The Bible is God's Word
07/21/2025
The title used for people who had a dog for a pet used to be 'dog owner'. And you could go buy a dog at the 'dog pound'. Then the title became 'the pet's guardian' and you'd rescue a dog at the 'animal shelter'. Now that's evolved into you adopt a dog and become a 'pet parent'. I saw a commercial where an elderly person was preparing for the 'grandpets' to come by. The pet food manufacturer Purina even filed a trademark for the term 'pet parent'.
People now refer to pets as their 'fur babies', they buy special outfits for them and even plan birthday parties. You've probably seen the commercials where people wouldn't dream of giving their pets anything but fresh food and even reject friends and family who suggest dry food. Now I know much of it is marketing - and I'm not against animals - but 'pet parent' is not a thing.
I know I'm going to get grief over this - but 'parent' is a term for a human adult who has a human child. Now why am I bothering with such a silly thing like this when there are other bigger things with which to deal? Words mean things - and when you start to treat animals like children, you can subconsciously start to devalue humans made in the image of God. That's how we've gotten to the point where some people would rescue an animal over a human being. It's a gradual shift - and you may still think I'm being a bit silly or overly dramatic; that's okay...
But there's a larger point I want us to understand. Our world is...
I. Sliding away from God
This is not the world that God intended for us when He created everything. His plan was perfection! His plan was for mankind to live together with Him in perfect harmony. But when we sinned - when we went against God's will - creation became corrupted; mankind became corrupted. Everything has been corrupted in this world. Mankind's views on human life as being sacred, as something unique created in God's image - those views have been corrupted. Our views on morality and human sexuality and gender and pornography and profanity and violence and love have all been corrupted - they no longer reflect God's design as revealed in His word.
And much of this happens gradually as each of us, and each generation, slowly let things slip over time. A little excuse here, a little 'reframing' of words, a little well meaning tolerance there - and before too long, even the values of believers don't truly reflect God's design anymore.
Studies by Barna Research Group suggest that the former, nominally Christian ethic that used to characterize this nation is being replaced with “a new moral code.” This new morality can be characterized by 'self-fulfillment' and has six guiding principles.
1. “The best way to find yourself is by looking within yourself.” 91% of US adults and 76% of practicing Christians agreed “completely” or “somewhat” with this statement.
2. “People should not criticize someone else’s life choices.” Overall 89% of adults and 76% of Christians agree.
3. “To be fulfilled in life, you should pursue the things you desire most.” 86% of American adults and 72% of Christians said, “Yes.”
4. “The highest goal of life is to enjoy it as much as possible.” 84% of adults and 67% of Christians agreed that this was the highest goal of life.
5. “People can believe whatever they want, as long as those beliefs don’t affect society.” Those who agreed with this statement consisted of 79% of American adults and 61% of practicing Christians.
6. “Any kind of sexual expression between two consenting adults is acceptable.” Nearly 69% of American adults and an astonishing 40% of Christians agreed with this.
You will not find any of these ideas in the Bible, but the majority of Christians accept five out of six of them! But before we get too far - I want us to start out looking at a passage of scripture to help us get into the proper, Biblical mind set as we talk this morning. Let's look at Ephesians 6:11-12 (NIV)...
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. (12) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
I want you to remember that phrase - 'our struggle is not against flesh and blood' as we continue. If we forget that part, it's very easy to get upset about the wrong things or at the wrong people as we look at this fallen world and its fallen views on morality. And remember that phrase - 'our struggle is not against flesh and blood'...
Many believe that traditional Biblical values are simply outdated and even mean. To speak God's truth, in love, is not about 'ruining anyone's life'. And it's not 'loving your neighbor' to tell anyone that God doesn't care how we live our lives. It's not 'loving your neighbor' to not tell them about the grace of Jesus that saves all of us from our sin! It's not 'loving your neighbor' to ignore the eternal consequences of sin.
Of course some will use Biblical truth in a mean way to condemn others - but Biblical truth in itself is not mean-spirited or hateful, but an expression of God's love for His creation! Our job isn't to be mean to people - but to share the Good News of the Gospel!
And it's very easy 'in the Church' to get frustrated with those who try to justify their personal views and values despite what God says. But remember that phrase - 'our struggle is not against flesh and blood'. I need to have the perspective that Jesus demonstrated when He preached...
Matthew 9:36 (NIV)
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
There are some who have intentionally placed themselves in opposition to God. Most are confused and lost - like sheep without a shepherd. And the shepherd they need isn't me - but Jesus.
We live a culture in which most people now believe that morality is relative to circumstances and decided by what works best for each person. Even though God's Word and Biblical values have been the foundation of morality in our society from the start - sadly, that's not the case anymore. And I can't really expect non-believers to accept God's Word and follow His values and design.
I want to make a shift in our focus now. We've been looking at the problem of this fallen world - I want to focus on the answer. Because if even those in the Church do not see a higher morality than their own desires - that's a problem. The Church needs to get back to the Bible, written as...
II. God's absolute authority
And here's another root problem....
A study at Arizona Christian University found that only 37% of Christian ministers across America hold a 'biblical worldview'. They found that nearly two-thirds have adopted a hybrid belief system - a blend of Christianity, secular psychology, progressive politics, and pop spirituality.
They found, "Only 25% of Catholic priests and Mainline Protestant pastors say they "definitely believe" Adam and Eve were real people." "Only 45% of Mainline Protestant leaders affirm the reality of Hell." "When asked about God's existence, "just 70% of mainline Protestant ministers expressed full confidence, and 26% openly admit to doubts about God's existence." Let that sink in: "One in four Mainline clergy doubt the existence of God". These aren't fringe bloggers or TikTok influencers deconstructing their faith. These are ministers standing behind pulpits every week.
And we wonder why the beliefs of people in the congregations are slipping away and rejecting God's authority.
Now for many, this next part may be perhaps a bit of a review – but there are also those for whom this is new information. It’s too important for us to assume that we’re all on the same page here – so...
The Bible is God’s written revelation of His will to all of mankind. Its central theme is really a love story between God and His creation. Its most important claim is that the only way to salvation is through Jesus Christ!
The Bible is a collection of 66 different books divided into two sections, The Old and The New Testament. Thirty-nine books make up the Old Testament and was written between around 1,500 BC and 400 BC. It starts with the creation of everything, by God, follows the history of the Jewish people, the nation of Israel, and ends before the birth of the promised Messiah – Jesus.
The 27 books that make up the New Testament were written over approximately a 50 year span, and they deal with Jesus’ birth, His life, death, resurrection and His promised return. They document the beginning of the Christian church, and they contain God's instructions on how to live as a follower of Jesus.
The Bible was written by over 40 different authors over a span of more than 1,500 years in three different languages yet these diverse authors, each in their own way, present a unified portrait of God’s plans and purposes for humanity. Its authors were kings and princes, poets and philosophers, prophets and statesmen - all inspired by God's Holy Spirit. Some were highly trained in all the arts of the times and others were uneducated fishermen and shepherds. Yet it all tells God’s specific story of love for mankind – the good, the bad and the ugly – the whole story.
There are those who make the common argument that the Bible is full of contradictions. Of course there are some difficult, confusing or even frustrating passages in the Bible. And it takes careful study of the entire Bible 'in context' to shed light on these passages – but most of scripture is very straight forward. It wasn’t God’s intention to confuse or divide us with His Word.
No other book has stood the test of time like the Bible. Over the years, many people have tried to stamp out its message. In some countries, the Bible has been burned and banished. Skeptics have criticized and tried to discredit it. These skeptics have come and they have gone, but the Word of God still stands. God’s Word is true. As a congregation we accept God’s Word as our final authority.
I firmly believe the Bible, God’s Word, is true because of the documented historical accounts, the eye witness testimony of fulfilled prophecy and miracles, the coherence and superiority of its teachings, the superiority of Jesus, and because it has changed my life and the lives of millions, completely. It says this in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)...
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (17) so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The word 'scripture' used to describe the Bible here by the Apostle Paul means 'sacred writings'. These sacred writings are said to be "God breathed". So, the Bible is the authority of God as it is…
III. ‘Breathed’ by God
That seems like an odd phrase but the Greek word that Paul used here literally meant that all scripture came from God, it was breathed out by God – God is the source of the scriptures. What Paul is saying here is that the fundamental characteristic of scripture - what makes these writings sacred writings - is the fact that God breathed them out, they have their origin with God himself.
The Apostle Peter also said…
2 Peter 1:20-21 (NIV)
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. (21) For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
God’s Holy Spirit brought about this book we call the Bible. The Bible is the answer to life, the universe and everything! It's the ultimate handbook and 'owner’s manual' for life. Everything we need to know in order to connect with God through Jesus and live the life He desires for us is right here!
We can read all sorts of other books and get interesting, useful and even very helpful information about life here on this planet, but only the Bible can instruct a person about who God is as our Creator and what His eternal plans are beyond this life. What we are to follow, the values we are to hold, the morality we embrace - all of it must come from God's Word, not man's opinion. God is The Authority, not me.
The Bible was given to us to instruct us, but we also have to note the words of James in James 1:22 (NIV)...
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
It is to instruct us, but more importantly - God gave us His Word to change us.
We can learn all about God through the Bible, but its ultimate purpose is for us to meet God through Jesus; to then be changed by that relationship. There are some very educated scholars who know all about the facts of the Bible, but when you listen to them - you realize the sad truth, that despite all of their knowledge - they don’t know God. All of their learning hasn’t changed them; they're the same as they were before all of their study. The Bible is not just an academic textbook.
The writer of Hebrews says…
Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
As God’s Word, the Bible is so much more than just a book; just a collection of history and interesting stories. The Bible is where we meet God and, if we allow it, are transformed from 'sinner' to 'saint'.
So What?
I know some of you are mainly going to remember the part of this message when I talked about 'dog parents'. My real point is - how we view everything must be filtered through the lens of scripture! And because words mean things - simply changing the vocabulary from 'dog owner' to 'pet parent' means something; even if it's subtle and possibly well intentioned.
We see words and phrases modified such as "same sex marriage", or adultery to "affair", pornography to "adult entertainment", abortion, the killing of an unborn baby, to "reproductive rights" or "women's health care". And we could go on and on - but words mean things and those changes affect what we believe. But again - remember our battle is not against 'flesh and blood'.
If you don’t want to be transformed, don’t read the Bible. If you don’t want to be convicted or challenged, don’t read the Bible. If you want to remain blissfully ignorant of the Truth, don’t read the Bible. If you want to avoid meeting The God who made you, don’t read the Bible. If you’re not interested in finding Jesus and gaining eternal life, don’t read the Bible.
If, however, those things do interest you – every answer you need is right there! God’s Word is true and when any of our personal, political or private views conflict with scripture - we need to humbly submit ourselves to God's authority and change.