The Word of God

What separates Christianity from any "religion" in the world is its claim to an absolute, written authority from God. Having the Word of God is essential to a Christian's growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. The standards by which a Christian is to govern his life is every detail are found in the pages of the Word of God.

The purpose of this lesson is to acquaint the Christian with the basics of the Bible and how it relates to his everyday life, so he can begin to understand how its principles are to guide every facet of his walk with Jesus Christ.

A.	It is unique in its production. The Bible is a book which is composed of 66 books written by more than 40 authors over a period of more the 1,600 years. It is totally accurate in its recording of history and prophecy fitting together as though on man wrote it without one contradiction (2 Peter 1:19-21). The middle verse of the bible is Psalms 118:8, "It is better it trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man," with the middle words being "The Lord."
B.	It is unique in its preservation. God not only inspired the Scriptures, but He promised to preserve them (Psalms 12:6-7).
C.	It is unique in its proclamations. Over 25% of the Bible was prophetic in nature when written. It touches the subjects of Heaven and Hell: eternal salvation and damnation; eternity past and eternity future. Yet, it cuts to the heart of all of the major issues of life (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
D.	It is unique in its product. No other book has so profoundly influenced the course of history and the liver of men. "The word of God is Quick (alive) and powerful..." (Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:22-23).

A.	It is universally accepted that there are two fundamental sources of human knowledge; reason and experience. Both are essential to the understanding of the world around us. Yet, reason and experience do not answer the most profound and important questions of life. Where did I come from" what is the purpose for my existence? where am I going, if anywhere, after death? is there another source of knowledge that carries us beyond the limitations of human reason and experience, a source that answers these, the three most important questions of life?
B.	There is a third source of knowledge called revelation. This revelation if found primarily in the Word of God, commonly called the Bible. The Bible teaches us that God has revealed Himself and His commandments in the Holy scriptures. In these Scriptures we have direct access to an infinite and personal Being who created all things for His pleasure, Who is not limited like His finite creation. He is God, who is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent and immutable.
C.	The Bible describes two forms of revelation usually called general and special. According to and , God has revealed Himself to us through His creation. This general revelation is available to all the Bible teaches also that God has implanted the knowledge of His existence in every human heart.
D.	God's special revelation involves a more direct communication with man, including dreams, visions, angles, the person of Christ. Himself and the Bible, God's written revelation. The Bible presents god's plan of redemption for mankind. All have sinned and all must be redeemed. God's will for man as he relates to God's plan for history is the theme and focal point of the Scriptures.
E.	God chose to reveal Himself in a progressive way. As time passed, more and more was revealed and recorded about God, His will and His way. At the completion of the New Testament, God's written revelation was complete.

A.	The author of the Bible is the Holy Spirit of God.
B.	The Bible is the source book of our knowledge of God. It is the textbook o divine truth and the guidebook to everlasting life.
C.	The word "Bible" is derived from the Greek work "biblos" meaning "a book."
D.	The Bible is a library of 66 books divided into two main sections, the Old Testament containing 39 books and the New Testament containing 27 books.
E.	"All scripture is given by inspiration..." (2 Timothy 3:16). What does it mean "by inspiration"? The apostle Peter said,"... holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy ghost" (2 Peter 1:21). The Holy ghost was miraculously present preserving the accuracy of the transcription of God's Word in a man's mouth to what we call the "original manuscripts." God moved men to say (inspiration) and record (preservation) the very words He chose.
F.	We accept the Scriptures as the infallible (incapable of error) Word of God completely inspired, undoubtedly preserved.
		See Hebrew 1:1; Jeremiah 1:9: 45:1; 2 Samuel 23:2; Ezekiel 2:2.