:1 NASB95

1 Then the king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.

2 Kings 23:2 NASB95

2 The king went up to the house of the Lord and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the Lord.

2 Kings 23:3 NASB95

3 The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.

Today I will use lots of famous quotes to show people of faith who were not ashamed of the word and knew why they believed.

“The bible is endorsed by the ages. Our civilization is built upon its words. In no other book is there such a collection of inspired wisdom, reality, and hope” - Dwight Eisenhower

“The New Testament is the very best book that was or ever will be known in the world - Charles Dickens

According to CNN and NY Times the bible is one of the most sought after and shop-lifted books.

That is all good and fine, but today, this morning we are talking about why we believe the bible.

Do you believe it to be the inerrant word of God?

Do you believe it was Holy Spirit inspired and written by men? (2Tim3:16-17)

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NASB95

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Do you believe the bible has a purpose?

It reveals the creation account

It records the history of Jewish people and of the early church

It describes the character and nature of God

The revelation of God

It makes known God’s scheme of redemption

It transforms us, conforms us to be more Christ like.

(transition): So, I think we need to start by going back to why do we believe the bible is the inspired word of God. What evidences can we know, and believe.

Uniformity of the Bible

A collection of 66 books with one purpose to reveal the Christ and God’s scheme of redemption.

The Bible was written:

Over period of 1600 years

A span of 40 generations

By 40 authors

These authors over the time came from all walks of life and from different places, here are a few.

(Insert authors different walks PowerPoint here)

Look at the screen’s and expand.

Then note:

Different times, and different moods

Time of war (David) time of peace (Solomon

In times of great joy, and in deep sorrow and despair

Different continents and languages

Asia, Africa, Europe

Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek

Different topics

Holiness, righteousness

Sin, heaven, hell

Marriage, sexual immorality

Grace, mercy, justice

(Transition) Even with variety of authors, time, locations, moods there is a continuity and harmony

“The Paradise Lost of Genesis becomes the Paradise regained in Revelation. Whereas the gate to the tree of life is closed in Genesis it is opened forevermore in Revelation” - Geisler and Nix -Intro to the bible

When you try to compare the continuity of the bible to any other writings by man it would be confusing. - man has even tried to confuse the bible, but the bible is truth and holds true.

Just think 5 people, 1 generation, 1 controversial subject.

you would have many ideas, not a harmony.

Why is there biblical continuity? (2Pt1:20-21)

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.

This is providing evidence that the bible is the Word of God.

Foreknowledge of the bible

In the bible you can find scientific facts, truths known before the scientists knew.

Scientific truths

Unknown by man with all wisdom, understanding, and resources

Stated facts in the bible hundred of years prior to discovery by men.

The writers of the bible could only know these facts, truths through inspiration of God.

(Insert PowerPoint Picture of earth, seas, galaxy and stars here)

Scientific proof round earth (Isa40:22)

isa40:22 “22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.”

Earliest mention of round earth by science was 3rd century BC

Scientific proof of suspension of earth (Job26:7)

job26:7 “7 “He stretches out the north over empty space And hangs the earth on nothing.”

Earliest writing I found was by Pliny the Older in 3rd century

then 1851 Leon Foucault gave a written scientific paper on it.

Scientific proof of currents of the seas (Ps8:8)

Ps8:8 “8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.”

Christian, astronomer, oceanographer -Matthew Maury set out to prove the paths, currents of the sea and in 1855 was published

Scientific proof the springs of the sea (Job38:16)

Job38:16 “16 “Have you entered into the springs of the sea Or walked in the recesses of the deep?”

UC Santa Cruz professor Andrew Fischer was the first published about the springs of the sea found originally near the Galapagos islands

Scientific proof all nations are of one blood (Act17:26)

Act17:26 “26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,”

One blood that came from Adam and then mutated to the various blood types we have today.

(Transition) I could go on and on, but I just wanted to give some examples of scientific proof of the writings of the bible have been found true. There is further evidence of the inspiration of the bible in:

Fulfilled prophesies in the bible

There are some 2500 prophesies in the bible, many believe over 2000 have been fulfilled, others believe many more than that.

In this portion I want to briefly look at two things, the nature of the argument to proof fulfillment, then look at some examples.

(Insert PowerPoint- Gods declaration scripture proof)

Prophesies in the Old Testament foretold events in detail that were beyond the scope of human speculation

That is from Mark Copeland and you know I have used quotes etc., from him before

How did they do it? Let’s let the scripture show us that they attributed it to God (Isa41:21-24, 42:8-9, 26:8-11)

ISa41:21-24 “21 “Present your case,” the Lord says. “Bring forward your strong arguments,” The King of Jacob says. 22 Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place; As for the former events, declare what they were, That we may consider them and know their outcome. Or announce to us what is coming; 23 Declare the things that are going to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods; Indeed, do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together. 24 Behold, you are of no account, And your work amounts to nothing; He who chooses you is an abomination.”

or

Isa42:8-9 “8 “I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images. 9 “Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.””

One more

Isa46:8-11 “8 “Remember this, and be assured; Recall it to mind, you transgressors. 9 “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; 11 Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.”

Fall of Babylon (Isa13:17-22)

Fall of Egypt (Isa19:1-4)

Fall of Nineveh (Zep2:13-15)

Fall of Tyre (Eze26:1-5)

That material was found in commentary on christian evidences by Ferrell Jenkins.

Next week we will look at many others that were foretold and fulfilled in Christ, but will hold off on those for today.

(Transition) - still more reasons on why to believe the bible.

The Bibles impact

The bible impacts people if they know it or not, believe it or not, it still has impact.

It impacts civilization

In this section I will use some more famous quotes by quotable people

First, the bible impacts history, art, music, and literature

It impacts education, judicial systems, government and even science.

FDR said “We cannot read the history of our rise and development as a nation, without reckoning with the place the Bible has occupied in shaping the advances of the republic.”

Harry Truman said, “The fundamental basis of this nation’s laws was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teachings we get from Exodus and Saint Matthew, from Isaiah and Saint Paul.”

And one more president for the moment, Benjamin Harrison said, “If you take out of your statutes, your constitution, your family life all that is taken from the Sacred Book, what would there be left to bind society together?”

To the Assyrian capital Nineveh the word of God caused all to repent and to turn to the God of Israel.

To those in Jerusalem on Pentecost the word of God caused 3000 to be baptized for remission of sins.

The list can go on on the impact of the word of God on society as a whole.

(Transition) - Society starts with the person, and the Bible impacts personal, or may say individual lives.

It impacts personal lives

Since even before it was fully put together as the bible, God’s word has caused the word to spread in the O.T. through the prophets, the N.T. by the apostles and the early emerging church that went from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the outer parts of the world, just as God’s Word, the bible said.

It has caused may to be motivated to be missionaries, Preachers, Pastors, Teachers, and yes some who became martyrs.

It has made marriages better, families stronger, better parents, friends, neighbors and workers

Many would agree with the words of David. I ask you to turn to Ps19:7-11 with me. I’m not putting it on the screen, I invite you, encourage you to look directly yourself at Your bible or bible app as I read it.

Ps19:7-8 “7 The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.”

Ps19:9-10 “9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. 10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.”

Ps19:11 “11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.”

John Quincy Adams said: “So get is my veneration for the Bible that the earlier my children begin to read it the more confident will be my hope that they will prove useful citizens of their country and respectable members of society. I have for many years made it a practice to read through the Bible once every year.”

Robert E Lee said: “In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength.”

Daniel Webster said: “If there is anything in my thoughts or style to commend, the credit is due to my parents for instilling in me an early love of the Scriptures. If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper, but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity.”

Let it impact you!

The bible is both objective and subjective and it will impact you.

Objectively the evidence points to the unity, the foreknowledge, and the fulfilled prophecies

Subjectively the evidence is see in the impact on our lives and in the world in which we live.

Abraham Lincoln said: “I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book.”

And just one more quote then a couple of questions and application.

Ronald Reagan said: “Within the covers of this one single book, the Bible, are all the answers to all the problems we face today. If only we would read it and believe it.”

Do you believe in the Bible as God’s holy word given to man through the prophets and the apostles?

Then ponder on these questions

(Insert the bible read it picture here)

Ask yourself “how does the bible impact me?”

Do I believe the bible can impact others and society today?

Am I a willing vessel for God to use sharing the bible with others and living out His word?

(invitation) (song) (Prayer) (Exit)