The Inspiration Of Scripture
The Inspiration Of Scripture
Review: Our God is one who speaks.
“Inspiration of scripture”: The process by which God oversaw the writing and preservation of the scripture.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NCV) All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right. Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work.
Understanding “inspiration”:
Psalm 147:15, 19 (NIV) He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. … He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.
Deuteronomy 31:24-26 (HCSB) When Moses had finished writing down on a scroll every single word of this law, he commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the Lord’s covenant, “Take this book of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God so that it may remain there as a witness against you.”
1. The written words are initiated by God.
Statements of God through men, not statements about God from men.
Exodus 31:18; 32:16; 34:1 (ESV) And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God. … The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. … The Lord said to Moses, “Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.”
2. God used particular people at particular points of history.
1 Corinthians 14:37-38 (ESV) If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
Not just anyone can write, but biblical prophets and the original apostles.
Romans 16:26 (NTFE) …but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings, according to the command of the eternal God, for the obedience of faith among all the nations-…
We’re not moved to write scripture today, but we are moved to apply scripture today.
Psalm 119:2, 4, 9-11, 33-35 (NIV)2Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart— 4You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. 9How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. 10I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 33Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. 34Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. 35Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
3. God has overseen its preservation.
Matthew 24:35 (NIV) “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
Isaiah 40:8 (ESV) The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
Psalm 119:89 (ESV) Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
The books we have are the work of God, discovered by the Church.
“Cannon” means a list of authoritative books, acknowledged as inspired.
Tests for “cannon”:
Prophetic / Apostolic authority
Internal consistency
Acceptance by the Church in history
What we must do with God’s word:
We believe the word.
We receive the word.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV) And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.
We keep the word.
Growing Deeper Together (Group Discussion Questions)
Use these points throughout the week as part of your quiet time, in your small group, or over coffee with a friend to help you apply what you learned in today’s message.
AJ said that the Bible is God’s love letter to you. Have you seen or thought of it in that way before? If you’re struggling to accept the Bible as complete and completely true, we’d love to come alongside you in prayer and conversation. Come see us in the Prayer Room!
There are parts of the scriptures that challenge us. Sometimes we think the Bible would be better without a specific part. Is there a portion you feel this way about? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the value of that section, ask him to illuminate God’s word to you, pray that he would open your heart and teach you to love every word so that you will have “all that is needed to do every good work.”
Spend time this week meditating on and praying over 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Write out the ways that God has used scripture in your life in the ways described in these verses.