The Foundation Of Our Belief

Everything has a foundation

• Trees have elaborate root systems
• Buildings have concrete or block
• Our bodies have bones
• Cars have frames
• Christians have the Word
• If the foundation is not right, the rest of the structure will be wrong and weak

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

What do you believe about the scripture?

• Do you believe it is a book of stories with good examples?
• Do you believe it is mostly allegorical (symbolic, figurative) in presentation and application?
• Do you believe it is relevant for today?
• Do you believe it is the inspired, infallible word of God?

We must be sure in our belief in the Bible. What it is and what it represents.

• It is the inspired and infallible word of God
• It is truth, morality, and an absolute cornerstone in the life of the believer
• It represents the foundational edicts for our lives and serves as the basis of life and godliness
• It is given by inspiration of God,
• It is profitable for doctrine,
• It is profitable for reproof,
• It is profitable for correction,
• It is profitable for instruction in righteousness:
• Why?
• So that the man [every male and female follower] of God may be perfect [mature in thinking and action], thoroughly [completely] furnished [equipped] unto all good works.

Yet we disagree over its validity and relevance in our life and society today

We question its authenticity and accuracy

We often readily believe the tabloids, news sources, and other writings of men before we believe the Bible!

We use excuse like:

• I do not believe it is accurate
• It is too narrow
• It limits my ability to exercise my own ability [really we are saying it convicts us]
• I can’t believe something that was written by men [really? Everything we read and study whether a child’s book or textbook; a news article or commentary; a poem or novel… they are all written by men. The difference is that there is no life in them!

Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.                  

Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

What do scholars have to say about the Bible?

The Smithsonian Institute says that the bible is the most accurate book of all the antiquities.

Others:

The Bible is the most copied book of antiquity. Written over a time period of some 1,500 years, it was completed approximately 2,000 years ago.

Yet, in all the centuries that have passed, none of its contents have ever been found inaccurate.

• It has been translated into its present form directly from the original languages from a vast supply of ancient manuscripts sifted by the best minds and most competent scholars of our day and of many prior generations. It has been translated into every known existing language.

• It is surprisingly accurate to the smallest details. Its contents, as translated, are as close to the original words of the authors as humanly possible. Only a few words of the entire book (a tiny, insignificant percentage) are in any doubt as to the original words and none of the disputed text affects the message of the book.

• Additionally, new discoveries of previously unknown ancient manuscripts continue to provide ever-greater accuracy to the contents of this book.

• Where this book can be verified by external events such as archeology, geography, custom, politics, culture, known world history and writings in other ancient texts it has been so verified as to be accurate in all respects. New discoveries always support it, never vice versa.

• It has never once been proven faulty on single detail or fact, although many have mightily tried and failed.

What about its basic and original texts?

• The existing Hebrew manuscripts are supplemented by the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Septuagint (a third-century B.C. Greek translation of the Old Testament), the Samaritan Pentateuch, and the Targums (ancient paraphrases of the Old Testament), as well as the Talmud (teachings and commentaries related to the Hebrew Scriptures)

• The quantity of New Testament manuscripts is unparalleled in ancient literature. There are over 5,000 Greek manuscripts, about 8,000 Latin manuscripts, and another 1,000 manuscripts in other languages (Syriac, Coptic, etc.).

• In addition to this extraordinary number, there are tens of thousands of citations of New Testament passages by the early church fathers. In contrast, the typical number of existing manuscript copies for any of the works of the Greek and Latin authors, such as Plato, Aristotle, Caesar, or Tacitus, ranges from one to 20.

We must believe it from:

Genesis 1:1 (KJV)

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

To:

Revelation 22:21 (KJV)

 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

And everything in between!

• The central theme of the Bible is Redemption of humanity

• The single most important figure in the Bible is Jesus

• The most important aspect of our lives [as Christians] should be reading, studying, and applying the scripture to our lives

We must absolutely [Absolute = Perfect in quality or nature; complete; Not limited by restrictions or exceptions; unconditional] believe the entirety of it… It is not a smorgasbord where we pick and choose our favorite parts; we must embrace it in its entirety.

John 1:1-5 (KJV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Psalm 119:105 (KJV)

105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.

 

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (KJV)

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: 5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Where do you stand today?

Do you believe the scripture is the inspired, infallible, unshakable, ever living Word of God?

Or,

Despite all the evidence that it and others [who are well educated in the matters of ancient texts] cannot believe it to be the inspired, infallible, unshakable, ever living Word of God?

Or,

Do you sense the living Word to be moving like a two-edged sword in your life right now; cutting away things that do not belong, convicting you of sin, reproving you of those uncomely actions?

Or,

Do you sense the encouraging of the Lord through the Word you know; instructing you in His ways and instructing you in the ways of righteousness?

Whether you believe it or not, the Word always requires a response; we will response positively or negatively when it is proclaimed.

Won’t you respond today to its call?

Feeling Tempted? Read, Run, and Pray!

 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (ESV)

12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

 Why are we tempted?

• Insecurity
• Need for fulfillment
• Desire to feel needed
• A place of comfort
• Disillusionment
• Driven by our flesh
• Targeted by the enemy; seen as a threat

 When are we tempted?

• Depressed
• Exhilarated
• Pressured
• Stressed
• Dissatisfied
• On top of the world

• Organized attack by the enemy to attempt to stop our forward momentum in working for the Lord

 Is temptation a sin?

 No, Jesus was tempted but did not sin. He was tempted in every way that we are but did not sin.

 Hebrews 4:14-15 (ESV)

14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

 Proverbs 16:18 NLT

18 Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.

 NKJV

 18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

 How do we cope with the constant bombardment of tempting situation?

1. Learn the warning signs (we all know when we are heading down the wrong path; learn the pattern and change it)
2. Do not place ourselves in places where we know there is the potential for compromise
3. Don’t rehearse it in your mind (the more we think on something, the likelier we are to follow through with it)
4. If it is your peer group, change your peer group (1 Corinthians 15:33)
5. If you think you can handle it, you are wrong and need to stop placing your trust yourself

 Read: Genesis 39:1-23 (Joseph’s tempation)

 Three ways to avert temptation:

 

1. Read the moment – interpret, discern, be aware – quarterbacks read the play, they know where they can and can’t throw the ball; study the word to know how to address the situation

 

1. Run – away as fast as you can like the gingerbread man – when a QB can’t find a man open he runs, when we can’t handle the moment, run away

 

1. Pray – call on His name, call out His name, no change needed, it’s a free connection – a QB calls out the plays to his team and calls the play to put it in motion – we should call on Jesus and call out His name over the situation so that we can see the way of escape. Ultimately, Jesus is our escape but we will miss Him if we do not call on Him