TEXT:  2 Pet. 1:19-21

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THE BIBLE CLAIMS THAT IT IS NOT THE MERE PRODUCT OF MEN.

          1.       How we view the Bible determines our interest in it.

          2.       Is it worth obeying?

B.      THE BIBLE IS INSPIRED OF GOD;  IT IS WORTH OUR STUDY.

I.      WHAT DO WE MEAN "INSPIRED?"

A.      2 Tim. 3:16.  WHAT DOES THE PHRASE "INSPIRED OF GOD" MEAN?

          1.       theopneustos,  theo - God, pneustos - breathed.

          2.       Origin in the mouth of God.

B.      INSPIRATION REFERS TO THE PROCESS IN WHICH GOD USES A HUMAN

          BEING TO CONVEY HIS WORDS TO OTHERS BY EITHER WRITING OR

          SPEAKING ( Deut. 18:18;  Isa. 6:8-9 ).

C.      INSPIRATION DISTINCT FROM REVELATION

          1.       Cornelius and the Eunuch received revelations but were not inspired.

          2.       Luke inspired to write about things he already knew.

II.     THEORIES OF INSPIRATION.

A.      THE NATURAL  THEORY, like Shakespeare, Milton, or Burns.

B.      THE NEOMATICAL, OR THOUGHT, THEORY, only thoughts given.

C.      VERBAL OR PLENARY THEORY, words chosen by God from their own

          background and vocabulary.

D.      THE VERBAL THEORY MUST BE CORRECT

          ( 1 Cor. 2:13; Mat. 10:20;  1 Thes. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:21 ).

III.    INSPIRATION AND THE OLD TESTAMENT.

A.      OLD TESTAMENT WRITERS CLAIMED THE HOLY SPIRIT.

          1.       Moses and the Law( Ex. 19:7-10; Deut. 18:15-19 ).

          2.       David( 2 Sam.23:1-3 ).

          3.       The Major Prophets( Isa. 1:1-2; Jer. 2:1-2; Ez. 2;  Dan. 9:20-23 ).

          4.       The Minor Prophets( Hos. 1:1;  Joel 1:1;  Amos 1:1-3;  Ob. 1:1;  

                   Micah 1:1;  Hag. 1:1-2; Mal. 1:1 ).

B.      OLD TESTAMENT ENDORSED BY CHRIST.

          1.       Blanket endorsement ( Luke 24:44 ).

          2.       Jesus endorsed David ( Matt. 22:43-44 ).

          3.       He calls the Old Testament the Word of God ( John 10:35 ).

          4.       Dr. Harry Rimmer has counted the number of times Jesus quoted directly from

                   the Old Testament - 179 verses.

C.      THE HOLY SPIRIT ENDORSES THE OLD TESTAMENT.

          1.       284 quotations from 25 Old Testament books.

          2.       The Holy Spirit inspired these quotations.

          3.       Every Scripture is inspired ( 2 Tim. 3:14-17 ).

          4.       God was speaking in the prophets ( Heb. 1:1 ).

          5.       Guidance from the Holy Spirit ( 1 Pet. 1:10-11;   2 Pet. 1:19-21 ).

IV.   THE PURPOSE OF THE "INSPIRED" OLD TESTAMENT.

A.      LEARNING ENGENDERS COMFORT AND HOPE( Rom. 15:4 ).

B.      TO "BRING US TO FAITH"( Gal. 3:23-25;  Heb. 8:5 ).

C.      TO "BEAR WITNESS"( John 5:39, 46-47;  Rom. 3:21-22 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      OUR INTEREST IN THE GOSPEL WILL DETERMINE OUR INTEREST IN THE

          OLD TESTAMENT.

B.      Hebrews 5:8-12.  CAN WE AFFORD TO HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF THOSE

          CHRISTIANS?  WE FIND PLEASURE IN THE STUDY.