The Bible is not a destination; it’s a bridge to a better place. And that place is a relationship with Jesus.
Sermon Title: THE BIBLE (PART 2)
Sermon Text: VARIOUS TEXTS
Sermon Series: ICYMI: BACK TO BASICS
By: PTR NIC SY
Sermon Notes:
2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 NIV
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
I. REVELATION: From God to Man
EZEKIEL 38:23 NIV
23 And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’
The history of the Bible is a big subject, but it starts with the God who speaks to us.
II. INSPIRATION: From Man to Paper
If what we read in the Bible are only the ideas of men, then we are not bound by it. But once we realize that God said these words, what we read then will both bring confidence and inspiration for our lives.
God created a perfect Bible through real people. He moved them internally to create a Word that will last eternally.
WHAT THE BIBLE CLAIMS
1. The Bible is God-breathed.
2 TIMOTHY 3:16 NLT
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
Scripture | Greek: graphe | a writing, scripture
Inspiration | Greek: theopneustos | God-breathed
2. Written by men moved by God.
ACTS 1:16 NIV
16 and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus--
2 PETER 1:20-21 NASB
20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
moved | Greek: phero | to bear, carry, bring forth
3. The words are from God.
1 CORINTHIANS 2:13 NIV
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.
1 THESSALONIANS 2:13 NIV
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.
2 PETER 3:1-2 NIV
1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.
2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
2 PETER 1:15-16 NIV
15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
The authority of the Bible reflects the authority of its Divine Author.
VERBAL-PLENARY INSPIRATION
Verbal: God inspired the words, not just the ideas.
Plenary: God inspired all, not just part.
1. The original texts are inspired, not modern or ancient translations.
The Bible was originally written in three different ancient languages: Hebrew, Aramaic (Old Testament), and Greek (New Testament).
JOHN 1:1 NEW WORLD TRANSLATION
This is a biased translation by the Jehovah’s Witnesses because they do not believe the divinity of Christ.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.
ROMANS 16:7 NIV84
Junias = male form
7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
Junia = female form
2. The Bible is inerrant (without error.)
PSALMS 19:7 NIV
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
3. The Bible is trustworthy.
PSALMS 119:160 NIV
160 All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
JOHN 17:17 NIV
17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
The truth behind inspiration is that we can trust God’s Word above our feelings, values, opinions and culture.
III. ILLUMINATION: From Paper to Heart
Illumination is the means by which the Holy Spirit sheds divine light upon us as we read the Bible.
1 CORINTHIANS 2:12-14 NIV
12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 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. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Illumination is what separates believers from unbelievers when we read the Bible.
We have assurance that God will speak to us through his Word.
JOHN 14:16 NIV
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
JOHN 16:13 NIV
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
The Holy Spirit makes us able to understand Scriptures. We can rely on God himself to reveal his Word to us.
The Holy Spirit makes us responsible for understanding the Bible.
1 JOHN 2:20,27 NIV
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him.
Illumination is not automatic. It is the result of choices that we all make.
“The Spirit works through my efforts, not apart from them. If I am not properly engaged in studying the word, I can not expect Him to help me. It is one of God’s mysteries that our study becomes more rewarding, more meaningful, as we dedicate greater effort to it. While we must rely on the Spirit, He expects us to be diligent.”
– Tim Challies –
EPHESIANS 4:11-13 NIV
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
The Bible is not a destination; it’s a bridge to a better place. And that place is a relationship with Jesus.
JOHN 15:26 NIV
26 When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
The goal of the Christian life is to know Christ and to be like him.