The Most Amazing And Absolutely Unique Book That Changed World-Part-2 Series

The most amazing and absolutely unique book that changed world-Part-2

For the second part of our study let us open our Bible to the second Timothy chapter 3: verse 16,

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16NIV)

New Living translation says “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”

INTRODUCTION:

Napoleon, Emperor of the French said “The gospel is not a book; it is a living being, with an action, a power, which invades everything that opposes its extension, behold! It is upon this table: This book, surpassing all others. I never omit to read it, and every day with some pleasure.”

Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States, said “I am busily engaged in the study of the Bible. I believe it is God’s word because it finds me where I am.”

How do you know that the Bible is really the inspired word of God? What is so special, so unique about the Bible that Christians believe it is literally the inspired word of God? The salvation of men and their eternal destiny in heaven or hell rests on question as to whether the Bible is the inspired, preserved and accurate word of God or not. There are three key ministries of the Holy Spirit and three critical concepts to understand in relationship to Scripture that is Revelation, Inspiration & Illumination. This sermon is focused to understand the significance of the above concepts. so that all who search for truth will be encouraged in their faith and all others will be challenged to investigate the Bible further—to read it, ponder it, and ultimately to know, understand, apply and practice it for what it is. my desire for the reader is expressed in the gratefulness of the apostle Paul to the Thessalonians: " we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe." (1 Thess. 2:13).

What is Revelation: From God to man (man hears what God wants written) Gods’ manifestation of Himself to particular persons at definite times and places, enabling those persons to enter into a redemptive relationship with Him. Revelation is a supernatural communication of divine truth presented to men of that which they otherwise would not know.

Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.”

What is Inspiration: From man to paper (man writes that which God wants written) God superintended the human authors of the Bible so that they composed and recorded without error His message to mankind in the words of their original writings. Inspiration is the term used to describe how the Scriptures were given by God, men supernaturally guided to express exactly what God intended (verbal-plenary), therefore that word spoken in old time by holy men of God is infallible, and preserved for us today.

2 Peter 1:19-21 “So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

What is Illumination: From paper to heart (man receives that which God has written) the work of God’s Spirit as He aids us in appropriating the truth of the Scriptures which God has revealed. In other words Illumination refers to the Spirit enlightening the understanding of man whereby the meaning of Scripture is understood by the believer.

1 Corinthians 2:10-13 “For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.”