The Sacred Book

Those will come along claiming to be men of God and he will lead the flock astray next 20. The greatest danger, perhaps facing our church in this decade is the same thing that occurred in the very first temptation when Satan slithered in personified by that serpent of said do we as sad has God spoke and did not deliver the truth to you and doesn't have any authority in your life. So today probably one of the key questions were asked is mostly how do you answer the questions God release and if so how can you know through the diligent and meticulous work of Jewish scribes. The scriptures were preserved and passed on throughout the ancient world, but how do we know that what was preserved are God's words and not man's words. Can we have confidence that the Bible we hold in our hands. Is everything God wanted us to know and nothing else. This is wisdom for the heart and Stephen continues to answer these questions in his series how we got our Bible. Today's lesson is called the sacred book stay with us. When Bergman the Swedish film director was in Europe he was in a cathedral. One afternoon, staring at an ancient painting. It was an old portrait of Christ from the imagination of the author.

He stood in front of that painting, and he whispered passionately, repeatedly added, spanked, speak to speak to.

Of course, never spoke. I read recently that his experience that they would become the motivation of his movie entitled silent trade, disillusioned, despairing people who who are wandering around trying to hear from God. Think of another film director by the name of Woody Allen once lamented we have no spiritual center we are drifting alone in the cosmos were all allowed with a Jew asked Paul the question in Romans 31. What advantage is there to being a Jew. If you have told us our bloodline to Abraham as a good in office, our rituals and observances do not gain us to place our reservation in heaven.

If our suffering which we catalog last time as a nation does not somehow get us in favor with God.

What good is it to be a Jew. In verse two of Romans three. Remember, the Paul told them all illicit trade in every respect. You were the people that received the word from God. You were given the sacred oracles of God reference to inspired text that statement alone opens up a lot of questions and I want to pause a little bit of talk about that just what is that phrase and what we mean when we talk with the word of God.

Can we have confidence in their are four views that are out there in society based on the Bible for different basic views number one. The Bible is the word of God inspired and fallible, and Eric. We believe that here. One of our fundamental beliefs of our doctrine.

Secondly, is a view that the Bible is a collection of fables.

The Bible is a collection of myths.

Perhaps you had a philosophy professor who showed you. Perhaps some similarities in the Genesis flood with Akkadian literature. In this he said, seeing it's it's all make-believe simply their version there Jewish folktale it's it's rejected outright. Perhaps a more challenging view is this third one and that is a growing popular view that the Bible is a combination of both. It is a combination of both God's word and man's legend fable course.

The problem with this view is that no one has any apparatus whereby they can determine objectively what it is in the Bible that is legend and what it is in the Bible that is God's word. What you can and I canoed the raging waters of disbelief or unbelief will eventually drown you, you will eventually walk away from it all. As those due to start out this way, but others out of their unbelief have rejected the New Testament outright and the claims, of course, of Christ, of being messianic sum of written that he was just a Jewish reactionary some of said that he was at best a moral teacher.

Some charismatic rabbis.

Some even suggested a homosexual magician. I read one author is said that he was a drug addict simply found a drug that interviews to these 12 men, who then followed him. He was sort of their dealer famous Albert Schweitzer wrote his own biography of Christ again when you go to the Bible and determine what it is that you believe is true that no objective standard for the Bible says of itself that it is all he wrote a biography of Christ and concluded that Christ actually went insane and in his insanity out of his insanity, he declared himself to be divine. One British author wrote that Christ was simply a good lad with a brilliant flair for moral teaching. But he would've been shocked to think the people would ever worship him as God. One woman who thought of the collegiate level once for the Jesus was part of the sect living in Palestine was actually married and had three children divorced and remarried one author believe that Jesus never died on the cross but lived and traveled with Paul on his missionary travels, which is interesting that they would leave the travels of Paul and what would Paul talk about Jesus dying being buried in what rising from the dead which this author denied several authors such as summa referred to were at least honest enough to admit quote in order to reach such speculations, we are obliged to read between the lines, fill in certain gaps deal with omissions and with references that are at best oblique. One author made an interesting jump deftly filled in a few gaps when he wrote from John 11 where Mary came in and anointed Jesus feet and write his feet with her hair, which was an act of slave and abject act of servant hood and submission. We don't conceive of that in our culture, but it was there. He sort of took the job that Jesus then married her and they had six children with reading an awful lot between the lines, but why not soon as you view the Bible is anything less than the word of God and not the word of man is the word of man believing that your open all sorts of fanciful and even blasphemous options notion you have in fact placed your self whether people want to admit it or not, as the authority over the Bible now determines what is in fact true and what is false, Augustine said centuries ago to his generation.

If you believe what you like in the Gospels and reject what you don't like in the Gospels, it is not the gospel you believe yourself 1/4 view that has unfortunately found a warm reception inside evangelical church at least the last two generations but also leads to great doctrinal danger.

In fact, ignorance and abuse is the view that the Bible is the word of God, but it is not the last word of God. He is still giving revelation. Men believe this this Lords they will be parading about their church platforms announcing the latest revelation from God.

God told them this and God told them that they are given additional revelation, then to their congregations. Unfortunately, without realizing it, and I think now we will see some of the effects of that they have opened the door for the Muslim who says yes, we believe the Bible to what we believe God is also spoken to his prophet Mohammed, and what will they say that course Muslim believes that Jesus will one day come back to earth as a Muslim Mary have children die and be buried near Mohammed other Muslim traditions believe that when Christ comes back to kill all the Jews convert the Christians Islam and reign as king.

What can the Christian say, after having been implicitly and maybe even explicitly taught that God is still speaking to their leaders. If this is not God's final word.

Who can say anyone who comes up with a revelation from God is and in fact receiving Fiat truth from God is the last word. Hebrews tells us spoken through Christ and his apostles until Christ appears this is enough. In fact, the Bible says it is sufficient to equip the believer. For every good work that a few things and in the Lemoore but every good work. It is sufficient for life, for faith practice.

One thing the true teacher and preacher of God will do simply teach what God is already said the Mormons believe that God spoke again to Joseph Smith again and along the same lines. What God spoke to him became the book of Mormon, the pearl of great price and doctrines and covenants which again are placed either on top of, or alongside of certainly not underneath the Scriptures, the Christian scientists follow Mary Baker Eddy, who believed that she was quote the regulator of truth for this age. She said, quote my book the science and health with Key to the Scriptures as God as its author. I was only describe what would you say that evangelical churches open the door years earlier for knowing to be able say anything. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that their publication the watchtower is quote a magazine without equal on earth because God is the author David Berg leads the children of God refers to himself as a latter-day profit said in an interview with Christianity today that his letters written to his followers are God's word for today. Paul told us that those would come along claiming to be men of God, and they would lead the flock astray next 20. The greatest danger, perhaps facing our church in this year. Perhaps this decade is the same thing that occurred the very first temptation when Satan slithered in personified by that serpent and said that we has God what said has God spoke and did not deliver the truth to you and doesn't have any authority in your life are you and obey it that he say what he meant. Or did he mumbled that he leave something out. God said so today probably one of the key questions were asked is the God really speak and has he spoken, is he still speaking I'm not talking about the inward impression of the Holy Spirit as you study the word I'm talking about revelation from God, thus saith the Lord is the reverse. We will add a book, is their 67th book that needs to be found in that it these are the four views about the Bible. The Bible alone is the word of God. The Bible is a collection of fables and legends. Third, the Bible is a combination of God's word and legends forth the Bible is the word of God, not the last word from God. We believe here in our body of truth of the Bible is in fact a closed book is the last word from God until Christ appears one of the verses that would indicate that is in the very end of your Bibles turn to Revelation and just look at the last few verses fact you want to just check me out and see if there's a period at the very end of the Bible and then maybe you want to circle it and show it to some of your friends that think it's a, but in this great text, John is summarizing the prophecy and by the way most of the Bible is what prophecy he says I testify.

Verse 18 to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book. If anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues, which are written in this book and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book he testifies to these things says is Christ. Yes, I am coming quickly. Amen, Lord Jesus, the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all. Amen. Well, some would say, but John is referring to. Just this book of the prophecy. In other words, and there is quite a debate about that is just speaking of the book of Revelation. These 22 chapters know that anything that will before you go too far down the river. Remember that John was the last prophet lease recorded in Scripture that we would hold to in this prophecy is the apocalypse. This is the end of the story. This takes us from the end of human history, into the beginning of divine eternity were taken all the way up to that point and then therefore it is placed at the end of this great book is the end of human history. It is the beginning of divine eternity. Therefore, if you add to the book of Revelation. You are in fact adding to the Bible. Those that say that begs the question someone would say well then where the plagues that would affect them. Perhaps in this life, not but in the eternal life to come. I can imagine the horror the plagues and the torment upon those who trifled with the word of God and invented their own system with themselves as the great godlike authority to the people would follow them.

Where is Nostradamus now my friends Amanda came from a long line of astrologers and the cultic soothsayers a claim to know the future of the world in future events up through the year, 8000 A.D. man admitted by his closest followers to be wrong on many counts, how often, by the way, could a true prophet of God be wrong. Never if he predicted something and it didn't come true. According to the Old Testament what they do to for a picnic lunch told him it was his last meal and that was it. Was it possible for a false prophet to get it right. That's where it gets a little trickier. Is it possible for a huckster for deceiver to predict some near events. Some long-term event in part actually come true answers yes we have no idea what happens with the underworld. The underworld does not know the future because it is not omniscient that they can read the sign God had an answer for them. Listen to his warning if the prophet arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder a miracle in the sign or the wonder comes true concerning which he spoke to you and also saying to you, let us now go after other gods whom you not known and let us serve them.

Don't listen to this would be quite a test because in the Old Testament as God was revealing his word. One could come along and say I'm a true prophet and you happen to be following in an outdated God, follow me and you'd say, why don't I know your true prophet and he'd say, well look, to predict three things that will happen in your life. Tomorrow and if they come true. Follow me you'd tend to do that when you I would want to be told you look tomorrow.

Your cows been a runaway lightning is going to hit your barn and you break your leg you would want to get out of bed. I'm sure the next morning, but suppose you did. Come to find out your favorite cow ran away.

Lightning hit your barn and started a fire in you went to put out the fire and you fell out of the hayloft and broke your leg what would you think, I wonder that guys a true prophet. God said this to listen to the words of the prophet for the Lord your God is testing you. He is testing you to find out if you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, you shall follow the Lord your God and fear him, and you shall keep his commandments.

In other words, keep what is already delivered the points to him, serve him clean to him. In other words, it is possible for prophet to predict something that comes true and if it does, it becomes a test of the believer.

They continued to follow the revealed word of God or will they say this guy must be the truth. Even though he leads me away from Christ and all other supposedly sacred writings. Ladies and gentlemen, you can put in a pile they all have the same thing in common. They all lead you away from Jesus Christ as the incarnate God.

The Bible leads you to the Redeemer who is your God said possible for miraculous things that happen even in the name of Christ, even in our generation. Yeah Jesus said in Matthew seven.

Many will say to me on that day. Speaking of the judgment, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and the name of Jesus in your name cast out demons in the name of Jesus performed many miracles that I will declare them. I never knew you. So you need to be alert ladies and gentlemen, beware what an angel did actually come and visit Mohammed and deliver to him in the Arabic language. The Quran, what an angel actually did come in in those writings discover the Christ and his deity is denied. What an angel, then centuries later, didn't come to Joseph Smith actually appear and deliver to him and some Egyptian markings that which would become the book of Mormon, a book that denies the uncreated Christ. Paul said in Galatians 1.

Perhaps more appropriate words for our generation than ever before.

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting him who called you by the grace of Christ for a different gospel which is really not another gospel only. There are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

But even if we listen or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed. As we have said before, so I say again now if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary literally. In addition to what you receive. He is to be accursed. You know it's interesting about all the other religions.

They would saying would keep this book that's fine. I mean, who would you listen to the came along to you need to burn this you would listen so they say you keep that preach another gospel. In addition to that, that explains that. And Paul said even have an angel appeared and said I'm not a new revelation. He said let that Angel be accursed.

What of the true prophets of Scripture. How do we know they told the truth will as you study the Scripture we find a number one, they lead people to worship God Jehovah and how often were they right 100% of the time. One author I was reading this past week. Pull the story out of the something he had learned from the CIA files that illustrates proof of identity is an interesting illustration and it actually happened.

The Soviet double agent was stranded in Mexico and he was without his passport and he received his instructions about how to identify himself as being truly that double agent to the secretary of the Russian ambassador in Mexico who would meet him and then secretly handed him his passport so five prearranged signs were delivered to both the ambassador and separately by different courier to this double agent and they were told what those signs were they were told that the other one had them but they were told to look for them and so there could be no collusion and both had to perform perfectly. Sign number one when in Mexico City spy then was to write a letter to the Sec. confirming his presence and signing his name on the letter is RI.

Jackson were to sign to after exactly 3 days beyond the postmark. He was a go to the closet at Cologne in Mexico city signed three. He was to stand before the statue of Columbus sign for he was to have a guidebook open with his finger pointing to a particular paragraph in the guidebook standing in front of the stage with his finger pointing When approached, he was supposed to say.

Isn't it a magnificent statue and after the response he would then add that he had traveled to Mexico from Oklahoma.

That's housing to get smart program doesn't need to see the guy say that I was finger pointing and telling people that came up to him from Oklahoma, but the secretary of the Russian Embassy went out there and identified the man with those five signs who said those things and then was proven in his identity and handed him his passport. Following just those five surely two people from Oklahoma could've been standing there by that is in front of that statue pointed same paragraph I suppose, but the more you add to it, the more difficult it would be to have two people doing the same thing when so they felt it was safe.

With only five living five signs from the prophets speak of Christ and his identity is true Messiah number one Micah in Micah 52 said. But as for you, to Bethlehem from you. One will go forth for me to be a ruler in Israel. In other words, the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem that came true, fulfilled in Luke chapter 2 but someone might say, but that verse also says that he will go forward to be a ruler in Israel.

He did go for to be a ruler in Israel. The prophet John will tell us that he will be a ruler in Israel, and the kingdom you have to keep reading the prophets to find out what happened between that prophecy and the one yet coming second sign. Isaiah said he was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth that was fulfilled in Matthew 27 Pilate said to them, do you not hear many things they testify against you and Jesus did not answer him with regard even a single charge so that the governor was quite amazed the third sign comes from the pen of David.

Again these men writing centuries before Christ. David wrote in Psalm 22, a band of evildoers that surrounded me.

They pierced my hands and my feet. They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots believe that in that one signed are actually three more now up to eight those things were fulfilled at the crucifixion of Christ. Centuries later 1/4 sign would be the words of Christ on the cross.

David began Psalm 22. That which we call the messianic Psalm by those words. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me, speaking is fully man his identity of being separated, said what we would've said fulfilled in Matthew 27 were Christ uttered those very words fit sign the Christ was in fact the Messiah comes from the prophecy of Isaiah wrote with incredible precision these words. This is what is often overlooked is a 53 night's grave was assigned with wicked men. In other words said the Messiah would have an have an assignment to be buried with wicked criminals and that would be the day of ROM Isaiah, not knowing the culture of Rome, but he would know that, perhaps, just as they did in his day, they had that valley where they would keep an open fire burning and they would throw the bodies of criminals who died or those that they had put to death ended at Valley and it was just sort of up a terrible place. It became a picture later in the New Testament of hell where the fire never goes out and it's it's great suffering and this text says his grave will be an assignment with wicked management be thrown into that kind of open grave but he then says however he was with a rich man in his death he would be a rich man in his death, because Isaiah adds he has done no crime fulfilled in Matthew 27.

Listen when it was evening there came a rich man named Joseph let his eyes by Lincare.

Whether the rich or poor, but here wants us to know is a rich man. Why because Joseph went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered to be given over to him and Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb which each unit out in the rock Christ was with a rich man in his death, my friends, what is your view of the prophets is your view of the Bible to believe it's a combination of God's word and legend in your get to be the authority to determine what's true and what's false to believe it's God's word but you want more and you're in the whatever the latest revelations from some prophet or senior or some miracle worker resist the word of God completed finished and sufficient your discovering to equip you for every good work.

If you found in these pages, the Redeemer: do you have you found light in these pages for your path. If you found conviction as the words of this book for your sin. Have you known the forgiveness of God comes from these bloodstained pages have you felt the pleasure of God's as you meander through valleys peak to peak to love this book friends the Leventhal two are inseparable. This is God's breath. The Scriptures tell us read this as holy men by him. I want to encourage you to pick up your Bible today. It's God's word to you. This is wisdom for the heart with Stephen Devi. Our ministry is centered on the proposition that the Bible is God's word and it's our desire to teach it as accurately and faithfully as possible. In addition to being our daily Bible teacher. Stephen is also an author's newest book is called in living color and were making it available this month as our gift to those who make a special year, and contribution to our ministry. If you'd like to support us. Call today at 86 648 Bible. That's 866-482-4253. We also have a website where you can learn more about us and interact with us online. You'll find us@wisdomonline.org. Stephen has one final lesson in this series called how we got our Bible. That's tomorrow here on wisdom