INSPIRATION AND AUTHORITY

The Bible is the Word of God. How do we know this, know it for sure?

1. Honest Reason and Logic: God is a God of love, not of indifference and hate. A God of love would never leave man in the dark about the truth of life, feeling, searching, grasping, and stumbling about after the truth, ever seeking and never able to come to the truth. A God of love is bound to reveal the truth of life in the most perfect way possible. What is the most perfect way?

A. The most perfect way is not nature (natural revelation). The hand of God can be seen in nature, but revealing Himself in nature is not the most perfect revelation that God can make.

B. The most perfect way is not conscience (moral revelation). The righteousness of God can be sensed in conscience, but revealing Himself in conscience is not the most perfect revelation.

C. The most perfect way to reveal Himself is by doing just what any person does when he wishes to communicate some truth:

* He writes the truth down in a permanent form.

* He presents the truth in person (if he is able). This God has done. He has given us both the Written Word of God and the Living Word of God.

* The Bible is the Written Word of God.

* Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God.

* The Written Word testifies to the Living Word, and the Living Word (Christ Himself) testifies to the Written Word (see. Matthew. 5:17-18).

Again, how do we know the Bible is the Word of God? By logic and reason, honest logic and honest reason. God is bound to reveal the truth to us in the most perfect way possible, both in writing and In person.

2. Changed Lives: millions of lives have been changed down through the centuries by the Bible. Some persons were changed when they were reading or else being confronted with its message; others were changed when they were hearing the Bible taught or preached. They had been living lives that were...

.worldly     .greedy        .secular        .indifferent
.immoral   .covetous      .lonely          .wasted
.drunken   .indulgent      .empty         .agnostic
.selfish     .materialistic  .meaningless  .atheistic

But the Bible - the Word of God - changed them. They were born again- spiritually converted, changed inwardly- by the Bible. The Bible does this for us: it converts us spiritually, makes a new creature and person out of us (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:24).

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, whichliveth and abideth for ever." (I Peter 1:23).

The Bible stirs us to live for God, to live righteous and godly lives. But in return, the Bible gives us the perfect assurance that our sins are forgiven and that we are going to live eternally with God. The Bible stirs us to live moral and upright lives, unselfish and giving lives, the kind of lives that make a community and society strong in love and true justice, in joy and peace. As stated, millions of lives have been changed, and thousands are still being changed every day -spiritually converted -by the Bible. This is strong evidence that the Bible is truly the Word of God: it transforms lives.

3. Unbelief and opposition: The ungodly and worldly of this earth reject and deny the Bible, that it is the Word of God. Sometimes they have become vocal and oppressive and they have ridiculed and persecuted those who profess and teach the Bible. The persecution has even become inflammatory:

~ Deliberate plots have been made to stamp out the Bible; even to the point of having community bonfires to burn them.

~ Governments have outlawed its presence within their lands, actually making it a crime for a citizen to own a Bible.

~ Worldly scholars attack the Bible, denying that it is the Word of God, attempting to water down its authority and meaningfulness in life.

~ The worldly and carnal neglect, reject, and deny the Bible and often ridicule those who hold its teachings dear to their hearts.

Why? Why do so many of this earth oppose the Bible? Because it tells us the truth about God and ourselves, demanding that we live righteous and godly lives. The Bible demands. ..

Very few people are willing to give their lives up to God and to accept and love people as brothers. And fewer still are willing to give to the point of sacrifice in meeting the needs of the poor and in carrying the gospel to the ends of the earth. This is why so many reject the Bible and its followers so much. Very simply, the Bible reminds people that they cannot live like they want.

But note: belief in the Bible has always grown when there has been a deliberate attempt made to stamp it out. Persecution stirs the flame of evangelism: it weeds out the weak and carnal -those who hold to a false profession -and it strengthens the true believers, making them more courageous and determined to stand true for the Word of God. How? How could the Bible, the Word of God, actually grow and be strengthened when it has been ridiculed and persecuted like it has? If any other book had been attacked, opposed, and burned as much as the Bible, that book would have disappeared long ago. How has the Bible endured so much denial and persecution?

There is only one answer: God. God has supernaturally protected His Word and kept it alive and working upon the earth. This is evidence -strong evidence -that the Bible is the Word of God.

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35).

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews. 4:12). "Is not my word like as afire? saith the LORD~ and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" (Jeremiah 23:29).

4. The Unity of the Bible: The unity of the Bible is a miracle of God. Think of the facts: approximately 40 different authors from a number of diverse backgrounds wrote over a 1,500 year period. Think of the number of diverse subjects that would be covered in detail within any book when written by so many different authors over so long a period of time. And think how much the subjects would change from generation to generation over a 1,500 year period. Yet, when we study the Bible we find an amazing fact: the Bible follows one purpose and theme. ..

* God's eternal program for the ages, His eternal redemption and plan for the future of the universe and man.

The glorious salvation of God -the great redemption that He has provided for man through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ -is the great theme of the Bible. The whole Bible -all 60 books -focuses upon this one story, this one theme, and no writer ever conflicts or contradicts another writer. The harmony of purpose and theme in the Bible is astounding. There is only one explanation: God has spoken and has preserved an authoritative record of His message. Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (I Peter 1:21).

5. The Writers of the Old Testament: The very writers of the Old Testament claimed that the Bible is the Word of God, that it is revealed truth.

A. David claimed that the Spirit of God spoke through him:

"The spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me" (2 Samuel 23:2-3).

B. Scripture claims that it was God who spoke through all the prophets of God:

" And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying" (2 Kings 21:10).

C. Nehemiah claimed that it was God who spoke through Moses.

"Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments: and madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandest them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant" (Nehemiah 9:13-14).

D. Isaiah claimed that his writings were what the Lord had given him:

"Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen" (Is.8:1).
"For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand" (1saiah 8:11).

E. Jeremiah claimed to be speaking and writing the Word of God itself:

"Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth"  (Jeremiah 1:9,cp.5:14,7:27,13:12).

F. Ezekiel claimed that his writings were the very Word of God:

" And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get. thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them" (Ezekial 3:4, cp. Ezekial 3:10-11; Micah 3:8).

G. Habakkuk claimed that his writings were the Word of God:

" And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it" (Habakkuk 2:2).

H. Zechariah claimed that God actually gave him His Word:

"Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying" (Zechariah 4:8, cp. Zechariah 7:12)

I. The writers of the Old Testament used the phrase Uthus saith the Lord" or a similar expression over two thousand times.

J. The writers of the Old Testament referred to Scripture as "the Word," "the Statutes," "the Law," and "the Testimonies" claiming the authority of God for the Scriptures (cp. Psalm. 19:1f; Psalm 119: If).

6. The Writers of the New Testament: These writers confirmed the claims of the Old Testament authors.

A. The New Testament writers declared that the word and prophecies spoken by the prophets had to be fulfilled.

"Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying" (Matthew 1:22).

"That it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet" (Matthew 2: 15).

"Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake" (Acts 1:16).

" And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the Prophet unto our fathers" (Acts 28:25).

B. Paul declared that the gospel itself was given to us by God through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures:

" [The gospel] which he had promised afore by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures" (Romans 1:2).

C. The New Testament writers actually claimed this: that the Old Testament was not written by the will of man but by the guidance and inspiration of God and of His Spirit.

"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but ~ holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:21).

"Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow" (I Peter 1:10-11).

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets" (Hebrews 1:1).

7. The Writers of the New Testament: These writers also claimed that their own writings are the Word of God.

A. Paul claimed that his writings are the Word of God:

"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you" (1 Corinthians 11:23).

"What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only: If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord" (I Corinthians 14:36-37).

"But I certify you, !brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galations 1:11- 12).

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" (Ephesians 1:13).

"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe" (I Thessalonians 2: 13).

B. Paul and Peter both claimed that the writings of the New Testament writers are the Word of God.

"Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (I Corinthians 2:13. Note the word “we”)

"That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour" (2 Peter 3:2. Note how Peter ascribes to the apostles the same authority as the prophets.)

C. Paul claimed that all Scripture, both the Old and New Testaments, is inspired by God.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). (Second Timothy was the last book Paul wrote; thus he was including the New as well as the Old Testament writings in the phrase " All Scripture." Cp. an the verses in this point, pt. 7. )

D. John claimed that what he wrote is the witness of God.

" If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for it is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son" (Note the word "this" : what John is writing is the witness of God.   1 John 5:9.)

8. Jesus Christ: The Lord Himself claimed that the Bible is the Word of God.

A. Jesus Christ verified the Scripture time and again, and He actually verified most of the major events that are often questioned by scoffers. Jesus Christ said. ..

..that "Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35).
..that Scripture Must be fulfilled" (Luke 24:44).
.."Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle, shall in no wise pass from the law [Scripture]" (Mattjew 5: 18).
..that not knowing the Scripture is a terrible mistake: "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God" (Matthew. 22:29)
..that Adam and Eve actually existed and were created by God (Matthew 19:4).
..that Cain really did kill Abel (Matthew 23:35).
..that the Great Flood really happened in the days of Noah (Luke 17:27).
..that God really did speak to Moses in the burning bush (Lk. 20:37).
..that Elijah did perform miracles (Luke 4:25).
..that Jonah did survive in the belly of a large fish for 3 days (Matthew 12:40).
..that Daniel did make true predictions (Matthew 24: 15).

B. Jesus Christ verified the writings of the New Testament. Before He left the earth and ascended into heaven, Christ promised these things:

* that the Holy Spirit would supernaturally guide and teach the truth to the apostles and show them things to come.

"But the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, I whom the Father will send in my name, he shall : teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26).

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come" (John 16:13).

* that the Holy Spirit would supernaturally speak through them.

"For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you" (Matthew 10:20, cp. Mark 13:11)

* that they would have all the authority of heavenand earth in teaching men and that He (His presence and authority) would be with them until the end of the earth.

" And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28: 18-20).

(please note: Norman Geisler has an excellent and thorough discussion on "Christ and the Inspiration of the Bible" for those who wish to research the subject more: A Popular Survey of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1977, p. 11-15.)

9. The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit of God Himself is the Author of the Bible. Scripture makes this clear. ..

A. Holy men of God spoke and wrote as they were moved upon by the Spirit of God.

"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:21).

The Holy Spirit is the Author of the Scriptures (2 Peter. 1:19-21, esp.21). The word of prophecy is more accurately translated prophetic word. The origin of Scripture is found not in the will of man, that is, in his attempt to find truth and to interpret truth. But it is found in the Word of the Holy Spirit who reveals truth to man (cp. John 16:12-15; I Corinthians 2:9-10).

B. God inspired the Scripture by His Spirit.

" All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).

Scripture is inspired of God. The phrase "inspired of God" (theopneustos) means God- breathed. What does this mean? What does it mean to say that God breathed the Holy Scriptures? No one can Say for sure, but this much can be said.

* The idea is that God breathed out the Scripture or God produced the Scripture  somewhat like He did creation.

"By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth" (Psalm 33:6).

This must mean at least this: God supernaturally created His Word by the creative breath of God; that is, God's Word came from His mind and heart and His mind and heart alone. God Himself gave -supernaturally and creatively breathed -His Word to man.

Note: it is the Scripture that is inspired, not the man. The Bible does not claim to be written by inspired men. It does claim that the writing is supernaturally given or breathed by God. The Scripture is breathed out by God; not breathed into by God. The Bible claims to be given by the creative breath of God, by the power of His Holy Spirit. Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21 ).

10.   Fulfilled Prophecy : There are over 8,000 prophecies in the Bible and over 300 of these are Old Testament references to the Messiah. A prophecy is the prediction of some future event. Just imagine! The Bible has predicted over 8,000 future events, and the astounding fact is this: thousands have been fulfilled exactly as they were predicted within the Holy Scripture. (ie: Matthew 17:23) The accuracy and detailed fulfillment of Biblical prophecies is strong evidence for the inspiration and authority of the Bible. Fulfilled prophecy can mean only one thing: holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21). ( Note: the enormous number of prophecies that have been fulfilled tell us another fact as well: the events that the Bible has predicted for the future will come to pass - future prophecies of the Bible will be fulfilled even to the most minute detail. The Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy by the great scholar J. Barton Payne lists every prophecy n the Bible book - by - book and has several excellent charts to help the student of prophetic events.

11. Archeology: Hundreds of archaeological discoveries have been made that verify various facts and events mentioned in the Bible. The accuracy of the Bible is being constantly supported by these discoveries and, although they do not prove the inspiration of the Bible, the findings do show how reliable the facts of the Bible are. Archeology definitely adds support to the inspiration and authority of the Bible. (The following two sources will give the interested reader specific examples of archaeological evidence for the Bible's authority: The New Thompson Chain Reference Bible, The Archaeological Supplement in the back of the Bible. Indianapolis, IN: B.B. Kirkbride Bible Co., Inc., 1964. Also Josh McDowell's Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Vol.l San Bernardino, CA: Here's Life Publishers, Inc., 1979, p.65 - 74.)

12. The Trustworthiness of the Bible: The Holy Scripture is absolutely trustworthy.

"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.” (I Thessalonians2:13)

" All Scripture is God - breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

"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.” (2 Peter 1:21)