To ask your “big question”: Text and your question to the number Submit your question to facebook.com/missionpointchurchnj Tweet us: Post them on our BIG QUESTION chalkboard!!

To get answers to your big questions:

The big question: Why should I trust & obey the Bible? Is it really the word of God?

Four responses to the big question: Secular/humanists – “No! Who cares?”

Four responses to the big question: Secular/humanists – “No! Who cares?” Spiritual seekers – “No. It’s a ‘good’ book but not THE good book!”

Four responses to the big question: Secular/humanists – “No! Who cares?” Spiritual seekers – “No. It’s a ‘good’ book but not THE good book!” More liberal Christians – “Probably not. But I like some of it!”

Four responses to the big question: Secular/humanists – “No! Who cares?” Spiritual seekers – “No. It’s a ‘good’ book but not THE good book!” More liberal Christians – “Probably not. But I like some of it!” Evangelical believers – “It is the authoritative, inspired, inerrant word of God!”

No matter what others think or believe… Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear.

No matter what others think or believe… They will reject the truth and follow strange myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at bringing others to Christ. Complete the ministry God has given you. 2 Timothy 4:2-5 (NLT)

The holy Scriptures are inspired & useful: …you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

The holy Scriptures are inspired & useful: All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (NLT)

The process of how we got the Scriptures: Jesus’ sayings were heard/witnessed They were verbally passed on to others Later, the eyewitness accounts were written down and circulated The churches affirmed their use and trustworthiness Centuries later, church council’s confirmed their use and codified the canon

The standards for being included in the “canon”: Inspiration – Did the content appear to be from God or merely the words and opinions of people? Did they bear the mark of divine authority? Universality – Did the writings reflect the unified views of the entire body of believers, or just the beliefs of a special interest group? Apostolicity – Were they written by a known prophet, or just the beliefs of a special interest group?

The standards for being included in the “canon”: Orthodoxy – Are the doctrines/teachings/values in line with the rest of Scripture? Antiquity – Are the writings from Bible times, contemporary Biblical authors, not composed long after the times (even centuries) they are writing about?

3 major claims that skeptics make today: Claim #1: “The Bible has some nice stories, but it’s not like all those events really happened.”

The “evidence that demands a verdict”: Eyewitness Accounts Dr. Luke: “Many people have written accounts about the events that took place among us. They used as their source material the reports circulating among us from the early disciples and other eyewitnesses of what God has done in fulfillment of His promises. Having carefully investigated all of these accounts from the beginning, I have decided to write a careful summary for you, to reassure you of the truth of all you were taught.” Luke 1:1-3

The “evidence that demands a verdict”: Eyewitness Accounts The Apostle Peter: “For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and His coming again. We have seen His majestic splendor with our own eyes... we ourselves heard... we were with Him.” 2 Peter 1:16ff

The “evidence that demands a verdict”: Eyewitness Accounts The Beloved Disciple – John: “We are telling you about what we ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us.” 1 John 1:3

The “evidence that demands a verdict”: Extra-Biblical Accounts “So firm is the ground upon which these Gospels rest that the very heretics themselves bear witness to them, and starting from these, each one of them endeavors to establish his own particular doctrine.” - Irenaeus – 2nd Century Christian

The “evidence that demands a verdict”: Extra-Biblical Accounts “About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Christ. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing among us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to love him did not give up their affection for him…

The “evidence that demands a verdict”: Extra-Biblical Accounts “On the third day he appeared to them restored to life, for the prophets of God had prophesied these and countless other marvelous things about him. And the tribe of Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared.” Josephus – 1st Century Jewish Historian

The “evidence that demands a verdict”: Extra-Biblical Accounts “Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate, and a mot mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome...

The “evidence that demands a verdict”: Extra-Biblical Accounts “Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty: then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hated against mankind.” Tacitus – 1st Century Roman Historian

The “evidence that demands a verdict”: Archaeological Evidence “Luke is an historian of the first rank. Not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy, but this author should be placed along with the very greatest of historians. Luke’s history is unsurpassed in respect of its trustworthiness.” - Sir William Ramsey

3 major claims that skeptics make today: Claim #2: “The Bible has some good teaching, but there’s no way to prove that God was involved writing it.”

Fulfillment of prophecy: a. In Micah 5:2 - Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. b. In Zechariah 11:12 - sold for 30 shekels of silver. c. In Psalm 22:16 - hands and feet pierced.

Question: “Couldn’t these fulfillments have happened by accident?

The odds of only 8 of these prophecies fulfilled = 1 in 100 quadrillion (a 1 with 17 zeroes after it) OR 100,000,000,000,000,000

The odds of 48 of these prophecies being fulfilled = a 1 with 157 zeroes after it!! 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,00 0,000,000,000,000,000,000000, ,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,0 00,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

…and Jesus fulfills all 61!

3 major claims that skeptics make today: Claim #3: “The Bible that we have today is not the same that the original authors wrote (and is therefore not to be trusted).”

“How can we know that what we have now is an accurate reflection of the originals?” The number of manuscripts/copies that we have available to us. The Bible – 24,000 copies/fragments – within years of Jesus’ life Homer’s Iliad - only 643 copies/fragments – a 500 year gap

“How can we know that what we have now is an accurate reflection of the originals?” The gap between the writing of the original and the copies! Caesar’s Gallic Wars – only 10 good copies – a 1,000 gap Aristotle’s writings – only 49 copies – over a 1,400 year gap

“How can we know that what we have now is an accurate reflection of the originals?” The lack of any major textual deviation. Of the over 500 pages in the Greek NT, less than ½ of 1 handwritten page are even disputed. And, none of those deviations change any of the major doctrinal teachings of Scripture at all!

The Bible was written… … over 1500 year span, …over 40 generations, …over 40 authors, …over 3 different continents, …in 3 different languages, …covering 100’s of subjects AND…it is… THE MOST HISTORICALLY VERIFIABLE BOOK IN THE WORLD… … with ONE CENTRAL THEME!

The big question: “Why are people [WHY AM I] so interested in being able to deny the accuracy of the Bible?” THE ANSWER: “Because the Bible makes claims on you.” Your APPLICATION: What are you going to do about it?