About The Scripture Series

Series -- "Does It Matter What You Believe?"

Luke 1:1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, KJV

"About the Scripture"

2 Timothy 3:14-17

2 Timothy 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. KJV

Introduction: Today I'm preaching the fourth part of a series that asks the question, "Does it matter what you believe about the Scripture?"

I. The Authority of the Scripture

First, in my opinion the number one issue concerning the Scriptures today is the question "Is the Bible the Word of God?" First, just an observation: It is evident that Paul believed the Scriptures to be the Word of God. His reference in verse 15 to the "holy Scriptures" is the Old Testament which is what Timothy had known since his childhood and since 2 Timothy is Paul's last letter it is also evident that he considered the NT writing to be the inspired word of God. Let's go a few steps further in this vein: Our text states that God is:

a. The initiator divine revelation

Our text makes it abundantly clear that all scripture or every scripture... (Because it can be translated either way) is from God. God is the source and the fountain head of all Holy Scripture. The starting point of all doctrinal studies must be the Bible the word of God, that is, the holy scripture of 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. If we deny that the Bible is, without qualification, the very word of God, we are left without any truth and without any supreme and final authority. It is presumptuous and hypothetical to discuss any doctrine taught by the Bible until we acknowledge, unreservedly, the doctrine of the divine plenary verbal inspiration of the Bible and its divine preservation by God. Believe that the Bible is the divine revelation and communication of God's own mind and will to men, in pure words, and we have a fixed starting point from which advance can be made into the domain of truth.

The expression "Thus saith the Lord" or "The Lord spake saying" and similar phrases occur some 560 times in the Pentateuch, some 300 times in the historical and poetic books, 1200 times in the prophets and 24 times alone in Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament. This is the strategic center of Christian doctrine, and must be preached and defended at all cost. It is the point at which Satan is constantly hurling his hellish forces of darkness and corruption. Biblebelievers.com

It further states that God's spirit is:

b. The inspiration for divine revelation

We are sure that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God". 2 Timothy 3:16.

God the Holy Spirit directed even in the very words and the expression of those words, for Paul writes that these were "words which the Holy Ghost teacheth" in 1 Corinthians 2:13. and God said to his prophet, "speak with my words" in Ezekiel 3:4. It is impossible to overestimate the importance of the doctrine of the divine inspiration and preservation of the holy scriptures. Inspired of God (theopneustos) theh-op'-nyoo-stos means "God-breathed."

2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Moved (φερόμενοι) The same verb as came. Lit., being borne along. It seems to be a favorite word with Peter, occurring six times in the two epistles. Vines Word Studies The idea is that they were carried along by an influence from above (The Holy Spirit) Think of a sailing ship from Peter's time that was dependent on the wind to move. If there was no wind there was no movement but if there was wind it would fill the sails of the ship and carry the ship on its course. The Holy Spirit was the "wind" the moved these holy men of God.

It must also be noted that God used:

c. The human intermediaries

God spoke to men through His Spirit. Look at:

2 Peter 1:21 where we read, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.