WHAT ABOUT THE BIBLE?
May 16, 2004 AM
Sermon Outline
ACTS 17:1-4
INTRO: When I preach or teach, I usually make frequent references to the Bible, the scriptures. Suppose, though, that someone in the assembly or class has little or no background in things religious. He hears these references and wonders, Why does he refer so often to the Bible? What is it about the Bible which commands such a prevalent place in his teaching? And I think these are fair and honest questions which I should be willing to at least attempt to answer. If people are going to acknowledge the authority of the scriptures, they must have some of their basic questions about the scriptures answered. They must come a belief that the Bible truly is unique in Authorship, content and purpose. They must have confidence in what is revealed in the scriptures. So, what about the Bible?
I I AM CONVINCED THAT THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD
A. The Bible is historically accurate
1. the science of archaeology has proven it so over an again
2. Dan 5:29 - third ruler in the kingdom - why third? why not second?
3. Isa 20:1 - Sargon the king of Assyria - only one Biblical reference - not known from secular sources until mid-19th century
B. The Bible is accurate in its statements of a scientific nature
1. the Bible does not purport to be a science textbook - but includes some notations about nature, etc.
2. Job 26:7 - and hangeth the earth upon nothing (not common belief)
3. Ps 8:8 - the paths of the seas - streams within the oceans
C. The remarkable unity of the Bible
1. numerous human authors - hundreds of years covered - etc.
2. yet, the Bible has a unity of message and purpose from book to book, from writer to writer
3. Eph 3:11 - the entire Bible revolves around this axis - Jesus Christ
D. The fulfillment of prophecy
1. here is a critical point which determines credibility - authorship
2. Deut 18:22 - the scriptures issue their own challenge to credibility
3. Mk 15:28 (cf. Isa 53:12) - multitude of prophecies concerning Jesus fulfilled in exacting detail ... how could the prophets, hundreds of years before, have known such details?
E. The noble moral, ethical demands
1. 2 Cor 6:14-18 - the contrast between the moral, ethical values of scripture and those of pagan, secular, worldly systems is dramatic!
2. Mt 7:12 - the underpinning of Biblical morality and behavior
3. secular morality, ethics thinks of self - Biblical morality always looks beyond self to a concern for others
II IF INSPIRED, THEN, AUTHORITATIVE
A. Jno 5:39 - The authoritative information about Jesus Christ
1. Acts 18:28 - ...shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ
2. without the scriptures there simply is no authoritative information
3. yes, there are so many speculations ... but only one authoritative word (note Jno 20:31)
B. 2 Pet 3:15-17 - The authoritative information about discipleship
1. Peter here recognizes the New Testament writings as scripture
2. Gal 6:11 - the written word ... scripture ... written with authority
3. 1 Cor 2:12,13 - words revealed by the Holy Spirit - recall Mt 28:20 with Jno 14:26 ... I have no reservations about teaching that the scriptures are authoritative!
C. Rom 1:17 - Following the example of apostolic preaching
1. why do I, then, cite so many scripture references?
2. I simply follow the example of both Jesus and the apostles who cited scripture as the authoritative basis for what they taught, proclaimed
3. 2 Tim 1:13 & 2:2 - if I abandon the written word, I am abandoning the pattern of sound words ... if I abandon the written word, I have no authoritative underpinning for any preaching, teaching
4. without scripture I have nothing to offer but opinion ... fragile, frail, finite
CLOSE: After years and years of study, reading, research and such, my conviction about the Bible, the scriptures, has only grown stronger. And I recall Peters words at 1 Pet 4:11 - If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God... So, I will continue to study the scriptures (2 Tim 2:15) and to preach the word (2 Tim 4:2).
Cecil A. Hutson
16 May 2004