25/07/2020
THE BIBLE IS GOD'S WORD
INTRODUCTION: FACTS ABOUT THE BIBLE
1. It is consistently the world's best seller.
2. Originally written in three languages - Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, the Bible is the book that has been translated into more languages than any other book.
3. It is the most persecuted book. Many tried to destroy it by burning, banning them, yet it still is the book that is most found in homes, hospitals and other institutions.
4. It is one of the oldest books in the world yet its message is applicable to modern times. It gives answers to the greatest questions that man asks through generations: `Where I came from?', `Where am I going?', `Why I am here?' These facts tell us that the Bible is not an ordinary book.

THE BIBLE - GOD'S WORD FOR MANKIND
1. The Bible is God's written revelation to man through the process called inspiration. Many different people wrote the Bible by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:
(2TI 3:16) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
2. The Bible has one central theme - Even though the Bible is made up of 66 books, it has one central theme: GOD'S REDEMPTION PLAN FOR MANKIND. This theme is developed from the Old Testament to the New Testament.
The Old Testament, tells of God's work of raising up a nation through which Jesus, the Son of God, the Redeemer will come forth. The New Testament tells about the birth, life, ministry, substitutionary death on the cross and resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Redeemer.

3. The greatest promise in the Bible
John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
THE PURPOSE FOR THE BIBLE
1. The main reason why God gave us the Bible is for us to know the way of salvation: The Bible teaches the way of salvation which is through faith in Christ Jesus.
(2TI 3:15) ...you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
(EPH 2:8) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
(ROM 3:22-24) This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
(ROM 9:30-32) What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the 'stumbling stone'.�
(ACT 15:9) He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.
(GEN 15:6) Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
2. God's word further teaches the believer how to live for God. To be a Christian is not just having a religion. It's having a living relationship with the Holy God. Thus a Christian, ought to live a holy life as the God he believes in.
(2PE 1:3,4) His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
(PSA 119:9-11) How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
CONCLUSION:
Through the Bible, God communicates to man His loving plan of salvation. God saw to it that this plan is given in the written form so we can be certain about the way of salvation.
