16. WHY DO WE TEACH THAT THE BIBLE (and only the BIBLE) IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD? Speaking NOT only of the Old Testament writings but also of the New Testament, Paul boldly declared: All _______________ is given by _______________ of God . . . (2 Timothy 3:16) [literally, the Scriptures are God-breathed]. The Scriptures (the 66 BOOKS of the BIBLE) are the REVELATION of GOD - the Revelation of Gods will - and INSPIRATION is the method by which revelation was delivered. Thus, the Holy Spirit REVEALED Gods will (HIS WORD) to man, and the manner in which the Spirit did this was through the prophets of the Old Testament (cf. 1 Peter 1:9-12; 2 Peter 1:21), and through His holy ______________ and prophets (Ephesians 3:5) of the New Testament. What is Verbal Inspiration? The WISDOM of MEN knew NOT the great truths of Christianity, for Paul stated in First Corinthians 2:7-13: But we [apostles, inspired men] speak the ______________ of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: which none of the princes of this world knew... For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the ______________ of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the ______________ of God. Now we [apostles, inspired men] have ______________, NOT the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might _______________ the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we [apostles, inspired men] speak, NOT in the words which mans _______________ teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual [words, ASV]. This is a Verbal INSPIRATION. Now, what about the man of the world, the UNINSPIRED man? But the ______________ man receiveth ______________ the things of the ______________ of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are ______________ discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). This is a very significant statement, but it has often been taken out of context and grossly perverted. Some FALSE TEACHERS say the natural man CANNOT receive the Spirit. However, Paul said he DOES NOT receive the “________ of the Spirit of God” - i.e., the “natural man” is NOT INSPIRED. The NIV and ESV deceitfully change verse 14 to say man CANNOT understand the things of the Spirit. This change has been made to deceive the sinner into believing a DIRECT OPERATION of the Holy Spirit is necessary to convert him. Only then can he understand and appreciate the things of the Spirit, the false teacher says. But Paul did NOT say that the unregenerate man CANNOT understand or grasp the things of the Spirit, the WORD of God. Paul was CONTRASTING human philosophy with divine REVELATION. He was NOT speaking of CONVERSION; he was talking about INSPIRATION. There is NOTHING in this First Corinthians 2:14 that supports the THEORY of a DIRECT OPERATION of the Spirit to enable a sinner to understand the Gospel and obey it. The Bible does NOT teach that a person is born in sin, TOTALLY DEPRAVED, and thereby needs a DIRECT OPERATION of the Spirit for conversion. That doctrine is simply a FALSE TEACHING being taught (and blindly followed - cf. Matthew 15:14) by many major “Protestant” denominations that worship God according to the teachings of John Calvin. The natural man in this statement is the UNINSPIRED man; the spiritual man (vs. 15) is the man INSPIRED by the Spirit. The apostles had to be INSPIRED by the Holy Spirit to KNOW the things of the mind of God and to REVEAL them to man in WORDS selected by the Spirit. Therefore, Second Corinthians 5:18-20 says the apostles were given the ______________ of reconciliation (vs. 18); so they preached the ______________ of reconciliation (vs. 19); because they were the ______________ for Christ (vs. 20). The things of God concerning SALVATION by the blood of Christ for both Jews and Gentiles in the One body [the CHURCH] (cf. Ephesians 2:13-16), were NOT known to man prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles and His Revelation of this truth through them. The Holy Spirit SEARCHED and REVEALED “the _____________ things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). The apostles “preached the ______________ unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven” (1 Peter 1:11-12). The Holy Spirit taught the apostles “______________ things” (John 14:26); He guided them into “_____________ truth” (John 16:13). The ___________ of the Spirit of God was in the inspired apostles (Romans 15:19-20). Why were INSPIRED men needed at the beginning of Christianity? Answer: Because the early Christians had no New Testament from which to read. Now we have that INSPIRED teaching which the apostles and prophets gave in the Scriptures (the BIBLE). The mystery of the will of God has now been made known, and the New Testament system is the law of the_____________ of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2). The apostles and prophets FINISHED their work. They had and have NO successors. ALL modern day men who claim to be APOSTLES, PROPHETS or SUCCESSORS to Peter and the apostles “are FALSE ______________, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the _______________ of Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:13; cf. 1 John 4:1). Conclusion: The WORK of the Holy Spirit to reveal, record and guarantee God’s divine message of Christianity (the New Testament) to the world has been accomplished (Read and Study Romans 15:19; 16:25-26; Mark 16:20; 1 Thessalonians 1:5, 2:13). The Holy Spirit, therefore, in His MIRACULOUS power does NOT accompany preachers today. To God Be the Glory as His Will is Done (1 Corinthians 10:31). with love in Christ, Samuel
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 11:50:22 +0000