The Inspiration of the Bible Part 2
March 17, 2001 Northwest Bible Church
The Inspiration of the Bible
Part 2
INTRO
I. CLAIM OF THE BIBLE TO ITS OWN INSPIRATION.
A. PROPHETS
The prophets constantly proclaimed, "Thus saith the Lord". Prophets like Jeremiah were told that God would put His word in their mouth, Jer. 1:9 "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. The consequences for falsely speaking in the name of the Lord was death, Deut. 18:20 ‘that prophet shall die.’
B. CHRIST
Jesus Christ believed that the OT was fully inspired by God.
Mt. 19:4-5
John 10:35
C. APOSTLES
1) Their witness to the OT.
a) Matthew said that Hosea was the Lord speaking (Mt. 2:15).
b) Peter said Psalm 69 were the words of the HS (Acts 1:16).
c) Paul said the books of Isaiah and Psalms were the words of the HS. Acts 28:25 (see also Acts 13:34-35; Rom. 15:11 for Psalms being of God).
d) Paul believed the whole OT was inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16). e) Author of Hebrews 3:7 said Psalm 95 was the Spirit speaking.
f) Hebrews also attests that what the prophet Jeremiah wrote was the words of the Holy Spirit (Heb. 10:15-16).
2) Their witness to the NT.
a) Paul claimed to speak by the HS (1 Cor. 2:13).
b) Luke believed they had the HS (Acts 4:8; 13:2).
c) Peter said the writings of Paul = Scripture (2 Pet. 3:15-16).
d) Paul quotes Luke as Scripture (1 Tim. 5:18).
II. UNITY OF THE BIBLE'S MESSAGE.
The marvelous unity of the Bible can be explained on no other ground than that of divine authorship. Consider the following:
1) The Bible is one book, yet it is made up of 66 different bks.
2) The Bible was composed by at least 40 writers.
3) The Bible was written over a period of about 1500 years.
4) The writers came from a wide spectrum of backgrounds.
Yet, there is a unified and common thread that runs throughout their writings - the removal of man's sin through the blood of Jesus Christ.
III. PROPHECIES IN THE BIBLE
The Bible is full of predictive literature. No one can prove that any of these prophecies have failed.
IV. ACCURACY OF THE BIBLE
A. The discoveries of archaeology.
B. Supernatural information in the Bible.
CONCLUSION
BEWARE CRITICS OF THE BIBLE.
IF THE BIBLE IS INSPIRED BY GOD, then it is the most valuable possession we have.