BEYOND A REASONABLE FAITH

#6: Understanding God’s Revelation

Why The Bible?

• Article by president of the Historical Bible Society – Five Reasons Why The Bible Is The Most Important Book On Earth

• #1 – It has transformed the world• #2 – People are willing to die for this book• #3 – It’s the most accurate book of antiquity• #4 – It contains a life-changing message of freedom

• #5 – It connects you to history’s most important figure.

Or: It’s The True Word Of The One True God

• “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

Relationship Between Revelation and Scripture

Revelation came BEFORE Scripture

Revelation was often much MORE than was eventually recorded

Revelation was sometimes audible, oral, visual or written.

Not All Revelation Was Recorded

John 20:30 – “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book….”

John 21:25 – “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.

So, What Is Scripture?

Scripture is the WRITTEN RECORD of revelation from God.

It is therefore Sacred 2 Tim. 3:15 -- …and that from

childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

What Does Scripture Do?

 Records God’s Word Protects God’s Word Secures God’s Word Disseminates God’s Word Revelation 21:5 -- And He

who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

God’s Work In Scripture

Exodus 17:14 -- Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”

He COMMANDED

He LIMITED Deuteronomy 4:2 --You shall not

add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keepthe commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

Proverbs 30:6 – Do not add to His words or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.

God Revealed Himself

Genesis 15:1 – After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; You reward shall be very great.”

1 Kings 6:11-12 Now the word of the LORD

came to Solomon saying, “Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in My statutes and execute My ordinances and keep all My commandments by walking in them, then I will carry out My word with you which I spoke to David your father.”

Jesus And The Scripture

  Often quoted them Matthew 4:4 – “But

He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

John 7:38

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

Hebrews 3:7-8

“Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, ‘Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me….”

Jesus Defended Its Validity John 10:35 – “If He

called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and Scripture cannot be broken)….

Matthew 5:17 – “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”

The Apostles Defended Scripture

1 Peter 1:10-12 – “As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied … made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you … things into which angels long to look.”

God Has Revealed Himself

To anyone who cares to see

God’s word is perfect God’s word is complete God’s word is

indestructible God’s word is…GOD’S

WORD