Jun 28

Written by:
Monday, June 28, 2010 2:07 PM 

Lately we have been talking about how to witness to our friends. As we have been talking, we don’t have to defend God’s Word. God’s Word stands on it’s own. But when we get in conversations with others, the topic of the Bible’s validity may come up. I hope that you may be able to use some of this information when you discuss it with your friends.

Some say education is the answer to most everything, yet it seems we sink deeper and deeper morally with our increase knowledge.

2 Timothy 3:7 says, We are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of truth.”

We substitute “facts” for truth. We don’t care to ask, “Is it true?” We just want to know, “Does it work?” This is why many Christians don’t grow.

Tonight we are going to discuss the Bible is the word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says,

3:16

Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another - showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way.

3:17

Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

How do we know the Bible is of any value?

Scientific accuracy confirms the Bible as the word of God. In 1861, the French Academy of Science wrote a pamphlet stating there are 51 scientific facts that could never be disproven, but proved the Bible was not true. Everyone one of those scientific facts have been proven wrong. The Louvre in Paris has three and a half miles of books on science. Almost 95% are obsolete.

Here’s the main point – Science changes, God’s word doesn’t.

1. How is the Earth suspended- Job 26:7

He spreads the skies over unformed space, hangs the earth out in empty space.

Job is the oldest book in the Bible. Yet many cultures science that post dated the Book of JOB claimed that the Earth was suspended by elephants, turtles or very large people.

2. As late as 1492, earth was believed to be flat.

Isaiah 40:22

God sits high above the round ball of earth. The people look like mere ants. He stretches out the skies like a canvas - yes, like a tent canvas to live under.

This was written 750BC

3. How many stars are there?

150 years before Jesus, Hipparchus said there were 1022 stars.

250 years later Ptolemy said there were 1056 stars

1300 years later Galileo invented a crude telescope and said, “Dude, there are too many stars to count!”

Jeremiah 33:22

Just as you can't number the stars in the sky nor measure the sand on the seashore, neither will you be able to account for the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who serve me.'"

4. Science’s view of blood

In 1628 William Harvey discovered that blood circulated through the body.

Even up until 1800 people believed sickness was caused by the blood; “bad blood” was listed as the cause of George Washington’s death.

Leviticus 17:14 -

because the life of every creature is its blood.

Moses wrote this verse and knew it was blood that sustained life .

5. Highly contagious diseases

During the Black plague of 14^th century Europe. 1 out of 4 died.

A cure found by doctors in the Bible– Leviticus 13:46

As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp.

Quarantine

Is the Bible historically accurate?

In 1800 DR SR Driver said Moses could not have written the 1^st 5 books of the old testament because writing did not exist in the time of Moses. Yet,in N. Egypt a tablet was found. It was basically a letter written a long time before Moses, from some one in Palestine to someone in Egypt. Proving not only did they write, but also had a mail system.

Also, Many cities and town mentioned in Bible, but thought never to exist, are being found constantly.

Many people have bought into the idea that the Bible was rewritten to say what certain emperors and kings wanted it to say. This is an idea that has recently come about because of a book written by Dan Brown called The DaVinci Code. This book is a work of fiction. In fact, if we look at ancient manuscripts, there are more to back up the Bible remaining the same throughout history than any other written work. The Jewish War by 1st century historian Josephus, which much of middle eastern history is taught from only has 9 ancient manuscripts to back up its accuracy, The writings of Plato have only 30 and Homer’s Iliad has 650.These books accuracy are not challenged in the manner that the Bible has; even though the Bible has the support of 24,000 ancient manuscripts to prove its accuracy.

The Bible is unified

1. It is a compilation of books written by around 40 or more authors.

2. These people lived during a span of 1600 years.

3. They lived in about 13 different countries on three different continents.

4. They were shepherds, kings, soldiers, princes, fishermen, scholars, historians, professionals, and common laborers.

5. Written in at least 3 different languages.

6. One book Genesis – Revelations

One Theme: Redemption

One Hero: Jesus

One villain: Satan

One purpose: God’s glory

Take 40 different people, over 1600 years, from different countries and different occupations and tell them to write independent of each other without reading what the others have written what do you think you would come up with?

There are many more reason:

All the prophesy fulfilled, it has stood the test of time and still interest man,

Most of all there is a power in this book like no other.

Billy Graham said, “ I found in my preaching the Word of God was like a two edged sword, and when I quoted it under the power of the Holy Spirit, I could slay everything before me.”

1.This book is saving to the sinner- it stirs your conscience, convicts the mind and converts the soul

2.It’s joy for those who believe – peace found in the words of God

3.Comfort in suffering

4. Satisfies the scholar

5. intrigues little children

In order to grow as a Christian you must trust that this is the actual Word of God.