The Scriptures are Divinely Inspired

Photo by Will Hastings

This blog ought to have been February 10, 2017

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:21

for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Insights: The final truth we learn this week regarding the Bible is God wrote It.  In other words, the Scriptures are divinely inspired.  Notice in today’s verse the Holy Spirit moved men and inspired them to write the Words they penned.  Their human will had no part of providing us God’s directives and love.  In fact the first part of 2 Timothy 3:16 states, “All Scripture is inspired by God.”  The Greek word translated by the New American Standard Bible as inspired is  theopneustos and literally means God-breathed.  God breathed the Words of life into the Scriptures as His Holy Spirit moved on the hearts of the humans God used to pen the Bible.  We do see the style and characteristic of each of the authors, but they are working in conjunction and under the inspiration of God.  The scope of this argument is too grand for a blog post of this nature.  I would, however, point you to read Josh McDowell’s Evidence Demands a Verdict as a fuller tool to help you work through the issues regarding the authenticity of the Scriptures.  There are numerous other books out there that could help set your mind and heart at ease regarding the inspired Word of God.  The first place I would go is the Bible itself.  Read It and examine the content first hand.  Verses like 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21 ought to help you recognize God’s involvement in writing these wonderful Words we call the Bible.

Questions:

1. Do you believe God wrote the Bible?

2. If you do not, have you actually investigate the subject thoroughly?

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving me Your love letter, the Bible.  Thank Your for inspiring every word and telling us in very direct and clear ways how we may have a relationship with You.  You are wonderful and good, thank You.  Amen.

The Scriptures are Not Subjective

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This blog ought to have been February 9, 2017

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:20

But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,

Insights: We live in a world that often mishandles God’s Word.  Too many people approach the Bible in order to make it say whatever they want it to say.  This methodology is called eisegesis and it literally means to draw in.  We go to the Scriptures and we make them say what we want them to say to fit our desires.  Another way of saying the same thing is we look for a proof text to justify our position.  Beloved, this method is subjective to your whims and is not the way the Lord would have us approach the Bible.  Rather, we ought to approach the Scriptures using the methodology called exegesis which means to draw out.  In other words, we draw out of the Scriptures It’s intent and not put into It our intent.  The Scripture speaks and interprets itself and we then bend and mold our lives to come into compliance with It, and not us bending the Scriptures to make them comply with our desires.  The book of Hebrews tells us in the fourth chapter and the twelfth verse, “For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow.  It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.”  When we understand the authority of the Bible, we then are able to understand that we cannot subjectively manipulate the Biblical passages we read.  It does the penetrating and changing of us.  Let us let It work on our very soul and become subject to It’s authority which is given by the Lord God Himself.

Questions:

1. Have you ever found yourself approaching the Scriptures with the intent to make them say what you want them to say?

2. Are you given comfort in knowing the Lord God has an intended message to communicate to you?

Prayer: Father, all too often I have tried to make the Scriptures say what I want them to say instead of letting You communicate to me through Your Word.  Forgive me of those times I approach Your Word in an inappropriate manner.  Grant me Your grace to interpret Your Word clearly.  Amen.

The Scriptures Illumine Our Path

Photo by Nathan Kolb

This blog ought to have been February 8, 2017

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:19b-c

to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.

Insights: Not only are the Scriptures reliable, but we see in the later part of verse nineteen that they also illumine our path.  Psalm 119:105 states, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  Until Jesus returns, which is what this day dawning as referring to in this verse, we are guided by His Spirit and predominantly through the way the Spirit enlightens our heart with the Word of God.  You can name the subject and the Bible more than likely addresses.  It will not give you specifics, but it will give you guiding principles.  For example, the Bible will not tell you the name of the person you are to marry, but it will give you the character traits found in a good spouse.  The Bible will not tell you the stock to pick for your next investment, but it will give you guiding principles as to how to handle your money.  The Bible will not tell you your kids will turn out fine, but it will give you guiding principles on how to raise them up in the best way possible.  The problem for many “Believers” is they do not actually read the Bible and they are confused in this world.  They do not know what their next life step ought to be because God has not illumined their path with His Word.  As a result, they look for signs and circumstances to confirm what they believe is the right step instead of letting God’s Word be the standard.  Beloved, let me encourage you to read the Bible and let God illumine your path with His grace and wisdom.

Questions:

1. Are you facing some decision in which you are uncertain as to what you ought to do?

2. Have you sought God’s guidance through His Word to make your decision?

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving me Your Word, the Bible.  I cherish my time in reading Your love letter to me.  I relish the wisdom You provide me in It’s pages.  My life is much clearer now to because of Your involvement through Your Word.  Amen.

The Scriptures are Most Reliable

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Scripture: 2 Peter 1:19a

So we have the prophetic word made more sure

Insights: To understand this first portion of verse nineteen we need to back up to the few verses before this one.  Peter has just told them he was a reliable witness to the person of Jesus Christ.  His testimony dealt with the transfiguration he saw of Jesus on the mountain years earlier.  When we get to verse nineteen Peter is telling his reading audience that if his testimony is not good enough, then this reading audience ought to at least trust the words of the prophets.  The greek phrase translated in the New American Standard Bible as “made more sure” would be better translated as “most reliable.”  Part of the reason “most reliable” is a better descriptor of the verse is because Peter is not saying the prophetic word is more important or carries a heavier weight of testimony than his very own eye witness account.  In stead, what Peter is saying is his testimony, which later became part of the Bible, is of the same weight as the Old Testament Scriptures.  Both of these witnesses point to the truthfulness of Jesus and His claim to be the Savior of the world.  There is another aspect of the Bible being made most reliable and that is the usefulness of it.  In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we are told, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”  Notice the Bible is profitable.  It teaches us the way to live.  You have a question about being a good employee, go to the Word and let It speak truth into your life.  You have a question about being a good parent, go to the Word and let It speak truth into your life.  The Scriptures also rebuke us of our sin and tell us the correct way to rectify this sinful behavior.  After we have repented and corrected the situation, we are then instructed in the way to pursue righteousness.  Once we are living life this way, we are complete and equipped for every good work God has for us.  God’s Word is most reliable to do all of these things and to point us into a proper relationship with Jesus.

Questions:

 1. With what kind of confidence do you place your faith in the Bible?

 2. Have you worked out by faith the reliability and trustworthiness of the Scriptures?

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving me Your Word.  Your Word gives me the words of life and point me to Your Son, Jesus.  I am able to have a life of meaning and significance because of Your Word.  Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  I would also appreciate if you would tell your friends to read this blog.  As always, if you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.  Thank you.

God’s Salvation seals Us in the Holy Spirit

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Scripture: Ephesians 1:13-14

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Insights: Today concludes this weeks study on I BELIEVE in Salvation.  The final truth we glean from this passage from Ephesians chapter one is the eternal security of the believer.  In theological terms we call this the Perseverance of the Saints.  When we have received Jesus as Lord and Savior God gave us a down payment.  He gave earnest credit to the transaction.  He made a good faith pledge.  Now I have used these three economic terms and in today’s world the most familiar illustration is that of purchasing a home.  We often do these things to in order to get a home mortgage.  With God, however, His pledge is perfect and it is secure.  We can over extend ourselves and later file bankruptcy and have our debt expunged.  This option is not on the table with the Father.  When He gave His deposit of the Holy Spirit it was the equivalent of payment in full.  He does not just use this economic term to express the doctrinal truth of once saved always saved either.  He also uses the language of lords and emperors.  He declares we are sealed in Jesus with the Holy Spirit.  A seal was when a king would drop melted wax on a scroll and then would take his signet ring, which carried the weight of his authority, and he would stamp his emblem into the wax.  This emblem or seal carried the weight of the king and the only person who could open the document was the intended recipient.  If someone else tried to open it, they would be put to death.  God the Father is the only One who can open us up.  His Son sealed us in His Spirit and we now have eternal life and we cannot lose it.  This gives believers an assurance and a confidence to face all the challenges and difficulties of this world.  Beloved, let us rejoice in the Lord God our Savior for securing us for all eternity.

Questions:

 1. Have you entered into a relationship with Jesus and subsequently been sealed by His Holy Spirit?

 2. Does the fact you are sealed give you more courage as you walk in this world?

Prayer: Father, thank You for sealing me with the Holy Spirit.  I can face any circumstance in this world with full confidence because I know You are with me.  You never leave me and Your Spirit gives me assurance of my security in You.  Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  I would also appreciate if you would tell your friends to read this blog.  As always, if you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.  Thank you.

God's Salvation provides Us an Inheritance

Photo by Kate Russell

Scripture: Ephesians 1:11-12

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

Insights: I love the comfort it brings to me to know I have an inheritance because of my adoption.  There is a lot verse eleven and twelve communicate to us, but the central part with which I focused in my sermon was the inheritance.  We are heirs to God and co-heirs with Christ Jesus.  This fact gives us hope for our future.  We do not belong here.  It is no wonder we feel stretched and out of sorts in this world.  It is not our home.  Our citizenship and our inheritance to that citizenship is in eternity with the Lord God.  Beloved, this hope provides us with a great deal of peace and comfort in the midst of difficult times.  It also gives us continued joy in our security during the times of great pleasure in this world.  No matter how good or bad life situations become, we know that we know, we will be with Jesus because of our inheritance.

Questions:

 1. Do you long for your eternal inheritance with Christ Jesus in glory?

 2. Do you ever ponder the pure security of being in Christ and resting in His ability to take you to your eternal home?

Prayer: Father, thank You for providing me with an inheritance which brings me into Your majestic presence.  I long for that day, but until then, help me to rest assured in the eternal grace You have given me.  Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  I would also appreciate if you would tell your friends to read this blog.  As always, if you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.  Thank you.

God's Salvation gives Us Wisdom

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Scripture: Ephesians 1:9-10

He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.

Insights: I titled this blog post, “God’s Salvation gives Us Wisdom.”  Now, no where in these two verses do we find the word wisdom.  Yet, what we do find is this concept of mystery being revealed.  God is the One who makes known to us His will and His will is a mystery to us.  Paul goes into a great deal more discussing the fulness of time and why Jesus came at the appointed time in which He did.  These facts are interested and even worth delving into, but that was not my focus when I preached this passage.  I was finding out what kinds of things we received as a result of our new birth in Jesus and in these verses I do not think it is too large a jump to deduce that in order for us to know God’s mystery, wisdom must first have been given to us.  This sentence really is the concluding point regarding this thought.  God gives us wisdom when we receive His salvation in order for us to understand what actually has happened to us.  Beloved, let me encourage you to open up God’s Word, the Bible, and study it.  You will glean a lot more wisdom than just about your new birth from those pages.  Your life will be richly enhanced as a result of seeking the Lord and His wisdom on a daily basis, and just like with the mystery, God will give you more wisdom.

Questions:

 1. Are you wise?

 2. Do you study the Scriptures daily to become wise?

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your Word and for giving us grace to understand You and how to live in this world.  Amen.

If you have found this blog to be helpful, please forward it in Facebook or retweet it in Twitter.  I would also appreciate if you would tell your friends to read this blog.  As always, if you have a comment you would like to make regarding this Thoughts by Scott, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.  Thank you.