02-20-11 AM - The Most Amazing Book

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Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Heb. 4:12
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart

2 Timothy 3:16
…and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

A.W. Tozer said “I did not go through the book. The book went through me.”

John R. W. Stott said “The Bible, then, has an essential place in the life of a Christian.
For the revelation of God leads to worship, the warnings of God to repentance, the promises of God to faith, the commands of God to obedience and the truth of God to witness.
It is no exaggeration to say that with out Scripture a Christian life is impossible.”
Hymn: How firm a foundation - George Keith 19th Century                                                                      
1. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?


Isabella D. Bunn In her book “444 Surprising quotes about the Bible” says The Bible is often called the “Book of books” due to its unique standing in history, literature, and religion.
It is also quite literally a Book of books in that it encompasses sixty six distinct works written by scores of authors over a span of centuries.
It contains poetry, songs, celebrations, narratives, genealogies, instructions, parables, prophecies, prayers, war, and romance. It’s a library that is both ancient and yet continually new.

1. THE LIBRARY DIVIDED

A. Old Testament.
The Law: 5 books - Torah
The Prophets: 8 books
The Writings: 11 Books
Luke 24:44   
"These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."
B. New Testament.
The Gospels:
The Acts of the Apostles:
The Epistles of Paul:
The General Epistles:
The Book of Revelation:


2. THE WRITTERS

Relationship.
The Bible was written by at least 40 different authors over a period of at least 1500 years.

Kings   Priests   Physicians   Fishermen
Shepherds   Theologian   Statesman
Tax collector   Soldier   Scribe and Butler, and others unknown.

3. THE COMPILING OF SCRIPTURE

“kanon” in Greek means the measuring rod or reed; it signifies a rule, a standard.

I Thess. 5:27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

Rev. 1:11"Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."

By the end of the fourth century all twenty seven books were received.


1. Was the book written by an Apostle or one closely associated with the Apostles?

2. Was the book being read in the churches and does its contents prove a means of spiritual edification?

3. Were the contents of the book doctrinally sound?

4. Was the book universally recognized in the churches and was it widely quoted by the Church Fathers?
5. Did it give true evidence of Divine inspiration?


4. THE INERRANCY AND INSPIRATION
Inerrancy – In its original autographs the Bible contains no mistakes.

2 Tim. 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

2 Peter 1:21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Rev. 22:18-19
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book;
19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

Inspiration – “All scripture is God breathed”

The Verbal Plenary Inspiration View – This view holds that all the words are God breathed.
Verbal – Signifies the words
Plenary – Means full or complete as opposed to partial.