10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
10250 North Freeway @ West
Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
What
We Believe and Why
Written by Dr.
Lester Hutson
Copyright
- Lester Hutson - 1986
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced
without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.
CHAPTER FOUR
THE BIBLICAL CLAIM TO DIVINE INSPIRATION
II TIMOTHY 3:16
I have shown you that the Bible is true from a logical standpoint. Great factors, apart from its own statements of its truth attest to it being the Holy Word of God. In this lesson I wish now to use the Bible and show you its statements which vindicate it as being the inspired Word of God.
I. The Bible does make many claims of being the infallible Word of God:
A. Notice how the Bible writers claimed to be inspired of God and to thus write the mind of God, not man:
1. In Gal. 1:12 Paul said, "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
2. He said in I Thes. 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.
3. David avowed in II Sam. 23:2, "The spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His Word was in my tongue.
4. Listen to Paul in Eph. 3:2-5, as he claims revelation to himself and the other Bible prophets.
5. Many spoke of "the spirit of the Lord" and "The Word of the Lord" being upon them as in Zech. 4:6; Ezek. 11:5; Isa. 61:1; Jer. 25:3.
6. Paul said in I Cor. 2:16, "We have the mind of Christ." And, of the scriptures he says in verse 10, "God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit."
7. Listen to I Cor. 2:12-13 as Paul claims the apostles were told what to say by the "Holy Ghost."
8. Heb. 1:1 affirms, "God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.
9. The apostles Peter and John stated in Acts 4:20, "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
10. Listen to what Peter said in I Pet. 1:11-12 in contending that the Holy Ghost inspired the scriptures.
11. Peter thus states in II Pet. 1:21 "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. "
B. Though Jesus Christ did not write any scripture, he testified it is true:
1. In John 17:17 he said of the Word of God, "Thy Word is truth. "
2. He told the apostles in John 16:12-15 that it would be the Spirit of God which would guide them.
C. It is not just a part, but the whole Word of God which is said to be true:
1. Notice the text, II Tim. 3:16, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God."
2. Rev. 19:9 says "These are the true sayings of God."
3. Rev. 21:5, John is told to "write: for these words are true and faithful."
4. I Cor. 13:10 speaks of the completed writings as "that which is perfect. "
5. Ps. 119:128 David thus said, "I esteem all thyprecepts concerning all things to be right.
D. Now, if God said it, it would be true, for God is always true:
1. Titus 1:2 says God "cannot lie."
2. John 1:14 says He is "full of truth."
3. See Rev. 3:14 and Rev. 3:7.
E. And, since God did tell the Bible writers what to say, the Bible is said to be infallibly true:
1. I Pet. 1:25 says, "The Word of the Lord endureth forever. "
2. Ps. 119:89 says, "Forever, 0 Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven."
3. II Tim. 2:19 says, "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure."
4. Matt. 24:35 Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away. "
F. It is in view of this that I am not afraid to come before you and say I believe the Bible is truly the Holy, Divine, and Infallible Word of God.
"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"