How We Really Got Our Bible Series

HOW WE REALLY GOT OUR BIBLE

The Da Vinci Code Part II

July 2, 2006 p.m.

Hillcrest Baptist Church

Introduction: The book and the movie The Da Vinci Code contain several errors. Some of these errors deal with art, something of which I know little. I will try to deal only with a few of them that pertain to the Bible itself.

The Da Vinci Code makes some assertions that challenge the validity and authority of the Bible as we have it. Why do we as Christians accept the Bible as our authority? Why do we not accept other sources of authority?

The Survival Kit for New Christians explains the various sources of authority that people appeal to in various religious backgrounds.

Three Inadequate Sources of Authority:

1. Intellect, Reason Logic—“Knowledge” this is the same thing that Satan told Eve. He told her that God was withholding information from her. He told her that if she would only seek knowledge, she would learn the truth. The Da Vinci Code repeats the same lie. The Church is withholding information from you. If you would seek knowledge, you will know the truth about Jesus and Mary Magdalene.

The First century saw the beginning of a movement called “Gnosticism.” It said that Jesus came to bring us knowledge. Mankind did not need a Savior. We needed knowledge.

This idea also expresses the belief that the Bible has been corrupted. Every cult relies on this reasoning to justify its existence. The true Bible was corrupted at the end of the first century. Now their leader has come along to restore the truth. If they cannot discredit the Bible, they cannot state their reason for existence. If the Bible were true and accepted as such, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints would not exist. The Religion of Islam would not exist. The Jehovah’s Witnesses would not exist. All three groups claim that Christianity either ceased at the end of the first century or that the Roman Catholic Church corrupted the Bible.

2. Experiences, Visions, Impressions, Feelings—Like Pentecostals and others who have modern day prophets. The Bible is no longer adequate for them. Visions supersede the word of God. This includes “extra-revelations” either spoken or written such as The Book of Mormon, The Koran, and Key to Scriptures.

3. Tradition—usurps the word of God. More authority is granted to tradition than the Bible. The Eucharist for example. The Roman Catholic Church, Greek Orthodox, and Russian Orthodox ascribe to is a status unwarranted in Scripture. They attribute magical powers to it claiming that the elements actually become the body, blood soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. Even a casual unbiased view recognizes that is idolatry. Jesus said in Matthew 15:6, “Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.”

The True Source of Authority:

Scripture—the only reliable authority. Jesus said in Matthew 24: 35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” That reflected Isaiah’s view in Is. 40:8, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

Islam makes the claim that the Bible became corrupted so Muhammad had new revelation from God. Amazingly, however, the god who could not protect the New Testament for 100 years has been able to keep the Koran pure for 1300 years.

Was Jesus wrong about the Scripture? If so then even the Moslems could not honor Him as a Prophet. If He was right, then the Koran is false.

Martin Luther did not change the wording of Scripture as some critics complain. He did not attack the Bible itself. He only attacked some of the traditions of the Catholic Church. He did not refute all of them, which is why Protestant churches today still retain such unbiblical practices as infant baptism and The Real Presence of Christ (Consubstantiation, Transubstantiation).

What’s Da Vinci Got to Do With The Da Vinci Code?

The main premise of the book is that Da Vinci (commonly known as Leonardo) secretly left symbols in is paintings that reflected his belief that the Catholic Church was hiding the “sacred feminine.” The Mona Lisa adorns the cover of the book, but the real focus of the story is on The Last Supper.

If you have had a chance to look at it recently, you will understand “the code.”

1. The painting supposedly shows Mary Magdalene instead of John. The “John” character looks feminine, and supposedly shows “a hint of bosom.”

2. The position of the character forms an M with the body of Christ.

3. Their clothes are a “mirror image.”

4. Supposedly this is a “clue” that Jesus was married.

Evidence that Jesus was not married:

1. The only texts they can point to are from the Gnostic gospels. They are dubious at best.