Psalms 119:89, "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness [is] unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all [are] thy servants. Unless thy law [had been] my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. I [am] thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: [but] I will consider thy testimonies. I have seen an end of all perfection: [but] thy commandment [is] exceeding broad. O how love I thy law! it [is] my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they [are] ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies [are] my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! [yea, sweeter] than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way."

Revelation 22:18-19, "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book."

Introduction:

A. The Bible is a wonderful book --- it is a Composite Library of 66 books --- 39 Old Testament --- 27 New Testament.

B. The Bible is Unique:

1. It is Not a mere haphazard collection of writings,

2. It is an Organic Whole --- each of the 66 books is necessary to the whole 'library'.

C. There is a Unity about the Bible that is nothing less than miraculous.

D. The Bible is Inspired --- Authoritative and entirely Trustworthy.

I. The Wonder of Its Formation.

A. The Old Testament may be divided into Four Sections:

1. The Pentateuch - (Gen. to Deut.)

2. The Historical books - (Joshua to Job)

3. The Poetical books - (Psa. to Song of Solomon)

4. The Prophetical books - (Isaiah to Malachi)

B. The New Testament may be divided into Three Sections:

1. The Historical books - (Matthew to Acts)

2. The Doctrinal books - (Romans to Jude)

3. The Prophetical book - (Revelation)

C. Some important Questions:

1. Where did these 66 books come from?

2. How were they written and by whom?

3. How were they brought together in one volume?

D. Interesting Facts concerning the Bible:

1. The 66 books of the Bible were written by some Forty Different Writers:

a. Lived in different Countries,

b. Spoke different Languages,

c. Came from different Backgrounds.

A King --- A Doctor --- A Herdsman --- A Tax Gatherer --- A Theologian --- A Scribe --- A Fisherman --- etc.

2. These writings were spread over a period of 1600 years --- Approximately 40-55 Generations --- there could be No Collusion or Communication.

3. Yet, when these 66 books are placed together there is a Perfect Unity and Harmony --- they fit together to make one complete whole.

a. The New Testament is enfolded in the Old.

b. The Old Testament is unfolded in the New.

4. What is the Answer? --- "Divine Inspiration" --- God's Miracle Book ...

II. The Claim of Its Writers.

A. God is the Author of the Bible --- but He Utilized many human writers.

B. These forty writers claimed to be writing down the Words of God.

1. "Thus Saith The Lord ..." and similar expressions occur hundreds of times in the Bible.

2. In the Twenty-Seven Chapters of Leviticus there are Fifty-Six Assertions assigning its authorship to the Lord Himself.

C. Jesus, the Gospel-writers, Paul, Peter, James and John all accepted the Divine Authority and Authorship of the Old Testament.

1. II Timothy 3:16, "All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

2. II Peter 1:21, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost."

III. The Accuracy of Its Statements.

A. The Bible is Accurate and Reliable.

1. There is Not One Discrepancy or Inaccuracy in the whole Bible.

Psalms 119:160, "Thy word [is] true [from] the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments [endureth] for ever."

2. The Bible Is Accurate:

a. Historically,

b. Geographically,

c. Genealogically,

d. Scientifically,

e. Psychologically,

f. Topologically,

g. Verbally .....

B. Seemingly Discrepancies And Inaccuracies Have, Over The Years, Been Proven To Be Accurate.

IV. The Progressiveness of Its Revelation.

A. The revelation of truth we have in the Bible is progressively given --- by the time we get to the Book of Revelation we have a perfect and complete body of truth.

B. In the 66 Books there is everything we need to know about:

Ourselves --- Sin --- Death --- Heaven --- Human destiny --- Human relations --- God --- Jesus --- Redemption

V. The Fulfillment of Its Prophecies.

A. Two-Thirds of the Bible is made up of prophecies.

1. Prophecy is History written In Advance.

2. So far, all of these have been fulfilled Literally.

B. In the Bible we have Prophecies relating to Places, Events, and Persons.

C. Over Three hundred Prophecies relating to the life, arrest, trial and crucifixion of Christ were Literally fulfilled.

D. If Just One Prophecy were to Fail --- the Bible would not be God's Word --- not reliable.

VI. The Insistence of Its Message.

A. One message run Throughout the entire Bible:

Genesis 3:15, "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."

1. God's great love for sinful mankind,

2. The Gift of His Son --- our Lord Jesus Christ --- His Provision of Salvation,

3. His Justice and Holiness perfectly Satisfied at Calvary.

B. Throughout the Bible we trace the message of:

John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Revelation 22:17, "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

C. The message is not only one of Salvation but also of Judgment.

1. God so Loved the world ..... --- He has No Desire To Judge --- He has committed all judgment to the Son.

John 5:22, "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:"

2. Jesus did Not Come To Judge the world but rather to save the world.

John 12:47, "And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world."

John 3:17, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

3. There Is Only One Absolute Standard For Judging Mankind --- The Word of God Which Is Settled In Heaven.

John 12:48, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."

D. What is the Explanation of this One Insistent Message throughout the bible.

VII. The Explanation of Its Author!

A. Matthew 9:12-13, "But when Jesus heard [that], he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

B. Luke 19:10, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

C. John 20:31, "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."

D. John 3:36, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

E. I John 5:10-13, "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

F. I John 5:20, "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."

If You Are Not Saved, Nothing Else Matters