May 27-28, 2006, Selected

THE DA VINCI CONFUSION!
CAN I TRUST MY BIBLE?

SUBSTANTIATION OF THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE IS THE SUBSTANTIATION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH!

"If we would destroy the Christian religion, we must first of all destroy man's belief in the Bible." – Voltaire

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN TRUST YOUR BIBLE?

1. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE BIBLE WAS NOT THE
"PRODUCT OF MAN" BUT OF GOD?

A. THE BIBLE CLAIMS TO BE BOTH THE PRODUCT OF GOD AND MAN!
*** 2 Tim. 3:16-17 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." [New International Version]
*** 2 Peter 1:20-21 "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." [NIV]

GOD'S WORK WAS TO SUPERINTEND HIS WORD AND MAN'S WORK WAS TO
SCRIPT HIS WORD!
- 66 Different Books

- 40 Different Writers

- Over 1,500 Years

- On 3 Different Continents

- In Innumerable Cultures

- ONE COHESIVE THEME!

B. FULFILLED PROPHECY SHOWS THE BIBLE IS THE WORK OF GOD!

Prophecy is the "Signature of God" – Grant Jefferies

*** Isaiah 45:13 "I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward, says the Lord Almighty." [NIV]
*** Daniel 9:25 "Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.'" [NIV]

The events that took place in the last 24 hours before the crucifixion and the resurrection were predicted at least 29 times in Old Testament prophecies. Here are just a few...

- In Psalms 41:9 it was prophesied that Judas will betray Him. That was fulfilled in Matt. 10:4
- In Zech. 11:12 it was prophesied the price for his betrayal would be 30 pieces of silver. That was fulfilled in Mt. 26:15.
- In Zech. 13:7 it was prophesied that Jesus would be forsaken by His disciples. It was fulfilled in Mark 14:50.
- In Psalm 35:11 it was prophesied that Jesus would be accused by false witnesses. That was fulfilled in Mt. 26:59-60.
- In Isaiah 53:7 It was prophesied that He would be silent before His accusers. That was fulfilled in Mt. 27:12.
- In Isaiah 53:5 it was prophesied that He would be wounded for our sin and bruised for our transgressions. That was fulfilled in Mt. 27:26.
- In Isaiah 50:6 it was prophesied that He would be smitten and spat upon. That was fulfilled in Mt. 26:67.
- In Psalm 22:7-8 it was prophesied that He would be mocked. That was fulfilled in Mt. 27:29.
- In Psalm 109:24-25 it was prophesied that He would carry His own cross. That was fulfilled in John 19:17.
- In Psalm 22:16 prophesied that His hands and feet would be pierced. That was fulfilled in Luke 23:33.
- In Isaiah 53:12 it was prophesied that He would be crucified with criminals. That was fulfilled in Mt. 27:38.
- In Isaiah 53:12 it was prophesied that He will intercede and pray for those who crucified Him. That was fulfilled in Luke 23:34.
- Psalm 69:4 prophesied that He would be hated without a cause. That was fulfilled in John 15:25.
- In Psalm 22:18 it was prophesied that they would cast lots over His garments. That was fulfilled in John 19:23-24.
- In Psalm 69:21 it was prophesied that they would give Him vinegar to drink. That was fulfilled in Mt. 27:34.
- In Psalm 22:1 His cry of being forsaken was prophesied. It was fulfilled in Mt. 27:46.
- In Psalm 34:20 it was prophesied that prophesied that His bones will not be broken. That was fulfilled in John 19:33.
- In Isaiah 53:9 it was prophesied that He will be buried in a rich man’s tomb. That was fulfilled in Mt. 27:57-60.

C. ARCHEOLOGY BACKS THAT THE BIBLE IS THE WORK OF GOD!

All Historic Writings undergo 7 tests:

Bibliographic Test!

"Every time a spade goes into the ground, another skeptic is buried!"

2. DID THE BIBLE EVOLVE "THROUGH COUNTLESS
TRANSLATIONS, ADDITIONS AND REVISIONS?"
*** Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." [NIV]

3. HAS THERE EVER BEEN A DEFINITIVE VERSION OF THE BIBLE?
- 117 AD Ignatius
- 155 AD Justin Martyr
- 185 AD Irenaeus

4. WERE THERE REALLY MORE THAN 80 GOSPELS CONSIDERED FOR THE NEW TESTAMENT?

Here is the criterion:

*** Galatians 1:6-9 "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!" [NIV]

*** Rev. 22:18-19 "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to these words, God will add to that person the disasters written about in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away that one's share of the tree of life and of the holy city, which are written about in this book." [New Century Version]

- TRUTH IS OBJECTIVE!
- TRUTH IS EXCLUSIVE!
- TRUTH IS VERIFIABLE!

*** John 8:31-32 "Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." [New Living Translation]

Sources: Evidence That Demands A Verdict Volume I & II – Josh McDowell; Documents of the Christian Church – Henry Bettenson; Early Christian's Speak – Everett Ferguson; A History of the Church – James North; The Da Vinci Fraud – Robert M. Price; Beyond a Reasonable Doubt – Herbert C. Casteel; Wikipedia – The Internet; Miscellaneous Other Sources.