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Unless we grew up with a strong
Biblical background, we really
cannot comprehend the importance of
the Word of God in our lives. Many
of us were taught that the Bible is
just a collection of stories written
by men. Nothing could be further
from the truth. The Bible is the
Divinely inspired Word of God. It is
more relevant than today’s newspaper
(which might not even be true). The
answers to our problems, the keys to
fulfilling our dreams, the road to
our destiny... is in the Word of
God. And, most important, the way to
have a personal intimate
relationship with God, our Creator,
is made very clear in the Word of
God.
I. The Inspiration of the Scriptures
II
Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness:
The whole Bible is given by
inspiration and as such is our
infallible rule of faith. The idea
of inspiration is not the thought of
man, but is based on the scripture.
INTERNAL, SCRIPTUAL
PROOFS
A. OLD TESTAMENT
We constantly read that the writers
wrote what they were commanded.
Old Testament writers often used the
phrase "thus says the Lord"
Exodus
17:14
And the Lord said unto Moses, Write
this in a book as a memorial, and
recite it to Joshua: that I will
utterly blot out the remembrance of
Amalek from under heaven.
Numbers 33:2
And Moses recorded their starting
places [KJV: goings out] according
to their journeys by the command of
the Lord: and these are their
journeys according to their starting
places [KJV: goings out].
Isaiah 8:1
Then the Lord said to me, Take for
yourself a large tablet, and write
on it with ordinary letters: Swift
is the booty, speedy is the prey.
B. NEW TESTAMENT
Paul writes in
I Cor 2:13
.... not in the words which man's
wisdom teaches, but which the Holy
Ghost teaches: comparing spiritual
things with spiritual.
In I Thess 2:13 Paul claims his
letters are GOd's Word.
I
Thessalonians 2:13
For this reason also constantly
thank God that when you received
from us the word of God's message,
you accepted it not as the word of
men, but for what it really is, the
word of God, which also performs its
work in you that believe.
In his epistle to the Hebrews, he
constantly quotes the O.T. as the
Word of God.
II. The Perfection of the Scriptures
We
believe in the perfection of
scripture in and of itself. It is
the inspired Word of God. It is not
contingent on a body of adherents
for its authority; the congregation
(body of believers) derives its
authority from the Word of God.
Some groups say that the Bible
"contains" the Word of God and make
themselves judges of God. WE
maintain that the Bible IS the word
of God, perfect and entire. (2
Timothy 3:16)
We acknowledge that the Bible
contains mysteries, but assert that
the knowledge for salvation (though
not equally clear on every page) is
conveyed in such a forthright and
simple manner, that anyone can
easily gather this knowledge for
himself by a consistent and diligent
reading of its wonderful pages.
(Apart from the teachings or
traditions of any group or religious
leader).
III. Bible Survey - 66 Books
A.
Old Testament - 39 Books
1.
Historical Books
17 Books (National)
a.
Pentateuch (Law) 5
Books
Pre-Canaan
Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers
Deuteronomy
b.
Israel in the Land 9
Books
In Canaan
Joshua Judges Ruth I,II Samuel
I,II Kings I,II Chronicles
c.
Exile & Post Exile 3
Books
Exile & Post Exile
Esra Nehemiah Esther
2.
Poetic Books
5 Books
(Individual, Personal)
Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclsiasties
Song of Solomon
3.
Prophetical Books 17 Books
a.
Major Prophets 5 Books
Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations
Ezekial Daniel
b.
Minor Prophets 12 Books
Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah
Micah Naham Habakkuk Zephaniah
Haggai Zechariah Malachi
First 9 Pre-Exile Last 3 Post-Exile
We can see then that the 39 Books of
the OT fall into this orderly
grouping of 17, 5, and 17; with both
of the 17's grouped into 5, 9, and
3. And the 5 books that deal with
the individual human heart placed
right between the two 17's at the
heart of the Old Testament.
Is this a design or merely an
accident? You only have to think
about for a short time. Thirty
writers wrote the Old Testament over
a period of 1500 years. Writing in
different places, to different
people and with a different purpose
and as individuals they never
realized that their writings would
be preserved through generation
after generation, and would one day
be compiled into what we now know as
the Old Testament.
B.
The New Testament
27 Books
1.
5 Books
The Gospels & Acts
(Historical)
Matthew Mark Luke John Acts
2.
21 Books
Doctrinal Books or
Epistles
(Personal)
Romans I,II
Corinthians Galations Ephesians
Philippians Colossians
I,II
Thessalonians Hebrews James I,II
Peter Jude I John
Includes the
Pastoral Epistles: I,II Timothy
Titus Philemon II, III John
3.
1 Book
Revelation
(Prophetic)
IV.
Application of the Word
James 1:22
But prove yourselves doers of the
Word, and not merely hearers who
delude themselves.
II Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself [KJV:
study to show yourself] approved to
God, a workman that does not need to
be ashamed, handling accurately [KJV:
rightly dividing] the word of truth.
II Peter 1:20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy
of the scripture is of any private
interpretation.
John
5:24
Truly, truly I say to you, he who
hears My Word, and believes Him who
sent Me, has eternal life, and does
not come into judgement, but has
passed out of death into life.
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