TEXT: 1 Cor. 2:12

INTRODUCTION:

A.        THE BIBLE IS INSPIRED OF GOD.

1.         Theopneustos, God breathed...God's word.

2.         Where this fact is denied or minimized, the Bible is no longer studied with care or quoted with authority.

B.         AS THE OLD TESTAMENT IS INSPIRED SO IS THE NEW.

I.        WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THE INSPIRATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT?

A.        GOD SPEAKS TODAY THROUGH JESUS ( Heb. 1:1-2; Mat. 17:1-8 ).

1.         Prophesied ( Deut. 18:15-18 ).

2.         Jesus declares God's will and character ( John 1:18 ).

3.         Jesus was not presumptuous ( John 12:49; 14:6-10 ).

B.         JESUS MADE PROMISE TO THE APOSTLES.

1.         Personal guidance in their speech( Mat. 10:16-20; Mark 13:11; Luke 21:14-15 ).

The Holy Spirit at work!

2.         The sum of Jesus' teaching brought to their remembrance ( John 14:26 ).

3.         All the truth ( John 16:13 ).

4.         The source ( vs. 13-15 ).

5.         Confirmation ( Heb. 2:1-4 ).

C.        REALITY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ERA...AS IN NO OTHER.

1.         Prophet's dilemma( 1 Pet. 1:10-11 ).

2.         Constituted a mystery ( 1 Cor. 2:6-9; Eph. 3:3-5 ).

a.         musterion, "that which is hidden, not revealed."

b.         How was it a mystery?

c.         Why was it a mystery? ( Heb. 1:1 ).

3.         The "mystery" revealed ( 1 Cor. 2:10-13; Eph. 3:3-5; 1 Pet. 1:12 ).

D.        WHAT DID THEY DO WITH THAT WHICH WAS REVEALED?

1.         1 Pet. 1:12, "Which have been announced unto you..."

2.         1 Cor. 12:13, "Which things we speak..."

3.         Eph. 3:3-4, "As I wrote before in few words..."

E.         EVERY WORD IS IMPORTANT ( 1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:20-21 ).

II.    THE RESULT OF INSPIRATION.

A.      WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST ( 1 Cor. 2:16 ).

B.      WE MAY PERCEIVE PAUL'S UNDERSTANDING ( Eph. 3:3-4, 8-9 ).

C.      WE MAY STAND COMPLETE ( 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ).

D.      1 Cor. 2:12.

CONCLUSION:

A.      GOD SPEAKS TO US IN THE SCRIPTURES.

B.      WHAT IS HIS INSPIRED WILL FOR ME?