126.    GOD THE AUTHOR OF THE BIBLE

Whether we look at the world in its marvelous detail or its place in the vast universe we behold the work of God as Creator. But it is a silent witness. Yet God has caused His prophets and apostles to record His pur pose. In our Bibles we read of this purpose and a wonderful message of hope. God has said that He will send the Lord Jesus Christ to restore the world to the conditions of peace and harmony that once existed at Crea tion. This message, so often stated in the Bible, is recorded for our per sonal benefit, so that we can believe it and obey its directions. We have every good reason to believe the truthfulness of the Bible, since God is its author.

2 Tim. 3:14-17; 2 Pet. 1:19-21

THE BIBLE IS GOD'S WORD

The word "bible" comes from a word meaning "book," and "Holy Bible" means "separate book". Actually, the Bible is the most important book, and is separate and different from all other books, because it is God's Word. It is really a library of 66 books (39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament) written by over 40 penmen in various countries, over a period of about 1600 years. There was no chance for these penmen to compare their writings and harmonize them, yet despite this, these scriptures contain one, consistent message of hope, because God is its Author.

How can we explain this? Although various men wrote it, they did not write according to their own thoughts; they wrote as they were "moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Pet. 1:21; Heb. 1:1). This is what is meant by the quotation, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Tim. 3:16). Therefore the Bible is God's Word, wholly inspired by Him. It is the only place where we can learn the truth about God and His purpose with mankind.

We believe the Bible to be God's Word. The Bible itself makes this claim in hundreds of places, where we read such expressions as: "God said", "the Lord said" and "the word of the LORD came to. . ." This is also proved by the unity of its teaching from Genesis to Revelation. Although so many men wrote it, and their backgrounds were so different, their work all fits perfectly into the whole. The Bible presents one message that never contradicts itself. Its accuracy is also proven through history and the many prophecies that have been fulfilled.

HISTORY

The ancient history recorded in the Bible has never been proven wrong. In fact, in recent times, archaeologists have unearthed evidence to show that people and places previously unknown outside the Bible, really existed in the past. Some of the strongest critics of the Bible during the last (19th) century have been shown to be wrong by archaeology.

The Bible not only contains the record of God's dealings with people in the past, but tells of things which will happen in the future, proving it to be the work of a divine author. Men can write about past events, but only God knows the future. In the Bible He has foretold certain things that would come to pass, many of which have already been fulfilled. God declares in Isaiah 46:9-10: "I am God, and there is none like Me, declar ing the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done." Also, in Amos 3:7-8: "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing but he revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets. . . the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?"

PROPHECY

God has revealed His purpose to His prophets and servants in such amazing detail that its record is obviously divine. Without God's help no man could give such a message that has been recorded so long ago yet has seen such exact fulfilment up to the present day. With this proof by pro phecy being fulfilled we can await with confidence prophecy yet to be fulfilled in the future. Our confidence is based on prophecies of the past that have been fulfilled exactly as recorded, e.g.: €

•  Babylon is still in heaps (Isa. 13:19-21; Jer. 51:37).
•  Nineveh still lies empty, void and waste (Nahum 2:10).
•  Egypt is among the basest of nations (Ezek. 29:15).
•  Tyre has been submerged by the sea, and is literally a place for the spreading of nets (Ezek. 26:5).
• Israel has been scattered among all nations (Deut. 28:64), and is being regathered again (Jer. 30:11; Ezek. 27:21-22).
• A northern power hostile to Israel (i.e. Russia) has developed (Ezek. 38:2-7, 15-16).

GOD AS REVEALED IN THE BIBLE

Knowing then that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, it is impor tant to understand what the Scriptures reveal about God. If we desire eternal life we must know the only true God (John 17:3) and worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23).

God is One: In the beginning, men knew there was only one God. As time went by they started to worship other things, like the sun, moon and stars, which had been made by Him. Then they made images of gold, silver, wood and stone, and worshipped them, but the commandment to God's people was "Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God is one LORD" (Deut. 6:4). God said "I am the LORD . . .there is no God else beside Me" (Isa. 45:18, 21).

There are people today who claim that they believe in one God, but teach that He is what they call a Trinity € "Three in One and One in Three," made up of Father, Son and Holy Spirit; all equal in time and power. But this is false for we have seen how God declared Himself to be One in His revelation to Israel. This is also seen in the New Testament. Notice what happened in Mark 12:28-34, where Jesus quoted Deut. 6:4, and told the scribe who understood this, "Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God." The emphasis on the unity of God can also be seen in Gal. 3:20; Eph. 4:5-6; 1 Tim. 1:17; 6:15-16.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God: Jesus was God's Son, through the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon Mary, his mother. She was told "therefore that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). When Jesus was baptized, God said "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17).

Jesus himself denied that he was equal to His Father. He said, "I can of mine own self do nothing . . .1 seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me" (John 5:30; 14:28). Jesus Christ is God's Son, and the mediator between God and men (Eph. 1:3, 1 Cor. 8:6; 1 Tim. 2:5).

The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is not the third person of a Trinity. God's spirit is the invisible power by which He created all things, and by which everything is kept in being (Psa. 104:30). When God's power is set apart or used for special purposes, such as the performance of miracles, it is called "Holy Spirit". "Holy" means "separate" or "set apart". Jesus received this Holy Spirit power at his baptism (Acts 10:38). Please make reference to Instructor, Lessons Nos. 16-19.

THE CHARACTER OF GOD (Ex. 34:6-7).

There are two sides to God's character: justice and mercy. He revealed this to Moses in Exodus 34:6-7 and Deut. 5:9-10. God is kind, loving and forgiving, but He insists that men look up to Him and obey His laws (Psa. 103:8-18). He is merciful and gracious to those who come to Him in the way that He has set down in His Word. Today this is through belief and baptism into His Son, Jesus Christ. But if people go on sinning and do not repent He will punish them, because He is a just God and cannot ignore sin.

Jesus showed both sides of God's character in his life. He was loving and forgiving to those who repented, but he strongly condemned the proud, wicked ones such as the Scribes and Pharisees of his day.

GOD'S PURPOSE (Numbers 14:21)

God's purpose as revealed in the Bible is stated in Numbers 14:21: "As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD". What an important verse this is! Here God is saying, with a divine oath to give us absolute certainty, that the world will one day give honour and glory to God. It is as certain as God's indisputable existence. With that assurance we can look forward confidently to the establishment of God's Kingdom on earth.

We have seen that there is plenty of evidence that God exists, and that God truly lives as a controlling creative power from everlasting to everlasting. We have every good reason therefore to believe God's declaration that this world shall be filled with the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. The Kingdom Age shall see men and women giving honour and glory to God in humble, obedient service. In such a manner shall the world that God created see a return to peace and harmony bet ween God and man. In later lessons we will consider how God has work ed in the past, and is still working, to bring about the fulfillment of this glorious purpose.

REFERENCE LIBRARY

"Christadelphian Instructor" (R. Roberts) € Nos. 1-19, 41-46

"Elpis Israel" (J. Thomas) € Chapter 1

"Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield) € Foreword, Chapters 1 and 2

"The Ways of Providence" (R. Roberts) € Chapters 1 and 2

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. The Bible was written by many men at different times and places. How can we prove it is the Word of God?
2. How is the truth of the Bible shown by history and prophecy? Give examples.
3. Explain what you understand by "the spirit of God" and "Holy Spirit".
4. What does the Bible reveal about God and His character?
5. What is the purpose of God?

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. What evidence have we that the Bible is the inspired Word of God?
2. Show from the scripture that God is One and not part of a "Trinity ".