CAN I TRUST THE BIBLE

I HOLD IN MY HANDS?

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Members of the church used to be called a “Bible toting, Scripture quoting” people.

1.    Not many can quote Scripture anymore.

2.    Too, many no longer carry a Bible.

 

B.   We note this because of the title of this lesson:  “Can I Trust the Bible I Hold in My Hands?”

 

C.   Most people have one Bible that is their “go to” Bible.

1.    They read, study, and usually bring this Bible to Bible class and worship.

2.    They may carry that Bible for 20, 30, or 40 years.

3.    They underline in it.  They highlight it.  They put notes in the margin.

4.    In time, it becomes a well-worn book.

5.    Too, it is a Bible that is dear and precious to them.

 

D.   This Bible that is so dear, however, has never been questioned by some.  They have never really asked:  “Can I trust the Bible I hold in my hands?”

 

I.             WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE COMES FROM GOD

 

A.   The Bible claims to be divinely inspired.

1.    “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue” (2 Sam. 23:2).

2.    “For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you” (Matt. 10:20).

3.    “For David himself said by the Holy Ghost…” (Mark 12:36).

4.    “…Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers” (Acts 28:25).

5.    “…and I think also that I have the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 7:40).

6.    …as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” (Eph. 3:6).

7.    “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly…” (1 Tim. 4:1).

8.    “Wherefore the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice” (Heb. 3:7).

9.    “Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify…” (1 Pet. 1:10).

10. “He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches…” (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).

 

B.   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.

 

C.   NOTE:  Anyone or anything can make a claim. 

1.    I could claim to be inspired of God.

2.    A claim or an assertion does not make something true.

3.    If the Bible is inspired, I need to be able to prove it is inspired of God.

4.    If we can prove it, then we can indeed put our trust in it.

 

II.           TEST IT

 

A.   There are a multitude of evidences for the inspiration of the Bible.

1.    The Unity of the Bible

2.    The Scientific Knowledge of the Bible.

3.    The Historical Accuracy of the Bible

4.    The Succinct Nature of the Bible

5.    The Anticipation of False Doctrine

6.    The Endurinig Nature of the Bible

7.    No Contradictions Found in the Bible

8.    The Literary Excellence of the Bible

9.    Bible Prophecy

10. Messianic Prophecy

 

B.   All of these proofs taken together provide ample evidence that the Bible is inspired of God.  No man or group of men could have put such a volume together, especially over some 1,400 years of time.

 

C.   Messianic Prophecy is probably the most powerful evidence of inspiration.

1.    The prophecies are found in the Old Testament which was certainly written before Christ came to earth.

2.    There are over 300 messianic prophecies that are fulfilled by Jesus.

3.    The prophecies are not broad, general prophecies.  They provide minute details of the Messiah.

4.    Psalm 22

a.    “…they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him:  let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him” (Ps. 22:7-8).

Fulfilled: “He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him…” (Matt. 27:43).

b.    “…my tongue cleaveth to my jaws…” (Ps. 22:15).

Fulfilled:  “After this, Jesus…saith, I thirst” (John 19:28).

c.    “…they pierced my hands and feet” (Ps. 22:16).

Fulfilled:  “And when they had crucified him…” (Mark 15:24, John 20:27).

d.    “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture” (Ps. 22:18).

Fulfilled:  “And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots…” (Matt. 27:35).

 

III.         COMPARE IT

 

A.   There are other books that claim to be the Word of God:  The Quran, The Book of Mormon, Apocryphal Books.

 

B.   Compare them to the Word of God.

1.    Quran:

a.    Earth created first, then the heavens (7:54)

b.    Heavens created first, then the earth 79:27-30).

2.    Book of Mormon:  At the crucifixion, darkness would cover the face of the earth for three days (Helaman 14:27).  The book of Matthew tells that the darkness was on Jerusalem and the surrounding area for three hours (Matt. 27:45).

3.    Apocrypha:  Condones the use of magic in Tobit 6:5-7.  A piece of a fish’s heart put on the coals will drive away evil spirits.

 

IV.         LIVE IT

 

A.   The Scriptures have been provided for life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3).

 

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

 

B.   It makes us better people.

1.    Holy (1 Thess. 4:7)

2.    Loving (1 John 4:7)

3.    Humble (Matt. 18:4)

4.    Temperate (1 Cor. 9:25)

5.    Trustworthy (Rom. 12:17)

6.    Hard working (2 Thess. 3:10)

7.    Joyful (Phil. 4:4)

 

C.   Does the Bibe do what it claims it can do?

1.    It gives us purity (Ps. 119:1).

 

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of God.

 

2.    It gives us peace (John 16:33).

 

These things have I spoken unto you, that in my me might have peace…

 

3.    It gives us purpose (Phil. 2:13).

 

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do his good pleasure.

 

4.    It gives us promise (1 John 2:25).

 

And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

 

V.           PROCLAIM IT

 

A.   The gospel is supposed to be spread throughout the World.

1.    “Go ye therefore and teach all nations…” (Matt. 28:19).

2.    “…Go ye into all the world…” (Mark 16:15).

 

B.   When it is, we will see its impact on a large-scale basis

1.    It changed Saul of Tarsus (Gal. 1:23).

a.    Jew to Christian

b.    Rabbi to Apostle

c.    Persecutor to Persecuted

d.    Blasphemer to Preacher

e.    Destroyer to Master Builder

2.    It changed those in the wicked city of Corinth (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

a.    10 sins are listed in verse 9 and 10.

b.    “And such were some of you…”

c.    “…but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of God.

3.    It changed those in the city of Thessalonica (1 Thess. 1:9)

 

For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Can I trust the Bible I hold in my hands?

1.    Test it

2.    Compare it

3.    Live it

4.    Teach it

 

B.   It will prove itself to you.

 

C.   When we are confident that this book is the Word of the Living God, it will become the joy of our lives.

1.    We will read it.

2.    We will live it.

3.    We will defend it.

4.    We will teach it.

5.    We will hold to it.

 

D.   Then, when we close our eyes in death, it will prove itself again to us on the other side.