MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE

2. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE John 20:30-31 [By Ron Halbrook, adapted from Evidences for God and His Creation]

3. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE • Introduction 1. Jn. 20:30-31 The one Bible message

4. 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. 1. Jn. 20:30-31 The one Bible message

5. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE • Introduction 2. God guided the Bible writers to unity in purpose & theme 3. God protected & spread Scripture— no man can destroy its message 4. The Bible’s perfect unity & harmony are evidence of God’s guiding hand

6. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE I. Many Different Writers A. About 40 Writers Spanning 1,500 Years • Pentateuch written ca. 1,500-1,400 B.C. • Malachi written ca. 400 B.C.

7. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE I. Many Different Writers A. About 40 Writers Spanning 1,500 Years • 39 books of Old Testament translated from Hebrew to Greek ca. 250 B.C. (Septuagint)

8. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE I. Many Different Writers A. About 40 Writers Spanning 1,500 Years • Lk. 24:44 39 books as one book in 3 sections 44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

9. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE I. Many Different Writers A. About 40 Writers Spanning 1,500 Years • Jn. 16:13 27 New Testament books • James written ca. A.D. 45 • Revelation written ca. A.D. 95 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

10. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE I. Many Different Writers B. Moses Lived ca. 1,500-1,400 B.C. • Acts 7:20-22 Learned highest Egyptian culture

11. 20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months: 21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. • Acts 7:20-22 Learned highest Egyptian culture

12. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE I. Many Different Writers C. Matthew Lived in the 1st Century A.D. • Matt. 9:9 From Capernaum, Galilee (depressed area of Palestine); tax collector for Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee (despised by Jews) 9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

13. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE I. Many Different Writers D. Paul Lived in the 1st Century A.D. (Died A.D. 67) • Acts 22:3 (25) From Tarsus, Cilicia (center of commerce, education); Roman citizen; taught by Gamaliel (famous rabbi) 3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel

14. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE I. Many Different Writers E. Peter Lived in the 1st Century A.D. (Died A.D. 67) • Matt. 4:18-19 Fisherman from Bethsaida, fishing village in northern Galilee

15. 18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. • Matt. 4:18-19 Fisherman from Bethsaida, fishing village in northern Galilee

16. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE I. Many Different Writers F. All Wrote of Things Beyond Their Background, Training, & Knowledge • 1 Cor. 2:9, 13 Guided by the Holy Spirit

17. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. ++++++++++ ++++++++++ ++++++++++ +++++++++ ++++++++++ 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. • 1 Cor. 2:9, 13 Guided by the Holy Spirit

18. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE I. Many Different Writers F. All Wrote of Things Beyond Their Background, Training, & Knowledge • Rose above moral, social, & scientific philosophies of their age

19. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE I. Many Different Writers F. All Wrote of Things Beyond Their Background, Training, & Knowledge • Harmony & consistency in their writings • Heb. 1:1-2 One true God throughout the Bible

20. 1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; • Heb. 1:1-2 One true God throughout the Bible

21. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE I. Many Different Writers F. All Wrote of Things Beyond Their Background, Training, & Knowledge • Harmony & consistency in their writings • No contradictions on God or His will

22. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE II. Unity of Bible Doctrine A. Gen.-Rev.: Message of Salvation in Jesus Christ • Jn. 20:31 Bible evidence Jesus is our Savior 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

23. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE II. Unity of Bible Doctrine A. Gen.-Rev.: Message of Salvation in Jesus Christ • Every book of the Bible supports this theme

24. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE II. Unity of Bible Doctrine B. Man Sins: He Needs a Savior • Gen. 2:16-17 God gave Adam & Eve His law 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

25. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE II. Unity of Bible Doctrine B. Man Sins: He Needs a Savior • Gen. 3:6 Adam & Eve violated God’s law 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

26. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE II. Unity of Bible Doctrine B. Man Sins: He Needs a Savior • Rom. 3:23 We also sin! 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

27. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE II. Unity of Bible Doctrine B. Man Sins: He Needs a Savior • Gen. 3:15 God promised to send a Savior 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

28. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE II. Unity of Bible Doctrine B. Man Sins: He Needs a Savior • Gen. 12:3 The Savior to come from Abram 3 …and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

29. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE II. Unity of Bible Doctrine C. The Savior Has Come! • Four Gospel accounts proclaim Jesus Christ the Savior has come: one story by four authors, with four themes, for four audiences

31. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE II. Unity of Bible Doctrine C. The Savior Has Come! • Jesus Christ the Savior: theme of entire Bible • Old Testament: He is coming • Four gospel records (Matt.-Jn.): He has come • Acts & Epistles: He will come again

32. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE II. Unity of Bible Doctrine D. Sinners Can Be Reconciled to God • Gen. 3:24 Man alienated from God: tree of life lost, physical death reigns 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

33. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE II. Unity of Bible Doctrine D. Sinners Can Be Reconciled to God • Rev. 22:1-2 Man reconciled to God: tree of life restored in heaven

34. 1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. • Rev. 22:1-2 Man reconciled to God: tree of life restored in heaven

35. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE II. Unity of Bible Doctrine E. The Old & New Laws Harmonize • Lev. 17:11 Animal sacrifices made temporary atonement for sin 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

36. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE II. Unity of Bible Doctrine E. The Old & New Laws Harmonize • Jer. 31:31-34 God prepared His people for a new & better covenant 31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah. ========== ========= ========= 34 …I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sins no more.

37. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE II. Unity of Bible Doctrine E. The Old & New Laws Harmonize • Heb. 10:9-10 Christ fulfilled the purpose of the old law: he offered a perfect sacrifice 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

38. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE II. Unity of Bible Doctrine E. The Old & New Laws Harmonize • Heb. 8:6 As the new high priest, he inaugurated the new covenant 6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

39. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE II. Unity of Bible Doctrine E. The Old & New Laws Harmonize • 1 Pet. 2:9-11 Christians are priests in the new temple: the church

40. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; • 1 Pet. 2:9-11 Christians are priests in the new temple: the church

41. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE II. Unity of Bible Doctrine F. Divine Doctrine Harmonizes, Human Doctrines Contradict • Old Methodist discipline (babies born in sin) VS new discipline (babies not born in sin) • Old Presbyterian creed (oppose evolution) VS new creed (accept evolution) • Churches opposed immorality, now accept it (consenting adults, alternative lifestyle, etc.)

42. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE • Invitation 1. Jn. 20:30-31 The one Bible message

43. 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. 1. Jn. 20:30-31 The one Bible message

44. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE • Invitation 2. God guided the Bible writers to unity in purpose & theme 3. God protected & spread Scripture— no man can destroy its message 4. The Bible’s perfect unity & harmony are evidence of God’s guiding hand

45. MANY WRITERS, ONE BIBLE MESSAGE • Invitation 5. The Christ of Scripture offers salvation to all • Mk. 16:15-16 Come to him by obedient faith 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.