Truth Matters Part 2
From the World to the Word Series
Eugene Montilla
Aug. 16, 2020
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the servant of God a may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy. 3: 16 NIV
The Scripture is useful for Telling us
Teaching – What is RIGHT
Rebuking – What is WRONG
Correcting – HOW to be Right
Training in righteousness – HOW to STAY right
“The Word of the Lord is right and true.” Psalm 33:4 (NIV)
Why I Can trust the Bible?
Because It’s verifiable, it’s consistent and relevant.
1. It is Verifiable.
a. Historically verifiable
The Rosetta Stone unlocked the key to Egyptian hieroglyphics. As a result, ancient Egyptian documents and inscriptions can be read today.
Egyptian history increases our understanding of some Biblical details.
“I will bring judgment against all the gods of Egypt” — Exodus 12:12
The Behistun Rock chiseled on a rock in Iran shows Darius in 512 B.C. ascending to the throne and the Bible mentioned the reigns of Darius in the book of Daniel, Ezra, Haggai and Jeremiah.
Both the Behistun Rock and The Rosetta Stone cry out in praise to the Glory of God in terms of accuracy in world history and prophetic history
b. Prophetically verifiable.
2,500 prophecies were fulfilled and another 500 are in the process as we speak.
“No prophecy ever originated from humans. Instead, it was given by the Holy Spirit as humans spoke under God’s direction.” – 2 Peter 1:21
c. Archaeologically verifiable
The book of Acts is all about historical accuracy. Luke, a historian as well as a doctor, he wrote the book of Acts. He talks about 54 cities, 39 countries, and nine different islands – and all of those places are in existence today.
d. Scientifically verifiable
Earth
For instance, for thousands and thousands of years, people believed that the earth was flat.
“God is enthroned above the sphere ( circle ) on the earth.” – Isaiah 40:22
He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing. – Job 26: 7 NIV
Quarantine
During the middle ages 1 in every four person in Europe died due to the communicable Bubonic plague.
“Put an infected person in quarantine for seven days.” – Leviticus 13:4
2. Thematically consistent
This book was written over 1,600 years, from the first book to the last, by 40 different authors, on three different continents, in three different languages ( Hebrew, Aramaic and Koine Greek ), and they didn’t know about each other.
For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. Romans 12: 19 NIV
3. Personally relevant
It has transforming power. Nothing can change the lives of people like the Bible.
“If you continue in my Word, then you are my disciples indeed; And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free!” – John 8:31-32
So the big question is, what’s going to be the authority of my life?
Do not conform to the pattern of this world ( Culture ) , but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12: 2
God’s plan for your life is good. God’s plan for your life is pleasing. And God’s plan for your life is perfect. But you’re only going to know it through the perfect Word of God.
The Bible is Relevant to the current times…
“…until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed…so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”
.. whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:4,8 NIV.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. – 1 Thessalonians. 4: 16, 17 NIV
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. – John 10: 10 ESV
Truth is objective because God exists outside ourselves;
It is universal because God is above all;
It is constant because God is eternal.
Absolute truth is absolute because it originates from the original. – Josh McDowell
