Is The Bible Inspired by God?

Introduction

We serve a great God. Amen? If you will open your Bibles with me to 1 Peter chapter 3. 1 Peter chapter 3. As you’re turning there, think about the words of the Hebrew writer in chapter 11 and verse 6, who says, Without faith, it is impossible to please him. And for those who wish to draw near to God, they must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. I think when you think about diligently seeking God and you think about what it takes to please God, we often cite faith as a key factor in pleasing God. In fact, Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 6 says, without faith it is impossible to please God. But I think also what we think about when it comes to pleasing God is submitting to the authority of the Son.

Jesus says in Matthew chapter 28, all authority has been given to me on heaven and on earth. And it was on that basis that the disciples were to go and make disciples, teaching everyone to observe what Jesus had commanded them, which of course included the baptism that was stated. I think when we think about Jesus, though, Brother Rob’s pre-Lord’s Supper talk was dead on point when it says we don’t need to worry, we don’t need to think about anything being something, aside from the fact that we can know Jesus. Because Jesus lives, we can have hope. Because Jesus lives, we have a purpose in our life.

How do you know that Jesus is who he claims to be? How do you know what Jesus taught? How do you know who Jesus was? How he acted, that he died, that he was resurrected. And of course, we all know the answer is right before you in your pews, perhaps in your hand. I hope 1 Peter chapter 3 is open in this very book that reveals to us who Jesus is, and that is the Bible. Of course, the fact that we have faith in God and the fact that we understand who Jesus is only made known through reading the will of God. But if this was just some made up words of men, if this was some sort of compilation that was not inspired by God, then all of a sudden our faith is in vain, our faith is in trouble.

In fact, Christianity would not be a true path to heaven. Because Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and life. No one comes to the Father except through me. That’s recorded in John chapter 14 and verse 6. And we should take that for what it means because we believe that the Bible is inspired by God. But let me ask you a quick question this morning. If you approach someone and you talk to them about Jesus, and they said, I’m not interested, and you say, Well, why not? They said, I don’t believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God. How would you reason with them? Think for just a moment, just take a few seconds. What line of thought would you go down them with?

What would you go through? What would you think about? Is the Bible inspired by God? How would you prove that? I think it’s an important question that we need to be ready for. If you’re open to 1 Peter chapter 3, note verse 15. But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord is holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you, yet do it, with gentleness and respect. What is the reason for our hope? That reason for the hope is Jesus. The reason for our hope is that God exists. Amen. If that’s the case, we need to also have a reason for knowing, for putting our faith in the Bible that teaches us who God and who Jesus the Christ are and forever will be.

1. What the Bible Claims in Terms of Inspiration

So as we examine the question of is the Bible inspired by God, I think it’s important to note a couple basics. First of all, as many of you may know, the Bible is comprised of about sixty of exactly 66 books. 39 in the Old Testament, 27 in the New Testament. You know this, but that’s going to come back to matter shortly. Secondly, it’s written by about 40 men over a period of about 15 to 1600 years. Now, those are important claims that the Bible has. That it’s divided into different books, that different men wrote it because that’s going to add to the testimony of what the Bible says it is. But most importantly, look in 2 Peter chapter 1 and verse 20. Note what the Bible claims in terms of inspiration.

Yes, it notes that it has many authors. Yes, those many authors wrote over a period of a great amount of time, about 15 to 1600 years. But note what peculiarly the Bible claims. In 2 Peter chapter 1 and verse 20, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Do you see that claim in verse 21? No prophecy was ever produced by what? The will of man. But men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Perhaps you’re more familiar with 2 Timothy chapter 3. Everyone look there, though. Just see that the Bible claims this.

2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16. All scripture is breathed out by God. All scripture is inspired by God. That is what the Bible claims to be. Paul in Ephesians chapter 3 talks about the mystery that was made known to him, that he would make known to those at Ephesus that he was writing the letter to, and certainly those of us today who can read that great letter. We can understand Paul’s insight. The Bible and its writers claim to have received the will of God that they transcribe for us. Now, the Bible itself, claiming that proves nothing. I think sometimes we have to get, we have to be careful and think that, well, the Bible claims to be inspired. And so we say, well, then it is.

But you know, other religious books and other religious people claim different things. For example, with Muhammad in the book of the Quran. Muhammad notes that he is the final prophet. Do you know why Muslims carry him to be the final prophet? Because Muhammad wrote that he was the final prophet. Now we might laugh and say, well, that’s kind of silly, but if we look at the Bible and we say, well, the Bible claims to be inspired by God, and so it very well must be inspired by God, aren’t we making the same logical jump? But this claim is important because it forces one of two conclusions that the Bible is the Word of God, or that the Bible is not. And that list of knots is large, but I summarize it by just saying it is not a quote, good book.

You see, many people who deride the Bible, the Holy Scripture, say, no, it’s not the Word of God, but it is a good book. But no book that lies to its readers is a good book. The Bible is what it says, or it is a fraud. That’s what we have to decide. That’s what we have to know as Christians is true about the Bible, that it is the will of God. So as we go through the study this morning, as we get a reason for the hope that is in us, I want you to have a building of faith this morning. I want you to know that there is a reason for why we believe that the Bible’s inspired that goes beyond just because a preacher said so, or my mom and dad said so, or even because just the Bible claims to be inspired.

2. Circular Reasoning Implies the Bible Is Unified

Do we know that the Bible is inspired? I think the number one argument against the type of reasoning we’re going to go through this morning is that it’s just circular reasoning to prove the Bible by the Bible. See, that’s something that’s interesting about that, though. It’s if that fact is true, if it is circular reasoning, it implies that the Bible, although one book comprised of 66 books, it implies that those are unified in message. You know what the problem with that is? To the Christian, we say, of course the Bible comprises 66 books written by about 40 different authors over a period of about 1,600 years. Of course it’s unified in message. But to the Bible skeptic, if they had acknowledge that, does that not kill their whole point that the Bible is a fraud?

If it’s true that it’s circular reasoning to prove the Bible by the Bible, to prove the actions that Matthew recorded by the actions that Mark recorded, that implies that the Bible is unified and it is together. That is ground that the Bible skeptic does not want to give. You see, frankly, it’s just common sense. If we’re going to examine, is the Bible inspired by God, is any holy book given directly from God, does it not make sense to examine its contents and to see what does it say? Does it claim to be the inspired will of God would be one checkbox? What about is it consistent in message? Certainly, if you if the skeptic says you cannot use Matthew to prove Mark, they’re implying that they uphold each other and that they are unified and correct in message.

What ground does the skeptic wish to give? Secondly, there’s a difference in saying that something is true because the Bible says so and examining the text. I think when you think about apologeticspress.org, it reveals that over 2700 times the Bible makes the claim that the Lord said, or God has said, or as God has decreed. Now, while that doesn’t prove anything, it does push us to one of those conclusions we already spoke about. Think for a minute, if I were to say, I am the president of the United States. Now, no one can leave the country, you can’t leave the auditorium here. If I said, I am the president of the United States, and you say, No, you’re not saying, Yes, I am the president of the United States, I say it over 2700 times.

Does that make it true? No. But it does force you into one of two conclusions that either I am who I claim to be, or I am a fraud. And you see, that’s what the Bible has done for us when it claims to be inspired. It is important. It doesn’t prove that the Bible is inspired by God, but it makes us make a decision. And we only learn that by examining the text. You see, you think about what the Bible reveals. And you see that the Bible is revealing a consistency in both its unity and historical accuracy. Now you make those claims, and common sense demands an explanation for how and why the Bible fits together the way it does. How is it that the book of Genesis matches so well with the New Testament writers?

3. How Is It That the Bible Is Historically Accurate?

How is it that that man named Abraham in Genesis chapter 12, who was given the three promises, is listed as the same Abraham, who, if we are Christ in Galatians chapter 3, we are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise. How is there such unity? How is it that the Bible is historically accurate? Well, you look at Luke chapter 1, we’re going to look at Luke chapter 1 and then Luke chapter 3. But note the claims of Luke, one of our gospel writers. And Luke chapter 1. Note with me here. In Luke chapter 1, beginning in verse 1. And as much as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eye witnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us.

It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things that you have been taught. Luke’s recording is important. Because in verse 2, he claims to be what? An eye witness. What does that mean? Regardless of your feelings about the Bible, it means that Luke is claiming to be an eyewitness, so Luke’s account should be examined just as any other work of history should be examined. You would expect what Luke continues to write about, like in Luke chapter 3 and verse 1, to be correct. Note that with me. Note one of the time markers that Luke gives in Luke chapter 3 and verse 1.

In the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being Tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip, Tetrarch of the region of Aturia, and Traconitus and Licinius, Tetrarch of Abelene. During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. Now, those names may not mean a whole lot to you, but they are critical when examining the Bible and understanding whether or not the Bible is inspired by God. Why do I say that? Look back at verse 1 of Luke chapter 3. What does Luke write? This eyewitness, who’s revealing some things. In Luke chapter 3 and verse 1, this eyewitness says that whatever he’s about to write happened in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar.

Is that not a time marker that we can verify within history? It certainly is. But note the next phrase. This is the most fascinating one. Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea. Boy, do Christians know a thing or two about Pilate. But what’s interesting is until the mid-1900s, the rest of the world didn’t know a whole lot about Pilate. That is until there was found an inscription. Until there was history that documented that Pontius Pilate not only existed, but that he would have reigned, he would have had his rule in the same area that the Bible describes, at the same time that Luke describes in Luke chapter 3, here in verse 1. Why is that important? This is of critical importance because if the Bible is continually to be proven accurate, then it must be taken seriously as at least a historical document.

If that is true, then we have to go back and think, how is it that a book that’s written all those years ago in the Old Testament? How does that match so well with these dates and history that we know we can verify in the New Testament? How is that possible? And go back to our original question. Is the Bible, is it circular reasoning to prove the Bible by the Bible? First of all, what did we say? Well, that if it is circular reasoning, it proves that the Bible is unified. And that certainly is what the Bible upholds, that it is unified in message and purpose, teaching us who Jesus is. But going back to the question. What about relying on the testimony of believers? Wouldn’t someone just say, well, Luke is an eyewitness, but yes, Luke was in there with Jesus.

He’s going to make it seem like Jesus was this great Son of God. In fact, he’s the one who even claimed that Jesus is the Son of God. Isn’t it biased reasoning to look at the Bible and say, those people all believe in Jesus? If we’re going to look at this historically, shouldn’t we reject what they say on the claims of being biased? Think about that for a moment. Is it biased? Let me ask you this question instead. Would it be any less biased to take the testimony of non believers and think, what do non believers think about Jesus? Do you think that they believe Jesus is the Christ? There’s a source of unbiased view. No. Of course not. Everyone has a set of principles and ideas that they hold, and so the world will filter through that.

The believer’s eyewitness testimony is just as credible as that of a non believer. So that should be dismissed. When you think about the idea that the Bible is unified, that prophecy has come true, a point that we’re going to spend a great deal of time at the rest of this morning. How is it that the prophet 700 years before the Christ would know? How was it not only unified in being correct, but unified in the purpose? That God continually not just prophesied that a Messiah would come, but that he would die for the sins of the world. How is it that that was the case? Common sense tells us there must be an explanation. And many people offer on both sides of the idea. See, the Bible contains numerous fulfilled prophecy, and so many objections have come to that.

4. Prophecies Were Written After the Events They Predict?

The first one, and this is what I really want to study this morning, is that prophecies were written after the events that they predict. I want to question that with you. Look what look with look with me to Isaiah chapter 53. I think this is important. In Isaiah chapter 53, a passage we’re very familiar with, perhaps we read often before the Lord’s Supper. And you see why we would do that as we focus our mind on the Lord’s death. In Isaiah chapter 53, note with me beginning in verse 4. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions.

Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds, we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned every one to his own way. And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth like a lamb that has led to the slaughter. And like a sheep that before its shears is silent, so he opened not his mouth. Isaiah chapter 53 is a strong prophecy of the crucifixion that Jesus would undergo, why he would face the cross, why Jesus needed to be sent in the first place. And as Christians, we can take great joy and grow great faith from understanding that. So how do we respond to the critic who says prophecies were written after or at least right before the events that they predict?

Well, there’s some problems with that. First of all, I would suggest to you, Isaiah prophesied around 739 to 690 BC. Now, I’m not a math major, but I know that that’s about six or seven hundred years before Christ ever lived. But what about the skeptic who says, but it was written so much closer than that? There’s a problem with the skeptic who says that. Manuscript evidence proves otherwise. Have you ever heard of the Septuagint? Do you know what the Septuagint translation is? The Septuagint is not a whole Bible translation. In fact, it was primarily at first a translation of the Old Testament. Now, do you know why that is? Do you know why they would just take the Old Testament, primarily from Hebrew into Greek or from the various languages?

Why would they do that? Because the New Testament wasn’t written yet. You see, the latest date I could even possibly find on when the Septuagint was completed was about 132 BC. What’s the problem with that? Even if we gave up the truth without proper need for it, that Isaiah prophesied around 739 to 690 BC, even if we pretended that he had prophesied in 132 BC when the Septuagint was completed, let alone found the manuscripts to even translate into. What does that mean about Isaiah chapter 53 for Jesus? It means that over a hundred years before Jesus lived, Isaiah prophesied of the death that Jesus would face still over a hundred years before. How is that possible? Even if we gave that ground, I’ll give you a second idea.

Have you ever heard of the Dead Sea Scrolls? More of us have heard of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Once again, you have an idea of over 200 years before Jesus was born. Isaiah was found. Isaiah had been found written. The words were sealed. And you look at Matthew chapter 27 with me. When you look at Matthew chapter 27, then we know Isaiah was recorded at least, at the very least, by 132 BC. At the very least. In Matthew chapter 27, what was it that Jesus faced on the cross? Well, Matthew chapter 27, beginning in verse 11. Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus said, You have said so. But he was accused by the chief priests and elders.

5. The Prophecies Were Vague and Jesus Intentionally Fulfilled Them?

He gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, Do you not hear how many things they testify against you? But he gave him no answer. Not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. One might say, like a sheep before its shears is silent. How do you answer prophecy being the will of God? You have to come up with all kinds of objections. One is that the prophecies were written after or right as the events were taking place. But you know, that’s not good enough because we just disproved that, even with just secular history of having these recorded manuscripts of Isaiah around 200 to 100 BC, even. So then here comes number two. The prophecies were vague. And Jesus intentionally fulfilled the prophecies.

Now, as we think about the answer to that, think about did Jesus intentionally do the will of the Father? Absolutely he did. But how does any man who is not God choose where he’d be born? Well, you look with me at Micah chapter 5 and verse 2. Look there with me. This is an important Bible prophecy. In Micah chapter 5 and verse 2, now we have Jesus, and the skeptic is saying he just did the best he could to go through and decide that he is going to fulfill every prophecy that he can to look like he’s the Lord. Is that true? Is that reasonable? Micah chapter 5 and verse 2, I think holds the answer for us. But you, O Bethlehem Ephertha, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah.

From you shall come forth for me, one is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Who was coming from Bethlehem? The ruler in Israel. What ruler in Israel? The one from ancient days. How is it that Jesus would choose where he was born? Second question. How is it that Jesus chose his birth family? Wasn’t it Abraham in Genesis chapter 12 that was promised the land, nation, and seed, that seed through whom all families of the earth will be blessed, that seed that we understand as Christians to be Jesus the Christ? Was it not in Genesis chapter 22 and verse 18 that that promise was again repeated to Abraham? And what do you find in Matthew chapter 1 and verse 1 and 2?

What was it to the Jews? Matthew wrote his gospel primarily for the Jew, primarily so that they would know the Lord, so they would understand that he was the promised Messiah. Matthew chapter 1. Note how verse 1 starts. The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. No, by the way, that son of David. Where was it promised that Jesus would be of the seed of David? To pick one example. How about Isaiah? Isaiah chapter 11. We’ve already talked about Isaiah being proven. How is it that Jesus, not being God, chose not only where to be born, but his family’s lineage? Common sense demands an answer to this question, and there is but one that Jesus is the Son of God, and or that the prophets were correct.

6. Would Anyone Choose to Be Crucified for a Hoax?

See, thirdly. The second part of intentionally fulfilling prophecy, you run into this third problem. Would anyone choose to be crucified for a hoax? You see, the idea of this is that Jesus said, I can be who the Jews think I am, I can be the Messiah, I can say I’m the Messiah, I’m going to have this great following. And we’re throwing aside biblical evidence of the miracles that he worked, and the fact of even historical evidence that he was raised from the dead. But let’s just focus in the text. Would Jesus choose to be crucified knowing he was not the Son of God? No. You see, there’s two problems with the idea that Jesus was just running around trying to fulfill prophecy, or that the prophecies were vague and he’s just kind of barely checking them off.

The problem was he couldn’t determine some of the prophecies, and the rest, would he be willing to go through? No. No one would choose to be crucified on the cross just for a hoax. But Jesus did choose to be crucified on the cross. And he did it because I sinned. Because we have all sinned, and in so doing, I’ve fallen short of the glory of God, and we needed his blood to pay the price for our sin. Praise God for sending Jesus to die for our sins. We need to remember that. But we can know that from the scriptures. And yet, here’s this prophecy that Jesus fulfilled through no other reason than because he was the Christ. He is the Messiah. He was the slaughtered lamb of promise.

Praise God for a great plan of salvation. When you think about the idea of these prophecies, you have another example, another problem is that the prophecies were not only written after the events that they predict, the prophecies were not only trying to be intentionally fulfilled, but what do you see? That there are a bunch of prophecies that are direct that cannot be pointed out as vague. I think it’s interesting, of all the prophecies that you could examine, it’s noted that there’s about 65, what we’d call direct prophecies of Christ. A direct prophecy of Christ would be he’s going to be in the lineage of Abraham. He’s going to be born in Bethlehem. I want to look at my notes because I want to get this right.

Do you know what the odds of one person fulfilling just 48 prophecies is? 10 to the 157th power. Those are the odds of reaching a conclusion that the Bible is not the inspired word of God, and this historical figure who even critics of the Bible narrative hold to be true, that truly existed, Jesus, who we know as the Christ, he lived. And they say he did it, and it was just a coincidence. That the prophecies were written. Well, that can’t be. Well, it was that they prophesied around the same time. No, that’s not true either. We have manuscript evidence, whether you accept Isaiah as biblical canon or not, it was written, it was found a hundred plus years before Jesus was born. What about the idea that Jesus was just checking off these boxes?

How is it that Jesus chose to do that? How is it possible? How is it likely? When you look at Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 6, you understand that there is a faith that is necessary to please God. What is our faith built on? Can we answer who the Christ is? Do we know? Do we have that reason for the hope that’s in us, 1 Peter chapter 3 and verse 15? Do we understand this one most important fact? Look with me in Matthew chapter 27 again. This is of crucial importance. As we’re examining the question, is the Bible the inspired word of God? Know with me, Matthew chapter 27. As you pick up where we left off in verse 15, you note that the crowd is shouting for Barabbas.

You see that Pilate then delivers Jesus over to be crucified. And what was it that Jesus faced on the cross in verse 27? Then Jesus, the soul, then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters and they gathered the whole battalion before him, and they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand, and kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, Hail, king of the Jews, and they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

Conclusion

Who is that Jesus that Matthew records? Who is this man that came to this earth and chose to not just be put to death, not even just to be crucified, but all along being humiliated, tortured, and sent by that man, that governor of Judea named Pilate? Brothers and sisters, I beg of you to decide, is the Bible inspired from God? Because if it is, if that Jesus is our Lord, if that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, as the Bible records, the Bible also tells us that he raised from the dead. Do you want proof in the resurrection? You can look at history, but first look at the Bible. Is the Bible the inspired word of God? As Christians, we must all say yes.

Amen? If that’s the case, our life will be changed. If it’s true that Jesus fulfilled prophecy, not because of any fix of the writers or fixed by Jesus the Christ Himself, but because He is the Son of God, we will give an answer to Him. 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 10 makes it clear we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. And if we’re going to appear before God, and we know the Bible records that we’re going to appear before God. What does that mean for my life? We need to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and it is sufficient to know because the Bible says so. We need faith. We have to decide. Is this most likely or is some other path?

Jesus says, He is the only path. I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. This morning we all must make a decision. Do we believe him? Do you believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God? If you do, trust in Jesus. Trust in the prophesied Messiah who was sacrificed for our sins, who did die on the cross so that we might be saved. If you are here this morning and you have not been baptized, you realize that the Bible tells you you can have your sins washed away. Peter says in Acts chapter 2 and verse 38, after identifying Jesus as the very Lord, the very Christ that we know he is, he says, repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins.

Maybe you’ve lost your way. Maybe you’ve started doubting the fact that God is who he claims to be, that Jesus is not who the Bible says that he is. Give an answer for prophecy. Give an answer for the unity and the cohesion of the scriptures. Come back to Jesus today. If we can help you in any way, come forward as we stand and sing the invitation song.