INSPIRED MESSAGE & MESSENGER 2 Peter 1:20,21 John 14:26; 16:12-15 1 Peter 1:12 1 Corinthians 7:40; 1 Timothy 4:1 Galatians 1:11,12 “The special supernatural supervision exercised by God over His messengers to make sure they communicate His message accurately”

NOT JUST IDEAS, BUT THE VERY WORDS THEMSELVES 1 Corinthians 2:11-13 Matthew 4:4 “every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” 1 Corinthians 2:4 “in demonstration of the Spirit” Genesis 22:18 “seed” not “seeds” Matthew 5:18 Plenary inspiration of the Bible

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT INERRANCY? Key part of Biblical doctrine of inspiration is the concept of inerrancy “Inerrant” means “without error, mistake, contradiction or falsehood.” Bible teaches: Major Premise: Every word of God is true – John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 6:7; Colossians 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:15; James 1:18; Titus 2:12

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT INERRANCY? Minor Premise: The Bible is God’s Word – Matthew 15:6; Mark 7:13; Romans 9:6; Psalm 119:105; Romans 3:2; Hebrews 5:12; 2 Timothy 3:16 The Bible is true, that is, inerrant – John 10:35 Conclusion: Every Word of God is true; they Bible is the Word of God; therefore, the Bible is inerrant

ENDURING WORD Matthew 24:35 “my words shall not pass away.” King James Version, New King James Version, American Standard Version, New American Standard Version The Bible is “profitable for doctrine, reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness..” 2 Timothy 3:16,17

GIVE DILIGENCE TO STUDY 2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God…rightly dividing the word of truth” Colossians 3:16 “word of Christ dwell in you richly…teaching and admonishing” Colossians 3:17 “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” 1 Peter 4:11 “speak as the oracles of God”

REASON ALONE VS THE BIBLE Rationalism is a conscious effort to eliminate God & His revelation from man’s rational faculty Romans 1:22,23 “worshiped & served the creature rather than the Creator” Rationalism, Humanism, Materialism, Empiricism, Existentialism, or Scientism – common denominator is the idol of SELF Will man worship his Creator or will he insist on worshiping himself?

ATHEISM OR ANTI-THEISM OF RATIONALISM “There are no supernatural forces, no supernatural entities such as gods, or heavens, or hells, or life after death. There are no supernatural forces, nor can there be. We atheists believe nature simply exists. Matter is. Material is.” M.M. O’Hair “Humanists regard the universe as self- existing and not created.” Humanist Manifesto

“HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW?” None of these statements have anything to do with science Merely Presuppositions Started with a view of the universe, a philosophy of life or worldview and have superimposed that view onto their findings

MATERIALISTIC RATIONIST CANNOT REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE Speaking of origins they have entered the realm of religion & metaphysics Materialistic Rationalists would have us believe: 1) Everything came from nothing 2) Order came from Chaos 3) Harmony came from discord 4) Life came from non-life 5) Reason came from amorality

BELIEVING THESE THINGS TAKE MORE FAITH THAN BELIEVING GOD CREATED THE UNIVERSE Atheistic, materialistic rationalists have become dominant in our society. Sanctioned by U. S. Supreme Court, only metaphysical or religious presuppositions permitted in public schools are humanistic Not only is this situation ungodly, it is not the fair play we normally associated with the “American way.”

SOME MAY THINK WE ARE JUST “ANTI-INTELLECTUAL” Not against “reason” or “science” God gave man the faculty of reason We believe we are under Biblical obligation to out-think, out-live, and out-die the pagans The Christian does not oppose true science The Christian is not afraid some new discovery will destroy his faith

MODERN SCIENCE OWES ITS EXISTENCE TO THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN THE GOD OF THE BIBLE Sir Isaac Newton- what he was ultimately trying to do was to think God thoughts after Him Science can provide some of the information man needs to know about himself & the world he lives in – Romans 1:20 Drawing conclusions only on verifiably observable evidence involves one in “non sequitur” reasoning To understand “big picture” need divine revelation – 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 Man cannot direct own steps – Jeremiah 10:23

PSALM 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:” Truth not acknowledged by agnostics, atheists, materialists, rationalists, & humanists Unfortunately this truth lost on those who call themselves Christians We have been slow to respond to the threat of secular humanism

WHAT IS THE REMEDY? God’s Word of course! We are under obligation to “not be conformed to this world,” Romans 12:2 Ephesians 2:10 Ephesians 4:17,18, 22-24 1 Peter 1:13 Colossians 2:8 2 Corinthians 10:4,5

IS IT POSSIBLE TO KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT OURSELVES & THE UNIVERSE? YES! BUT ONLY THROUGH GOD’S DIVINE REVELATION IN NATURE & HIS SPECIAL REVELEATION, THE BIBLE