The Bible Series

The Bible

All scripture marked NKJV: The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

All scripture marked NLT: Holy Bible: New Living Translation. 1997 Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.

We are in a series of message called, “From the Heart”. The messages are of topics that I believe strongly that I should take time to preach during this year together. Many times these subjects appear in sermons throughout the year, but I wanted to take the time to focus of them.

Tonight, we look to the subject of the Bible.

In the book, Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson, Jim Hawkins finds a treasure map that leads him and his friends to a deserted island where the adventures begin as they find the treasure.

I believe, we treat the Bible as a Buried Treasure. We say that it is important. We hold it in high regard. We treat as something worth fighting for.

But, we seem to keep our Bibles buried. We keep it literally buried in the back of a closet, or we keep it figuratively buried, keeping it an arms distance away at all times. We doubt that it has true worth in our lives.

We approach the Bible as something to difficult to grasp, too lofty to obtain. I have had many people ask me how to read the Bible, because they simply think that there is something difficult or mystical about it.

I truly believe that this is not so. The Bible is within reach, it is simple to understand—for children to understand. The trouble is our arrogance that we can live without it.

As Christians, we need to be guided by the truth of the Bible. We need to use it in everyday life—not just on Sundays or when things turn bad.

The Bible gives some strong words about itself and its importance to our lives. Look at 2 Timothy 3:16-17, which is found on page 1057 in the Red Bible underneath your chair.

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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Ti 3:16-17, NKJV)

Tonight we are going to look at uncovering the secrets of the Bible so that you can begin to use and apply it to everyday life.

We uncover the secrets of the Bible by remembering that the

1. Bible is true.

The Bible says “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God”. That is a very clear way to say that the Bible was voiced from God and that every word from the original writing was true and perfect.

Now on May 19, the “Da Vinci Code” Movie opened in the United States. In its opening weekend, the movie grossed $77 million. There is a media fire storm swelling around this movie, because of the contents of the book and consequently, the movie.

Now I need to make some comments. Does the movie contain elements that are factually untrue about the Bible? If the movie contains what the book does, and I expect it does, then yes. The book and the movie are fiction. They are marketed as fiction and classified by genre as fiction.

My concern is that people will believe a book that is documented and admittedly fiction, and refuse to believe a book that is documented and admittedly true.

There are those that struggle with this issue of the truthfulness of scripture. We are relentlessly bombarded with false accusations of scripture and some of you may have some doubts.

But the re are others of us that freely acknowledge its truthfulness, but seem to ignore its impact on our lives.

I want to ask a question.

What if the Bible really was true—have you ever thought about it?

What if it were true that God created the world in seven 24 hour days—what difference would that make?

What if it where true that man rebelled against God and was doomed to death by that sin?

What if it were true that God made a provision to satisfy that death through his only son?

What if it were true that Jesus is the only way to the Father and to eternal life?

What if it were true that we have a responsibility to “go and make disciples”?

What if it were true that we are to live holy and blameless lives?

Do you think it would make a difference? In your words, in your worship, or in your life?

Now, The Bible is true.

The Bible is externally verifiable; archeology has documented the truth of the Bible time and time again. The Bible is also internally verifiable; it testifies many times of its own truthfulness—primarily through the fulfillment of prophecies spanning hundreds of years.