The Bible: The Only Source of Authority

What the Bible is

• A library of 66 books
• Written by 44 different “authors”
• From every social class and widely differing backgrounds
• Over a total span of more than 1500 years
• Yet it contains throughout its length consistent patterns of: –
• Prophecy fulfilled and fulfilling
• Morality in conflict with man
• Doctrine in conflict with man
• Unerring Historical Accuracy

The Bible Consists of the “Scripture”

• Written by divinely inspired penmen of God. (Matthew 22:29; Luke 24:25; John 7:38; Mark 14:49; 2 Peter 3:15-16)
• The scripture is infallible. (John 10:35)
• Three main divisions of the Old Testament –

1. Moses (Genesis to Deuteronomy)
2. The Prophets (Joshua to Malachi, except the Psalms)
3. The Psalms

• Three main divisions of the New Testament –

1. Gospels (Matthew to John)
2. Letters (Acts to Jude)
3. Revelation (Prophecy)

How the Content of the Bible was Settled

• The prophecy of any prophet was tested by its fulfillment. (Deuteronomy 18:19-22)
• Priests investigated and validated each prophet.
• Contemporary “school” of prophets also provided an inspired test. (1 Samuel 10:10; 19:20)
• This shown in action. (1 Kings 22:5-9,13-35)
• So each prophet prophesied some events soon to be fulfilled and some to be fulfilled in the distant future which were to be accepted on the basis of those prophecies already fulfilled.

In the New Testament Times Scripture Accepted on Basis of Inspired Test

• Spirit of “discerning spirits”. (1 Corinthians 12:6-10)
• False claimant to inspiration rejected (1 John 4:1-3)
• Even Apostle’s word to be tested. (1 Corinthians. 14:37)
• The true is to be approved and forgeries to be rejected. (2 Thessalonians. 2:1-12)

The Bible – Divinely Inspiried and Infallible

The Evidence:

A book whose origin is clearly DIVINE

The Bibles Testimony to it’s Divine Inspiration

• God has spoken, Hebrews 1:1
• His written word inspired by Him, 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21
• The Bible is “the oracles of God’, 1 Peter 4:11; Hebrews 5:12; Romans 3:2
• The Bible is God’s word to us, 2 Corinthians 4:2; Acts 20:32, Ephesians 6:17; John 10:35; Mark 7:13; Acts 13:5,44; 26:22
• Our only source of knowledge of God, Job 11:7-9; Isaiah 55:8-9; Romans 11:33-36

The Bible – A Perfect Doctrinal Unity

• The inspiration of the spirit of God in each Bible writer has ensured unflawed consistency of teaching on every Bible doctrine throughout – this is simply not possible without the inspiration of God.
• One God, the Father, Deuteronomy 6:4; John 17:3
• God’s kingdom on earth, Daniel 7:22,27; Revelation 5:9-10; Luke 1:31-33
• Jesus Christ, God’s Son, 2 Samuel 7:14; John 3:16
• Man is mortal, Psalm 78:39; James 4:14
• Jesus Christ, the only sacrifice for sin, Isaiah 53:4-6,10,12; Hebrews 10:10-14

The Bible – Source of Infallible Prophecy

• To predict the future – at a distance of centuries and millennia ahead – concerning clearly recognisable events of world significance is not possible to man. It in evidence of Divine inspiration. Such prophecies abound in the Bible.
• Israel dispersed and regathered, Jeremiah 31:10
• Succession of 4 human world empires, but no 5th, Daniel 2:36-45 Rise of Russia at same time as Israel return to their land, Ezekiel 38:1-8,14-17
• Tyre defeated, destroyed and scraped bare, Ezekiel 26:1-14

The Bible – Source of Divine Morality

• Mankind is sole author of every social and moral evil – persistent breaker of every Divine law, Romans 1:18-32;8:7. Self-evidently the Bible’s morality was not originated by man.
• Lie not one to another, Ephesians 4:25
• Love your enemies, Luke 6:27-31,35-36
• Avoid all sexual evil, 1 Corinthians 6:16-20
• Give yourself to God to do His will, Romans 12:1-2
• These are all contrary to man’s natural choice, Galatians 5:16-17

The Bible – Its Historical Accuracy

• Ur of the Chaldees – existence disputed – discovered by Sir Leonard Woolley.
• Jericho – existence disputed – discovered by J.B. Garstang.
• Pontius Pilate – existence disputed – inscription bearing his name discovered near Tiberius.
• Luke once questioned on “titles of officials in the Acts” now acknowledged as an historian without peer.

The Gospel and The Bible

“Things of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ” – Acts 8:5,12,14,25

The message Jesus Christ proclaimed was “the gospel of the Kingdom of God” Matthew 4:23; Luke 8:1

The gospel was preached generations BEFORE Christ’s birth – Galatians 3:8; Hebrews 4:2

The gospel concerns the Hope of Israel – Acts 26:6-7; 28:20

“The gospel” means the Good News

The Essential Steps to Salvation

• God’s call by the gospel, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
• Belief of the gospel
• Baptism into Christ
• Gracious bestowal by God of immortality on all whom Christ judges to have fulfilled the first three steps, 2 Peter 1:2-11