Is the Bible Reliable?

Rev. Todd R. Lattig

QUESTIONS TO GOD • Sermon • Submitted a year ago

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As Christians, we must always remember the purpose of the Bible is to call us back to God by retelling the story of salvation that culminates in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We cheapen the Bible when we use it to promote our own agendas.

Notes

Transcript

Handout

Scripture Passage

Hebrews 4:12–14 (NLT)

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. 14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.

Focus Statement

As Christians, we must always remember the purpose of the Bible is to call us back to God

by retelling the story of salvation that culminates in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We cheapen the Bible when we use it to promote our own agendas.

Point of Relation

One of my favorite Scripture passages, one which I relate to in many ways, is Jeremiah 1:4-12 which I want to take just a little time to read to you:

Jeremiah 1:4–12 NLT

4 The Lord gave me this message: 5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” 6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” 7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” 9 Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! 10 Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.” 11 Then the Lord said to me, “Look, Jeremiah! What do you see?” And I replied, “I see a branch from an almond tree.” 12 And the Lord said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all my plans.”

This was the message that God gave a very young and inexperienced person named Jeremiah.

Jeremiah even tried to protest with God, saying he was too young to speak for God…and God’s response?

Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and protect you.”

Well, that sounds great on paper, right? Woohooo…whew!

But don’t be afraid of the people…?

You know, after living in the era I live in and after years of a case study put together AMC called, The Walking Dead, I’ve learned that people are the ones to fear...

Because we are sinful, stuck in our own agendas and can lash out over the craziest things....

We all know this because we’ve all lived it in one way or another.

But God is calling Jeremiah to fear not…why?

Because God says he will be with us and protect us!

Well, that is a matter of faith isn’t it.

Do I trust God enough to be there with me in the worst moments of ministry as well as in the good times?

Or do I not have the faith.

So, when tough times come up in ministry…AND THEY DO…I am reminded of God’s presence with me through this verse.

I am reminded that even though I have to sometimes make tough decisions and/or lead tough conversations, God is with me and strengthens me.

EVEN MORE…God is with those who have those conversations with me. THOSE ARE HOLY CONVERSATIONS even if they are tough and/or painful.

I am thankful for the Bible, because it helps me in all aspects of my life…not just my ministry...

And it saddens me when I hear people who dismiss reading the Bible because it is ‘boring’ or too ‘out there’ or whatever, because I know what they are missing.

Things to Consider

Many people, Christians included, are intimidated by the Bible.

The language can seem confusing and even shocking.

I want to remind you

it is normal to struggle with scripture.

In fact, we are called to struggle together so that we might better understand its wisdom.

The Jewish tradition of reading scripture (the tradition that shaped Jesus, the disciples, and Paul)

promotes active and lively debate so that all community members might better understand each other and the Bible.

We need not fear or avoid disagreements about how best to understand a passage of scripture.

Instead, we can choose to embrace our roots

and view disagreements as a healthy process God uses to develop unity and consensus in communities of faith over time.

What Scripture Says

It needs to be acknowledged that questions about the reliability of Scripture come from different angles

For example:

“Is the Bible historically accurate?”

“Is it consistent with itself

or are there contradictions in it?”

“Does/how does the history of translation affect the meaning?”

Whenever we address the reliability of Scripture it is important to start by remembering what the Bible is reliable for.

The Bible is reliable because it rests upon and points us toward the Logos (Word) of God, Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the Word of God made flesh.

Even though we often refer to the Bible as God’s word, it is important not to lose sight of how our tradition speaks about Jesus.

Jesus is the TRUE Word of God, the one who was in the beginning with God and the one who IS God.

Understanding Jesus as God’s Word also helps us better understand how the writer of Hebrews uses the term “word of God.”

The author uses the Hebrew Scriptures to illuminate what God is doing in the author’s own time and place.

The persecution the writer’s community is facing from the Roman empire is being used by God to reveal the evil of human sin and the community’s faith in Jesus.

Ultimately, our high priest (Jesus), who was also tested, will pour out grace and mercy to help those who trust in him.

The author compares what is happening in their own time and place to what happened in the Hebrew Scriptures,

so that the audience can “see themselves” in the Scripture.

At the same time, the author continually reminds them that Jesus is the one to whom all Scripture points

– the ultimate “Word” of God for and about humanity.

The Methodist Articles of Religion found in ¶104 of the Book of Discipline speak of Scripture as “containing all things necessary to salvation.”

As the author of Hebrews states, it “exposes us.”

God, through scripture, can help us to see who we really are.

Scripture leads us to repent and turn to Jesus.

The author reminds the reader that when we hold on to our confession and trust in the Word of God made flesh, we can draw near to God in confidence. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

What This Means for You

First, do you read and use Scripture?

If so, do you tend to use Scripture to prove a point or promote your own agenda?

I know I have been guilty of this in the past, often times unwittingly.

Or, are you using it to help you clearly see who you are and your need for God’s grace?

When we use the Bible for our own ends, we keep it from challenging us and drawing us into a deeper relationship with Jesus.

When we make the Bible about us and not God, we also often drive others away from engaging with it.

The existence of the Christian community 2,000 years after the death of Jesus speaks to the power of the accounts and wisdom contained in the Bible.

Your changed life is the greatest proof of the reliability of the Bible.

What This Means for Us

How often do you read and/or study Scripture.

You may roll your eyes and say, “Here he goes again with the ‘read the Bible’ pitch, but I am never doing it because…fill in your reasons here…it’s boring, confusing, out of touch,

or I am too busy, hate reading…whatever the case may be.

But yes, I am going to ask you, how often do you engage with Scripture.

Sadly, many Christians don’t even know how to use Scripture to meet their own agenda, because many Christians are sadly Biblically illiterate.

Now, using the BIble for your own agenda is no bueno, but at least the people who do have ENGAGED the BIBLE.

Our church is always providing people with opportunities to engage with Scripture...

One of the most obvious and, honestly, greatest ways to do it is to join our Bible Studies.

Their we do engage in regular Bible Study as well as book studies.

Such a group will help nurture you in reading Scripture and in apply it to your life.

I want to STRONGLY encourage you to read the Bible, whether in a group or on your own.

Their are plenty of great resources out there on the web.

Plenty of books and devotions on Cokesbury.com as well as other Christian stores and web sites.

Reading SCRIPTURE is not only important it really is a HALLMARK of vitality in one’s faith, for as John Wesley put it, Scripture is sufficient on leading us to Salvation. Period.

That, combined with Tradition (worship and the life of the church), reason, and experience

will catapult all of us to being true disciples of Jesus Christ who make more disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation o this world.