Our God-Breathed Bible

We not only have the word of God. But we have the word of God which can fully equip us for every good and it would be one day we just had a nice word from God we have a life-changing word from God, your host Phil Johnson spent much time in church. You've likely heard that the Bible is inspired that it is the word of God.

But what does that actually mean and how does the Bible stack up against the claims of science and history you trust its accuracy. John MacArthur answers those questions today in a lesson called our God breathed Bible.

It's part of a unique series titled the New Testament beginning to end a collection of influential sermons from John's 5+ decades of pulpit ministry and now here's John with the lesson.

Let's talk a little bit about what it means that all Scripture or every Scripture is inspired by God.

Just what is inherent in that thought. The content of the Bible is Revelation, the process by which God gave us that revelation is inspiration and inspiration was God putting his revelation in as it were the hands of men to be written down first to be spoken and proclaimed and then written down as they were energized, carried along by the Holy Spirit. There are some people say, well, the Bible is inspired but only concepts, not the real words and I have tried to deal with that through the years. People think that they were inspired by God with great religious thoughts and eroded in their own words. So we don't really have the words of God. Don't get bogged down. The were just gonna grab the concepts and I got to go with the ideas in the flow. Don't worry about the words that's just details I get in the way your people say well the spirit gives life.

The letter kills neck and why would like to ask somebody how you communicate ideas without words. I'm not sure I understand it, how in the world could you communicate if you were God to somebody an idea without words that make any sense when Moses wanted to excuse himself from speaking for the Lord because he was an eloquent God didn't say I will be with your mind and teach you what to think. He said I will be with your what your mouth and teach you what to say.

Isaiah said, I heard the voice of the Lord saying and he said go and tell this people. Jeremiah said the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Ezekiel said he said unto me, Son of Man, I send the to the children of Israel all my words that I shall speak under the receipt and I harden here with our nearest and would speak to them. It was words not God without words, whatever they are. Amos said I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet son but I was a herdsman in a Dresser of Sycamore trees and Jehovah took me from following the flock and jointly said to me, go prophesy onto my people Israel.

Jehovah said to me, Paul's marvelous conversion experience was confronted by Ananias, the records of the next 20 to the God of our fathers of the point of the to know is willing to see the righteous one. And to hear a voice from his mouth.

God appointed Paul to listen to him and speak what he was told. John said I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day and I heard behind me a great voice saying what you see right in a book right. Therefore, the things which you saw the things which are the things which will come to pass. Here after, even Christ, the Word made flesh said that he received his message from his father.

Isaiah said of Christ Jehovah has made him a mouth like a sharp sword in the Lord Jehovah has given me. He said the tongue of them that are taught even taught Christ what to say.

You can have thoughts without words that kind of concept is foolish. Mothers will talk about attuned without notes or music without a melody might as well talk about sun without light or some without figures or geology without rocks or anthropology without men is thoughts without words. Quite the contrary. Look at first Peter for a moment, showing interesting thing first Peter one 1011. This illustrates a principal Peter is writing with reference to the Old Testament prophets as they recorded truth regarding the Messiah, he says as to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating. In other words, here they were prophets of the Old Testament being borne along by the Holy Spirit and being borne along to speak and write about the Messiah, and as they were speaking or writing about the Messiah.

They were making careful search and inquiry to figure out what they were talking about. The point is this. Not only does the Bible not teach that there are thoughts without words, it does teach that sometimes God gave words without thoughts in that sense I don't mean mindless, mechanical dictation, but there were many things that the writers of the Old Testament Rd. that they did not fully comprehend is not a question of them writing down the distillation of their religious genius. It is a question of them writing the words that God gave them whether they understood them fully or not, and that's why in Matthew 24, 35, it says heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words, not my thoughts shall not pass away. Then somebody else comes on as well. But the Bible is inspired when it speaks of sacred things not want to talk about secular things like science and history and geography and all that and then you have to deal with that periodically. There are those who say the history the Bible is in error. Geography of the Bible is in error.

The mathematics of the Bible is in error. Scientific statements of the Bible are erroneous.

But don't worry ensure that inspiration only guarantees the sacred, not the secular, which is like saying God is good at religious things, but he really needs help in other areas doesn't do well with other data and are all kinds of people want to attack the Bible on that basis we give you couple illustrations kind of curious ones in them, but one that you probably are somewhat familiar with. It is given and we will look it up in Joshua 10 where it talks about the fact that the battle was going on.

Joshua 10 about verse 12 volley and it says that in the middle of the battle, the sun. What stood still and the critics for years.

You know have laughed and mock that it said the sun stood still not how scientific is that if there was an unchanging relationship between the earth and the sun what it meant was the earth stood still see that scientific. They say the Bible is so unscientific.

But the fact is, if you were there that day. It would look to you like the sun stood still and that same critic who wants to despair of what the Bible says would be the first guy in the morning to bounce out of bed, look out the back window of his house and say what a beautiful sunrise. That's not a sunrise by the will but nobody goes out as is all a lovely earth revolving and nobody says that at night either.

And we say things like that all the time. We say people in Australia live down under down under. What is not a more down.

Other than being here is what that's a figure speech, we say well we search the four corners of the earth. What corners there are some things we speak from human perspective that are not intended to be statements of the technical elements of scientific data. Then there is the record in the book of Kings first Kings chapter 8 the sinking or the chapter 18 where you have snack or rib and you have the transaction that's made with Hezekiah and it says there that he gave 30 talents of gold and 300 talents of silver, which doesn't seem like any kind of issue until archaeologist discovered the Assyrian records of that transaction between Hezekiah and's inaccurate in fact they have discovered's inaccurate's own record and it's inaccurate's record.

He has 800 talents of silver instead of 300 talents in the critics that you see this is the kind of thing the Bible messes up on because it's not careful about low numbers and then further archaeological studies have revealed that the standard of calculating gold was the same in Judea and Syria, but the standard of calculating silver was different and a Judean and Syrian talent were so different that it took 800 Syrian talents to equal 300 Hebrew talents and that's exactly what the Scripture said Scripture speaking in the Hebrew, and that's an accurate record in the Syrian bus and when the Bible talks about science when the Bible talks about history when the Bible talks about mathematics, whatever it is.

The Bible talks about it is the word of God and God is infallible and his word is equally infallible. Critics want to mock the Scripture.

And yet the Bible is scientifically accurate contains the basic principles of science you think science. For example, in its most basic elements, the most basic elements of science, time, force action space matter. Those five things Herbert Spencer 1903 died, he reduced everything that is to those categories time force action. Space medicine everything in the universe fits into those that is the matrix of existence.

So 1903 died, having been hailed as a great brilliant man because he discovered that what he did realize was in the first verse of the Bible in the beginning it's time God, that's force created that's action heaven that space there that's meant the matrix of existence was in the first verse.

The universe is a continuum of time, force action, space, matter, and one can exist without the other. Therefore, the entire continuum must have existed simultaneously from the beginning. It all had to begin together. Science has to be in that matrix.

No one element of that matrix can be missing what you can have what we have in existence today, and once the universe had been created it's processes were designed to operate in an orderly fashion.

All of energy and matter was sustained by their interplay so that no further creation was needed.

Once you you generate time force action, space and matter that's it that's all you need in Genesis 22 says got into the work which God made he did it and it was done. He did it all at once created a whole matrix that was it. There's never been any creation. Since then, because it does need to be any creation.

Since then the complete cessation of creative activity has been called the first law of thermodynamics by science or the law of conservation of mass and energy which Einstein spent a lot of time on it is the most basic universal certain of all scientific principles and it's right there in the word of God. He sees from doing what he done. It was over. He did it all at once and that was it and it would conserve itself by its very nature, the second law of thermodynamics is the law of increasing disorder that all of that system in that matrix is running down disintegrating and will eventually come up did and that were seeing in no uncertain terms the whole creation. Romans eight says is groaning and groaning and groaning and waiting for the curse to be reversed.

Science cannot explain the ready for this. The second law of thermodynamics. They don't know why everything is decreasing into disorder all running down, heading toward deadness the Bible is the only place you can go for an explanation in the exclamations a little three letter word that says sin.

Sin. The Bible is accurate everything it talks about what you're talking about geology, geodesy, meteorology, physiology, biology, anthropology, astronomy hydrology, I don't care what you're talking about when the Bible speaks it's accurate. And then you look at things in the Bible like prophecy. Look at Ezekiel chapter 28 and I'll just give you this one insight which is so great to show you the accuracy of Scripture historically. Ezekiel 26 to 28 will go back 26. Here comes a prophecy to Ezekiel about the destruction of the city of Tyre tire was a Phoenician stronghold tire was a fairly significant city large city on the coast of full niche are now known as Palestine, and the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel. In verse two, chapter 26 telling about the destruction of the place Son of Man because Tyra said concerning Jerusalem, the gateway of the peoples is broken. It is open to me. I shall be filled.

Now that she has laid waste other words, because Tyra mock Jerusalem therefore thus says the Lord God, behold, I'm against you will Tyra bring upon you. Many nations against you as the sea brings up its waves. They will destroy the walls of tire breakdown or towers. I will scraper debris from her maker. A bare rock. She will be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea, for I've spoken, declares the Lord God and she will become spoiled for the nation. Also her daughters were on the mainland will be slain by the sword, and they will know that I am the Lord, for thus says the Lord God, behold, I will bring upon tire from the north, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, King of Kings and horses chariots cavalry and a great army will slay your daughters on the mainland with the sword he will make siege walls against you cast up a mound against you, and raise up a large shield against you on the blow of his battering rams. He will direct against your walls and with his axes. He will break down your towers because of the multitude of his horses. The dust raised by them will cover you. Your walls will shake at the noise of cavalry and wagons and chariots. When he enters her gauges minute or a city that is breached with the hose of his horses. He will trample all your streets you will slay your people with a sword in your strong pillars will come down to the ground. Also, they will make a spoil of your riches and a prey of your merchandise breakdown your walls and destroy your pleasant houses and throw your stones in your timbers and your debris into the water, so I will silence the sound of your songs and the sound of your heart shall be heard no more.

I'll make you a bare rock you will be a place for the spreading of nets, you will be built no more, for I the Lord spoken, declares the Lord God thus says the Lord God to tire that's pretty detailed stuff folks mean that is not some kind of general prophecy very specific.

This is a great Phoenician city from the seventh century BC it controlled Phoenician. It had strong walls about 150 feet high was the wall that's very high 15 feet thick Hiram the first was its king. He helped David built a palace. He helped the Solomon build the temple three years after this prophecy was given, Nebuchadnezzar came and laid a 13 year siege on that city sewer walled city Sawyer to do was we couldn't get in the city just cut off anything coming into the city and they eventually starved 13 years from 585 to 573.

Finally, the city surrendered because they were all dying and Nebuchadnezzar broke down the walls and towers destroyed the city did every single thing.

Ezekiel said he would do in a course he wasn't reading Ezekiel when he did it. I got in the city.

He didn't find the spoils. He thought he was going to find spoils, but they had used their fleet to take the spoils out.

They took all the spoils will have a half-mile away island off the coast in a course in chapter 29, Ezekiel said, you will gain no plunder.

You'll gain no plunder, just exactly that happened when he got there, they taken all the valuables off to the island.

Nebuchadnezzar had no naval force to go off and get it.

The island then became the new city and it first for 250 years on that island only part of the prophecy was fulfilled.

The part about Nebuchadnezzar. The part about destroying the wall, smashing it down, slaughtering the people not getting the spoil, but not all of it was yet complete. The ruins were still on the old site.

The rubble was still there after 250 years, a 24-year-old guy came in the name of Alexander the great, get 33,000 infantrymen get 15,000 cavalry. He had just defeated the Persians and he was on his way to Egypt. He needed supplies so he came by that now island city of Tyre and he sent word I want you to supply all of my man and all of my horses and all of my army and they sent you don't have a Navy and were on an island were not in help you roll. He didn't like that and it wasn't good to get Alexander men.

He didn't have a fleet so he decided he had to get waited to go to that island.

So he did what Ezekiel the prophet said would be done. It said that the play should be scrape bears a rock and all the rubble would be thrown into the sea will what conqueror in his right mind would ever do that. Why waste your time.

Once you conquer the place picking up everything thrown in the ocean all the stone and all the rest of it. But that's exactly what had to happen so Alexander did it.

He took all the debris and build a 2000 foot long 200 foot wide causeway all the way to the island with all the debris. Now the island and fortified itself as well with powerful walls and reach right down to the edge of the sea, and as Alexander got closer, he realizes would have to get over those walls. So in order to pull it off. He built these massive towers called Helio police 160 feet high. According to the record 20 stories high and they held artillery and they held a drop bridge and just push the towers out the causeway shot at the people from them when they got to the wall drop the bridge is down, walk right in.

In the process.

Of course all the way along the people or throwing things and shooting things off the wall and they invented what were called tortoises big shells that they held over the workers were building the causeway to give seven months he went in and murdered 8000 people over a period of a few months executed 7000 more and sold 30,000 into slavery and fulfilled every single detail of the prophecy, and though the city of Jerusalem has been rebuilt 17 times Tyre has never been rebuilt and that's exactly what God said, you will be built no more and you know what they do go there today. You'll find out what they do. They drive fishnets. There just what it said. What's the probability that not one and 75 million happening by chance, by the way, a sister city by the name of Sidon also received a prophecy, verse 22 of Ezekiel 28. Thus says the Lord God, I'm against euro Sidon will be glorified in your midst, then they will know that I am the Lord when I execute judgments in her I'll manifest my wholeness in her false and pestilence blood to her streets.

The wound will follow in your midst by the sword upon her in every side, then they will know that I am the Lord to make a blood he mess the center of bail worship. By the way, about 20 miles north of Tyre. Prophecy said blood in the streets, swords everywhere but no prophecy of ultimate destruction. That's what happened.

Blood everywhere swords everywhere that poor city was beleaguered and besieged again and again and again and again, but still city and today it's called Saida and it's still there in 351 BC. It was ruled by Persia. There was a seizure of that city and the revolution then all hope of saving the city was gone. The people being attacked by the Persians.

40,000 of them chose to die rather than submit the Persian violence so they set themselves on fire and burned themselves up with their own houses blood flow to the streets over and over again that city Sidon reciter was taken three times by the Crusaders three times by the Moslems in 1840. It was bombarded by the combined forces of England, France and Turkey but is still there because God didn't say it would be destroyed. It's still there, you can study the Bible and it will predict things historically there absolutely accurate. Ezekiel 30 predictor the instruction of Egypt. Name one.

The destruction of Nineveh.

Isaiah 13 the destruction of Babylon. Hosea 13 the destruction of Samaria.

Ezekiel 25 the destruction of Moab and Ammon. One mathematician by the name of Peter Stoner took 11 of the prophecies with all their detail and calculated the probability of that occurring by chance. One in 5.76×10 to the 59th power so was at me. I don't know. I can even think like that how you how do you calculate me. How do you understand what he estimated it this way, that if the whole universe contained 2 trillion galaxies and each galaxy of 2 trillion had 100 billion stars we could make all the stars and all those galaxies to times 10 to the fifth power out of silver dollars incredible number. These kinds of probabilities just don't happen so that when you see the Bible speak scientifically, geographically, historically, or whatever it is it's accurate. This is the word of God and what is the benefit of it. Second Timothy three. What's the benefit of it all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate fully equipped for every good work. What a tremendous thing. We not only have the word of God, but we have the word of God which can fully equip us for every good work for me would be one thing if we just had a nice word from God we have a life changing word from God, and what should be our response believe it. First of all, believe it.

Secondly, study it thoroughly. Honor it. God is exalted above his name.

Love it all. How I love thy law. David said in Psalm 119 97 obey it. Do what it commands fight for it. June 3, earnestly contend for the faith and preach it. Second Timothy 42 preach the word. Let's pray together. Father how thrilled we are to know that that's what our Bible is words that have proceeded out of the mouth of God. The God who not only knows history but writes it, who not only understands science but created it will not only understands the spiritual dimension but is that reality all God, what a treasure meet every need of every heart of Christ. That's John MacArthur, Chancellor of the Masters University and seminary and Bible teacher on grace to you. Today's lesson titled our God breathed Bible is part of a study featuring landmark sermons from John's 5+ decades of ministry. It's titled the New Testament beginning to end. Now John. In today's message you stressed the fact that God's word is accurate.

It's precise, it's without error, and I know you would also say that the Bible is for today it's relevant. It's always relevant. It's a trustworthy guide for all of life in 2022.

Will Jesus said heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away this entire universe will pass away. That's clear and be replaced by a new heaven and a new earth.

Even then the word of God will never be altered heaven and earth pass away, my word never ever changes, so it's eternally relevant. I want to mention a booklet to you called you can trust the Bible, look, this is the foundation of everything. What is your authority, what is your authority. If you have any authority for truth other than the Bible you have the wrong authority.

The Bible is the revealed word of God. It is true because God is true and it is the singular authority in terms of understanding the creation both in its material sense and it's immaterial and spiritual sense. The booklet you can trust the Bible deals with the Scripture is inerrant and infallible, complete, authoritative sufficient, it examines miracles, prophecies, science, the human experience and how they demonstrate the authenticity of Scripture.

Everything really depends on trusting the Bible and if you're not trusting the Bible is God's word is perfect word.

You need to be able to do that. This booklet will help you to be able to trust the word of God.

You should trusted based on its own merits, but will give you a little boost with the book you can trust the Bible, you have no greater gift in your life, then to trust the Bible because then you understand everything God's view of everything.

Here's the good news you can trust the Bible will send free to anyone who requested we want to help you deepen your trust in God's word. If you would like us to do that. You just need to let us know you want a free copy of the booklet you can trust the Bible, yes friend. If you have doubts about whether the Bible is trustworthy sufficient and perfect.

This booklet can help you settle those doubts and show you just how powerful Scripture is to get your free copy of you can trust the Bible. Contact us today. Call our toll-free number 855 grace or go to our website TTY.org. John's booklet on why you can trust the Bible would be a great resource to go through with the new believer. Or perhaps someone you're discipling again you can trust the Bible is our gift to you. Just call 855 grace or go to our website TTY.org and when you get in touch. I would encourage you to let us know how your benefiting from this ministry.

Your feedback is more important than you may think so make sure to let us know how you hear this broadcast whether it's online through the grace to you at or simply on this radio station email us at letters@tty.org or send your letter to box 4000 panorama city, CA 91412 now for John MacArthur and the entire staff. I'm Phil Johnson encouraging you to tune into grace. Do you television this Sunday and be here next week when John looks at the importance of forgiveness how to deal with trials and much more. It's another half hour of unleashing God's truth one verse at a time, starting Monday on grace to you