Goodlow Evangelical Free Church January 25, 2015

1. Goodlow Evangelical Free Church January 25, 2015 One God – One Word

4. BiblicalInspirationBirthsLife Everlasting

5. Be Informed Before Leaving Earth

8. While the majority of churchgoers desire to honour Christ with their lives and even profess to think on biblical truths, a recent study found few actually engage in personal reading and study of the Scriptures.

9. Bible Engagement in Canada, 2013 Sponsored by the Canadian Bible Forum and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada

10. Bible Engagement in Canada, 2013 Sponsored by the Canadian Bible Forum and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada

11. "You can follow Christ and see Christianity as your source of truth.

12. "You can follow Christ and see Christianity as your source of truth. But if that truth does not permeate your thoughts, aspirations and actions, you are not fully engaging the truth.“ E. Stetzer LifeWay Research

13. 2. God’s gospel is authoritatively revealed in the Scriptures

15. 2. God’s gospel is authoritatively revealed in the Scriptures

16. We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors.

17. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is tobebelievedin all that it teaches, obeyedin all that it requires, and trustedin all that it promises.

18. The Bible is: • verbally inspired

19. “God has worked by His Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the whole personality, life experiencesandliterary talentsof human authors toproducethevery words that God desired to be written to reveal Himself and His purposes to human beings. Peter describes this process as men speaking from God, ‘...as they were carried along by the Spirit.’ (2 Peter 1:20-210)” Gospel Truths: EFCC; 2011

20. Baptism? 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God… 1 Timothy 3:16 • LIFE AFTER BAPTISM • We are to live “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” • not continuing our previous way of living • living so that sin is not the ruler of our lives

21. The Bible is: • verbally inspired • without error in the original writings

22. Integrity of The Old Testament • The scrolls of Isaiah and Daniel found in Qumran date from approximately 1700 BC • The earliest extant Old Testament texts dated from 980 AD

23. Integrity of The Old Testament • Comparison of these texts revealed (for Chapter 53 of the book of Isaiah): • 10 letters – spelling differences • 4 letters – stylistic changes • 3 letters – the word “light” was added • 17 letters – no affect on Biblical teaching

24. There are, of course, critical scholars who, despite the evidence, continue to argue against the authenticity of Daniel and other biblical books. Yet, the Qumran texts have provided compelling evidence that buttresses our faith in the integrity of the manuscripts on which our translations are based.

25. It is now up to Bible believers to allow these texts to direct our attention to divine concerns andbecome the people God intends us to be. G. Brantley Apologetics Press

26. Integrity of The New Testament • We have far better evidence for the integrity of the New Testament text than any other book from the ancient world

27. Integrity of The New Testament • We have far better evidence for the integrity of the New Testament text than any other book from the ancient world • Caesar’s Gallic Wars – earliest manuscript is 950 years after the actual writing

28. Integrity of The New Testament • Manuscripts of the New Testament – the earliest fragment is 35 years after the writing

29. Integrity of The New Testament • Manuscripts of the New Testament – the earliest fragment is 35 years after the writing • Variances between manuscripts are mainly spelling or transcription in nature and do not alter the meaning of the text

30. Baptism? 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Luke 21:32-33 • LIFE AFTER BAPTISM • We are to live “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” • not continuing our previous way of living • living so that sin is not the ruler of our lives

31. The Bible is: • verbally inspired • without error in the original writings • the complete revelation of His will

32. Complete Revelation: • God has spoken all we need to know for Christian faith and life – for both doctrine and duty

33. Baptism? God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, Hebrews 1:1-3 • LIFE AFTER BAPTISM • We are to live “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” • not continuing our previous way of living • living so that sin is not the ruler of our lives

34. Baptism? Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith… Hebrews 12:1-2 • LIFE AFTER BAPTISM • We are to live “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” • not continuing our previous way of living • living so that sin is not the ruler of our lives

35. Complete Revelation: • God has spoken all we need to know for Christian faith and life – for both doctrine and duty • The saving grace of God is revealed in the Bible

36. Complete Revelation: • Neither general revelation nor conscience alone is able to bring us to a saving knowledge of God

37. Complete Revelation: • Neither general revelation nor conscience alone is able to bring us to a saving knowledge of God • Nothing can be added to Christ’s redemptive work revealed in the Bible

38. Baptism? 14 I know that whatever God does,it shall be forever.Nothing can be added to it,and nothing taken from it.God does it, that men should fear before Him. Ecclesiastes 3:14 • LIFE AFTER BAPTISM • We are to live “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” • not continuing our previous way of living • living so that sin is not the ruler of our lives

39. The Bible is: • verbally inspired • without error in the original writings • the complete revelation of His will • the ultimate authority

40. The authority of the Bible embraces both belief and behaviour...all knowledge, from whatever source, must be in service of the word of God, and that word provides the necessary norms by which to assess all other knowledge.

41. “Where stands it written?” became the watchword for all faith and practice. We stand strongly on that tradition. Gospel Truths: EFCC; 2011

42. What Next? • Because the Bible is the word of God: • it is to be believed

43. What Next? • Because the Bible is the word of God: • it is to be believed • it is to be obeyed

44. What Next? • Because the Bible is the word of God: • it is to be believed • it is to be obeyed • it is to be trusted

45. Baptism? 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 1 Timothy 3:16-17 • LIFE AFTER BAPTISM • We are to live “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” • not continuing our previous way of living • living so that sin is not the ruler of our lives

46. Baptism? 18 …by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. 19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast… Hebrews 618-19 • LIFE AFTER BAPTISM • We are to live “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” • not continuing our previous way of living • living so that sin is not the ruler of our lives

47. Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith’s door,And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.

48. “How many anvils have you had,” said I,“To wear and batter all these hammers so?”“Just one,” said he, and then with twinkling eye, “The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.”

49. And so, thought I, the anvil of God’s Word, For ages skeptic blows have beat upon; Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard, The anvil is unharmed – the hammers - gone. Author Unknown

50. What Next? • Our study found that it is important for people to believe that: • the Bible is the word of God, • it is reliable and trustworthy, and • it has unique teachings.