The Proof of the Promise
We are beginning a series of messages asking a crucial question, “Can I Trust the Bible?” If we as Christians are to build our lives on the truth of God’s word and if we affirm it as the inspired word of God, we need to know if we can actually trust it.
God has made a lot of promises and some of his promises even about his word. In 2 Timothy, God promises that the Bible is God-Breathed. Jesus promised in Matthew 24:35 that his words would not pass away. Isaiah told us that the word of God would not return void.
God is a promise-keeper and his promises about his word are good and true. The Apostle Peter wrote to the early church and told them that the stories they were sharing about Jesus weren’t legends or myths but they were eyewitnesses to these happenings.
We can trust Gods word! When we consider the carefulness and accuracy by which it was transcribed and consider the wholistic nature of its narrative, we should affirm it as the reliable source of God’s truth in our lives.
God has promised things about his word, but it is not just for us to take those promises at face value. We should take a closer look at how we got the scripture. Rewind the clock four to six thousand years and what we know of the early parts of the Bible (Genesis and Job) were not written anywhere. The Bible began as an oral or spoken tradition passed down generation to generation. HOLD UP! The skeptic, or anyone who has ever played a game of telephone, might exclaim. This tradition was FAR more complex than simply “I think grandma said this happened”. This was intentional and purposeful, slowly teaching the memorization of the scripture through song and rhythm.
As written language was developed, scribes went through an exhaustive process to write scripture. They had ultra-specific guidelines for the parchment and ink that would be used. Also included was a careful review process which included rules like the letters, words, and paragraphs had to be counted, and the document became invalid if two letters touched each other.
Every time before these scribes would copy down “Jehovah” (the name of God), they would wipe their pen and wash their entire body…. EVERY TIME… This was intentional and meticulous because this was important.
In 1948, a shepherd found what came to be known as the Dead Sea Scrolls in a cave in Israel. The finding would produce multiple copies of every Old Testament book with the exception of Esther. These scrolls, which were written between 100 BC and 100 AD, matched the manuscripts used to translate the Bibles we read in English today almost exactly. The differences in them were only a few minor uses of punctuation and spelling, none of which would impact ANY of the doctrinal teachings of scripture.
The book we hold, the Word of God, it was not thrown together. It was not accidental. The evidence concludes what Peter told the early church: God’s Word was not contrived by man but by a working of the Holy Spirit.
The greatest evidence of the truth of God’s Word is that it has been confirmed and affirmed in Jesus. “We also have the prophetic Word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19 CSB) Peter says that the prophecies have been STRONGLY confirmed in Jesus.
Scripture is composed of 66 books, written by 40 authors over several thousand years in three different languages, but it has one clear message. The story of scripture is the story of Jesus and God’s plan to redeem humanity through His death, burial, and resurrection.
Throughout Scripture, we see Jesus. Jesus is present in creation and the promised redeemer in Genesis. In Exodus, he’s the Passover Lamb. In Leviticus, he’s our great High Priest. In Numbers, he’s the water in the desert. In Deuteronomy, he is the one who takes the curse of our sins. In Joshua, he’s the Commander of the Army of the Lord. In Judges, he is the one who delivers us from injustice. In Ruth, he’s our Kinsman-Redeemer. In 1 Samuel, Jesus is all in one: Prophet/Priest/King, and in Second Samuel, he’s the King full of grace and love.
Still don’t believe me? In 1 Kings, he’s a Ruler greater than Solomon, and in 2 Kings, he’s the Powerful Prophet. First and Second Chronicles show him as the (1) Son of David coming to rule and the King who will reign for all eternity. In Ezra, he’s the Priest proclaiming freedom, and in Nehemiah, he’s the one who restores what has been broken. We see Jesus in Esther as the protector of his people and in Job as the mediator between God and man.
In the Psalms, we sing to Jesus, our song in the morning and in the night. Proverbs shows us that Jesus is our great wisdom. In Ecclesiastes, he’s our meaning for life, and in the Song of Songs, he’s the author of faithful love.
The Prophets speak of Jesus, where in Isaiah he’s the suffering servant, in Jeremiah. He’s the weeping Messiah, in Lamentations and he assumes God’s wrath. Ezekiel prophecies of the Son of Man and Daniel tells of the Fourth man in the Fire who is like a son of the gods. Hosea tells us of Jesus, the faithful husband even when we run. Joel tells us he’s the one who will send his Spirit to the people. In Amos he’s the one who delivers justice to the oppressed and in Obadiah he’s the judge of those who do evil. In Jonah he’s the great missionary. In Micah he cast our sin into the sea of forgetfulness. Nahum proclaims his future Kingdom of world peace. Habakkuk tells of the one who will crush injustice. Zephaniah tells us of the warrior who saves. In Haggai he’s the one who restores our worship, in Zechariah he’s the Messiah who is pierced for us and in Malachi he’s the sun of righteousness who brings healing.
AND THAT’S JUST THE OLD TESTAMENT!!!
Matthew tells us he’s King, Mark tells us he’s servant, Luke tells us he’s the deliverer and John tells us he’s God in flesh. Acts tells us that his Spirit gives power. Romans tells us Jesus is the righteousness of God. Paul tells the Corinthians that he is the Power and Love of God (1 Corinthians) and that he is the down payment of what is to come (2 Corinthians).
In Galatians, Jesus is our very life. In Ephesians, he’s the unity of our church. In Philippians, he’s the joy of our lives, and in Colossians, he holds the supreme position in all things. 1 Thessalonians tells us he’s our comfort in the last days, and 2 Thessalonians tells us he’s our returning King. In 1 Timothy, Jesus is the Savior of the worst sinners, and in 2 Timothy, he’s the leader of leaders. In Titus, Jesus is the foundation of truth, and in Philemon, he’s our mediator.
The Author of Hebrews calls him our Great High Priest. James tells of the one who brings our faith to maturity. In 1 Peter, he’s our living hope, and in 2 Peter, he’s the one who guards us from false teaching. In 1 John, he’s the source of all fellowship, in 2 John, he’s God in the flesh, and in 3 John, he’s the source of all faith. In Jude, he’s the one who protects us from stumbling. In Revelation, he’s the King of all Kings, the Lord of all Lords, the one who opens the scroll, the Alpha and Omega, and the Lamb of God slain before the foundations of the world.
Can I Trust the Bible? You can bet your life on it! This word isn’t a book contrived or collected by mankind! This is the living, breathing, active word of God, which was confirmed in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus!
