The Bible Is Inspired Part 2 Series

June 12, 2016

Morning Worship

Text: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Subject: The Authority of Scripture

Title: The Bible is Inspired Part 2

Last week we began a series on the authority of the Scriptures. When I talk about the authority of scripture, what I mean is this:

Can we really trust the bible?

How do we know that it is really God’s word?

What benefit does it have to us?

You see, for something or someone to have authority there must be significant evidence that directs us to that conclusion. And what we find is that the Holy Scriptures prove themselves. They testify of themselves that they are God’s word, but the real proof comes in the evidence.

There are hundreds of prophecies in the bible and hundreds of them have already been fulfilled. And the amazing part is that they are fulfilled with acute accuracy. Where the Messiah would be born… where he would live… the type of man he would be… how he would die… that he would rise from the dead… that He is coming back… still waiting for that!

If that’s not enough how about Jeremiah accurately predicting how long the nation would be in Babylonian captivity? How about 150 years before Judah was released from captivity Isaiah named the name of the king who would release them, namely Cyrus!

There are no other “Holy” writings from any other religion that can claim the predictive accuracy that the bible has and that can only be attributed to the fact that these words were given to the prophets through the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:20-21 (NIV2011)

20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.

21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

So we get that… Right?

But now the question is, “What do we do with them – I mean the scriptures?”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV2011)

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

We affirm these verses every Sunday when we say these words.

I believe this is God’s word…

I accept it as mine…

I believe it is for me…

I will appropriate it to my life today…

16 All Scripture is God-breathed… We have established that truth already have we not? If it isn’t then this book is just another storybook. But if we truly believe that the Spirit of the Living God spoke words into the hearts of men to write all 66 books there must be a purpose for it. And in the rest of these verses we see exactly what the purpose is.

1. is useful for teaching… the KJV says “doctrine”. Is doctrine important? Whether you read the NIV “teaching” or KJV “doctrine” you have to understand that what you believe is of utmost importance.

doc·trine

1. A principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief, as by a religious, political, scientific, or philosophic group; dogma.

2. A rule or principle of law, especially when established by precedent.

Now this is notable. For instance, if we are talking about the doctrine of divine healing is there any value in it if it is just a rule that we adopted and believe? NO! That rule is established by a precedent. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed … Amen? And this God breathed book tells us that by His stripes we are healed. But we do not set our doctrine on this verse alone. The New Testament is full of actual events where people were healed, or saved, or baptized in the Holy Spirit… Do you see what I’m talking about? So doctrine is established on the Word of God and actual events that back it up. Look at how the Holy Spirit is involved in teaching as well. 1 John 2:27 (NIV)

27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

2. rebuking… (KJV reproof) elegchos (el'-eng-khos) n.

1.proof, conviction

We know that one of the things that Jesus said the Holy Spirit would do would be to convict the world of sin… And He also does that same work in believers. The Spirit uses the scripture to show us where we have fallen short that we might repent and turn back to the Lord.

Proverbs 1:23 (KJV)

23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.