God's Book--God's Voice, The Bible (part 2)

A.     ITS INERRANCY

1.     Three important doctrinal terms:

a.     Revelation—when God gave His truth.

b.     Inspiration—when writers of the scriptures received and recorded His truth.

c.      Illumination—when we understand and apply His truth.

2. Revelation has ceased. Inspiration has ceased. But illumination is going on right up to this moment! Right now as you hold His book, The Holy Spirit is incessantly at work instructing you and giving you New Hope and clear direction.

2.     How can we be sure that God’s word is free from error and deserving of our trust?

a.     “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction, if righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

b.     All scripture inspired. Not inspired like a painting by Picasso, a sculpture by Michelangelo, or a play by Shakespeare, but inspired as in “God breathed.”

3.     How did God do it?  “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21)

a.     Men moved by the Holy Spirit.

b.     Moved is a nautical term describing a ship without a rudder or sail at the mercy of the wind and the currents.

c.      Moved without its own power and energy.

4.     Writers, who without losing their own style and personality, wrote His truth under divine control.

5.     “Inerrancy means that when the facts are known, the scriptures in their original autographs and properly interpreted will be shown to be wholly true in everything that has to do with doctrine or morality or with social, physical, or life science.”

                                                                                     Paul Feinberg

B.     BENEFITS OF RELYING ON THE BIBLE

1.     STABILITY IN THE MIDST OF A STORM “You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies: For they are ever with me.”(Psalm 119:98) It gives you a deep sense of purpose and meaning. “I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.” (Psalm 119:99)

a.     People who really know their Bible are not intimidated.

b.     You can be outnumbered, but not intimidated, because you have the truth, which gives you insight.

2.     WE GAIN MATURITY. “ I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts.” (Psalm 119:100) You will have more understanding than the aged as you rely on this book.

DO YOU WANT STABILTY? WOULD YOU LIKE INSIGHT? IS IT YOUR DESIRE TO HAVE MORE MATURITY? OF COURSE! ABSOLUTELY! ALL THAT – AND MUCH MORE CAN BE FOUND IN GOD’S RELIABLE WORD. RETURN TO THE ROOT OF TRUTH. LEAN ON IT. START TODAY. IT WILL HOLD YOU UP AND KEEP YOU STRONG. WHEN IT COMES TO THE FINAL AUTHORITY IN LIFE THE BIBLE MEASURES UP.

(Condensed from chapter 3 of Growing Deep In The Christian Life by Charles R. Swindoll, 1986, Multnomah Press, Portland, Oregon.)

PRAY:

1. Lord You are my "shelter from the storm" and "strong tower." I will spend time with you in the coming year so that You will be my Teacher and my Guide.

2. Help me to grow in wisdom and maturity as a "saint" that is not afraid to talk to others about You and the magnificence which is Your Bible.

3. Lord help me daily to look to You for my strength and for wisdom to live a life that is acceptable and worthy of the title You have given me as Your child.