Part 1 – Inspiration
Intro: Verbal, Plenary Inspiration – “Some Evangelicals have labelled the conservative or traditional view as “verbal, plenary inspiration of the original manuscripts”, by which they mean that each word (not just the overarching ideas or concepts) was meaningfully chosen under the superintendence of God.”
Biblical inspiration – Wikipedia
Defined
2 Timothy 3:15-17 – Profitable!
Vs. 15 – scriptures – grk. Gramma – writings
Vs. 16 – scripture – grk. Graphe – document
Septuagint – Jesus reads from Isaiah (Ch 61:1&2) in the Synagogue (Luke 4:16-20)
2 Peter 1:16-21 – “……but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” vs. 21b)
NOT – Automatic writing
Contested – (Satan’s Sword)
Genesis 3:1-8 – questioned, added to & denied
Matthew 4:1-11 – Spiritual sword fight
cf. Deut. 8:3; 6:16
Vs. 4 – Every Word (NOT thoughts/ideas)
Jeremiah 36:1-28
Confirmed
Ezekiel 1:1-3 – expressly
Malachi 1:1 – burden
Matthew 22:29-33 – “have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God.”
(Vs. 31)
Hebrews 1:1-3 – “….Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.” (vs. 2a)
Vs. 3 – Express Image – grk. charaktēr – a graver
Jesus – logos, John 1:1&14
Cf. Gen 1:26-27 – image/likeness, Ch. 2:7 – God breathed
Acts 1:15-16 – “Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas…” (vs. 16)
Cf. Ch. 28:24-27 – “Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet…” (vs.25)
Conclusion:
Revelation 1:1-3, 9-11, 17-19 – Write
Ch. 14:13, 21:5
Part 2 – Preservation
Intro: When believers claim that the Word of God was inspired in the “Originals,” they are affirming the Doctrine of Inspiration and unless specifically stated, denying the Doctrine of Preservation. Inspiration and Preservation are twin sisters, just like Mercy and Grace. The Bible claims both doctrines as true. And, according to 2 Timothy 3:14-17, this also applies to translations carefully parsed and based on the correct manuscripts.
Definition: to maintain, protect or keep
Perfect Example – Jeremiah 36:20-32
The king irreverently destroyed the word of God!
“Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.
And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.
Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.” (vs. 22-24)
The LORD faithfully preserved His words!
“Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,
Jer. 36:28 Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.” (vs. 27; 28)
Promise – Psalm 12:6-7
“The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”
God’s words are pure! He is the one that Preserves.
Preserved for EVER – God did not lose His Library Book!
Psalm 119:89 – settled in Heaven
Psalm 119:152 – founded for ever
Isaiah 40:8 – shall stand for ever
Isaiah 59:21 – shall not depart
Performs God’s Will – Matthew 24:35
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
Matthew 5:18 – till all be fulfilled
1 Peter 1:23-25 – Seed of the New Birth
(Vs. 25) “word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
Plague – Revelation 22:18-19
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
Conclusion: Jude 1 claims that we are “preserved in Christ Jesus.”
John 3:16 states that we have been guaranteed “Eternal Life” by believing in Christ.
It is amazing that some of the same Christians that believe in Eternal Salvation can deny the Eternal Word.