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This week’s devotions are based on the Week 6 “Explore God” – Is the Bible Reliable? (WATCH HERE)

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Matthew 5:18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 

At first read this verse perhaps seems like an exaggeration Jesus is making to highlight the point that his Word will last forever.  However, in his words is a very practical point that had been carried out for centuries by those that were privileged to be “Scribes,” or ones that HAND copied the pages of the Old Testament.  Each of these individuals had a very high regard for the text they were handling and considered it the Word of God.  They in no way wanted to be the ones responsible for allowing the smallest letter or word to disappear from what they fully considered the Word of God.

To understand the detail, here are nine realities about the process of hand copying the Scripture:

1. They could only use clean animal skins, both to write on, and even to bind manuscripts.
2. Each column of writing could have no less than forty-eight, and no more than sixty lines.
3. The ink must be black, and of a special recipe.
4. They must verbalize each word aloud while they were writing.
5. They must wipe the pen and wash their entire bodies before writing the word “Jehovah,” every time they wrote it.
6. There must be a review within thirty days, and if as many as three pages required corrections, the entire manuscript had to be redone.
7. The letters, words, and paragraphs had to be counted, and the document became invalid if two letters touched each other. The middle paragraph, word and letter must correspond to those of the original document.
8. The documents could be stored only in sacred places (synagogues, etc).
9. As no document containing God’s Word could be destroyed, they were stored, or buried, in a genizah – a Hebrew term meaning “hiding place.” These were usually kept in a synagogue or sometimes in a Jewish cemetery.

https://scottmanning.com/content/process-of-copying-the-old-testament-by-jewish-scribes/

As a result of this meticulous work to bring the words of God from one manuscript to the next and then preserve them for future generations, we see the hand of God in this human process to ensure there was no deviance from the very words and the very truth of God’s Word.

So, is the Bible reliable?  If one looks to the history behind the transmission of the text of the Bible, we can safely conclude that from every human means possible, those that engaged in this awesome responsibility of copying God’s very words, took the matter very seriously.  And when something is taken seriously so that accuracy might be passed on, that builds a rock-solid reality of reliability.  Thank God for this gift!

Apply: Which of the above points of process for the scribes give you the most confidence that the Word of God truly is reliable?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for guiding the process of copying your word so we can be certain we have your very words with us today! AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on the Week 6 “Explore God” – Is the Bible Reliable? (WATCH HERE)

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Is it reliable?

We often ask this question when purchasing a product that is not consumable.  Recently we had to replace our washer and dryer.  In reading reviews, we looked for comments on certain models that indicate that the machine would last for awhile.  In that list of reviews, sometimes the company itself has reviews about the product.  Internal reviews are good…however, what validates the claims of a company is the experience of people who have used the product OUTSIDE the company.

When one asks the question about the reliability of the BIble, a simple answer can be, “It’s God’s Word and that’s enough to make it reliable.”  No argument with that.  However, it may not be satisfactory to the non-Christian who is honestly questioning whether they can believe the Bible and rely on it.

So what might help and also build your confidence and credibility in professing the reliability of the BIble.

Sometimes there are “fly-over” verses that we maybe don’t pay much attention to, but God’s Spirit has preserved them because they are important.  A number of these verses provide the intersect of the events of the Bible with secular rulers and history.  These intersections provide reference points with secular historians that validate that historical credibility and reliability of the Bible.  Here are just a few examples:

Ezra 6:3 In the first year of King Cyrus, the king issued a decree concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem:  Let the temple be rebuilt as a place to present sacrifices, and let its foundations be laid. It is to be ninety feet high and ninety feet wide,…

Luke 2:1-3 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

John 3:1-2 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert

Sometimes in the small details of Scripture come gems that give hope and comfort to believers.  These are not just made up people included at the whim of a fictional author, they are real historical figures used by God to carry out his plan of salvation.  These connections with other rulers, countries, and historical events remind us that God was not just interested in his chosen people, but is one that orchestrates the events of the world for the benefit of his people.  This didn’t stop once the revelation of the BIble was finished, but rather we can find peace and confidence to know that the Lord is still intersecting and orchestrating the events of the world to his glory and the benefit of his church.

Ephesians 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

 

Apply: What comfort does the fact that God intersects and rules over all rulers and nations bring to you as one of his children?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for ruling over all nations and rulers to bring to reality your church, your blessing and your guidance for us as your people. AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on the Week 6 “Explore God” – Is the Bible Reliable? (WATCH HERE)

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Is the Bible reliable?

This past week, one of our water heaters went out.  It needed to be replaced and fortunately a friend from church who is a master plumber was willing to install it for us.

The water has been reliable since we moved in almost 7 years ago and was new 9 years ago.  Would I say it was reliable?

Until last week.

It heated the water and we enjoyed warm showers and baths for 7 years.  Our clothes were washed in hot water and anytime hot water was needed, the water heater provided it.

Until it didn’t.

How long does something have to work to be classified as “reliable?”

Reliable means you can depend or count on something to do what it claims without restrictions as to the time it is able to function.  

So what makes the Bible something we can depend on, trust, and count on to bring impact indefinitely into the future?

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”[b] 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

For Peter, the question of reliability was solved by what he witnessed in Jesus Christ.  The prophecies were great.  However, having the reality of Jesus is what sealed the deal.  The prophesies were fulfilled in Jesus.  The voice of God confirmed the reality of Jesus as his Son.  What made the words of the Bible so reliable is that they weren’t words of men, but words of God.

There was no doubt in Peter’s mind that the Words of God were completely reliable.  One coil depend on each one of them not only for life and for eternity.

 

In this week’s devotions we’ll look at more evidence as to the reliability of the Bible.  For today, let it be an encouragement that the words of the BIble are not cleverly invented stories, but rather the words of the unchanging, reliable God.

 

Apply: What makes something reliable in your mind?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us a book of all your words that is completely reliable! AMEN

This week’s devotions are based on the Week 5 “Explore God” – Is Jesus Really God? (WATCH HERE)

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So why does it matter if Jesus is God?

Before answering this question, one has to acknowledge the possibility of situational bias influencing my conclusion about who Jesus is.

The reason we spent the first four devotions of this week simply looking at the evidence of who Jesus is, is to let the evidence speak for itself.  I don’t want to make a claim and then look for evidence to support it.  For example, if a crime scene investigator has a bias that a certain individual is guilty, they may look at the evidence through that lens and seek to make the evidence fit the one they already think is guilty.  Rather every good investigator will let the evidence speak for itself and then determine who the guilty party is.  Once that determination has been made, then one can wrestle with the consequences of the conclusions.

Some have accused Christians of “needing Jesus to be God” and so, they would say, even though the evidence doesn’t support the claim of his divinity they make him to be God.  I pray the evidence objectively speaks for itself to allow one to conclude as the centurion on duty at the crucifixion concluded, “Surely this was the Son of God!”

So with the evidence concluding that Jesus is God, we ask, “Why does it matter?”

All other religions have made Jesus to be just a man perhaps, at best, a man with divine qualities.  However, if he is just a man, he struggles to provide any meaningful solution to the key question in life, “How am I right with God?”  God has set the standard in Leviticus 19:2, “Be perfect, as I the Lord your God am perfect.”  With this truth in mind, Jesus, for many, becomes an “example to follow” as I “try my best” to walk the pathway toward perfection.  But the evidence convicts me that I am not perfect and neither are you nor anyone else.  “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)

But, if Jesus is God, he provides a solution that no other person can.  As God, Jesus was able to live a perfect life….tempted, but never sinned. 

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 

Why was this important? So we would have a perfect substitute for our imperfect life.

Galatians 4:4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

See, if Jesus were just a man, we are left to fend for ourselves. Since he is God, we have one who advocates on our behalf and has a perfect record he is willing to apply to our account.

1 John 2:2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

The result? We stand perfect before God because Jesus was perfect for us.

This is why Jesus being God is such a big deal.  Your eternity is secured by it!

Apply: Because Jesus was God, his death also counted for us.  He paid the penalty our sins deserved.  What comfort does the truth that Jesus is God give you knowing, he was perfect for you and his death counts for you?

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for orchestrating the perfect plan through Jesus, your only Son, to secure our salvation.  We know that if Jesus were not God, we would not spend eternity with you.  But because he is God, we know we will! AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on the Week 5 “Explore God” – Is Jesus Really God? (WATCH HERE)

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How would you prove that Abraham Lincoln was president of the United States?  No, I’m not starting some conspiracy theory, but rather simply getting us to think how we would prove to someone that Abraham Lincoln was president of the United States.

Things that we may include in this list are the following:

• Eyewitness and records of people with him – people who saw him as President.
• Written documentation – Documents he signed that only the President can sign.
• Election records – Events that document he was selected and inaugurated as President.

We might include external sources from other countries, military records, or national archives.

After all this evidence is presented, a very large majority of people would accept the truth that Abraham Lincoln was president.

So if we apply the same approach to affirming that Jesus is God, we would perhaps consider the same things.  So what does the evidence say?

He was “elected” as the Son of God from God himself at his baptism and transfiguration:

Matthew 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 17:4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

We have the written records of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – four different writers with different purposes and perspectives, but a singular agreement that Jesus was God.  Perhaps the most important record is Jesus doing “God” things in his miracles.  He showed his power over the elements of nature.  He healed terminally ill.  He drove out demons and rose the dead.

But if that wasn’t enough, we have Thomas who spent three years listening to Jesus, interacting with him, and seeing his miracles did not believe he rose from the dead.  Only when he personally saw and touched Jesus did he believe.

Even in Jesus’ day the “election records,” the written documentation, the miracles and the testimony of many did not convince people he was God.

But his resurrection did.  No one had ever done this before nor since.  The resurrection of Jesus is the unique and powerfully convicting proof that Jesus is God.

It convinced Thomas:

John 20:26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 

It convinced the Apostle Paul:

Romans 1:1      Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

It was recorded to convince us:

John 20:30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 

Consider the evidence. If one can conclude Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States, there is abundant and clear evidence that Jesus is God.

Apply: What other evidence do you notice that convinces you that Jesus is God?

Prayer: Lord, again, we praise you for leaving abundant evidence of the truth that Jesus is God! AMEN.