God s Word INTRODUCTION Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. All of us have heard that expression. What does it mean? Apply that principle to cars music clothes Where does beauty is in the eye of the beholder leave us when it comes to certainty? With that principle in mind, think about this: Is it wrong to kill another person? How can you be sure? The beauty is in the eye of the beholder syndrome can have an enormous impact on the way our society functions. Christianity is different. Christianity is based on the existence of one certain, objective truth that applies to all people of all time. This one truth that never changes is God s Word. It s the foundation of our faith. As we begin a study of the Bible s teachings, we start with examining God s Word itself. What is the Bible? How do we know the Bible is the true Word of God? What does the inspiration of the Bible mean for God s people? What is the main message of the Bible? WHAT IS THE BIBLE? Let s start with some definitions: Bible book Scriptures writings OLD TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT Writers Moses, David, Prophets Evangelists, Apostles Language Hebrew (and:???) Greek Books 39 27 Time 1400-400 BC 50-100 AD Content History of Israel, Promises of a Savior History of Jesus, the Growth of the Christian Church נ ת ן י ה ונ ת ן מ יכ א ל Hebrew: Greek: Ἀνδρέας Ἰησοῦς
Growing in Faith God s Word Page 2 The books that make up the Bible are called the Canon. Canon a measuring stick or standard of judgment. Luke 24:44 [Jesus] said to them, This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. 1) What do Jesus words teach us about the books of the Old Testament the Old Testament canon? 1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2) What do John s words teach us about the formation of the New Testament canon? 3) What is the Apocrypha? What does it have to do with the Bible? 4) Since the Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek, are the words found in our English Bibles also God s Word? The fact that Isaac Newton discovered the force of gravity (or Einstein discovered the time-space continuum) doesn t mean that Newton gave us gravity. God did. In the same way, the fact that the 66 books of the Bible as we have them today have been passed down to us through the Christian Church doesn t mean that the Church gave us the Bible. God did. God gave us his Word exactly as we have it today by guiding the writing of each book and the gathering of the 66 books that we have into the Holy Scriptures that we believe is God s Word. So, how would you answer the question: WHAT IS THE BIBLE? HOW DO WE KNOW THE BIBLE IS THE TRUE WORD OF GOD? 2 Timothy 3:15-16 From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. 5) According to Paul, what percentage of the Bible is God-breathed or inspired by God? 1 Peter 1:20-21 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet s own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 6) Peter elaborates further: What does it mean that the Bible is inspired by God? 7) Why is it so important for us that every single word of the Bible is the Word of God? What would happen if that weren t true?
Growing in Faith God s Word Page 3 This belief that every single word of the Bible is the Word of God is called verbal inspiration. Not just the thoughts or the concepts in the Bible come from God, but every single word found in the original manuscripts was exactly the word God wanted the Bible writers to write. Here s more proof from the Bible: Verbal Inspiration Every word in the Bible was inspired or given by God in exactly the way he wanted it to be written. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. 1 Corinthians 2:13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. But, if God was behind every word, than why does each writer write with his own unique vocabulary and style? Think of a musical instrument, like a saxophone. That saxophone has a unique sound it s not a trumpet or a flute. That saxophone can make a whole host of different sounds. But that saxophone can t do anything at all unless you blow air into it and move your fingers to play different notes. In a similar way, the writers of the Bible were each unique individuals with different gifts and abilities, but it took God the Holy Spirit s working behind the scenes to get them each to play the notes God wanted them to play in their own unique ways. But, if every single word of the Bible is the inspired Word of God, explain these: Luke 1:1-4 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. 8) How does Luke s research before writing his book jive with our belief in verbal inspiration? 2 Timothy 4:13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. 9) Why do we insist that even such mundane verses as this were inspired by the Holy Spirit? The authority of any book depends on its author, not on its reviewer or publisher or readers. If the Bible is to have the authority of God, than it needed to have God as its author. And that s exactly what happened. So, how would you answer the question: HOW DO WE KNOW THE BIBLE IS THE TRUE WORD OF GOD?
Growing in Faith God s Word Page 4 WHAT DOES THE INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE MEAN FOR GOD S PEOPLE? John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. The Bible is Inerrant without any errors. 10) Since every word of the Bible is God s Word, what can we be sure of when we read or hear the Bible? Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. Revelation 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 11) Since every word of the Bible is God s Word, what must we be careful never to do? Can you give examples of that happening in our society? 12) When the Bible is changed or disregarded, what (or who) becomes the ultimate authority in our lives? 13) Some Christians today claim to believe in the whole Bible as God s Word except for the first chapters of Genesis which describe creation. Without even getting into a discussion of creation and evolution, what could you warn them about what they are doing? 14) Some Christians claim to believe in the Bible, but they say that some biblical teachings such as homosexuality or divorce are outdated and not applicable to our lives today. What could you warn them about what they are doing? Think of the Bible as a number take the number 20. If you take away just a little bit from 20 let s make it 19 you no longer have the number 20. You have something completely different the number 19. That s one of the problems with subtracting from God s Word. The Bible is a unit. To take anything away from it leaves you with something totally different. Or think of the game Jenga. The goal is to take as many bricks out of a tower without making it fall. You quickly learn that taking just one brick out of a tower immediately makes it a little unstable. And as the bricks keep coming out, the more unstable it grows. That s what happens with God s Word. Maybe you can be a Christian without believing in the whole Bible, but you re on very shaky ground, and as you keep pulling pieces out of God s Word, soon your faith will come crashing down. 15) One of Martin Luther s key phrases was sola Scriptura Scripture alone. Why must the Bible still be the basis for everything we believe and teach? So, how would you answer the question: WHAT DOES THE INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE MEAN FOR GOD S PEOPLE?
Growing in Faith God s Word Page 5 WHAT IS THE MAIN MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE? Acts 26:22 I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen 23 that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles. 16) What does Paul say even the message of the Old Testament the prophets and Moses was? John 5:39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me. 17) According to Jesus own words, what was the main point of the Bible? Is that the message of the Bible that s taught in the Christian churches you ve been a part of? The whole Bible is a unit with one main purpose: It tells us about Jesus, our Savior from sin. This message about Jesus can be divided into two important teachings: THE LAW: Romans 6:23a All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Psalm 51:5 Surely I have been a sinner from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. The Law shows us our sins. 18) Although it can be hard for us to hear, why is the Law an absolutely necessary part of the Bible s teachings? THE GOSPEL: John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. The Gospel shows us our Savior. Romans 6:23b The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 19) Can you see a potential danger in mixing these two teachings together? When is the time to use the Law? When is the time to use the Gospel? So, how would you answer the question: WHAT IS THE MAIN MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE? As Christians we have a certainty that the world can never have. We have the absolute certainty that comes from God s Word. There is truth in this world it s the truth found in God s own words in the Bible. Everything we believe, teach, and do is based on the foundation of God s revealed words to us in the Scriptures.
Growing in Faith God s Word Page 6 TAKING IT DEEPER A) Agree or Disagree Faith in Jesus is necessary before someone can have faith in the truth of the Bible. B) Agree or Disagree The Christian Church has established which books make up the Bible. C) Agree or Disagree The Old Testament teaches the Law, and the New Testament teaches the Gospel. D) Agree or Disagree Since it is God s Word, the Bible is one of the main sources of our church s teachings. F) Agree or Disagree Faith in Jesus is more important than trust in the truth of God s Word. G) Agree or Disagree Every single verse of the Bible is God s Word. I) Agree or Disagree The main purpose of God s Law is to show us how to live a godly life and get to heaven. J) Law or Gospel Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37) K) Law or Gospel The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. (Luke 19:10) L) Law or Gospel Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12)