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God Has Spoken - Lesson 2
by Jon Quinn
[Bible Text - King James Version]
Sir Isaac Newton: "There are more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in
any profane history."
George Washington: "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and
the Bible."
Abraham Lincoln: "I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.
All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book."
Daniel Webster: "If there is anything in my thoughts or style to commend, the
credit is due to my parents for instilling in me an early love of the Scriptures."
You are in good company if you respect the Bible. The Bible's greatness, however, does not
depend upon what men may say about it, good or bad. It is the greatest of books because of its
author and its important message.
THE SOURCE OF THE BIBLE
The Bible is a product of God's mind. The writers were instruments
through whom God revealed His message.
(Exodus 24:3-4) "And Moses came and told
the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with
one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.
4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and
rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars,
according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17) "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 perfect, thoroughly
furnished unto all good works."
(2 Peter 1:20-21) "Knowing this first, that no
prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will
of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
The word "inspiration" means "God breathed."
God "breathed" the words into the writers. In fact, the Bible could never have been
written by man alone! There are hundreds of prophecies made generations before they were
fulfilled. Not one failed! Examples include that the Messiah would be born in the tiny town of
Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) and a very vivid account of
the crucifixion (Psalm 22:6-18). Also, there are the
early, somewhat casual, statements of natural facts which were yet to be discovered by science.
Examples of this include the earth's roundness (Isaiah 40:22),
the ever-expanding nature of the universe (Genesis 1:8) and
that the earth does not rest on any visible base (Job 26:7).
Concerning the New Testament, Jesus planned for its occurrence. He
sent the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles. It is easy to trace how Jesus' plan unfolded; thus
building our confidence in the Bible as God's word.
(John 14:26) "But the Comforter, which is
the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring
all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
(Acts 1:5) "For John truly baptized with water; but
ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
(Acts 1:8) "But ye shall receive power, after that
the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in
all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
(Acts 2:4) "And they were all
filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance."
(Galatians 1:11) "But I certify you, brethren, that
the gospel which was preached of me is not after man."
(1 Thessalonians 2:13) "For this cause also thank
we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye
received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually
worketh also in you that believe."
(1 Thessalonians 4:1-2) "Furthermore then we
beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye
ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the
Lord Jesus."
THE HISTORY OF THE BIBLE The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew and the New
Testament in Greek (and some Aramaic). Many copies of the originals were made and circulated. We have complete
manuscripts of the New Testament dating back to about 350 A.D. We have many fragments of the
New Testament dating back to about 120 A.D. This was just 20 years after one of its writers, the
apostle John, died.
There are also abundant early manuscripts of the Old Testament
dating back several centuries before Christ. The most famous of these are the Dead Sea Scrolls.
The importance of this is that when we compare our translations with these early works, we find
that we have reliable Bibles. We do not have to worry that errors have crept in over the
centuries. God has seen to it that His Word has been preserved for us today.
(1 Peter 1:24-25) "For all flesh is as
grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower
thereof falleth away:
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And
this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."
SHORT SURVEY OF THE BIBLE
The Bible has two main divisions: the Old and New Testaments. The
39 books of the Old Testament contain 5 books of law, 12 books of history, 5 poetical books and
17 books of prophecy. The 27 books of the New Testament contain 4 gospels (accounts of Jesus'
life), 1 book of history, 21 epistles and 1 book of prophecy in that order.
The Old Testament deals with the early history of man from the
creation to Abraham, and then focuses on Abraham and his descendants as the people through whom
the Messiah would come and bless all nations (Genesis 12:1-3).
The New Testament deals with how the promise of the Messiah is
fulfilled in Jesus and reveals that eternal hope exists only in Him.
(Acts 4:12) "Neither is there salvation in
any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
COVENANTS
A testament is a covenant or contract. We have mentioned two: Old
and New. Jesus did not destroy the first one, but rather He fulfilled it -- thus taking it out of
the way. Its obligations have been met and it is therefore no longer valid.
(Matthew 5:17) Do not think that I came to
destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill."
(Galatians 3:24-27) "Wherefore the law was our
schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer
under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in
Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into
Christ have put on Christ."
(Colossians 2:13-17) "And you, being dead in your
sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven
you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that
was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he
made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in
drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the
body is of Christ."
In the place of the first, Jesus
established a second covenant. When one becomes a Christian, he recognizes and accepts that he
is in a contract with God. There are blessings as well as responsibilities in this relationship.
(Romans 7:4) "Wherefore, my brethren, ye
also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another,
even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God."
(Hebrews 8:6-7) "But now hath he obtained a more
excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was
established upon better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless,
then should no place have been sought for the second."
(Hebrews 8:13) "In that he saith, A new covenant,
he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away."
(Hebrews 9:15-17) "And for this cause he is the
mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions
that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal
inheritance.
16 For where a testament is, there must also of
necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead:
otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth."
Though the first covenant is no longer
binding today, it is still useful to the Christian in learning about faith, God's character and
in receiving encouragement.
(Romans 15:4) "For whatsoever things were
written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the
scriptures might have hope."
UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE
God is our Maker. He created us with the ability to communicate
with our fellow human beings through language. He has chosen to communicate with us, not
through some mysterious language of angels, but through human language so that He might be
understood by us. The best way to understand the Bible is to use the same rules which apply
to any other human communication. The Bible uses words and sentences to express ideas and CAN be
understood.
(Deuteronomy 30:11-14) "For this
commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say,
Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest
say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy
mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it."
(Romans 10:6-10) "But the righteousness which is of
faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to
bring Christ down from above:)
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to
bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in
thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the
Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt
be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
It must be admitted that there are some
things more difficult to understand than others. One should begin with simple concepts and then
build upon them as he progresses to the more difficult.
(Hebrews 5:11-14) "Of whom we have many
things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye
have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are
become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the
word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of
full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and
evil."
(1 Peter 2:1-3) "Wherefore laying aside all malice,
and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the
word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is
gracious."
(2 Peter 3:15-17) "And account that the
longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the
wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of
these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and
unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these
things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your
own stedfastness.
One must have a proper attitude when
studying the Bible. This means putting away preconceived ideas and having faith that one truly
can understand God's message.
(Proverbs 2:1-5) "My son, if thou wilt
receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and
apply thine heart to understanding;
3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest
up thy voice for understanding;
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for
her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD,
and find the knowledge of God."
(Matthew 13:14-16) "And in them is fulfilled the
prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing
ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and
their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should
see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should
be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your
ears, for they hear."
Diligence in Bible study is also a
requirement if one is to understand. The Bible commends those who have enough interest in His
word to thoroughly investigate its truths.
(Acts 17:11) "These were more noble than
those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched
the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."
(Ephesians 5:17) "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but
understanding what the will of the Lord is."
(2 Timothy 2:15) "Study to show thyself approved
unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
CONCLUSION
Jesus promised us that we could know the truth which is able to
make one free (John 8:32). This shows that God's
truth can be understood and used beneficially. The fact that you are taking this
course shows that you have an interest in these things. May God richly bless you in
accordance with His will.
LESSON #3 deals with the
question, "WHAT IS MAN?" It will consider what it means to be "created in the image of
God" and what a human being's ultimate purpose really is.
QUESTIONS FOR LESSON TWO
(Click on the Bible Verses and they will open up for you to read!)
A. In what language was the Old Testament originally written?
Persian
Arabian
Hebrew
Aramaic
In what language was the New Testament originally written?
Sarfi and Hindi
Greek and Aramaic
Latin and Hebrew
no one knows
B. Why were the people at Berea commended?
(See Acts 17:11)
C. Can the Lord's will be understood
(Ephesians 5:17)?
Yes
No
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