The Word of God

The Bible is God’s Word. It is inspired (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21). It is true (Ps. 12:6; 19:7; 33:4; 119:160). It is authoritative (Heb. 4:12; Josh. 1:8). Which, if any, of these three ideas are new to you? Do any of these ideas trouble you? Why or why not?

The inspiration, truth and authority of the Bible is not just claimed by the Bible. External evidence for the truth of God’s Word:

•  Archeological Evidence. Go to www.answersingenesis.org

• Textual Reliability. Go to www.wesleyhuff.com

• External Validation – Josephus, Tacitus, Pliny the Younger mention Jesus and validate the historical details of his life

• Internal Continuity – written over 1,500 years by 40 authors on different continents are unified to tell the same story of God’s work

• Prophecies fulfilled.

• Reading God’s Word

• Wayne Grudem says: “Ultimately the truthfulness of the Bible will commend itself as being far more persuasive than other religious books (such as the Book of Mormon or the Qur’an), or than any other intellectual construction of the human mind (such as logic, human reason, sense experience, scientific methodology, etc.). It will be more persuasive because in the actual experience of life, all of these other candidates for ultimate authority are seen to be inconsistent or to have shortcomings that disqualify them, while the Bible will be seen to be fully in accord with all that we know about the world around us, about ourselves, and about God.”

Read Psalm 1:1. Why should we not follow the wicked? (see 1 Cor. 15:33) David F. Wells defines worldliness as: “that system of values, in any given age, which has at its center our fallen human perspective, which displaces God and his truth from the world, and which makes sin look normal and righteousness seem strange. It thus gives great plausibility to what is morally wrong and, for that reason, makes what is wrong seem normal” -Losing our Virtue

Why should we follow God’s Word (v. 2-4)?

Is God’s Word your delight (v. 2)? Why or why not?

If we follow God’s Word what will we be like (v. 3)?

What are the wicked like (v. 4)?

In v. 5-6 what will happen to the righteous (those who follow God’s Word) and the wicked (those who follow the world)?

Whom/what are you following?