WHAT IS THE WORD
John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The Word has it’s origin with Jesus Christ. Since God has no beginning
or ending, we can assume that Word as we know it, did not exist in eternity
past. God does not tell us the time when the Word was formed in His
mind.
Let me suggest that the beginning in John chapter 1 is the same beginning
in Genesis chapter 1. Even though God has no beginning, everything in
creation has a beginning.
From it’s beginning, the Word became permanent.
Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
THE PURPOSE OF THE WORD
“The supreme purpose of the written Word Of God is revealed in in all He
has done or will do from the beginning of creation in the farthest reaches of
eternity (Lewis Sperry Chafer). “
The purpose of the recorded Word is for the benefit of mankind. The
purpose of the recorded Word is for man to know God and His righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 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, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Romans 9:16-18
It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
Since the Word is Jesus Christ, it does not contain any errors.
John 14:6-7
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Let me state it another way. Jesus is the way to the Father, He the truth
about the Father. He is the life that is in the Father. ?
The Word is Jesus Christ. If you want to be close to Jesus, study His
Word.
The Word is a guide to man.
Psalms 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
God needs no counsel, but man does.
In order for the Word to be your guide, you have to study the Word.
HOW DID WE GET THE WRITTEN WORD
As soon as God made man, He gave him rules to live by and made
him responsible for teaching the Word. The Word was given first to
Adam and he was responsible to teach it to his wife. From Adam
the Word, the knowledge of God traveled through generations by word of
mouth until the time of Moses.
It was Moses who first recorded the Word of God. Moses spent
two sets of forty
days on the mountain with God. He came down not only with the Stone
Tablets which he recorded the ten commandments (Exodus 20) but also a book with God’s Words (Exodus 24)
Exodus 24:3-4
"Everything the Lord has said we will do." 4 Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said.
NIV
Exodus 24:7
Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, "We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey."
Throughout the first 5 books of the Bible, God continues to give Israel
additional commands, which were recorded by Moses. ?
The original language of the Old testament was mostly written in Hebrew.
The original language of the New Testament was written in Greek.
The Bible that we have is 99 percent accurate of the original languages.
The Dead Sea Scrolls found in the Quran Caves of Israel between 1946
and the 1950’s confirmed the accuracy of the Old Testament that we have
to day. The Dead Sea Scrolls were dated 300 years before the birth of
Christ.
Christ taught from the Old Testament. Christ taught His own Word.
The Old Testament did not try to save man but pointed to the Messiah.
The New Testament presents Christ the Messiah who points to the Father
in Heaven
The Old Testament let circumstances draw men to God.
In the New Testament God drew men through grace to Christ
THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE BIBLE
How do we know that the Bible that we have is God’s Word?
Let’s consider the physical evidence.
The Bible contains names of people, names of places , times and
events. Most of which can be verified with outside sources. History
books not connected with the Bible confirm it accuracy.
There is archaeology evidence that is continuously confirm the
accuracy of the Bible we have today.
According to The Jerusalem Post in 2018, a group of students from the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem discovered what they think is the
ancient city of Bethsaida recorded in the Old Testament. This is one
of many discoveries in this century.
There are 66 books in the Bible and 40 different Authors over
a time frame of fifteen hundred years.
The Bible has the same theme throughout, Jesus Christ and
Him crucified. In Genesis it is Jesus Christ , In Revelation it is
Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
There is 450 years between the last book of the
Old Testament and first book of the New Testament, yet the theme
is the same between the two testaments.
INTERNAL EVIDENCE OF THE BIBLE
Lets look at the internal evidence. The Bible claims itself to be the
Word of God in both the Old Testament and The New Testament in
hundreds of passages. Like Due 6. 17 -18, Samuel 22,, Romans 10,
1 Cor 2.
Throughout the Bible the Men God used to give His commands and
directions claim the Word to be from God.
The Word foretold events that happen years before they happen.
Events foretold in the Bible are still happening.
God made promises to us in His Word that He continues to
keep. Events foretold in the Bibles are still unfolding before our
eves to day.
EXTERNAL EVIDENCE OF THE BIBLE
Let’s look at the external evidence.
God made a world in seven days (God’s Time) that man is
still trying to explain. God made a world so big that man cannot
get to the end of it nor understand its magnitude.
Doctors and scientist are still making discoveries about how the body
works that God created in one day with His Word.
YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
The Bible is God’s Word and we have to accepted it by faith
What can you say about the Word that is proof to you that it is
the truth?
What promises has God kept that proves your faith?
What has God done for you that is proof that Word is true?
Rev. M. Mitchell
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