The Word Of God Series

Sermon series on Fundamental Beliefs #1 The Word of God

(((SLIDE))) Psalm 119:105

1 The Holy Scriptures

The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are the written Word of God, given by divine inspiration. The inspired authors spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. In this Word, God has committed to humanity the

knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are the supreme, authoritative, and the infallible revelation

of His will. They are the standard of character, the test of experience, the definitive revealer of doctrines, and the

trustworthy record of God’s acts in history.

(((PRAYER)))

I don’t think I can ever recall a book with so much power and passion, loved and revered by so many, inspiring some of the noblest acts in human history. Its uniqueness is not derived from human reasoning and wisdom or political, cultural, or social influence but from its source and subject matter.

The Bible is God’s revelation of the unique God-man: the Son of God, Jesus Christ—the Savior of the world.

God’s holy word, the Bible, is unique among all other books. It was written by more than 40 authors living on three different continents over a span of 1,500 years—yet its words were inspired by God.

He inspired human authors, and through them, He communicated His will to the rest of humanity (2 Peter 1:20-21).

That’s why the Bible does so well at reaching people at differing points in their lives, amid different situations, and with a wide spectrum of perspectives. The Bible reveals God, but through human eyes, so we can relate.

These days, people question everything. They question the news, authority figures, and even themselves. It’s almost a default mindset when there’s so much contradictory information confronting us each day from a variety of media.

It can sometimes feel like there’s no real right answer to anything. But even amid all the confusion and noise of the world, the Bible can be the one source of information that is completely trustworthy. It teaches us the right way to live, reveals God’s character, and holds the answer to all our big questions.

(((SLIDE))) 2 Timothy 3:16

even describes Scripture as “breathed out by God,” and “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (ESV).

How true that is. Scripture holds instructions, wisdom, and guidance for every decision we might face, serving as a roadmap for life. The Bible’s pages are full of wisdom, telling us what God asks of us and how He wants us to live.

A psalmist once wrote:

(((SLIDE)))

The psalmist once wrote: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105, CSB).

But the Bible isn’t just a collection of words and sayings; it’s a story—the story of the human race. It tells us how God created humanity to be perfect, how humanity lost that perfection, and how God has been fighting to restore us ever since.

The Bible is the story of humanity’s flaws and failures overcome by God’s love and forgiveness. Humans fall short at making things right, but God will always come through.

This is another way the Bible serves as a roadmap. It reveals our own tendencies, the flaws that came along with our fallen nature. It tells us the stories of people who struggled to live in a world full of both good and evil, the choices they made, and how God worked in their lives.

It gives us examples of both what to do and what not to do, instructing us on the reasoning behind the doctrines we practice and the choices God wants us to make.

Although the Scriptures were meant to instruct us, some parts can be confusing. Even scholars struggle with the exact meaning of some passages.

There are times when it seems simpler to just take the preacher’s word for it instead of trying to sort things out for ourselves.

That’s how many Christians felt in the mid-1800s. They were content to hear the preacher read from the pulpit and leave the difficult Bible verses for someone else to study.

But not everyone felt this way. Some truly wanted to understand the whole Bible, Old and New Testament alike. They wanted to read God’s word for themselves, experience and understand His gospel, and follow His commandments.

Out of this desire, the Seventh-day Adventist Church was born, led by Christians who wanted a deeper understanding of God’s word. The more they read and devoted themselves to Bible study, the more they learned about who God is and His love that goes into each of His instructions for us.

Throughout history, while some have questioned God’s existence, many have confidently testified that He exists and that He has disclosed Himself. So the question that comes to our minds is how has God revealed Himself, and how does the Bible function in His revelation?