August 2, 2009
Morning Service

1. The Bible

Testimony in Philosophy

In philosophy, a testimony is known as Statements that are based on personal experience or personal knowledge. A statement is accepted on the basis of person's testimony if his or her asserting it renders it acceptable. We can also, rationally accept a claim on the basis of another persons testimony unless (1. the claim is implausible; 2. The person or the source in which the claim is quoted lacks credibility; 3. The claim goes beyond what the person could know from his or her own experience and competence.)

 

IMPORTANT TESTIMONIES, OR WITNESSES TO:

1.     The Bible.

2.     Almighty God

3.     Jesus of Nazareth, the very Son of God.

4. Your own personal experience in conversion.

 

Today we want to look at testimony to the Bible.  The purpose of this study is to show each of us how important it is to believe what the Bible says.  Therefore building our faith ( Rom. 10:17 ), and “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” ( Heb. 11:6 )

 

The importance of the Scriptures, our Holy Bible.

·        The Bible gives us the revelation and explanation of Almighty God, and His dealings with creation, and mankind.

o       WIKIPEDIA = There are among Christians wide differences of opinion as to how particular incidents as described in the Bible are to be interpreted and as to what meaning should be attached to various prophecies. However, Christians in general are in agreement as to the Bible's basic message. A general outline, as described by C. S. Lewis, is as follows:^[10]

1. At some point in the past, humanity chose to depart from God's will and began to sin.
2. Because no one is free from sin, people cannot deal with God directly, so God revealed Himself in ways people could understand.
3. God called Abraham and his progeny to be the means for saving all of humanity.
4. To this end, He gave the Law to Moses.
5. The resulting nation of Israel went through cycles of sin and repentance, yet the prophets show an increasing understanding of the Law as a moral, not just a ceremonial, force.
6. Jesus brought a perfect understanding of the Mosaic Law, that of love and salvation.
7. By His death and resurrection, all who believe are saved and reconciled to God.

·        Then we might ask ourselves “who in the world is C.S. Lewis?”  C.S. Lewis Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963), commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as Jack, was a novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist. He is also known for his fiction, especially The Screwtape Letters, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Space Trilogy.

·        And the thought here is that a lot of people liked, and had confidence in his testimony, and argument for Christianity.

Now we must remember what Solomon said concerning knowledge;  “Ecc 12:12  And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.”

The same would hold true for testimonies, and witnesses.

That’s why this statement is so prevalent;  “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  ( Heb. 11:1 )

The things hoped for:

o       The accuracy of the Bible.

o       That God is love.

o       That Jesus of Nazareth is the very Son of God.

o       That if we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and are baptized we will be saved from the impending destruction that God is going to give to this planet.

You get the idea, everything we have is by faith.  Even though there are many testimonies concerning the Bible, we accept it’s authenticity by faith.

·        The Bible also teaches us God’s plan, and expectations for mankind. 

·        The Bible has stood the test of time.  Many have tried to destroy it, but failed.

·        The Bible is the central religious text of Christianity.  Judaism, also uses the O.T. scriptures.  However denies the witnesses, and testimonies of the N.T. writers, and the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth.

o       In Christianity, the Tanakh is known as the Old Testament. The Christian Bible includes both the Old Testament and a collection of newer canonical books known as the New Testament.

SINCE WE ACCEPT THE BIBLE AS BEING INSPIRED BY GOD, BY FAITH, LET’S LOOK AT SOME TESTIMONIES CONCERNING IT.

·        The Psalmist David said;  Psa 19:7  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

·        Proverbs by Solomon; Pro 30:5  Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

·         Jesus said; Joh 5:39  Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

·         Luk 4:4  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

·         Luk 11:28  But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

·         Joh 21:24-25  This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.  (25)  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

·        Listen to Paul as he builds our faith on the Word of God, the Bible; 

Rom 1:2  (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures

Rom 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Rom 16:26  But now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

1Co 15:3-4  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;  (4)  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:

2Ti 3:15-16  And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

1Th 2:13  For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

I want to conclude with what Paul told the Corinthians:  1Co 14:37  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

 

PETER SUMMED IT UP BY SAYING: “ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS HAVE BEEN GIVEN UNTO US.”                     THEY ARE CONTAINED WITHIN THE PAGES OF OUR HOLY BIBLE.