Bible Series: Introduction Bible Series, article 1.0

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. Psalms 138:2

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

How do people think of the Bible? Here are a few things that people think about this Book:

Before we get started, let’s look at the goals of this series.

1. If your not yet a Christian, to convince you of the truth of the Bible, and the need for salvation through Jesus Christ.

2. If you are a Christian, to strengthen your faith and encourage you to read and study your Bible daily.

3. Convince all that the Textus Receptus is God’s preserved word, and that the King James Version (KJV) is God’s preserved word for the English language.

This series will seek to answer the following questions, and many more:

Note: Challenge me on the truth! Please point out any Biblical, historical, and factual errors by providing me with the relevant documented facts. (Individuals with merely OPINIONS and not facts need not apply.) You may not agree with everything. I challenge you to hear me out.

General Outline

1. The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible

2. The Bible Confirmed by History and Science

3. God’s Promise to Preserve His Word

4. Warnings to those who would Change God’s Word

The Need for Authority

The world needs authority. To begin, let’s consider the analogy of a brand new car. You buy a new car, but you ignore the owner’s manual. (“I know how to drive,” you think.) You don’t break in the engine. You never change the oil. And you wonder why it is seized up before 100,000 miles? Now, take it a step further. Not only do you disregard the owner’s manual, you disregard all traffic laws. You race through town, and run every red light.

As reckless as may sound, this is exactly how many live their lives; ignoring any law and authority over their lives, and living them as they wish. God has established His law, His operating manual for human life and behavior. Many of you cringed at this statement. You do not want God having any authority over you. This is our human, sinful, rebellious nature.

God’s commandments are your your benefit, not for your hurt. God’s law is not intended to keep you from having “a good time,” but to keep you from a life of sorrow, despair, and misery. Just as traffic laws are intended to keep you and others safe, God’s laws have the same intention. God knows where sin leads, and has warned us with many examples. However, none of us are perfect. Therefore, the Word of God also tells of God’s love for us, and of the way which God has established for us to get right with Him. God knows that we are sinners, but loves us any way. He has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment for our sins, that if we believe in Him, we should be cleansed of our sin, and made right with God. However, Jesus is the ONLY way to God, and the only way to Heaven. This contrasts with the religious beliefs of this present time, which is based primarily on humanism.

The Need for Absolutes

Modern, western, religion is based on humanism and relativism. We live in an age of spiritual and moral relativism. Humanism states, in brief, that the purpose of life is to be happy. We are on this earth to be happy. Relativism is the notion that what is true and moral for one person may not be true and moral for another, but both are acceptable. “What’s true for you may not be true for me.” Relativism states, in brief, that all sincerely held beliefs are valid. All beliefs are acceptable, as long as another’s sincerely held belief’s are not questioned. The emphasis is placed on the sincerity of one’s beliefs, and not the validity, as relativists believe there to be many paths to God. Hence, many are adapting a hodgepodge of religions, taking beliefs from a multitude of religions, or inventing their own. They pick and choose whatever religious beliefs please them. As it seeks to make men happy, the notion of God as a judge or eternal punishment is quickly rejected.

This is in direct contradiction to Biblical Christianity, in which truth is absolute, whether accepted or not. However, does not even nature teach that the holding of contradictory beliefs is confusion? Does not nature show that there are absolutes? If two scientists have conflicting and irreconcilable theories, can they both be correct? For this the teaching of relativism. If a man sincerely believes the earth to be flat, or the sun to orbit the moon, does his sincerity make it true? Likewise, would a loving God leave us to guess the way to Him? Would a merciful God have us trying various religious beliefs, not sure what will lead to Him? There are many differing religions. Can God, who is not the author of confusion, be the author of all of them? Or is the Bible correct in stating that God has allowed all to go the way of their own choosing, not forcing anyone to follow His way? “Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.” (Acts 14:16). Would He have made the way clear for us? The truth is, that God HAS made the way clear for us, and this way is revealed in His Word. Without absolutes, you can have beliefs, but you can never be sure of them. You can never be sure of beliefs that seek to please yourself and your tastes, instead of God. This humanism and relativism has infiltrated the Christian church. We need to reject this humanism. We need to reject this relativism. We need to stop seeking to please ourselves, and start seeking to please God. God declares how to please Him, He makes the way plain, and this way is found in the very Word of God.

But first, where is this Word of God?

1. God speaking audibly

2. Prophets

3. Jesus Christ

4. The scriptures

God can speak audibly, but seldom chooses to. A few examples include speaking to Moses, giving the Ten Commandments to the Israelites (Exodus 20, especially vs 19-22), to Job (Job 38-41), and to the witnesses of Christ’s baptism (Matthew 3:17). Instead, He chooses to speak through men known as prophets. Prophets speak or write as they are moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21). God would give a prophet a word, with a burning desire to proclaim it. The prophet Jeremiah describes it: “…But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.” (Jeremiah 20:9). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the greatest prophet, and is declared the living Word of God (John chapter 1). Jesus stated that He spoke His Father’s Word: “…the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.” (John 14:24). The scriptures are sacred writings, commonly called the Holy Bible. The Bible is the written Word of God.

Remember from our text that God has magnified His WORD above His Name: “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” (Psalms 138:2). His Word is more important to Him than His very Name. Many scriptures tell us to exalt the Name of the Lord. Here are a few:

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. (Psalms 34:3).

And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee. (2 Samuel 7:26).

… the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. (Acts 19:17)

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. (Psalms 69:30).

The name of the Lord is holy, reverend, and magnificent. But the Lord God gives His Word more preeminence than His very Name. His Word is important because He inspired it. It clearly explains the gospel, the good news of how to get right with God. God wrote the Bible, it is perfect, and it is our final authority on ALL matters on which it speaks. The Scriptures bear the inspiration and authority of God.

(Views: 3622)