One Sunday morning, while sitting next to her first grade daughter in church, Susan Wright noticed the little one looking at the open Bible in her lap. In a low whisper, she asked, "Did God really write that?" Susan quietly whispered back, "Yes He did." Looking down at her mother’s Bible again, the little girl said in amazement, "Wow! He really has neat handwriting!"
To a little first grader, perhaps the most critical thing about the Bible is the ‘neat handwriting,’ but for the rest of us…well, the most critical issue is its authenticity! This is a fact even more important when you realize how much is resting upon it! You see-a proper understanding of any area of theology depends upon the truthfulness of what God has revealed about Himself. If you deny the truthfulness of His Word, all that remains is human opinion (which is a hopeless resource for anyone seeking to know God).
So, how do we know the Bible is authentic and not just a collection of opinions? There are two ways chiefly, and I would like you to consider them with me today.
[First of all, I know the Bible is authentic because of:]
I. The Claims of Scripture About Itself.
A. One of those claims is that it is INFALLIBLE.
1. The term ‘infallible’ refers to every verse of Scripture in the Bible (Genesis to Revelation), and is defined as: ‘incapable of failing—incapable of mistake.’ (Turn with me to Psalm 19:7)
2. The concept of infallibility is applied to the Bible in many passages:
a. In Psalm 19:7 we read: “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”
b. The next verse draws our attention to another claim:
B. INERRANCY.
1. ‘Inerrant’ means ‘without error.’
a. Psalm 19:8 says, “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.”
[Not only do we know the Bible is authentic because of its claims of being infallible and inerrant, but also:]
C. It claims to be AUTHORITATIVE (Turn with me to Isaiah 1:2).
1. The Bible has the authority of God Himself! When it speaks we are to listen and respond correctly.
a. In Isaiah 1:2, the prophet says, “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken.”
b. In Revelation 19:9 and 21:5, an angel said to John, “These are the true sayings of God…these words are true and faithful.”
c. Scripture is infallible and inerrant; therefore, it is authoritative.
[That’s not all. Turn with me to Deuteronomy 4:2:]
D. It claims to be COMPLETE.
1. In Deuteronomy 4:2 Moses writes, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it.”
a. God forbids any altering of His Word.
2. John writes in Revelation 22:18-19 these words: “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
3. Scripture is complete. It is not to be increased or diminished.
E. It also claims to be EFFECTIVE (notice Isaiah 55:10 with me).
1. The prophet Isaiah records the words of God in chapter 55:10-11. Listen to what God says about His Word, “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
F. These are the claims of the Bible! It is infallible, inerrant, authoritative, complete, and effective. These are amazing claims, but how do we know they’re true?
II. The Verification of Scriptures both by internal and external evidence!
A. Consider first, the INTERNAL EVIDENCE:
1. We begin with the testimony of the writers themselves (turn with me to Galatians 1:11-12). For the most part the N.T. writers were common, ordinary people, yet they claimed to be inspired by God.
a. Notice what the apostle Paul said in Galatians 1:11-12, “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
b. The apostle Peter gave a similar testimony in II Peter 3:1-2, “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour.”
1) Here Peter affirms the authority of the Old Testament prophets, and equates the apostles’ teachings with their teachings.
2. Not only do we have the testimony of the writers themselves, we also have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
a. In Luke 21:33 Jesus spoke these words, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”
b. In Matthew 22:29 Jesus spoke to the Sadducee’s (a group of religious critics) these harsh words, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”
c. Jesus affirmed the truth of Scriptures! These are internal evidences!
B. Then there are the EXTERNAL EVIDENCES:
1. First, we have the testimony of science.
a. When the Bible speaks about a scientific subject it is ALWAYS accurate! Think of that! ALWAYS accurate!
b. Whether the consideration is: hydrology (the study of water’s properties), meteorology (the study of the atmosphere), astronomy (the study of the stars), or geology (the study of the earth’s history and composition), not one error can be found where the Bible speaks on these subjects! Not one!
1) The book of Job, written by Moses around 1500 B.C., is a slap in the face of ‘Science.’ Many of the scientific statements made in this book were not even discovered until the 1400’s or later!
a) Job 25:5 tells us, “Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not.”
b) Job 38:13 & 14 inform us that the earth rotated on an axis.
c) Isaiah 40:22 informs us the earth is round.
d) Psalms 19:6 informs us the sun orbits the earth.
e) Isaiah takes up the issue of the balance of the earth in 40:12 (imagine the earth as the tub in your wash machine).
f) Issues of condensation, evaporation, and gravitation are all spoken of in the Bible.
g) NOT ONE ERROR! NOT ONE!
2. When we speak about External Evidences proving the Bible to be authentic, we only begin and scratch the surface with the testimony of science! We don’t have time to consider the testimony of prophecy!
a. It is one of the most convincing external evidences of the authenticity of the Bible!
1) Think of this! About 40 different men wrote sixty-six books over a span of nearly 1600 years. Almost one-fourth of what they wrote is prophecy! Mind you! These are not vague generalities, but specifics with regards to time, place, location, numbers, and names! Not one error has ever been found! Every prediction has come to pass EXACTLY!!!
a) The phrase “It came to pass” occurs 453 times in the Bible!
Conclusion: God’s Word is THE infallible, inerrant, authoritative, complete, and effective source of divine truth! It gives wisdom, knowledge, and direction to those who believe and obey it! Billy Sunday, the great Evangelist of yesteryear wrote, “I am a Christian because God’s Word says so, and I did what He told me to do, and I stand on God’s Word, and if the Book goes down, I’ll go with it.”
Illustration: Some years ago a little group of freethinkers in Scotland decided on a plan whereby they might reveal, as they put it, the inaccuracies of Scripture and thus cause people to realize that the Bible was not really the Word of God. One member was given the task of going to Asia Minor, southern Europe, and the islands of the Mediterranean to gather evidence that would disprove the historical account as given in the books of Luke and Acts. The young man chosen for this task was Sir William Ramsay. In the course of his investigation, he not only found every historical fact absolutely accurate as presented in those two books, he also became convinced that the message of Luke’s gospel was divine and necessary. He returned to Scotland a committed Christian and spent his life writing in DEFENSE of the Scriptures!
God’s Word is infallible, inerrant, authoritative, complete, and effective!
It is the first and last word on any subject!
Let’s pray
