"Through the Bible in 7 hours" session 1

Goooooooood morning! We have an exciting announcement for you this morning. We are going to be going through the book “Through the Bible in 7 hours!” I’m not sure how many hours it is actually going to take but we are going to take it one session at a time.

In today’s session we are going to talk about:

The Student (which is all of us) and the Scripture.

We are also going to hit on inspiration and preservation again! Let’s pray

Well, now here we go!

So the first key to understanding the Bible is us, the students.

What tools are required to study the Bible?

A lot of people are going to say that they need to go to church, or they need the concordance or a clergyman or somebody with a special calling from God. Some people think that the Bible can’t really be understood so why even try to. Good grief, look at all the different denominations that there are! I think we have about 8 different churches in our town and there are only about 3000 people here! And guess what, they all teach a little bit differently. How can this possibly happen!?!?

So here is what God requires..... it’s only one tool..... Do you know what it is?

It’s His Spirit! look with me at 1 Corinthians 2:9-14

[1Co 2:9-14 KJV] 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.

In other words, we need to be confident that we have God’s Spirit.

Now, how do we receive God’s Spirit?

How can I be 100% sure that He is my PERSONAL teacher?

Well for that, let’s look at Ephesians 1:13-14

[Eph 1:13-14 KJV] 13 In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

FIrst you have to hear the word of truth. “after that ye HEARD the word of truth”

Then you have to believe that truth personally. “the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed”

THAT is when you receive the Holy Spirit. “ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise” “which is the earnest of our inheritance”

What then is “the gospel of your salvation” that must be heard and believed?

For that we are going to jump to 1 Corinthians 15 verses 3-4

[1Co 15:3-4 KJV] 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Christ DIED for OUR sins!

He was then BURIED!

And on the third day HE ROSE AGAIN!

But why?

Why did Christ die for OUR sins?

Romans 6:23 says:

[Rom 6:23 KJV] 23 For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

And Romans 5:8 says:

[Rom 5:8 KJV] 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

This is saying that Christ died for who? He died for US! God gave his son to die for US! Can it get any more exciting? How incredible to know this!

Let’s stay in Romans one more time and look at Romans 4:25

[Rom 4:25 KJV] 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

This is the significance of Christ’s resurrection. It was for our justification!

So, what is God’s first requirement for understanding His Word?

Acknowledgte you are a sinner and cannot save yourself

Realize the full payment must be made for you sins and that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sins with HIS blood on the cross

And Rely EXCLUSIVELY on the Lord Jesus Christ to be the savior He died, was buried and rose again to be for you as your only hope for eternal life.

Now the second key is the Scripture

We need to be confident that the book that we have in our hands is actually written by the Spirit of God for our edification.

This is where the inspiration comes in...

2 Timothy 3:14-17 says

[2Ti 3:14-17 KJV] 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned [them]; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The WORDS are inspired, not the writers.

Now we are going to just touch a bit on inspiration and preservation because we have already done a couple videos on these things. If you want to hear more, please go find those videos and check them out. Now, on with the show!!

[Mat 4:4 KJV] 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

[Mar 12:36 KJV] 36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

[Act 1:16 KJV] 16 Men [and] brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

[Act 28:25 KJV] 25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

[2Pe 1:21 KJV] 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.

Now let’s refresh on a little bit of preservation:

2 Timothy 3:15 tells us that “from a child” Timothy had known “the holy Scriptures”

Do you think that Timothy had the originals? The ones that had been written by the actual writers, or do you think he had copies of the originals?

God has preserved His words in a book, but he has also preserved them throughout history so that people from all generations can have them.

[Isa 30:8 KJV] 8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:

[Psa 12:6-7 KJV] 6 The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

[1Pe 1:23-25 KJV] 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

[Deu 17:18-19 KJV] 18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of [that which is] before the priests the Levites: 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:

Now let’s look into Identification. How do we know which Bible is the one God has preserved? Well, let’s examine the evidence.

2 Corinthians 2:17 warns that there are “many which corrupt the Word of God.”

Let’s look at 2 Sam 21:19

In the KJV it says:

[2Sa 21:19 KJV] 19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew [the brother of] Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear [was] like a weaver's beam.

And in the NASB it says:

[2Sa 21:19 NASB20] 19 And there was war with the Philistines again at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

So who killed Goliath? Well it was obviously David that killed Goliath, so why would it say tha it was Elhanan in the NASB?

[1Sa 17:50 KJV] 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but [there was] no sword in the hand of David.

[1Sa 17:50 NASB20] 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with the sling and the stone: he struck the Philistine and killed him, and there was no sword in David's hand.

Seems to me that they both agree here that it was David. Interesting that one version contradicts and the other doesn’t........ Almost as though it was corrupt

Now let’s look at Matt 17:21

[Mat 17:21 KJV] 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

[Mat 17:21 NLT] 21

[Mat 17:21 NIV] 21

[Mat 17:21 NASB20] 21

How about Acts 8:37?

[Act 8:37 KJV] 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

[Act 8:37 NASB20] 37

[Act 8:37 NLT] 37

[Act 8:37 ESV] 37

What does Eph 3:9 say?

[Eph 3:9 KJV] 9 And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

[Eph 3:9 NLT] 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.

[Eph 3:9 NIV] 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

The evidence shows us that when we hold a King James Bible in our hands we have the very word of God in our possession in our own language.

Now why are these things that important? Why does it matter if they left something out or changed something?

Well for that, let’s turn to Nehemiah 9:5

[Neh 9:5 KJV] 5 ............. Stand up [and] bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

His name is ABOVE ALL things.

[Psa 138:2 KJV] 2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

God has placed His Word above His Name

Psalm 19:7-10

[Psa 19:7-9 KJV] 7 The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD [are] right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD [is] pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD [is] clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD [are] true [and] righteous altogether.

The Word is Perfect!

[1Th 2:13 KJV] 13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

The Word works when believed.

How amazing is it that we have a copy of the original writings from God?! The words breathed from the mouth of God into the people who transcribed it. God’s word is perfect and should not be changed in any way.

Next week we are going to go over the third key which is “The Study” and the fourth key which is “The Secret”. Until then, have a blessed week and remember to Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.