Auburn SDA Church
Inspiration and Revelation
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  • Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
  • O Shepherd Divine
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      • 2 Timothy 3.16-17NKJV

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    Requested Topic
    Sermon Series.
    ​
    Revelation and Inspiration
    The Cannon
    The Apocrypha and the Pseudepigrapha
    The Lost Books
    Dating of Books
    Transmission
    Translations
    How to Study and Interpret the Bible
    Hermeneutics
    Historical critical method
    ​
    Speaking of Bible
    Psalms says:
    Psalm 119:105 (ESV)
    Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path.
    ​
    How is the bible
    “word of God”?
    “Are they God’s words?
    Or the prophets words>
    What is inspiration?
    How does it work?
    What is Revelation?
    ​

    The Nature of Inspiration

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    One of the most clear
    passages on the topic
    is this one:
    ​
    2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)
    All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
    ​
    NKJV says:
    All Scripture is given by inspiration of God
    ​
    How much scripture?
    All..
    ​
    This means
    there are no parts
    of our Bible
    that are not inspired.
    ​
    The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7 (16. All Scripture)
    God does not authorize men to attempt to differentiate between that which they suppose to be divinely inspired and that which they assume to be merely a product of human ingenuity.
    ​
    The entire Bible
    was given from God
    to humanity.
    ​
    None of it is,
    not important
    uninspired
    unholy.
    ​
    But what does it mean
    Bible was given by
    “inspiration of God”?
    ​
    Look at ESV:
    2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
    All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
    ​
    This phrase
    “given by inspiration of God”
    ​
    Literally means:
    “God-breathed”
    ​
    What does that mean?
    “God inspired”
    ​
    In other words,
    the source of all
    words in the Bible
    from the mind of God.
    ​
    Great Controversy Introduction

    The Infinite One by His Holy Spirit has shed light into the minds and hearts of His servants. He has given dreams and visions, symbols and figures; and those to whom the truth was thus revealed have themselves embodied the thought in human language.

    ​
    God gave prophets
    Bible through
    inspiration.
    ​
    How?
    Numbers 12:6 ESV
    And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.
    ​
    God speaks directly
    to the prophet
    through a vision
    or a dream.
    ​
    Gipsy Smith told of a man who said he had received no inspiration from the Bible although he had “gone through it several times.” “Let it go through you once,” replied Smith, “Then you will tell a different story!”
    Source: The Speaker’s Quote Book, Roy B. Zuck
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    Infallibility of Scripture
    ​
    This is a good point
    to note that
    if all scripture came
    from perfect God
    “breathed by God”
    it is infallible word.
    ​
    Proverbs says:
    Proverbs 30:5–6 (ESV)
    Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
    ​
    God’s words are
    always true.
    ​
    We dare not cavil
    over the parts
    we don’t want
    accept
    apply.
    ​
    … There may appear, to the superficial, careless, or prejudiced reader, to be discrepancy or contradiction, where the thoughtful, reverent student, with clearer insight, discerns the underlying harmony.
    ​
    In future sermon
    talk about
    transmission of bible.
    imperfections in copying.
    ​
    Even then
    God’s word is true.
    protected by Him.
    ​
    Romans 3:3–4 (HCSB)
    What then? If some did not believe, will their unbelief cancel God’s faithfulness? Absolutely not! God must be true, even if everyone is a liar...
    ​
    God and His Word always:
    true
    right
    perfect
    holy
    ​
    We take it seriously
    unlike this cartoon...

    Spend time in Bible
    read it
    memorize it.
    ​

    Biblical Definition of Inspiration

    ​
    You may be wondering
    “God spoke to prophets
    they wrote Bible.”
    How? I don’t get it...”
    ​
    Lets go into more detail.
    ​
    Firstly,
    inspiration is miracle
    cannot be fully understood.
    ​
    But can understand a lot.
    ​
    Key verse:
    2 Peter 1:20–21 ESV
    knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
    ​
    “Prophecy” here means
    entire Bible.
    ​
    The Bible is not
    opinions of people.
    NOT “produced by will of man”
    ​
    2 Peter 1:21 NKJV
    for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
    ​
    These prophets
    were holy men (and women).
    ​
    Selected by God.
    told what to
    speak
    write.
    ​
    Great Controversy Introduction

    God has been pleased to communicate His truth to the world by human agencies, and He Himself, by His Holy Spirit, qualified men and enabled them to do this work. He guided the mind in the selection of what to speak and what to write. The treasure was entrusted to earthen vessels, yet it is, nonetheless, from Heaven. The testimony is conveyed through the imperfect expression of human language, yet it is the testimony of God; and the obedient, believing child of God beholds in it the glory of a divine power, full of grace and truth.

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    From mind of God
    to mind of prophet.
    ​
    Prophet uses
    their own words
    to explain
    message from God.
    ​
    Good Luck Charm
    Too often we treat Bible
    like good luck charm
    don’t read God’s words.
    ​
    In George Foreman’s book, God in My Corner, the former heavyweight boxing champion writes: “In 1974, before I went to Africa to fight Muhammad Ali, a friend gave me a Bible to take along on my trip. He said, ‘George, keep this with you for good luck.’ I believed the Bible was just a shepherd’s handbook, probably because the only verse I knew was ‘the Lord is my shepherd.’ But I was always looking for luck, so I carried that Bible with me. I had lucky pennies and good luck charms, so now I added the ‘lucky’ Bible to my collection of superstitious items.
    After I lost the fight, I threw the Bible away. I never even opened it. I thought, The Bible didn’t help me win, so why do I need it? I thought I’d get power simply from owning it; I didn’t realize that I needed to read it and believe what it says. Since then, I’ve come to understand that the Bible is my road map, not my good luck charm.”
    ​

    Inspired vs. Inspiration of Bible

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    By now,
    we should understand
    experience of prophet
    special and unique.
    ​
    Some say,
    God speaks to all.
    ​
    This is true...
    ​
    God speaks to us
    through His word
    through His Holy Spirit
    impresses our mind.
    ​
    We use the word
    “inspired”
    saw a beautiful painting
    listened to a nice poem.
    ​
    Clarify...
    this is not
    experience of prophet.
    ​
    They have
    visions and dreams.
    ​
    Specially selected to
    communicated God’s will
    to other people.
    ​
    These are not
    dreams from
    eating too much pizza/ice cream!
    ​
    Hangover
    ​
    Great Controversy Introduction

    The Ten Commandments were spoken by God Himself, and were written by His own hand. They are of divine, and not of human composition. But the Bible, with its God-given truths expressed in the language of men, presents a union of the divine and the human. Such a union existed in the nature of Christ, who was the Son of God and the Son of man. Thus it is true of the Bible, as it was of Christ, that “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” John 1:14.

    ​
    Bible is
    Word made flesh
    And it has
    words we need.
    ​
    A park ranger at Yellowstone National Park was leading a group of hikers to a fire lookout. The ranger was so intent on telling the hikers about the flowers and animals that he considered the messages on his two-way radio distracting, so he switched it off. As the group neared the tower, the ranger was met by a nearly breathless lookout, who asked why he hadn’t responded to the messages on his radio. A grizzly bear had been seen stalking the group, and the authorities were trying to warn them of the danger.
    ​

    Personal Encounter vs. Prophetic Communication

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    Because we are not
    all prophets.
    ​
    Many people wonder
    exactly what the
    experience of prophet
    is like...
    ​
    People come up with
    different ideas.
    ​
    The Encounter Theory of Revelation
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    “Encounter theory argued that revelation consisted of an existential encounter between the prophet and God in which God did not communicate any information to the human instrument.
    --
    The content of the Bible is the prophets’ feeble and fallible interpretation of that personal encounter.” — BRI April 26, 2005
    ​
    In other words
    God inspired prophets
    just like I’m inspired
    by God’s Spirit
    speaking to me.
    ​
    This does not
    accord with the Bible.
    ​
    In Bible
    prophets are clear...
    God told them
    you must say this...
    ​
    Ezekiel 2:7 ESV
    And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.
    ​
    and
    ​
    Jeremiah 1:7 (ESV)
    But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
    ​
    God told them
    exactly what to say
    to other people.
    ​
    They were not just
    having encounter
    with God
    as you and I.
    ​
    “They make clear that God was involved in the revelation/inspiration process from beginning to end and that the way the prophets expressed the divine thought was under the guidance of the Spirit.” —BRI April 26, 2005
    ​
    What God communicates
    to the prophet is
    not feeling of humans
    but Word of God!!!
    ​
    This is how
    Bible can be
    measure of truth!
    ​
    Isaiah 8:20 NKJV
    To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
    ​
    ​
    ​

    Thought Inspiration vs. Verbal Inspiration

    ​
    Alluded to it already
    now nail it down...
    ​
    Is the Bible inspired
    Verbal Inspiration
    Thought Inspiration
    ​
    Define Terms
    Verbal = word for word
    Thought = ideas
    ​
    Example:
    ​
    Jeremiah 1:11–12 ESV
    And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond branch.” Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”
    ​
    God brings vision
    asks “what do you see”
    ​
    Jeremiah uses his word
    explain what is seen.
    ​
    God guides process
    assures Jeremiah
    what to write.
    ​
    Great Controversy Introduction

    The Bible points to God as its author; yet it was written by human hands; and in the varied style of its different books it presents the characteristics of the several writers. The truths revealed are all “given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16); yet they are expressed in the words of men.

    ​
    The Bible is
    expressed in
    “words of men.”
    ​
    Which means
    not verbal inspiration.
    ​
    Evidence...
    The King Burns the Bible
    ​
    Jeremiah
    dictates to scribe.
    sends to king
    king
    cuts
    burn
    ​
    Jeremiah has to
    rewrite book.
    ​
    Notice changes...
    ​
    Jeremiah 36:32 NKJV
    Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote on it at the instruction of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And besides, there were added to them many similar words.
    ​
    Notice:
    “similar words”
    “were added...”
    ​
    Not exactly the same.
    Not verbal inspiration.
    ​
    “It is not the words of the Bible that are inspired, but the men that were inspired. Inspiration acts not on the man’s words or his expressions but on the man himself, who, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, is imbued with thoughts.
    --
    But the words receive the impress of the individual mind. The divine mind is diffused. The divine mind and will is combined with the human mind and will; thus the utterances of the man are the word of God.” — 1 SM, p. 21
    ​
    Mind of God
    enters mind of prophet
    guides choice of words.
    ​
    Writing the Words of God
    ​
    Important point
    God protects
    Guides His Word
    throughout process...
    ​
    Helps the prophet
    gives vision
    helps them write.
    ​
    Spend time
    with your bible.
    ​
    The following was found written in the fly leaf of Evangelist Billy Sunday’s Bible after he died:
    Twenty-nine years ago, with the Holy Spirit as my Guide, I entered at the portico of Genesis, walked down the corridor of the Old Testament art galleries, where pictures of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Isaac, Jacob, and Daniel hung on the wall. I passed into the music room of Psalms where the Spirit sweeps the keyboard of nature until it seems that every reed and pipe in God’s great organ responds to the harp of David, the sweet singer of Israel. I entered the chamber of Ecclesiastes, where the voice of the preacher is heard, and into the conservatory of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley where sweet spices filled and perfumed my life. I entered the business office of Proverbs and on into the observatory of the prophets where I saw telescopes of various sizes pointing to far off events, concentrating on the bright and morning Star which was to rise above the moonlit hills of Judea for our salvation and redemption. I entered the audience room of the King of Kings, catching a vision written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Thence into the correspondence room with Paul, Peter, James, and John writing the Epistles. I stepped into the throne room of Revelation where tower the glittering peaks, where sits the King of Kings upon His throne of glory with the healing of the nations in His hand, and I cried out: All hail the power of Jesus name! Let angels’ prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem And crown Him Lord of all.
    Source: What’s on Your Mind?, Dr. John Goetsch
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    Our Response

    ​
    So far
    important point.
    God’s word is
    Holy
    perfect
    immutable
    ​
    Our official doctrine:
    ​
    The Holy Scriptures are the supreme, authoritative, and the infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the test of experience, the definitive revealer of doctrines, and the trustworthy record of God’s acts in history. - SDA 28 Fundamental Beliefs
    ​
    We test all things
    by the Bible.
    ​
    We don’t test
    Bible by anything
    except itself.
    ​
    We approach Bible
    with awe...
    ​
    It is to change us.
    We are not to change it!
    ​
    Key Passages says:
    2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)
    All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
    ​
    Paul says:
    All scripture is
    “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness”
    ​
    Everything discussed in scripture
    is important
    necessary
    useful
    meaningful
    helpful
    for our salvation
    for our development
    for our salvation.
    ​
    In other words
    the everything in the Bible
    is a salvation issue.
    ​
    We are reminded
    throughout the bible
    of its purpose:
    Hebrews 4:12 NKJV
    For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
    ​
    Purpose of Bible
    is to cut to our heart.
    ​
    It leads us to:
    conviction
    repentance
    transformation
    true life change.
    ​
    Gaylord Kambarami, the General Secretary of the Bible Society in Zimbabwe, tried to give a New Testament to a very belligerent man. The man insisted he would roll the pages and use them to make cigarettes. Mr. Kambarami said, “I understand that, but at least promise to read the page of the New Testament before you smoke it.” The man agreed, and the two went their separate ways.
    Fifteen years later, the two men met at a convention in Zimbabwe. The Scripture-smoking pagan had been saved and was now a full-time evangelist. He told the audience, “I smoked Matthew, and I smoked Mark, and I smoked Luke. But when I got to John 3:16, I couldn’t smoke anymore. My life was changed from that moment.”
    Aren’t you glad God’s book is more than just words on paper?
    Source: American Bible Society Record, March 1990
    ​
    John’s Gospel says:
    John 17:17 NKJV
    Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
    ​
    To be sanctified means:
    to become holy.
    ​
    An earnest study
    of the Bible
    literally makes us
    more holy
    more like God.
    ​
    The Bible should never
    be treated like
    just another book.
    ​
    Other books may be
    “inspiring”
    but not inspired.
    ​
    Unless that book
    is also written by
    a prophet of God.
    ​

    Experiencing Sanctification Through Study

    ​
    To experience
    the sanctifying power
    of the scriptures
    we can’t just read...
    ​
    1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV)
    For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
    ​
    Paul was affirming
    the people of Thessalonica
    because they
    “received the word.”
    ​
    If we want,
    the Word of God
    to “work in us”
    we must:
    receive
    welcome
    and apply.
    ​
    More details
    in future sermon...
    ​
    A Roman Catholic priest in Belgium rebuked a young woman and her brother for reading that “bad book” pointing to the Bible. “Mr. Priest,” she replied, “a little while ago my brother was an idler, a gambler, a drunkard, and made such a noise in the house that no one could stay in it. Since he began to read the Bible, he works with industry, goes no longer to the tavern, no longer touches cards, brings home money to his poor old mother, and our life at home is quiet and delightful. How comes it, Mr. Priest, that a bad book produces such good fruits?”
    ​

    Future Sermons

    ​
    Revelation and Inspiration
    The Cannon
    The Apocrypha and the Pseudepigrapha
    The Lost Books
    Dating of Books
    Transmission
    Translations
    How to Study and Interpret the Bible
    Hermeneutics
    Historical critical method
    ​
    ​
    ​
    If we want,
    the Word of God
    to “work in us”
    we must:
    receive
    welcome
    and apply.
    ​
    Proverbs 4:13 (ESV)
    Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
    guard her, for she is your life.
    ​
    In 1914, Ernest Shackleton and a team of explorers set out from England to do something that no one before had accomplished—cross Antarctica from one side to the other across the South Pole. Disaster struck when the team’s ship, Endurance, became entrapped in ice and eventually sank after her hull was crushed. Marooned on nearby Elephant Island, there seemed little hope for their survival.
    In a desperate effort to get help, Shackleton and five others set out in a twenty-foot lifeboat across some of the most dangerous and storm-filled waters in the world. It was an eight hundred-mile journey to South Georgia Island where help could be found. For fifteen days the men battled the treacherous seas and massive storms with waves of up to one hundred feet. Using only a compass and a sextant, Frank Worsley (who had captained the Endurance) navigated their course until they safely reached land and found help. Shackleton procured another ship and returned to rescue all of his men. He became a national hero in England for his courage and persistence.
    In a world where everything is questioned, we need a compass. We need something that will keep us on course. We need the perfect unchanging nature of the Bible.
    ​

    Appeal

    ​
    Respect God’s Word
    Receive God’s Word

      • Numbers 12:6NKJV

      • 2 Peter 1:20–21NKJV

      • 2 Peter 1:21NKJV

      • Ezekiel 2:7NKJV

      • Isaiah 8:20NKJV

      • Jeremiah 1:11–12NKJV

      • Jeremiah 36:32NKJV

      • Hebrews 4:12NKJV

      • John 17:17NKJV

  • When We All Get to Heaven
Auburn SDA Church
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