Some philosophy would have us believe today that there is no set standard for
man to live by other than "doing justly to one another."
Some in the denominational world, who claim to be Christians, would have us believe
that "parts" of the Bible are inspired and "parts" of it are not. (Usually the words in red are.)
Some think that the Bible is "True" as long as it helps them out of a tight, but
when reversed, "I don't believe it anyway."
People cannot agree on God's will for man unless they accept a standard of authority.
At one time most people accepted the authority of the Scriptures. This is no longer the case.
When asked, "Why do you believe the Bible", most of us would answer subjectively,
"I just do." This is not good enough.
I Peter 3:15.
Today, let's discover four concrete REASONS to base our belief of the Bible on while
answering the question, "Why do I believe the Bible."
THE BIBLE CLAIMS TO BE INSPIRED.
Inspiration - "God breathed" information. In essence, God is the author of the Bible.
Two views of inspiration:
Liberal - "The Bible is a good book. It contains a code of ethics for man's
moral conduct but that's it. It is no more than that."
Conservative - "Plenary verbal inspiration..."
Phrases like, "Thus saith the Lord" are found over 2000 times in the Bible.
The Bible claims inspiration:
John 12:48.
John 16:13-14.
Hebrews 1:1-2.
Galatians 1:11-12.
I Thessalonians 2:13.
I Corinthians 2:6-13.
II Peter 1:21.
THE BIBLE IS SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE. (It surpasses human knowledge)
Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) announced "Five Manifestations of the knowable"
Time, Force, Action, Space and Matter.
All else is said to be based on these fundamentals.
God already knew these and recorded them 3400 years before Spencer.
Genesis 1:1 - "In the beginning (TIME) God (FORCE) created (ACTION) the heavens (SPACE) and the earth (MATTER).
These are in the same sequence that Spencer announced.
Blood is the life of flesh - Genesis 9:4 - "But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood, therefore, shall ye not eat."
Man has only known this since the microscope was invented.
Some used to "bleed" people because of "bad blood."
Usually resulted in death.
Man's discovery came long after God's record.
Circumcision on the 8th day - Genesis 17:12 - "And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you..."
Not enough Vitamin K in his body to clot the blood until the 8th day. (Did not have the medicines that we have.)
How did Moses know this? INSPIRATION!!!
Isolation and cleanliness of lepers - Levi. Chs. 13-16.
Purpose - to prevent the spreading of a contagious disease.
Levi. 13:45-46 - Note: "cover his upper lip"
This principle was discovered by man about 100 years ago.
How did Moses know? INSPIRATION!!!
Paths of the sea - Psalm 8:8 - "The birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas."
Underwater currents in the oceans.
Matthew Murray (1854) discovered the paths of the sea.
Searched because the Bible said they were there.
Big ships use them now.
Larger fish use them because of the temperature.
How did David know? INSPIRATION!!!
Empty space in the North - Job 26:7 - "He strecheth out the North over empty space, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
Found since the astronomers have developed telescopes that were able to see far beyond the human eye.
Caused by the gravitational pull.
This gravitation causes the earth to be "hung on nothing."
The earth is round - Isaiah 40:22 - "It is he that sitteth above the circle of the earth..."
When the Bible was written the UNIVERSAL thought was, "The world is flat. If you go too far you will fall off."
Early Grecians, Toscanellie and Italian suggested that the earth was round.
Columbus and others believed them (1492).
Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521) proved it was round by sailing around it.
Where did Isaiah get his information? INSPIRATION!!
THE BIBLE IS HISTORICALLY ACCURATE.
Archaeology turns a spade in favor of the accuracy of the Bible with each excavation.
Babylon proven to exist - 1901.
1901 - French archaeologist discovered the "Code of Hammurabi". He was the king mentioned in Genesis 14:1.
Egyptian discoveries prove Israelite slavery and the exodus.
The Moabite Stone tells of relations between Moab and Israel.
The Black Oblisk stone supports events surrounding Shalmaneser II, king of Assyria and Israel paying tribute to him.
Dead Sea Scrolls - discovered in 1947 through 1956.
THE BIBLE IS PROPHETICALLY ACCURATE.
Desolation of Babylon - Isaiah 13:17-22.
Today lies in ruins, desolate; nothing but wild animals dare live there.
Rebuilding of Jericho.
Joshua 6:26 - the curse.
I Kings 16:34 - the fulfillment.
Interval of about 351 years. (1451 BC to 925 BC).
Scattering of the Jews - Ezekiel 22:15-16 - History verifies.
Prophecies concerning Christ.
Birth in Bethlehem - Micah with Matt. 2:1.
Born of a virgin - Isa. 7:14 with matt. 1:18.
Lots cast for garments - Ps. 22:18 with Matt. 27:35.
No bones broken - Ps. 34:30 with Jno. 19:31-35.
His character, service and death - Isaiah 53.
Resurrection - Ps. 16:10 with Matt. 28:1ff.
CONCLUSION:
EVIDENCE, not speculation, has been presented to "prove" that the Bible is not a product of man, but of God.
Evidence given beyond human knowledge of that time.
Seeing we have such a great cloud of witnesses to the accuracy of the Bible, how can we deny it?
