The Holy Scriptures

Introduction: The Holy Bible is ‘Wholly True’. What we have is ‘divine Revelation’ and not ‘human Reason!’ But as believers we do not have to throw our brains away in order to believe what is written. We have the ‘Facts for our Faith’ contained within the Scriptures and we shall look at these in this study.

Inspired or Invented? The word inspired means to come from an influential person!

Genesis the first book of the Bible has these words 9 times in chapter one – "God said".
The statement "Thus says the Lord" is found 23 times in the last Old Testament book – Malachi. The term "The Lord spoke" appears 560 times in the first five books – The Pentateuch.
This statement is found at least 3,800 times throughout the Old Testament, showing different writers heard the actual voice of the Lord God Almighty.

Isaiah states at least 40 times that his message was from God.
Ezekiel does the same – 60 times.
Jeremiah does the same – 100 times.

Inerrant or Irrelevant? The word inerrant means without mistake or fault!

One of the greatest proofs of the Holy Scriptures is its Divine Seal within the area of prophecy that we or anyone else can test! We have 3,856 verses directly or indirectly concerned with specific prophecies. Many have already been fulfilled others will be in the last days before the return of the Lord Jesus.

In His brief life we see 333 fulfilled prophecies, 33 on the day He allowed mankind to murder Him! Mathematicians have worked out that for one man to fulfil just 48 of these in succession gives odds of 10×157 (10 to the power of 157 – that is 10 followed by 157 zeros!). Let us understand just how immense this figure is:-

Take 1 electron – 2.5 quadrillon electrons equals one inch.
Colour 1 of them red and mix it in the pile and then blindfold
a man and ask him first time to pick it out – impossible?
This would be approximately the same odds that one man would live and die according to only 48 of the prophecies about the Messiah! The Scriptures predict events that are as modern as tomorrow’s news that we don’t yet know about.

Infallible or Ineffective? The word infallible means not to fail!

As believers then we understand God’s Word to be the all sufficient rule and means by which to conduct our lives by faith in Him as our Creator and Sustainer.
Science and Scripture will always agree because they have the same Author!
The God of the Bible is the God of the Universe – He spoke to men and guided them just as He spoke the worlds into being and is guiding for all eternity. None of His words will fail!

Let us think about this:-

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10.

This verse was used by doubters a century ago as they could not believe that there could be a fire big enough to do this! Peter was a silly 1st century fisherman and not an educated man let alone a scientist! It took until the 20th century for science to catch up with what God had spoken through Peter, that an atomic reaction could actually melt the basic building blocks of matter itself! God was telling us or prophesying through Peter how the world will end. In fact, two verses on we are told that "the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!" 2 Peter 3:12.
The Greek word ‘destroy’ literally means to untie. Peter gave us an atomic physics statement or equation! This and many other examples shows us how the Lord has hidden unsurpassed knowledge and wisdom in His Word. We need His wisdom in leading our lives on His planet! It does not have a good future.

The Facts for the Faith

* The scientific fact that the Earth is spherical – Isaiah 40:22. The Earth was believed to be flat until the sea voyages of Christopher Columbus in the 15th century.

* The scientific fact that the Earth is suspended in space – Job 26:7. This was not discovered until the writings of Sir Isaac Newton in 1687ad.

* The fact that the stars are innumerable – Genesis 15:5.

* The facts of the human bloodstream – Leviticus 17:11.

* The fact that all living things are reproduced after their own kind – Genesis 1:21. In 1862 Louis Pasteur discovered the Law of Heredity.

The delightful fact about all these examples is that God allowed believers in Him to discover these things and then to teach others.

Some Facts from the Holy Scriptures

Leviticus 13:40 is a text atheists can’t deny!
Genesis 41:14 is the first written reference to shaving in ancient books/records.
Isaiah 22:18 suggests that ball playing is a very ancient sport. (Nothing new under the sun! Eccles 1:9)
Acts 7:23 refers to Moses’ age at a certain time – information that is not in the Old Testament.
The word reverend appears in the Bible only once – it applies to God. Psalm 111:9. (K.J. version only!)
Proverbs 30:33 indicates that ancient butter was churned.
Job 6:6 says that the white of an egg is tasteless.
One of the longest chapters in the Bible is Numbers 7 and it is all about giving.
The Bible makes predictions on 737 subjects. There are 8,352 predictive verses. 27% of the Bible is predictive. (O.T. – 28.5% and N.T. 21.5%).
Ezekiel has the most prophetic verses – 821 (O.T.) and Matthew – 278 (N.T.)
One verse in every ten in the Bible speaks directly or indirectly of the Lord Jesus’ Second Coming.
There are just over 250 names or titles of God in the Holy Bible.
The Old Testament ends with a curse and the New Testament ends with a blessing!
‘Jesus Christ’ appears in the first and last verse of the New Testament.                                                                              
1 Chronicles 12:40 contains all the letters of the alphabet except Q.
The Bible contains:- 3,566,480 letters – 773,742 words – 31,173 verses – 1,189 chapters – 66 books.

The Holy Bible

This book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe in it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveller’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword and the Christian’s charter. Here paradise is restored, Heaven opened and the gates of Hell disclosed. Christ is its grand object. Our good its design and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory and a river of pleasure. It is given to us in life, will be opened at the judgement and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labour and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.
Author Unknown.

Conclusion:

This short study can only begin to scratch the surface in how to defend or give an answer to doubters over the hope we have in us. (1 Peter 3:15). There are many good apologetic books around and you are encouraged to buy one or two.
In closing let us remember that the Bible is a book with a universal message for all men. It’s the only book that a child and a scholar may find equal delight in! Scientists have stood in awe of it and it is still the most printed and read book in the world! Its simple life related instructions (spiritual applications) can work in any country and language to bring forgiveness, peace, love and joy.
The greatest proof of the Bible is the difference its message can make in our and others lives. Amen.

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