Inspiration (part 1)
Introduction. Sometimes while reading the Bible we come upon a story or event that stretches our faith to its limit. It might be the account of the creation in seven days or the fall of man after speaking to a serpent. Perhaps it is the universal flood in the days of Noah (the highest mountains at the time covered with over 22 feet of water), the ten plagues in Egypt, a talking donkey, or Joshua asking that the sun stand still. Yet the seamless nature of the Scriptures will not allow us to reject any account within its pages. Regardless of the amazing nature of the event, it really did happen!
Clearly this is all covered under the definition of faith: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1). Faith gives us all the evidence we need. Think about it! Since God created the heavens and the earth (no arguing that), He can do it any way He chooses and He chose six days (24 hours each). Since God did that, what is so hard about stopping the sun, a virgin birth, feeding 5000 with a few loaves, or a resurrection?
What did Jesus think? He quoted freely from Genesis, the Law, the prophets and the Psalms (Lk. 24:44). He believed them to be so accurate and exact that “not one jot or one tittle” (a dot on one “i” or a cross on one “t”) could pass from the Law until all had been fulfilled (Mt. 5:18). Jesus knew the Old Testament Scriptures were divinely inspired and had been kept pure by the power of God.
Jesus was the Word who became flesh, and “all things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made,” (Jn. 1:1-3). When He spoke of “the beginning of the creation which God created” (Mk. 13:19), He was not only an eyewitness confirming it as the truth, but an active participant in every part of it. He took part in the creation of Adam and Eve (Mt. 19:4-5) and saw Adam and Eve fall into sin and be banished from the garden of Eden. He was also an eyewitness as “Noah entered the ark” and the “the flood came and took them all away.” (Lk. 17:25). He confirmed that “on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all,” (Lk. 17:29).
Jesus had first-hand knowledge. When asked about seeing Abraham, Jesus said “before Abraham was, I AM." (Jn. 8:58). Jesus was an eye witness to every event recorded in the Old Testament. He was living when each book was written and had the opportunity to watch God keep His word perfect and pure down through the centuries. If there were any myths or fables, any books or even any verses that did not belong in the Bible, He had many opportunities to reveal it. He spoke confidently of Jonah in the belly of the fish for three days (Mt. 12:40), of Elijah helping the widow (with food and raising her son), (Lk. 4:26), and Elisha cleansing Naaman of his leprosy (Lk. 6:27). While each of these events are amazing and even extraordinary, Jesus confirmed them.
This is our greatest assurance it is all inspired. Since “Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God” (Mt. 16:16) and “God has made Jesus ... both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36), we must trust Him. The integrity of the Bible, all the historical accounts in the Bible, and the truth that Jesus is both Christ and Son of God are linked together with chains of logic that can’t be broken. If we don’t believe the Scriptures He affirmed are true, then is Jesus truly the Son of God in our hearts?
What about the New Testament? Jesus promised that His apostles would be guided into all truth. (Jn. 14:26, 16:13). The books they wrote would allow Him to be with us until the end of the world. (Mt. 28:18-20). When Paul said, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” (2Tim. 3:16), he was speaking of the entire Bible (Old and New Testaments). Peter also affirmed that “prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2Pet. 1:21).
Inspiration means not one single thought of any writer crept into the Scriptures. Moses did not write his own ideas about the creation. He spoke as moved by the Holy Spirit and recorded exactly what occurred. All of the miracles and divine interventions recorded in the Old Testament, and all of the miracles of Jesus and His apostles are historical facts. They used their tongue and held the pen, but the Holy Spirit controlled everything they spoke or wrote (1Cor. 2:9-13). Those who refuse to accept what Paul or any other writer wrote are actually rejecting the Holy Spirit. In all that God commanded through in the Scriptures, “he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.” (1Th. 4:5)
There are grave consequences if we doubt these truths. Consider the domino effect to the validity of the New Testament. If we can’t fully accept any of the words of Jesus as recorded in the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), then four of the books of the NT are no longer Scripture.
The apostles and prophets who wrote the New Testament would also be rejected. Peter spoke of Noah and the flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Balaam’s talking donkey as facts (2Pet. 2:5-7; 15-16). Paul spoke of the opening of the Red Sea, and all the divine dealings with Israel in the wilderness as facts (1Cor. 10:1-11). He proclaimed that Eve did speak to the serpent in the garden of Eden and based God’s commands on the role of women in the church upon it (1Tim. 2:11-15). Paul proclaimed (Eph. 4:3-4) and Peter affirmed (2Pet. 3:15-16) that their writings were inspired Scripture. We can’t pick through their writings and select what we like, agree with, or makes sense to us. If they were inspired, then it is all true. Think about it! If we can’t accept the four gospels, the thirteen books Paul wrote and the two books of Peter, we are rejecting 19 books of the New Testament. But it wouldn’t end there.
Hebrews also spoke of these events as facts. “Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death.” “Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household.” Sarah “bore a child when she was past the age.” “By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.” “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down.” These are only a few of the portions of Hebrews (Heb 11:1-30) that affirm the inspiration of the Old Testament.
The rest of the NT fares the same: James said: “Elijah ... prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” (James 5:17). The gospel of John, the three letters he wrote (1, 2, 3 John) and Revelation would also be impacted. If we can’t trust that Jesus turned 120 to 180 gallons of water into wine, fed 5000 with a few loaves and fish, healed a man born blind and raised Lazarus from the dead, then all John’s writings are not inspired. Acts records Jesus’ ascension and Peter’s affirmation of His resurrection. It records Peter’s healing the lame man, raising Dorcas from the dead and healing the sick. Luke also recorded the sermons, journeys and miracles of Paul. He also raised the dead, healed the lame, and struck Elymas the sorcerer blind. So Acts would also be rejected.
So what does that leave us? By doubting any of the divine interventions recorded in the OT, we are also doubting all the books in the NT. Doubt begins as a trickle, and soon becomes a flood that sweeps it all away. Christianity becomes a hollow religion, based solely upon myths and fables.
Conclusion. There is no question that some of the events recorded in the Scriptures are so amazing they appear to stretch the truth! Yet there is also no question that our Savior knew they were all historical facts. Doubting any one of them equates to doubt in Jesus and His apostles. Paul thanked God that those he preached to accepted all of his message as the Word of God. Could he also thank God for us?
Clearly this is all covered under the definition of faith: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1). Faith gives us all the evidence we need. Think about it! Since God created the heavens and the earth (no arguing that), He can do it any way He chooses and He chose six days (24 hours each). Since God did that, what is so hard about stopping the sun, a virgin birth, feeding 5000 with a few loaves, or a resurrection?
What did Jesus think? He quoted freely from Genesis, the Law, the prophets and the Psalms (Lk. 24:44). He believed them to be so accurate and exact that “not one jot or one tittle” (a dot on one “i” or a cross on one “t”) could pass from the Law until all had been fulfilled (Mt. 5:18). Jesus knew the Old Testament Scriptures were divinely inspired and had been kept pure by the power of God.
Jesus was the Word who became flesh, and “all things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made,” (Jn. 1:1-3). When He spoke of “the beginning of the creation which God created” (Mk. 13:19), He was not only an eyewitness confirming it as the truth, but an active participant in every part of it. He took part in the creation of Adam and Eve (Mt. 19:4-5) and saw Adam and Eve fall into sin and be banished from the garden of Eden. He was also an eyewitness as “Noah entered the ark” and the “the flood came and took them all away.” (Lk. 17:25). He confirmed that “on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all,” (Lk. 17:29).
Jesus had first-hand knowledge. When asked about seeing Abraham, Jesus said “before Abraham was, I AM." (Jn. 8:58). Jesus was an eye witness to every event recorded in the Old Testament. He was living when each book was written and had the opportunity to watch God keep His word perfect and pure down through the centuries. If there were any myths or fables, any books or even any verses that did not belong in the Bible, He had many opportunities to reveal it. He spoke confidently of Jonah in the belly of the fish for three days (Mt. 12:40), of Elijah helping the widow (with food and raising her son), (Lk. 4:26), and Elisha cleansing Naaman of his leprosy (Lk. 6:27). While each of these events are amazing and even extraordinary, Jesus confirmed them.
This is our greatest assurance it is all inspired. Since “Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God” (Mt. 16:16) and “God has made Jesus ... both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36), we must trust Him. The integrity of the Bible, all the historical accounts in the Bible, and the truth that Jesus is both Christ and Son of God are linked together with chains of logic that can’t be broken. If we don’t believe the Scriptures He affirmed are true, then is Jesus truly the Son of God in our hearts?
What about the New Testament? Jesus promised that His apostles would be guided into all truth. (Jn. 14:26, 16:13). The books they wrote would allow Him to be with us until the end of the world. (Mt. 28:18-20). When Paul said, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” (2Tim. 3:16), he was speaking of the entire Bible (Old and New Testaments). Peter also affirmed that “prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2Pet. 1:21).
Inspiration means not one single thought of any writer crept into the Scriptures. Moses did not write his own ideas about the creation. He spoke as moved by the Holy Spirit and recorded exactly what occurred. All of the miracles and divine interventions recorded in the Old Testament, and all of the miracles of Jesus and His apostles are historical facts. They used their tongue and held the pen, but the Holy Spirit controlled everything they spoke or wrote (1Cor. 2:9-13). Those who refuse to accept what Paul or any other writer wrote are actually rejecting the Holy Spirit. In all that God commanded through in the Scriptures, “he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.” (1Th. 4:5)
There are grave consequences if we doubt these truths. Consider the domino effect to the validity of the New Testament. If we can’t fully accept any of the words of Jesus as recorded in the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), then four of the books of the NT are no longer Scripture.
The apostles and prophets who wrote the New Testament would also be rejected. Peter spoke of Noah and the flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Balaam’s talking donkey as facts (2Pet. 2:5-7; 15-16). Paul spoke of the opening of the Red Sea, and all the divine dealings with Israel in the wilderness as facts (1Cor. 10:1-11). He proclaimed that Eve did speak to the serpent in the garden of Eden and based God’s commands on the role of women in the church upon it (1Tim. 2:11-15). Paul proclaimed (Eph. 4:3-4) and Peter affirmed (2Pet. 3:15-16) that their writings were inspired Scripture. We can’t pick through their writings and select what we like, agree with, or makes sense to us. If they were inspired, then it is all true. Think about it! If we can’t accept the four gospels, the thirteen books Paul wrote and the two books of Peter, we are rejecting 19 books of the New Testament. But it wouldn’t end there.
Hebrews also spoke of these events as facts. “Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death.” “Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household.” Sarah “bore a child when she was past the age.” “By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.” “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down.” These are only a few of the portions of Hebrews (Heb 11:1-30) that affirm the inspiration of the Old Testament.
The rest of the NT fares the same: James said: “Elijah ... prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” (James 5:17). The gospel of John, the three letters he wrote (1, 2, 3 John) and Revelation would also be impacted. If we can’t trust that Jesus turned 120 to 180 gallons of water into wine, fed 5000 with a few loaves and fish, healed a man born blind and raised Lazarus from the dead, then all John’s writings are not inspired. Acts records Jesus’ ascension and Peter’s affirmation of His resurrection. It records Peter’s healing the lame man, raising Dorcas from the dead and healing the sick. Luke also recorded the sermons, journeys and miracles of Paul. He also raised the dead, healed the lame, and struck Elymas the sorcerer blind. So Acts would also be rejected.
So what does that leave us? By doubting any of the divine interventions recorded in the OT, we are also doubting all the books in the NT. Doubt begins as a trickle, and soon becomes a flood that sweeps it all away. Christianity becomes a hollow religion, based solely upon myths and fables.
Conclusion. There is no question that some of the events recorded in the Scriptures are so amazing they appear to stretch the truth! Yet there is also no question that our Savior knew they were all historical facts. Doubting any one of them equates to doubt in Jesus and His apostles. Paul thanked God that those he preached to accepted all of his message as the Word of God. Could he also thank God for us?
- For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe (1Th. 2:13).