Introduction: New Testament Christians have a common allegiance to a book - the Bible. Let's look at some principles concerning God's revealed will, the Bible.
 

BODY
 

I. GOD HAS SPOKEN.

A. The whole Bible is based on this truth 

1. Genesis 1:1-3 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." 

B. God has created us & He wants to speak to us.

1. We should want to hear Him.

2. Hebrews 1:1,2- "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;"

 
A. The Bible is not man's effort to reach up to God, but God's effort to reach down to man.

1. ILLUS: Children don't go to school to teach teachers.

2. Bible is a product of God teaching us what we c/o learn by ourselves

B. The is ample proof that the Bible is that record of God to man.

1. Marvelous unity of the Scriptures.

a. 40 writers wrote 66 books over a span of about 1500 yrs.

2. Its overwhelming miracles.

3. The abundance of irrefutable prophecies.

4. The grand scope of the whole book.

5. Its scientific and historical accuracy.

6. The unexcelled moral tone.

7. The genuine uniqueness of its material.

C. The Bible itself claims to be God's revelation.

1. 2 Peter 1:21- "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. 1 Corinthians 14:37- "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."

3. Galatians 1:11,12- "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."

4. Ephesians 3:5- "Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;"

5. 1 Corinthians 2:10- "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."

6. Revelation 1:1- "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:"

A. The Bible was not originally written in English.

1. O.T. was written in Hebrew & Aramaic languages.

2. N.T. was written in Greek.

a. Bible must be translated into language we know & commonly speak.

B. Dedicated scholars have meticulously translated the Bible.

A. Meaning of these words.

1. Inerrant = free from error.

2. Infallible = incapable of teaching deception.

3. Inspired = God breathed, or breathed out of God.

B. The Bible is verbally and plenarily inspired.

1. Verbally = every word that is in Bible is there because God willed it.

2. Plenary = full, all parts of the Bible are inspired.

a. We must trust in the Scriptures completely.

3. 2 Timothy 3:16,17- "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

A. The Bible contains all that God wants it to contain

1. Jude 3- "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

2. It is perfect

a. 1 Corinthians 13:8-10

b. James 1:25- "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

c. 2 Peter 1:3- "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:"

3. If we need more, then the Word of God isn't perfect.

B. The Bible is God's complete record for our lives.

1. We cannot outgrow it.

2. "The Bible, the water of life is like a pool of water. It is cool and inviting to those who are thirsty for spiritual truth. All, even the most simple, can take of it's refreshing truth. But that pool is deep and wide, allowing for the most thirsty to never drink it's refreshing waters fully. You can never drink your full of the Bible."

A. The Bible is first, last and always a message.

1. God has something to say to man that is important.

2. God through the H.S. has moved men to write His word.

a. A. Campbell - God has spoken by men, to men, for men.

(1) The language of the Bible is then, human language.

3. God has always wanted men to hear & understand Him (Rom 15:4).

4. Romans 15:4- "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

B. The Bible is a revelation, and a revelation is an uncovering of that which is hidden.

1. ILLUS: Crowd gathered around the uncovering of a statue.

A. Man is a rational being, made in God's image to think & to reason.

1. By reasoning man is able to read the mind of God-that portion God revealed.

2. God expects us to use our minds in searching out His divine will.

B. The mind is not our God, but it should be used to know God.

1. Our minds must be filled with the word of God not other way around

a. Romans 10:17

C. Understanding the Bible is a duty.

1. When God speaks, we are to listen.

D. God never expects the impossible of man.

1. His word can be understood.

2. Ephesians 3:1-4 "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, {2}If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: {3}How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, {4}Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)"

3. 2 Timothy 2:7, 15- "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things....Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

4. 1 John 5:3 - "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

A. Jesus has all authority in matters of religion.

1. Matthew 28:18

B. Jesus placed that authority in the words He spoke.

1. John 12:48- "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."

C. Jesus gave that all authoritative word to his apostles.

1. Given personally & through the Holy Spirit. 

a. John 14:25,26- "These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, 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."

b. John 16:13- "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."

D. The inspired disciples have written Jesus' authoritative word.

1. 1 Corinthians 14:37- "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."

2. 1 Corinthians 2:13 - "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."

E. The truth is always there for those who seek it.

1. Matthew 13:14 "And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."

A. Listen to the Psalmist.

1. Psalm 119:142 - "Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth."

2. Psalm 119:144 - "The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live."

3. Psalms 119:89 - "LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."

B. It will live forever.

1. 1 Peter 1:23 - "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

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

Copyright 1999 by Grady Scott may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.