The Word Of God Series

Thinking, Acting, Being like Jesus

Word of God

Introduction-

We are in the third week of our series thinking, Acting, Being like Jesus.

We have looked at knowing God, and the salvation of God.

If you are to think like Jesus you need to know God and you need to understand the plan of salvation that God offers us through His Son Jesus Christ.

This morning we look at the Word of God. (The Bible)

Truth #1- I believe there is only one true God of the Bible. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

Truth #2- I believe a person comes into a right relationship with God by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Truth #3- I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God that guides our lives and our actions.

Text

2 Timothy 3:16-17

“All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Illustration

( Appropriately given today because the Green Bay Packers play the Dallas Cowboys.)

The Green Bay Packers had been soundly defeated by a team that they should have beaten and the team was in their locker room licking their wounds and wondering why they let this happen. Coach Vince Lombardi came into the locker room and made them suit up back in their dirty uniforms and go back on the field of play. He huddled them together and pulled out a football. He said “This is a football, the object is to take this football across the goal line and score. He had taken them back to the basics. This is a football. This morning, I take us back to the basics of Christianity. This is your Bible!

Its objective is to show you how to have a relationship with God and how to receive the gift of salvation that is offered to mankind.

God’s word should be as basic to a Christian as a football is to the game of football.

The Bible tells us

Who God is

How much God loves us

How to receive the salvation offered by God for the sins which lead us away from God.

The best way to live our lives and how to treat others.

How to maintain relationships.

They are all questions people are asking, but most are not looking into their Bibles to find the answers.

These verses start with an explicit claim

“All Scripture is God -breathed.”

Just like God breathed life into Adam and Eve, the Word of God breathes life into us. The Word of God is alive.

It is not like any other book

God gives it and that makes it living!

Hebrews 4:12-

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

The word of God was revealed by Jesus (incarnate Word) but was by God written under the inspiration of God and recorded for mankind.

The Bible came to mankind in 4 phases (write down)

#1 Revelation-

God decided to reveal Himself to mankind. If not we could not of found him for ourselves.

In His revelation, He showed mankind their sin and their only way of redemption through Jesus Christ.

Specific message, specific person, specific time.

#2- Inspiration

Many books have inspired us, but there is only one book that God wrote that can save us. It took 40 authors over 1400 years to write 66 books of the Bible.

Specific people chosen by God to record His Word.

#3- Transmission

God went to extreme measures to make sure His Word went forth with accuracy. The way the scribes recorded left no room for error. If the copied text did not match up perfectly in the center of the page, it was burned and started again.

After much testing, time, energy, and the most important , divine guidance, in 400 A.D., the 66 books of the Bible came together as we know it today.

I love those that think the King James Bible is the only true translation. That version was written in around 1500 A.D.

God will not allow His Word to be tainted and has taken on the awesome task and responsibility of interpretation of His Word.

#4- Translation

Today there are over 7000 languages in the world, roughly 500 the Bible has been translated into their native tongue. That tells me the work of God is not done and that God will not only provide it but protect it.

God brings a warning to those that translate His Word

Matt 5:18

“For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished.”