1. THE BIBLE DECLARES ITSELF TO BE THE WORD OF GOD
a) ” ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD” (2Ti 3:16)
– “All Scripture” refers to the written Word.
– “All Scripture” refers to the entire Bible (Old and New Testaments).
– Jesus accepted the Old Testament as Scripture (Lu 24:27,44,45; Joh 5:39,46,47)
– Peter said Paul’s Epistles were Scripture (2Pe 3:15,16).
– Because the Bible is the written Word of God, God’s judgment will befall anyone who dares to add to or subtract from ‘Vie words… of this prophecy’ (Rev 22:18,19).
2. THE BIBLE IS FREE OF MISTAKES (INERRANT)
a) GOD’S SPIRIT GUIDED ” HOLY MEN OF GOD” (2Pe 1:21) so that the words they wrote (which have been preserved in the Bible) were kept free from error. God’s Spirit, by supernatural superintendence, guided these particular writings so that they
– said what God wished to be said.
– were written error-free in the original copies.
b) THE BIBLICAL WORDS ARE PROTECTED FROM ERROR BY GOD
“I, the Lord, keep it, I water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I keep it night and day”
(Isa 27:3)
” The pass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand for ever”
(Isa 40:8; Mt 24:35)
c) THE OLD TESTAMENT WAS RECEIVED AS FROM GOD, HENCE INERRANT
(Jos 1:8; 2Ki 22:8,11,13)
d) WITHOUT EXCEPTION, FAULT CANNOT BE POUND IN THE SCRIPTURES
Christ said, “The Scripture cannot be broken” (Joh 10:35).
– He preached inerrancy, even to the very strokes and accent marks which formed the alphabetical characters in the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek languages. These were the languages in which the Bible was originally written. “One jot (smallest Hebrew letter) or one little (smallest accent mark over the letter) will by no means pass from the law, til all be fulfilled’ (Mt 5:18).
3. THE BIBLE IS NOT WRONG ON ANY SUBJECT (INFALLIBLE)
a) JESUS CERTIFIED OLD TESTAMENT AS ACCURATE
By citing the miracle stories of O.T., Jesus certified them as true, accurate, inerrant and thus infallible. A few examples follow:
– Accepted Genesis as a factual account of creation (Mt 19:4)
– Adam and Eve (Mt 19:4-6; Ge 1:26,27,2:7,18)
– Cain and Abel (Mt 23:35; Heb 11:4; Ge 4:1-15)
– Satan (Lu 11:18; Ezc 28:11-19)
– Noah (Mt 24:37,38; Ge 6:1-14)
– Jonah (Mt 12:39,40; Jon 1:7)
– Lot’s wife (Lu 17:32; Ge 19:26)
Jesus took the Bible to be God’s Word, true in every word, and entirely trustworthy.
b) CHRIST AND THE APOSTLES ACCEPTED THE OLD TESTAMENT AS
INFALLIBLE
Modern-day theologians have cast doubt on the following books. Here is your defense against these enemies of the Bible.
– Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy – These books were written by Moses. Jesus validated them. See Joh 5:46,47.
– Deuteronomy, the book most attacked – In Mt 4:4,7,10 Christ defeats Satan by quoting from De 6:16 and 10:20.
> Would Jesus have used the words from these books if they were not “…the sword of the Spirit… the word of God” (Eph 6:17)?
> No! He would not! These books are the Word of God.
– Isaiah – mentioned in New Testament twenty-one times. Compare a few examples: Mt 15:7-9 and Isa 29:13; Mt 3:3 and Isa 40:3; Ac 8:28-33 and Isa 53:7,8.
> These three quotations come from the three different sections of Isaiah.
> The New Testament affirms the unity of the Book of Isaiah and that it is the work of one prophet.
– Daniel – Jesus quotes Daniel as a God-inspired foreteller of the future (Mt 24:15; Mk 13:14).
– Jonah – Jesus validates the Book of Jonah in Mt 12:40, 41.
4. THE WORDS IN THE BIBLE CAME FROM GOD THROUGH CHOSEN PERSONS (INSPIRED)
a) “ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD…” 2 Ti 3:16)
” By inspiration of God,” theopneustos in Greek, literally means “God breathed.” The author of the Bible is God Himself. He “breathed” the words through the mouths and pens of holy men (2Pe 1:21).
b) DAVID AFFIRMED HIS WRITINGS CAME BY THE SPIRITS INSPIRATION
David wrote most of the Psalms. He said, “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me…”
(2 Sa 23:2; See also I Ch 28:11,12).
5. WHY SHOULD I STUDY AND OBEY THE TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE?
a) FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
– The Scriptures are spiritual food to nourish our spiritual growth (Jer 15:16; Eze 3:1-3; I Pe 2:2; I Co 3:1,2; Heb 5:12-14)
b) TO BE KEPT FROM SIN
– God’s Word will keep you from sin. Sin will keep you from God’s Word (Ps 119:9, 11, 133)
c) TO ENJOY HEALTH AND HEALING
– Obedience to biblical commandments results in health and healing for our physical bodies (Ex 15:26; Ps 107:20,119-50).
d) TO BE PROSPERED
– Joshua was the first man to have a Bible. He was promised blessing and prosperity by reading and obeying it (Jos 1:8).
– Meditate on the teaching of the Bible to be fruitful and successful (Ps 1:1-3).
c) TO BE KEPT ON GOD’S PATH, IN INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM
– The Scriptures light our path (Ps 119:104,105).
– The Scriptures break intellectual bondage (Ps 119:130).
6. HOW DO I LEARN WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES?
“..but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ” (Joh 20:31). Jesus said, “Search the scriptures …they testify of ME” (Joh 5:39). Look for Jesus on every page and in every chapter (Lu 24:44).
a) YOU LEARN BY THE REVELATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
– Precede your time of “feeding on the Word” with prayer.
– Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and anoint your mind to understand (Job 14:26; I Co 2:12-14; I Jo 2:27).
– Pray for the veil to be removed from your eyes and heart so you can understand the Old Testament (2Co 3:14-16).
– Pray for the Spirit to open your understanding (Lu 24:25, 27, 44, 45).
– Pray for “…the Spirit of wisdom and revelation” to be upon your heart and mind as you read the Bible (Eph 1:17,18).
b) YOU LEARN BY REGULAR READING
– Set aside at least 30 minutes every day to READ the Bible.
– Read one Psalm daily. You will read through the Psalms twice a year.
– Read one Chapter in Proverbs daily. You will read through Proverbs once a month.
– Read three pages of the Old Testament daily. You will read through the Old Testament once a year.
– Read three pages of the New Testament daily. You will read through the New Testament 3 times a year.
– As you read, use a yellow transparent felt-tip marker pen to highlight verses that speak to your need and bless you.
c) YOU LEARN BY SYSTEMATIC STUDY
– Study the outlines in this topical concordance for 25 minutes daily.
– Read every Scripture reference as you study through the outline(s).
– Write notes alongside the verses in your Bible as you study.
– Select one verse out of your 55 minutes of reading and study that was a blessing to you.
Use 5 minutes to memorize that verse and the reference. 60 minutes (1 hour) a day —
keeps the devil away.
d) SUMMARY OF WHAT THE BIBLE CONTAINS
– Law principally occurs in the first five books of the Bible — Genesis through Deuteronomy. Understanding these books is fundamental to all that follows.
– History is presented in the Old Testament from Joshua through Esther, and in the New Testament from Matthew through Acts. History is the record of the leading events in the divine/human drama of redemption. Redemption is the central theme of the Bible.
– Poetry primarily comprises the books of Job through the Song of Solomon. This is the compendium of devotional and Wisdom Literature of the Bible. It has teaching as well as inspirational value. Many of the chapters in the prophetic books also are written as Hebrew poetry.
– Prophecy includes all the books from Isaiah through Malachi in the Old Testament.
The book of Revelation in the New Testament and portions of the Gospels, such as the Olivet Discourse, also contain statements concerning the future. These books teach us about God’s future plan and purpose for redeemed mankind to rule and reign with Christ (Re 20:4; I Co 6:2).
– Principles to live by are contained principally in the New Testament, as well as in Wisdom Literature, i.e., Proverbs and Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament.
e) A BRIEF OVERVIEW /OUTLINE OF WHAT IS IN THE BIBLE
– Creation of the Heavenlies . Ge 1:1
– Rebellion of Satan and chaos results …. Ge 1:2
– Creation or Restoration of earth ….. Ge l & 2
– Rebellion of man and social chaos.. Ge 3
– Destruction by the flood ….. Ge 6-10
– Restoration through Noah … Ge 9-10
– Rebellion at Tower of Babel Ge 11:1-9
– Division of the nations and languages .. Ge 11:8-9
– Choosing of Abram, Isaac, Jacob & Joseph ….. Ge 12 -36
– Joseph sold as slave into Egypt Ge 37 – 50
– Israelites alt slaves in Egypt ….. Ex l-6
– God chooses Moses and Israel as a nation . Ex
– Disobedient na tion… The Prophets
– Scattering of the nation . Jer; Eze; Da REDEMPTION (A NEW ERA OF GRACE)
– Jesus Christ comes to earth as a man …. The Prophets and Gospels
– Mankind crucifies Jesus. …..The Gospels
– Resurrection of Jesus from the dead ….. The Gospels
– Pentecost, the choosing of the Church ..Acts
– Church persecuted by the world and devil.. Acts & Revelation
– Resurrection of the dead and judgment. Letters & Revelation
– Final separation of good and evil … Revelation
– Heaven, New Jerusalem, New Heavens & earth …. Revelation
– Hell and eternal torment ….. Revelation
