T H E B I B L E .
This study will establish and reconfirm our affection for and relationship with the Bible, God’s Word.
Scripture reading: John 1:1-3, 14
The Bible is God’s Word.
Christ is the Word made flesh, John 1:14
His name is called The Word of God, Rev.19:13
The Bible, the Word of God made flesh in Christ and we have it in print, in
Braille and on audio tape for the blind, on video tape for the deaf, in
electronics, on computer, in micro and macro.
The Bible message is eternal as God, Christ and the Holy Spirit are eternal, it
reveals to us God’s everlasting covenant.
Books have come and gone over thousands of years, the Bible still is.
The Bible still is, because it comes from the Great I am.
“No book has been so loved, so hated, so revered, so damned as the Bible. People have died for it.
Others have killed for it.” (SDA Believe p.5)
“Today there is not a language in the civilized world unto which this
Word of God has not been rendered.” (The Intern. Standard Bible Ency.vl.1, p.492)
The Bible is God’s unfailing inspired Word, transmitted in human language.
The Bible is God’s absolute and certain truth in a fragmented uncertain world.
The Bible is God’s mind in human language for our human mind.
“The Bible is God’s thinking communicated to men”. (Chr.Beliefs, p.13)
The Bible is world’s best selling book, most translated, oldest in age, but also world’s most misunderstood, misapplied and in many parts of the world the least read.
The Bible is “The most widely distributed book in human history”. (PC Ency.)
The Bible reveals the past, guides us through the present, and prepares us for the future. Basic Information Before Leaving Earth
Many a person when condemned to a solitary confined place would
choose to take the Bible if so allowed.
Many a person in dying hours in need of comfort would rather hear a
word from the Bible than from any other piece of literature.
The Bible is: comfort to the mourner,
healing to the sick,
joy to the glad,
wisdom to the student,
salvation to the sinner,
condemnation to the wicked,
history to the historian,
poetry to the poet,
security to the fearful,
hope to the one in despair,
treasure to the value seeker,
resurrection to the one meeting death,
vision to the one disillusioned,
power to the weak,
strength to the one discouraged,
food for the hungry,
drink to the thirsty,
justice to the maltreated.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT ITSELF?
I am a lamp for your feet, Ps.119:105
I am a light on your path, ibid
I am the book of the Lord, Isa.34:16
I am the Gospel of God, Rom.1:1
I am the oracles of God, Rom.3:2
I am the Word of God, Hebr.6:5
I am the Word of Christ, Col.3:16
I am the Word that stands for ever, Isa.40:8
I am very pure, Ps.119:140
I am like fire, Jer.23:29
I am like sweet honey, Ezech.3:3
I am sometimes sweet in the mouth, bitter in the stomach, Rev.10:9
I am comfort in affliction, Ps.119:30
I am the Truth, John 17:17
I am joy to those eating me, Jer.15:16
I am the sword of the Spirit, Eph.6:17
I am a two edged sword, Hebr.4:12
I am eternal life to those searching me, John 5:39
I am divinely inspired, God breathed and profitable for: doctrines,
reproof,
correction
instruction, 2Tim.3:16
I am more than all this, but I am all that man needs, can hope for and be fully
satisfied with.
WHAT DOES MRS.ELLEN G.WHITE SAY ABOUT THE BIBLE
“The Bible is the great instrument of God’s government through probationary
time”. RH July 3, 1900
“The Bible is God’s great lesson book, His great education.” Ibid.
“The Bible a means of both mental and moral culture”, RH25.91883
“Those who study the Bible in the right manner, drink from a fountain
which is inexhaustible.” Signs June 9, 1890.
“There is nothing in the Word of God to be thrown aside; there is nothing
in the plan of salvation that is unimportant or that may be lightly
disregarded.” Signs, Aug.26.1913
“The Bible is the great standard of right and wrong, clearly defining
sin and holiness.” RH vl.5p419
“The Bible is a chart showing us the way marks of truth.” ibid.
“The Bible contains a simple and complete system of theology….” ib.
“The Bible is a guide book and a light that guides our footsteps
homeward.” RH vl.4.385
“The Bible is what we all need; for it is the science of salvation”. YI, 128
“The Bible teaches the whole will of God concerning us”. RH Vol.3, 421
The Bible,” It is a sufficient rule of faith and practice; for it is the voice
of God speaking to the soul….” RH Vol.3, 421
“The Bible is the most comprehensive and the most instructive history
that men possess.” RH vol.1, 327
“Few understand that it contains instruction not only in spiritual
matters, but in all branches of knowledge”. RH vol.4, 195
“All true science is contained in the Bible”. ibid.
“The Word of God is the great educating book and it is to be searched
diligently.” YI, 372
E.G.White at the GC of 1909, the last she attended, took the Bible, held it high and she admonished:
“Brethren and sisters I commend unto you this book”.( EGW in later yrs, 1905-15, p.19)
While Satan is trying hard to turn people away from the Bible by all means and manner E.G.White says: “But God will have a people upon Earth to
maintain the Bible and the Bible only, as the
standard of all doctrines and the basis of all
reform.” GC 595
As said before mankind has tried to fight the Bible:
Medieval times, the Bible was forbidden book.
Gutenberg story, everything was done to stop printing of the Bible.
French revolution,. the Bible was abused and ragged through the mud
Marx/Lenin teachings. have done everything possible to out do the Bible
.
WHAT SECULAR PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT THE BIBLE.
“One of the most notable conversions to the Bible was Sir William Ramsay .He was an atheist and son of an atheist. He was wealthy and proudly bore a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Oxford University. He gave his whole life to the study of archaeology so he could refute the Bible. He finally departed to
the Holy land, with his chief aim to refute the book of Acts. After 25 years of work, he became so impressed with the accuracy of Luke, its writer, that he finally concluded it was an exact account even in the smallest details. In his attempt to disprove the Bible, Sir William Ramsey discovered hundreds of historical facts which confirmed the Biblical account .Finally in one of his books, he shook the world of the Bible critics when he confessed he had accepted Christianity” (D.James Kennedy,”Why I believe”1980,p28)
“It has been my custom for many years to read the Bible in its entirely
once a year.” (John Quincy Adams, 6th USA pres.)
“A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than college education”.
(Theodore Roosevelt, 26th USA pres.)
“Belief in the Bible, the fruit of deep meditation, served me as the guide of my moral
and literary life. I have found it a capital safely invested and richly productive
of interest.” (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
“If we abide by the principles taught by the Bible, our country will go on prospering”.
(Daniel Webster, USA Statesman)
“I believe the Bible is the best gift that God has ever given to man. All the
good from the Saviour of the world is communicated to us through this book.
I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction
that I had nowhere else to go”.(Abraham Lincoln,16th USA pres.)
“The majesty of scriptures strikes me with admiration, as the purity of The Gospel
has its influence on my heart. Pursue the works of our philosophers with all
their pomp of diction, how mean, how contemptible are they, with the scriptures.”
(Jean Jacques Rousseau)
“It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible”.
(George Washington, first USA pres.)
“The Bible is the rock on which our republic rests”. (Andrew Jackson, 7th USA pres.)
“It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible-reading people”
(Horace Greeley, USA journalist/politician)
“The foundation of our society and our government rest so much on the
teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in
these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country”.
(Calvin Coolidge.30th USA pres.)
“We reject with scorn all these learned and labored myths that Moses was but
a legendary figure. We believe that the most scientific view, the most up-to-date
and rationalistic conception, will find its fullest satisfaction in taking the Bible
story literally.”(Winston Churchill)
(The above statements from GOOD NEWS)
JESUS AND THE BIBLE.
We started with Jesus being the Word made flesh, John 1:1
John 1:1 He was the Word in the beginning
,, 1:14 The Word made flesh dwelling among us.
Luke 2:46 The rabbis were astonished about his knowledge.
“He repeated the words of scriptures” DA78/9
Matthew 4:1-10 Scripture was His defense against the evil one and his temptations.
Luke 4:16 He stood in the synagogue and read the scriptures.
Luke 10:26 When asked questions He referred to the scriptures,” How readeth thou?”
Matthew 22:35-46 When tempted into a debate He quoted scriptures.
Luke 24:24-27 When found people being discouraged, He pointed to the scriptures.
“Jesus made scriptures His constant study….He seemed to
know the scriptures from beginning to end” YI,43-49
What do we believe about the Word of God?
“The Holy Scriptures, Old and new Testaments, are the written
Word of God-given by divine inspiration through Holy men of
God who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy
Spirit. In this Word, God has committed to man the knowledge
necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are the infallible
standard of character, the test of experience, the authoritative
revealer of doctrines, and the trustworthy record of God’s acts
in history. Fundamental Beliefs, 1
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ABOUT THE BIBLE?
“The Christian can take the whole Bible in his hand and say without fear or
hesitation, that he holds in it, the whole Word of God, handed down without
essential loss from generation to generation, throughout the centuries”
Sir Frederick Konyor
director British Museum
In closing read Psalm 119:129-133
“Your testimonies are wonderful;
therefore my soul observes them.
The unfolding of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
I opened my mouth wide and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
After Your manner with those who love Your name.
Establish my footsteps in Your word
And do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.”
From NASB.
APPENDIX:
THE ANVIL OF GOD’s WORD
Last eve I paused beside a blacksmith’s door,
And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;
Then looking in,I saw upon the floor,
Old hammers worn with beating years of time.
“How many anvils have you had”, said I,
“To wear and batter all these hammers so?’
“Just one,” said he, and then with twinkling eye,
“The anvil wears the hammers out you know.”
“And so,” I thought,” The Anvil of God’s Word,
For ages skeptic blows, have beat upon,
Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,
The Anvil is unchanged, the hammers gone.”
-John Clifford,in YBY
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