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THE MYTH:

The Bible Is NOT the Inspired Word of God (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    There are a lot of people who just cannot comprehend the concept of Bible inspiration.

1.      They believe the Bible is a book written solely by men.

2.      They do not understand how the Holy Spirit worked in unison with the writers’ knowledge, personality, and experience to produce the book we call the Bible.

 

B.      There are others who understand the concept of inspiration, but they deny it.

1.      These individuals are opponents of God.

2.      They are enemies of the cross of Christ.

3.      They have a tremendous influence on the minds of both children and adults through many different mediums.

 

C.     We, as Christians, believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God.  Believing it, however, is not enough.  We must be able to prove it to others.

1.      In a previous lesson, we looked at four evidences of inspiration.

a.      The Enduring Nature of the Word of God.

b.      The Unity of the Bible

c.       The Succinct Nature of the Bible

d.      The Transforming Nature of the Scriptures.

2.      In this lesson, we will examine five other evidences of Bible inspiration.

 

I.                   THE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE SET FORTH IN THE BIBLE

 

A.    The Bible is not a science book.  However, when it mentions something that involves scientific information it is always accurate.

 

B.      Examples:

1.      The earth had a beginning (Gen. 1:1).

2.      Seed produces after its kind (Gen. 1:11-12).

3.      Fountains of the deep (Gen. 7:11)

 

…the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up…

 

4.      Innumerable stars in the heavens (Gen. 22:7)

5.      The paths of the sea (Ps. 8:8)

 

…and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the sea.

 

6.      The water cycle (Eccl. 1:7)

7.      The earth is round (Isa. 40:22).

 

It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth…

 

C.     Question:  How were all of these things known by the Biblical writers? 

1.      They did not have our advances in science to be able to know them.

2.      They were not even trained in the field of scientific knowledge.

3.      Answer:  God, the Creator, revealed these things to them.

II.                THE ACCURATE HISTORICAL DATA OF THE BIBLE

 

A.    The Bible is not a history book.  However, it is filled with historical information.  NOTE:  Its historical references should be accurate to the letter if the book is inspired by God.

 

B.      Two examples:

1.      Daniel was said to be the “third” ruler in Babylon in the days of Belshazzar (Dan. 5:16).

 

…and shalt be third ruler in the kingdom.

 

a.      Nabonidus was the father of Belshazzar.  He and his son were in a coregency.  Thus, Daniel would have been the third ruler.

b.      Historians denied that Belshazzar was ever a king in Babylon.  They also denied that Nabonidus was his father.

c.       In 1854, J.G. Taylor discovered the cylinder of Nabonidus.  He mentions his son Belshazzar by name.

 

 

Nabonidus Cylinder

 

2.      In our study of “The Sayings of the Crucifixion,” we have read about Pontius Pilate.

a.      For years, many thought that Pilate was not a true historical character.

b.      In 1961, a dedication stone was found in an amphitheater in Caesarea.  On the stone were carved the words:  “Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea.”

 

III.             THE BIBLE’S ANTICIPATION OF FALSE DOCTINE

 

A.    The New Testament was written 2,000 years ago, long before any man-made denominations existed.  God anticipated the false teachings of men and put passages of Scripture in place that refute these man-made teachings.

 

B.      Examples:

1.      Faith only saves (James 2:24).

 

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

 

2.      A Christian cannot fall from grace (Gal. 5:4).

 

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

 

 

 

 

3.      Christ will establish an earthly kingdom (John 18:36).

 

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world:  if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews:  but now is my kingdom not from hence.

 

4.      Baptism does not save (Mark 16:16; I Pet. 3:21).

5.      Children are born with inherited sin (Ezek. 18:20).

6.      Jesus is created and is not God (John 1:1).

 

IV.             SIMPLE STORIES THAT CONTAIN PROFOUND TRUTHS

 

A.    This point could be made of every parable of Jesus.

1.      Parable

a.      Meaning:  to lay alongside of

b.      An earthly story with a heavenly meaning

2.      Sowing seed into various soil types is comparable to sowing the seed of God’s Word into the hearts of men and woman (Matt. 13:3-9, 28-23).

 

B.      There are others stories, however, that are historical narratives that hide deep truths, especially in the Old Testament.

1.      The meeting of Abraham and Melchizedec (Gen. 14:18-20; Heb. 7:1-12)

2.      Sarah’s casting out of Hagar and Ishmael (Gen. 21:9-14; Gal. 4:21-31)

3.      The sacrifice of Isaac upon a mountain in Moriah (Gen. 22:1-14)

4.      The slaying of the Passover lamb (Exo. 12:1-28; I Cor. 5:7)

5.      Jonah’s being swallowed by a great fish and in its belly three days (Jonah 1:17; Matt. 12:40)

 

V.                THE PROPHETIC NATURE OF THE BIBLE

 

A.    Historic prophecies

1.      Babylon would rule over Judah for 70 years (Jer. 25:11).

 

And the whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

 

a.      Nebuchadnezzar began his attacks on Jerusalem in 606 B.C.

b.      Jeremiah’s prophecy was about 20 years prior to this happening.

c.       Hananiah, a false prophet, denied Jeremiah’s words.  He said the captivity would only last two years (Jer. 25:10-11).

d.      The captivity lasted until 536 B.C. when Israel was freed by King Cyrus of Persia.

2.      Cyrus is named as the king who would free Israel (Isa. 44:28; Ezra 1:1-2).

 

That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure:  even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

 

B.      Messianic prophecies

1.      Messianic prophecies are prophecies about the coming Messiah.

2.      These prophecies are very important because we can prove that they were written before the Messiah came.

3.      In fact, there was a period of at least 400 years, “Between the Testaments,” that existed between when they were written and when they were fulfilled.

4.      The prophecies are many (300+) and extremely minute in detail.  (Ex., the birth of Christ).

a.      The lineage of Abraham (Gen. 12:3)

b.      The lineage of Isaac (Gen. 17:19)

c.       The linage of Jacob (Gen.28:14)

d.      The tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10)

e.       The linage of Jesse (Isa. 11:10)

f.        The linage of David (II Sam. 7:12-16)

g.      A virgin birth (Isa. 7:14)

h.      A son (Isa. 9:6)

i.        Born in the city of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)

j.        His name would be called Immanuel (Isa. 7:14)

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    We have viewed ten evidences regarding the inspiration of the Bible.

1.      Each one of them is impressive.

2.      Combined, they are extremely compelling.

 

B.      Question:  What will you do with the Bible?

1.      Reject it?

2.      Accept it and obey it?

 

C.     Revelation 22:14

 

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.