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1 The Bible :God's Living All-Sufficient WordEXALTING CHRIST PUBLISHING 710 BROADWAY STREETVALLEJO, CA email: Copyright 2001 STEVE FERNANDEZP rinted by permission only Revised 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012 TABLE OF Matters: The Bible , God's Living All-Sufficient : God's Self-Disclosure Of Himself To And Inspiration Of The Bible : God's Inspiration Of The Bible : Man's Of Sufficiency Of Supreme Authority Of The Canon: The Formation Of The IPRELIMINARY MATTERS: THE Bible , GOD'SLIVING ALL-SUFFICIENT CLEAR TEACHING OF CHRIST AND THEAPOSTLES IS THAT THE SCRIPTURES ARE THEINERRANT WORD OF Are Declared To Be Inspired By God (2 Timothy 3:16). are "breathed out" by the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath ofHis mouth all their host (Psalm 33:6). are a product of God's own effort and initiative(see Psalm 33:1-6). are a decisive expression and disclosure ofGod's mind, will, and heart.

2 Are Cited As God's Utterances And WereTheir Final Holy Spirit is the ultimate author and the humanwriters are agents (Acts 1:16, 4:24- 25). fulfillment is certain unable of failure(Matthew 26:54; John 10:35; Luke 16:17). DUAL AUTHORSHIP OF scripture DOES NOTAFFECT THEIR DIVINE CHARACTER (2 Peter 1:19-21). Supposed Problem: Either One Or The OtherMust Be .. God had complete control so the authorsfunctioned as robots without involving their .. Their minds moved freely as is evident by theirunique styles hence, there must be some other words - the skeptic claims - freedom and control aren' Supernatural and control are , God ordered man's mind andcaused him to freely and spontaneously write onlyand wholly what God wanted we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do wellto pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the daydawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this firstof all, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one s owninterpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will,but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Peter 1:19-21).

3 Of Duality Of Holy Spirit and David (Acts 1:16). and the Psalmist (Hebrews 1:8). REALITY OF GOD'S LIVING PRESENT VOICE ISHEARD IN THE Are A Powerful Voice (Hebrews 4:12-13; 1 Peter 1:23; Isaiah 40:8). pierce and convert (Hebrews 4:12-13; Acts2:37). make alive and renew (Luke 24:32; Psalm 19:7,119:25, 50, 93, 107, 149, 156, 159). Are His Present Voice: You Hear God'sVoice in scripture Spirit speaks to us today through scripture , Hebears witness (Hebrews 3:7, 10:15).The Bible as a whole, viewed from the standpoint of its contents, shouldbe thought of, not statically, but dynamically; not merely as what Godsaid long ago, but as what He says still; and not merely as what Hesays to men in general, but as what He says to each individual readeror hearer in particular. In other words, holy Scriptures should bethought of as God preaching - God preaching to me every time I read orhear any part of it - God the Father preaching God the Son in the powerof God the Holy Spirit.

4 Packer, God Has Spoken, p. 91 is speaking in the Scriptures from heaven to ustoday (Hebrews 12:25). Are The Personal Voice Of Christ And rules through His Word (John 12:47-49).The Scriptures are presently binding: His promises bind Himand His commands bind to Christ is measured by loyalty to His bow to Him by bowing to His Word (Isaiah 8:19-20). Are A Primary Means Of Grace And OfAdvancing Christ's personal presence and voice are conveyed bythe Spirit through the Scriptures (Hebrews 4:12;John 10:27).Since the Word is the mediate presence of Christ, service is due. Paulrightly instructs the young pastor Timothy to be a workman "whocorrectly handles the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15) because the Word ofGod is "living and active" (Heb. 4:12). Spiritual truth is not a passiveobject for examination and presentation. The Word examines us. "Itjudges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (4:12). Christ remainsactive in his Word, performing divine tasks that one presenting theWord has no right or ability personally to , Christ-Centered Preaching, p.

5 Spirit regenerates through them (1 Peter 1:23). Spirit sanctifies us through them (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). are the voice of the Spirit (Hebrews 3:7). power to effect change is conveyed through are like grain that feeds and nourishes (Jeremiah23:28). are like a fire and a hammer (Jeremiah 23:25-29). build up (Acts 20:32). strengthen (1 John 2:14). give perseverance, encouragement and hope(Romans 15:4). sanctify (John 17:17). regenerate (1 Peter 1:22-23). convert (James 1:18).56 Chapter IIREVELATION: GOD'S SELF-DISCLOSURE OFHIMSELF TO DIFFERENT KINDS OF Revelation The Revelation Of GodThrough is called Natural Revelation: There are specifictruths about God revealed through nature (Psalm19:1-2; Romans 1:20). is also General Revelation: These truths areaccessible to all (Psalm 19:4; Acts 14:17). Revelation The Objective Self-Revelation Of God To Man. - it is not man finding is not man discovering God through his own activity orinsight, intuitions, or - it is God revealing is a divine activity; a result of His free initiative.

6 It is anextraordinary divine intervention; therefore it is called special(Genesis 3:8-15.). is the agent, the object, and the subject of therevelation. He reveals His own mind and spoke personally: It is God speaking, for Himselfabout Himself, to us (Hebrews 1:1-2). spoke propositional, objective was made necessary by the fall which incurredman s spiritual ignorance and darkness. Itovercomes our ignorance giving us accurateknowledge of God (Ephesians 4:18; 1 Corinthians1:21). concerns God's person, character andachievements; past, present, and future. As such, itis centered on the person of Christ and on the workof redemption (Romans 3:25-26; 9:22-24; 1 John 1:1-5; Luke 24:26-27; John 5:39; Genesis 3:15). is embodied and permanentized in His finalrevelation for this age, the Scriptures (Matthew26:56; 2 Timothy 3:16). BIBLICAL TESTIMONY OF NATURALREVELATION. Extent Of Natural Revelation (Romans 1:18-20).

7 Reveals the existence of a divine Being whopossesses a divine nature. He is entirely "other." Heis distinct from and unlike creation. He is a being,supremely worthy of worship to Whom man isaccountable (v. 20). reveals self-evident truth about the Being of Godthat is clearly seen. His omnipotence is seen in Hisability to bring all that exists into being. Hiseternality is evident since He preexisted prior to thecreation (vv. 19-20). reveals aspects of God's character that can bededuced from what is made (v. 20); His glory (Psalm19:1); His goodness (Acts 14:17). reveals the creative wisdom and versatility of God(Psalm 19:1). reveals enough to condemn, but is limited andmust be supplemented by special revelation forthere to be salvation (v. 20b; Acts 4:12). Effects Of Natural Revelation (Romans 1:21-32). refuses to rightly receive truth is suppressed because of the ungodliness andunrighteousness of man (v. 18).

8 Truth is rationalized (v. 21), and replaced, (vv. 23, 25),because of a refusal to acknowledge God's glory (vv. 23,28). It is misread (1 Corinthians 1:21). rejects man for his rejection of regards man as without excuse (v. 20). in wrath delivers man over to himself, removingrestraint to the practice of his own lusts (vv. 24, 26, 28). BIBLICAL TESTIMONY OF SPECIAL Bible clearly presents itself as a supernatural source of knowledge aboutGod. It is information and knowledge that came from God in a specialsupernatural Necessity Of Special is alienated from God with a heartconstitutionally darkened; unable to come toaccurate thoughts of God from his own efforts(Ephesians 4:18; 1 Corinthians 2:14). is unknowable through man's wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:21); he can't even interpret naturalrevelation , as with any person, is fully known only throughself-disclosure (1 Corinthians 2:10-13). definition: Revelation is God making Himselfknown through self-disclosure.

9 He discloses objective propositional truth about His person andwork which would otherwise be unknown andunknowable (1 Corinthians 2:6-12). Modes Of Special revealed Himself. direct audible voice (Exodus 3:1-6; 1 Samuel 3:3-10). direct writing: The Ten Commandments (Exodus32:15-16); and the handwriting on the wall (Daniel5:25-28). visions: The characteristic method to theProphets (Numbers 12:6, 1 Samuel 3:1)). "saw" in a vision what God wanted them to speak(Isaiah 1:1; Jeremiah 23:18; Ezekiel 1:3, 4; Hosea 12:10;Amos 1:1, 3:7; Habakkuk 2:2; Revelation 1:10-11).The factthat a prophet received his revelation from God primarilyby the objective method of visions is indicated by thereference in 1 Samuel 9:9, where it says that "He who iscalled a prophet now was formerly called a seer." put His words in their minds and mouths when theyspoke about what they saw and heard (Deuteronomy18:18; Jeremiah 1:9, 12; Ezekiel 1:1-4, 28; 2:1, 3:4; Exodus4:10-17; 7:1-7).

10 Prophets "saw" nothing (Jeremiah 5:11-13, 30-31;23:16-21, 26-27; Ezekiel 13:1-9).The Old Testament is very clear in its definition anddescriptions of prophecy. It involves direct revelation andit is communicated by an objective means primarily by avision. It was not by a subjective means such as byintuition or by impressions on the mind. JonathanEdwards states, It is evident that this revelation of secret facts by immediatesuggestion, has nothing of the nature of a spiritual and divineoperation, in the sense fore-mentioned. There is nothing at allin the nature of the ideas themselves, excited in the mind, thatis divinely excellent, above the ideas of natural men; though themanner of exciting the ideas be extraordinary. In those thingswhich are spiritual, as has been shown, not only the manner ofproducing the effect, but the effect wrought is divine, and sovastly above all that can be in an unsanctified mind. Nowsimply the having an idea of facts, setting aside the manner ofproducing those ideas, is nothing beyond what the minds ofwicked men are susceptible of, without any goodness in them;and they all either have or will have, the knowledge of thegreatest and most important facts, that have been, are, or shallbe.