(From Gods Answers To Mans Questions by Dr. Alban Douglas, downloadable for free)
The Bible
Lesson 32 — The Bible
INTRODUCTION
Next to the gift of Christ and the Holy Spirit, the Bible is the third greatest gift.
Sir Walter Scott, himself the author of many books and the possessor of a great library, said, “There is but one book, the Bible."
The Bible is the oldest book in existence. It required sixteen centuries to write it; the first writer died 1450 years before the last writer was born.
The Bible lends itself to translation and has been translated in whole or in part in more than a thousand languages and dialects.
I. SEVEN CROWNING WONDERS OF THE BIBLE (pamphlet by Rev. Dyson Hague)
1. The wonder of its formation; one book written in one place in one language, another book written in another country centuries later in another language.
2. The wonder of its unification; it is a library of 66 books, yet only one book, for it has but one author, the Holy Spirit. There are no contradictions.
3. The wonder of its age; it is the most ancient of all books.
4. The wonder of its sale; it is the best seller of all time.
5. The wonder of its interest; it is the only book that is read by 'all classes, and ages of mankind ' It is read by sages and children; read by all nations.
6. The wonder of its language; it was written largely by uneducated men, yet it is considered a literary masterpiece.
7. The wonder of its preservation; it has been the most hated of all books. Time and again kings and governments have sought to burn and abolish it. Yet God has preserved it for us today and it can be found in almost every home.
II. SEVEN SYMBOLS USED TO ILLUSTRATE THE WORD OF GOD
1. A Sword; The Bible is a pointed Word that convicts the hearer.
Heb 4:12, "For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit."
2. A Hammer; The Bible is powerful and breaks the resistance of the hearer.
Jer 23:29, "Is not My Word. . . saith the Lord . . . like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?"
3. A Seed; The Bible is a living Word regenerating the hearer.
I Pet 1:23, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible (seed), by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."
4. A Mirror; The Bible is a faithful Word, revealing the individual to himself.
James 1:23-25 likens the Bible to a mirror, in which the sinner (or saint) looks and sees a true reflection of himself as portrayed by the Lord Himself.
5. A Fire; The Bible is a burning Word, consuming the dross in the hearer.
Jer 23:29, "Is not My Word like as a fire? saith the Lord"
Jer 20:9, "But His Word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones.?
6. A Lamp; The Bible is an illuminating Word guiding the believer day by day.
Psa 119:105, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
7. Food. The Bible is nourishing food, feeding the soul (providing meat and drink).
I Pet 2:2, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby." See also Heb 5:12-14.
I Cor 3:2, "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat."
Rom 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."
The Word of God convicts, breaks, regenerates, reveals, consumes, illuminates and nourishes the individual.
III. SEVEN REASONS FOR PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD
In Mark 2:2, Jesus faced the multitude and made a tremendous decision; it was to preach the Word of God.
We are sent to preach not a new Church but Christ as He is revealed in the Bible.
We insist on preaching the Bible because it endures for time and eternity.
Isa 40:8, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the Word of God shall stand for ever."
1. Conviction of sin comes through the preaching of the Word of God, Acts 2:14-37. In Peter's Pentecost sermon nine verses out of 23 are quotations from the Old Testament.
2. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Rom 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."
3. Cleansing comes from the Word of God. II Cor. 7:1, "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." The promises are the words of God.
4. Assurance comes from the Word of God. I John 5:13, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know ye have eternal life "
5. Comfort comes from the Word of God. I Thess. 4:18, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (These words are the words recorded in the Bible)
6. Truth comes from the Word of God. Acts 17:11, "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so."
7. The new birth comes from the Word of God. I Pet. 1:23, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God."
IV. SEVEN REASONS WHY SOME DO NOT READ THE WORD OF GOD Jer 15:16
1. Ignorant of its truths; ignorant of its formation and the information available.
2. Already eaten--feeding on ashes, Isa 44:20; feeding on politics, comics, etc.
3. Sickness; a sin-sick soul has no appetite for the Word of God.
4. Lunching between meals; living in the light, frivolous non-essentials of life.
5. The Book lacks flavour for some; business, sports, education have taken prime interest.
6. The Book is too sweet, Rev 10:8-10; the Book was sweet as honey in the mouth.
Some think the Bible is only for the sick, aged and the dying; too sweet and sentimental for practical, healthy people.
7. The Book is too bitter, Rev. 10:8-10; as soon as he had eaten the Book it became bitter in his belly. The truths of judgment, hell and sin are too bitter and some are afraid to read the Bible.
Let us say with Jeremiah in 15:16, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart."
V. SEVEN POINTS TO REMEMBER IN READING THE BIBLE
1. Read it lovingly. The Bible is the Word of my Saviour to me, Psa 119:11.
2. Read it reverently. The Bible is the Word of God, the Almighty Saviour and Judge.
3. Read it prayerfully. The Bible is God's message to me, to my own heart and life.
4. Read it meditatively. Be like Isaac of old and meditate on the Word of God.
5. Read it systematically. Read right through the Bible, not just selected portions.
6. Read it resolutely. I will obey that which my Father teaches me from His Book.
7. Read it daily. Not just on Sundays but every day of your life read a portion.
CONCLUSION
Make the Bible your constant guide and companion in life.
The Bible is the Word of God; it is worthy of being believed.
Breathe a prayer for the Holy Spirit to help you understand the sacred pages.
The Word of God, if neglected, will be our Judge at the last day, John 12:48.
Lord teach me to treasure this volume highly; to defend it when necessary and make me bold to proclaim the whole counsel of God.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
311. Tell 5 things about the Bible.
312. List the 7 crowning wonders of the Bible.
313. List 7 symbols used to illustrate the Word of God.
314. Give 7 things that the Word of God does for an individual.
315. What do we learn about the Bible from Heb 4:12? (5 things)
316. Give 2 reasons why Jesus preached the Word of God in Mark 2:2.
317. Give 7 reasons why some do not read the Word of God.
318. How should one read the Bible?
319. Give 7 reasons why Jesus preached the Word of God.
320. What is the solemn thought from John 12:48?