God speaks through the Bible

In John 17:3 Jesus said, “This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” The greatest thing is to know God! God is not silent. He has spoken to you and me. God does not stutter and he does not stammer. God speaks in two different ways. First, God speaks through general revelation. Second, God speaks in special revelation.

God speaks in general revelation through creation (Romans 1:19-20), our conscience (Romans 2:14-15) and providence (Acts 14:17). Through creation we can see that God is eternal. He is very powerful. We can also understand he is divine. The conscience teaches right from wrong. In providence God meets our daily needs. He provides springtime and summer and fall and winter. He sends the rain. “…he did not leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:17).

General revelation is good but special revelation is even better. General revelation teaches the existence of God but the Bible leads to salvation. The Bible is God’s book. God speaks through the Bible. The Bible was written over 1,600 years by 40 different authors. In spite of this, not one section contradicts another. Why? Scripture fits together in perfect harmony because it is God breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible is literally inspired by God. The Bible was written in three different languages — Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. Most of it was written in Israel but other parts were written in Babylon, Egypt, Greece, Rome and Arabia. Although the Bible was written in at least six different countries there is perfect harmony. There are at least 11 different occupations among the 40 different authors — kings, priests, prophets, soldiers, statesmen, shepherds, fishermen, a tax collector, a doctor, a tent maker and a farmer. It all fits together because it is God’s book. Ultimately, there is only one author.

The Bible is indestructible. Peter said, “The grass withers, the flower fades but the word of God abides forever” (1 Peter 1:25). Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). Many people have tried to destroy God’s word. The Roman emperor Diocletian said, “The Christian religion is destroyed and the worship of the gods restored.” Only 10 years later Emperor Constantine made Christianity the state religion! The French philosopher Voltaire said, “Fifty years from now the world will hear no more about the Bible.” Exactly 50 years later the very press Voltaire used to print his statements was purchased to print Bibles. Thomas Payne, one of the founders of the American Revolution said, “When I get through there will not be five Bibles in America.” Yet today the United States is the greatest producer of Bibles in the world.

The external evidence of fulfilled prophecy points to the supernatural character of the Bible. The Bible predicted the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), a star (the shekinah glory) would note his birth (Numbers 24:15), he would come from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10), he would be born from a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) and he would die by crucifixion (Psalm 22). The Old Testament also predicted the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (Isaiah 53:10-11).

One of the greatest evidences for the divine inspiration of Scripture is the Lord Jesus. One person said, “Jesus is not a person we could invent, neither is he a person we would invent if we could.” The Bible teaches that God is holy. He is a righteous judge. He must and will judge every sin. However, God is also loving. He sent his son Jesus to die for our sins. The wrath of God for my sins and your sins was placed upon Jesus. Jesus offered a perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus suffered the wrath of God for our sins. At salvation, through repentance and faith, your debts (sins) are credited to Jesus. Jesus’ perfect life is credited to your account. The end result is that God does not see your sin. Instead, He sees the perfect righteousness of Christ.

Ethan Hansen is the pastor of Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.