“GODQUEST – PT. III [THE WORD]”
PASTOR MARK JOHNSON
OCTOBER 9, 2011



INTRO: In today’s message, we’re going to look at signpost #3: The Word - What you believe about the Bible determines how you live your life (Ps. 119:105).

What do you believe about the Bible and why?

WHAT IS THE BIBLE ABOUT?
1. It is the story of the creation, the fall, salvation and eternity.
2. It is about God’s desire to have a relationship with us – how to know and be right with God.
3. It is about how to live life abundantly.


I. THE BIBLE WAS RECORDED FAITHFULLY.

A. The claim to inspiration (1Thess. 2:13; 2Tim. 3:16-17; 2Pet. 1:21 Ps. 12:7).

B. The claim to proximity – many of the writers were eye-witnesses (1Jn. 1:1; 2Pet. 1:16; Acts 10:39).

C. The invitation to investigation.

D. The scarcity of apparent contradictions.

E. Fulfilled prophecy.

F. Science’s confirmation (Isa. 40:22; Job 26:7; Ps. 8:8).

G. Archaeology’s confirmation.


II. THE BIBLE WAS RELAYED ACCURATELY.

A. No book or document of the ancient world can be as verified accurate as the Bible can.

B. The vast number of ancient manuscripts.

C. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.


III. THE BIBLE HAS BEEN REINFORCED EXTERNALLY.

The N.T. alone is so extensively quoted in the ancient manuscripts of nonbiblical authors that all 27 books from Matthew through Revelation could be reconstructed virtually word for word from those sources.

CONCLUSION: Based on what we have looked at this morning, there is every reason to believe that the Bible has been recorded faithfully, relayed accurately, and reinforced externally. What will you do in response (Jn. 20:31)? It’s not about information, it’s about transformation!