Scripture

Scripture
Kevin DeYoung

Why should I believe the Bible?

1)The spirit testifies to us that it is the word of God.

1 Corinthians 2:11-12
For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

-To truly see and believe you must have the spirit in you.

Mark 4
- Parables about the seeds and sewers.
- Some will get what Jesus is saying and some will not.
- Jesus gave parables so those who got it would keep getting it and those who don't get it won't get it.

John 10
The Sheep know the masters voice.

2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Genesis 3 Question - "Has God really said"
-Has God spoken this word - or is it something else - when we believe it is God's word we have the ability to confess.

1 Thessalonians 2:13
And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

- We all have a starting point.
- We all start with some sort of basis of knowledge.
- We must not concede that fallen human reason is the starting point for trying to prove that scripture is the Word of God.

They who strive to build up firm faith in scripture through disputation are doing things backwards, let this point therefore stand that those whom the Holy Spirit has inwardly taught truly rest upon scripture and that scripture is self authenticating - it is not right to subject it to proof and reasoning. ~ John Calvin

- We do not put scripture on trial.
- We have to start with God Genesis 1:1 - "In the beginning GOD"
- It is realistic about what reasoning can and can't accomplish.
- Spurgeon spent less time defending the Bible and reading from it - let the word go forth like a tiger.

2) It is reasonable to trust this book

- We are not against reason.
- We are not rationalists - but we are not irrational.
- Rationalists take reason alone, irrational is false.
- Why do we believe the Bible - the gospels.
- There are reasons that we think this book is reliable.
- If we can believe the gospels the rest will fall in place.

- C.S. Lewis - Liar, Lunatic, Lord, Legend
- We have a lot of legends - what can we trust?
- How do we know the Bible is not legend?

Can we trust the Bible?
- External written sources
- Archeological discoveries
- Manuscript evidence
- Eye witness testimonies

2 Peter 1:16
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

- If the Bible says it we must believe it.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

- He was an eyewitness - it is in the category of historical fact - it is true - that is where the gospel there.

- Christianity is an entirely different religion - from the very beginning it tied itself to history.
- Bring non-Christians back to history.
- Christianity is historical fact plus theological interpretation.
- The law of non-contradiction matters.
- Christianity had a stubbornly historical basis.
- The nature of the gospels themselves - suggest that there was no effort to make it really smooth from book to book - and people still accepted them.

What Should I believe about the Bible
1) The Necessity of Scripture
- Scripture is needed of those that have come to God.
- General revelation - what we know about God through creation.
- General revelation is inadequate - we can see it but it cannot tell us how to be saved.

Romans 10:14
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

- Preach the gospel and if necessary use words - it is not correct - you can adorn the gospel but you must use words - it is a message!
- Lifestyle evangelism is important - but no one is going to come up to you and say - "Hey man - you don't swear, how can I get saved?"
- We need to speak something.
- I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen - not only because I see it but by it I see everything else. ~C.S. Lewis

The Scripture is our:
- Seed by which we are born again - 1 Peter 1
- Light - Psalm 119
- Food - Hebrews 5
- Foundation - Ephesians 2

2) The Sufficiency of Scripture
- The Bible contains everything you need to know to come to Christ and live a life pleasing to Him.

2 Timothy 3:15
...and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Revelation 22:18-19
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

Psalm 19:7
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul...

- The word of God gives us what we need to know to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.

- All things pertaining to life and Godliness - knowing God - we have all we need to live a life pleasing to God an abundant life.

- Biblical knowledge is like blood - if you have blood flowing through vessels it is working like it is supposed to - if you collect blood in a vat - then your weird - some Christians get all this theological knowledge.
- People carry their bucket of blood around saying - hey I have a lot of blood in a bucket - look at me - and sometimes when people are no looking they pour it on you - and people don't like them.

- Then people say they don't want doctrine.
- Blood is supposed to be moving throwing.
- Realize that in the Bible - you already have everything you need for life and of godliness.

Two Dangers when it comes to Christian growth and Godliness
1) Dreamy Danger
- Idolize Christian heroes
- Idealistic about how fast we can grow
- Underestimate the power of indwelling sin
- Unrealistic about how growth actually takes place

2) Disbelieving Danger
- No heroes
- Cynical about growing
- Hard heart
- Underestimate the reality of the Holy Spirit
- Unconcerned to utilize the means that God has given us to grow

- We must be aware of both these dangers and realize that we have the power to combat both these dangers.

3) The Clarity of Scripture
- This is the attribute of scripture that is so under attack today.
- So many interpretations.
- Do we believe human language is a gift from God - God is the first one to speak in the Bible and the universe - there is no universe until he speaks.
- He came to Adam and Eve and expected them to obey.
- The ability to communicate meaningfully through words is one aspect of being made in the image of God.
- God's word is not beyond us - He gave us His word and He wants to be known.
- God is a God who wants to be known.
- The Holy Spirit is no skeptic.
- Jesus believed the Old Testament scriptures to be understandable and accessible.
- In appealing to the Old Testament, Jesus assumed that they could read it, understand it, and were responsible to obey it.
- Apostles approached the New Testament in the same way.

Deuteronomy 30:14
But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

2 Kings 22
- The found the law and repented – they saw that it had a clear discernable message.
- The clarity of the scripture tells us that everyone can learn the way of salvation – even the hard parts can be understood correctly with skill and time and the Holy Spirit.

- We have a God that wants to be interpreted correctly – God has something to say and He is very good at saying it.
- If scripture is obscure or ambiguous – what point is there in God giving it to us? Are we not obscure and ambiguous enough? ~ Luther

4) The Authority of Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

- God breathed out this word – He exhaled

2 Peter 1:20-21
...knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

John 10:34
Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in) your Law, 'I said, you are gods'?

Psalm 82:6
I said, "You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you.

- Scripture has unrivaled power
- Ephesians 6 – you are given one offensive weapon – the Word of God.
- When Jesus was tempted in the dessert – He quotes the Bible to do battle with the devil – three times says “It Is Written!”
- When God wants to create the universe all He has to do is speak.

Psalm 29:5
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

- God does what God says and what scripture says Gods says.

Romans 9:17
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."

- What God says scripture says.

Matthew 19:4-5
He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?

- What scripture says God says.

Acts 4:25
who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, 'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?

Psalm 2

Hebrews 3:7
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice.

-The scriptures were not just spoken out by God – they speak for God, wield the power of God and are as truthful as God.
- It is possible to handle the Word of God wrongly but it is not possible to ascribe to the Bible too much authority.

How Should I Approach the Bible?

1) Frequently
- For starters – frequently – we do not know the Bible as well as previous generations.
- The Bible has become the greatest story never read – we do not know the Bible – our knowledge of the Bible is very thin.

Psalm 1:2
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

- Read often.

2) Humbly
- Approach the Bible with humility.
- We should have the same reverence in approaching the scriptures that we do when we approach Christ.
- We are far too quick to separate the Word of God Scripturated and the Word of God incarnated.
- The Word of God is His self disclosure to us.


Acts 1:1
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach.

- Luke was about what Jesus began to do and teach, therefore Acts is about what Jesus continues to do and teach.
- How often is Jesus in Acts? – He ascends into heaven in Chapter 1 – to the work of Christ I being carried out by the apostles.

John 16:12-15
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.

- It is a foundational passage for our understanding of the Spirit’s work and the scriptures work in our lives.
- The Spirit will lead you into all truth – He is talking to the disciples.
- Jesus’ disciples will lead you into all truth.
- Do not pit Jesus against Paul – Jesus says that is His continuing word to us through the apostles.

Matthew 10:14
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
- He equates rejection of His disciples words with rejection on Himself.

John 15:4
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

- Jesus equates His words abiding in us as He is abiding in us.

Exodus 19:5
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.
- Israel’s relationship with God is determined by their relationship to His words.

Exodus 33:19
And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

- Moses asks for God to show His glory and He responds with words.
- He declares His sovereignty.
- God is present in His Word
- God has invested Himself in words.

3) Confidently

Mark 4:26-29
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

- The farmer does not know how the seed sprouts.
- The germinating power to grow is in the seed not the farmer.
- The ground bears fruit by itself.

- What is the kingdom? - We DO NOT build the kingdom – we may do kingdom work – but we do not work to expand or establish the kingdom – it is a God-wrought miracle.

- The kingdom grows by the Word – Do you trust in the Word of God to do the work of God?

Isaiah 55:10-11
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

- We are after good soil and faithful sewing.
- A seed that is sown faithfully will sprout eventually.
- Just keep sowing – that is what we are to be like with Christ – just keep sowing and He will bring the increase – we have such little faith.

- The only hope we have in ministry is the power of the Word of God inspired by the Spirit – we are to have no other confidence.

- The devil wants us to believe that there is no power in the Word of God – but there is.

- The kingdom cannot be explained by human effort.
- The things that we want to do in ministry are often the things that we are absolutely powerless to do – this should be the most freeing thing in our life – all the things that we can do are the least important in the ministry.

- All of the things that will last through eternity require God working through His Word – so we wait for God’s Word to be accomplished in His way.

- Put your hope in God’s Word and you will be surprised but you will not be disappointed!