IS THE BIBLE TRUE? (4 DEVOS)

THE SCRIPTURES HAVE ETERNAL LIFE

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me."  

- 1 John 5:12 

THE TESTIMONY OF SCRIPTURE   

"The testimony of scripture is so plain that to add anything were superfluous, were it not that the world is almost now come to that blindness, that whatsoever pleases not the princes and the multitude, the same is rejected as doctrine newly forged, and is condemned for heresy."   

- John Knox (1514-1572) Scottish Minster, Theologian 

HAVE YOU NEVER READ IN SCRIPTURE 

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?'"

- Matthew 21:42

WE ACCOUNT THE SCRIPTURES OF GOD

"We account the Scriptures of God to be the most sublime philosophy. I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history whatsoever."     

- Isaac Newton (1642-1726) English Physicist, Astronomer

ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

- 2 Timothy 3:16-17

THE GLORIOUS TRUTH PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE

"The immense step from the Babe at Bethlehem to the living, reigning triumphant Lord Jesus, returning to earth for His own people - that is the glorious truth proclaimed throughout Scripture. As the bells ring out the joys of Christmas, may we also be alert for the final trumpet that will announce His return, when we shall always be with Him."

- Alan Redpath (1907–1989), American Evangelist, Pastor, Author

THE SCRIPTURES WILL BE FULFILLED 

"I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’"  

- John 13:18

THE PROMISE OF SCRIPTURE IS A WRITING OF GOD

“Every promise of Scripture is a writing of God, which may be pledged before Him with this reasonable request: Do as Thou hast said.” 

– Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher 

YOU ARE MISTAKEN, NOT KNOWING THE SCRIPTURES 

"Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God." 

- Matthew 22:29 

GO TO THE PAGES OF THE SCRIPTURE

"We need to be very careful to go to the pages of the Scripture to learn about God's will and the leading of the Spirit, and not simply to listen to the popular teachings of the Christian subculture in which we live."

- R. C. Sproul (1939-2017) American Reformed Theologian

SO THAT THE SCRIPTURE WOULD BE FULFILLED 

"While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled."  

- John 17:12 

SO IT IS THE SAME WITH THE SCRIPTURES

"To get the full flavor of an herb, it must be pressed between the fingers, so it is the same with the Scriptures; the more familiar they become, the more they reveal their hidden treasures and yield their indescribable riches."

— John Chrysostom, A.D. 347-407 

THE SCRIPTURES HAD TO BE FULFILLED

“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus." 

- Acts 1:16

CLEARLY TAUGHT AND URGED IN SCRIPTURE

"Gradual growth in grace, growth in knowledge, growth in faith, growth in love, growth in holiness, growth in humility, growth in spiritual-mindedness - all this I see clearly taught and urged in Scripture, and clearly exemplified in the lives of many of God's saints. But sudden, instantaneous leaps from conversion to consecration I fail to see in the Bible."

- J. C. Ryle (1816-1900) English Anglican Bishop  

THOUGH ENDURANCE TAUGHT IN THE SCRIPTURES

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had."  

- Romans 15:4-5 

WITH ONE SCRIPTURE OR ANOTHER, STRENGTHEN ME

"Look how fears have presented themselves, so have supports and encouragements; yea, when I have started, even as it were at nothing else but my shadow, yet God, as being very tender of me, hath not suffered me to be molested, but would with one Scripture or another, strengthen me against all; insomuch that I have often said, Were it lawful, I could pray for greater trouble, for the greater comfort's sake."  

- John Bunyan (1628-1688) English Minister Writer

YOU ARE MISTAKEN, NOT KNOWING THE SCRIPTURES

"Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God." 

- Matthew 22:29

ENABLES THEM TO UNDERSTAND AND LOVE THE SCRIPTURES

"In general, He guides and directs His people, affording them, in answer to prayer, the light of His Holy Spirit, which enables them to understand and to love the Scriptures."

- John Newton (1724-1807) Slave Trader Turned Preacher

THROUGH THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 

- Romans 15:4

AND YOU UNPIN EVERYTHING IN SCRIPTURE

"Disbelieve hell, and you unscrew, unsettle, and unpin everything in Scripture."

- J. C. Ryle (1816-1900) English Anglican Bishop 

THE SCRIPTURE, FORESEEING THAT WOULD

"The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.”  

- Galatians 3:8 

THE SCRIPTURES ARE THE ONLY RECORD IN WHICH GOD

"Since no daily responses are given from heaven, and the Scriptures are the only record in which God has been pleased to consign His truth to perpetual remembrance, the full authority which they ought to possess with the faithful is not recognized unless they are believed to have come from heaven as directly as if God had been heard giving utterance to them."  

- John Calvin (1509-1564) French Theologian

NO PROPHECY OF SCRIPTURE IS A MATTER 

"But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation."

- 2 Peter 1:20

MINGLING OF TARES AND WHEAT

"Scripture plainly tells us of this mingling of tares and wheat--of mere professors among true believers. Yet misguided students have frequently applied to the children of God the warnings and exhortations meant only for the self-deceived or hypocritical."

- C. I. Scofield (1843-1921) American Theologian, Minister

THE GLORY OF CHRIST IN THE SCRIPTURES

"The person who never meditates with delight on the glory of Christ in the Scriptures now will not have any real desire to see that glory in heaven. What sort of faith and love do people have who find time to think about many other things but make no time for meditating on this glorious subject?"

- John Owen

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES AND PRAYER

"The chief means for attaining wisdom, and suitable gifts for the ministry, are the Holy Scriptures, and prayer." 

- John Newton (1725-1790) Slave Trader Captain Turned Christian 

THE SCRIPTURES TEACH US THE BEST WAY OF LIVING

The Scriptures teach us the best way of living, the noblest way of suffering and the most comfortable way of dying."

- John Flavel (c.1627-1691) English Puritan Minister 

UNTIL I COME, GIVE ATTENTION TO THE PUBLIC READING OF SCRIPTURE

"Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching." 

- 1 Timothy 4:13

EVERY SERMON MUST HAVE A SOLID SCRIPTURE REST

"Every sermon must have a solid rest in Scripture, and the pointedness which comes of a clear subject, and the conviction which belongs to well-thought argument, and the warmth that proceeds from earnest appeal."

- Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) American Episcopal Clergyman

THE SCRIPTURE IS BOTH THE BREEDER AND FEEDER OF GRACE

"The Scripture is both the breeder and feeder of grace. How is the convert born, but by "the word of truth"? (James 1:18). How doth he grow, but by "the sincere milk of the Word."? (I Peter 2:2).

- Thomas Watson (1620-1686) Puritan Preacher

THE SCRIPTURES TEACH US THE BEST WAY OF LIVING

The Scriptures teach us the best way of living, the noblest way of suffering and the most comfortable way of dying."

- John Flavel (c1627-1691) English Puritan Minister 

INSTILLING IN MY MIND AN EARLY LOVE OF SCRIPTURES

“From the time that, at my mother’s feet, or my father’s knee, I first learned to lisp verses from the sacred writings, they have been my daily study and vigilant contemplation. If there be any thing in my style or thoughts to be commended, the credit is due to my kind parents in instilling into my mind an early love of the Scriptures.”

– Daniel Webster (1782-1852) Writer of Webster’s Dictionary

UNLESS I AM CONVICTED BY SCRIPTURE

"Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason. I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen."

- Martin Luther (1483-1546) German Priest and Theology Professor 

THE MORE SCRIPTURE IS GONE THROUGH

"You see, the more Scripture is gone through, the more comes to light that He is the true God and Eternal Life." 

- John Nelson Darby (1800-82) Irish Bible Teacher and Evangelist 

GOD SPEAKS TO MAN THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES

God speaks to man through the Scriptures, and He does not reveal normative truth except as it is already revealed in the Scriptures themselves. The test of truth must remain not what man experiences today but what the Scriptures have stated long ago.

- John F. Walvoord (1910–2002) Christian Theologian, Pastor

HAVE YOU EVER READ THIS SCRIPTURE

"Have you not even read this Scripture:‘The stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief corner stone."

- Mark 12:10 

THE SCRIPTURES WERE NOT GIVEN FOR OUR INFORMATION

"The Scriptures were not given for our information, but for our transformation."

- D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

GUIDED BY THE WORD OF SCRIPTURE

“The most promising method of prayer is to allow oneself to be guided by the word of the Scriptures, to pray on the basis of the word of Scripture. In this way we shall not become the victims of our own emptiness.”  

– Dietrich Bonhoeffer February 4, 1906-April 9, 1945 (Killed in a Nazi death camp).

TODAY THE SCRIPTURE HAS BEEN FULFILLED IN YOUR HEARING  

And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

- Luke 4:21

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I STUDY MY BIBLE LIKE I GATHER APPLES

"I study my Bible like I gather apples. First, I shake the whole tree that the ripest may fall. Then I shake each limb, and when I have shaken each limb, I shake each branch and every twig. Then I look under every leaf. I search the Bible as a whole like shaking the whole tree. Then I shake every limb–study book after book. Then I shake every branch, giving attention to the chapters. Then I shake every twig, or a careful study of the paragraphs and sentences and words and their meanings.” 

– Martin Luther (1483-1546) German Priest, Theologian

STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 

- 2 Timothy 2:15

AN HONEST MAN WITH AN OPEN BIBLE

"An honest man with an open Bible and a pad and pencil is sure to find out what is wrong with him very quickly."

- A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) American Christian Pastor, Author 

MEDITATE ON IT DAY AND NIGHT       

"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."      

- Joshua 1:8  

THE CHRISTIAN STUDENT

"If we are good students in the school of life, there is much that the years have to teach us. But the Christian is more than a student, more than a philosopher. He is a believer, and the object of his faith makes the difference, the mighty difference. Of all persons, the Christian should be best prepared for whatever the New Year brings. He has dealt with life at its source. In Christ, he has disposed of a thousand enemies that other men must face alone and unprepared. He can face his tomorrow cheerful and unafraid because yesterday he turned his feet into the ways of peace and today he lives in God. The man who has made God his dwelling place will always have a safe habitation."

- A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) American Christian Pastor, Author 

I HAVE SOMETIMES SEEN MORE IN ONE LINE OF THE BIBLE

 “I have sometimes seen more in a line of the Bible than I could well tell how to stand under, and yet at another time the whole Bible hath been to me as dry as a stick.” 

— John Bunyan (1628-1688) English Minister Writer

KNOWLEDGE OF THE BIBLE CAN ONLY BE OBTAINED

"Knowledge of the Bible never comes by intuition. It can only be obtained by diligent, regular, daily, attentive reading.” 

—J. C. Ryle (1816-1900) English Anglican Bishop  

THIS BOOK SHOULD NOT DEPART OUT OF THY MOUTH

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

- Joshua 1:8

THE BIBLE IS THE GREATEST OF ALL BOOKS

“The Bible is the greatest of all books; to study it is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.” 

Charles C. Ryrie (1925-2016) American Bible Scholar, Theologian

SPIRITUAL TRUTH IS SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED

"The man who thinks he can know the Word of God by mere intellectual study is greatly deceived. Spiritual truth is spiritually discerned."

- Samuel Chadwick (1860-1919) Methodist Minister

I KNOW THAT SOME ARE ALWAYS STUDYING THE MEANING

"I know that some are always studying the meaning of the fourth toe of the right foot of some beast in prophecy and have never used either foot to go and bring men to Christ. I do not know who the 666 is in Revelation but I know the world is sick, sick, sick and the best way to speed the Lord's return is to win more souls for Him."

- Vance Havner (1901-1986) American Country Preacher

ADDRESS YOURSELF CHEEFULLY TO STUDY  

"When you have first learned God, or His will, you can address yourself cheerfully to the study of His works. If you do not see yourselves and all things as living, moving, and having their being in God, you see nothing, whatever you may think you see."   

- Richard Baxter (1615-1691) English Puritan Church Leader

WHEN HE STOPS STUDYING THE BIBLE

"When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles. When he stops studying the Bible, the devil laughs. When he stops praying, the devil shouts for joy."

- Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983) Holocaust Survivor, Christian Writer 

IF WE ABIDE BY THE TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE

"If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper. I make it a practice to read the Bible through once every year."  

- Daniel Webster (1782-1852) American Orator and Politician

HOLD YOU BY HIS BLESSED WORD

"Keep God's covenant in your trials; hold you by His blessed word, and sin not; flee anger, wrath, grudging, envying, fretting; forgive a hundred pence to your fellow-servant, because your Lord hath forgiven you ten thousand talents: for, I assure you by the Lord, your adversaries shall get no advantage against you, except you sin, and offend your Lord, in your sufferings."

- Samuel Rutherford (1600-1661) Scottish Presbyterian Pastor, Theologian

THE BIBLE HAS NEEVR FAILED TO GIVE ME LIGHT

"In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength."

- Robert E. Lee (1807–1870) American Confederate Army

LEAVE NOT OFF READING THE BIBLE

"Leave not off reading the Bible till you find your hearts warmed. Read the word, not only as a history, but labour to be affected with it. Let it not only inform you, but inflame you. "Is not my word like a fire? saith the Lord": Jer 23:29. Go not from the word till you can say as those disciples, "Did not our hearts burn within us?"

- Thomas Watson (1620-1686), Puritan Preacher

INSPIRED HOLY SCRIPTURE    

"If you do not understand a book by a departed writer you are unable to ask him his meaning, but the Spirit, who inspired Holy Scripture, lives forever, and He delights to open the Word to those who seek His instruction."    

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher 

THE ONLY TRUE SPIRIT OF BIBLE STUDY

"A readiness to believe every promise implicitly, to obey every command unhesitatingly, to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God, is the only true spirit of Bible study."   

- Andrew Murray (1794-1866) Scottish Missionary, Writer 

MAKE IT AN OBJECT OF CONSTANT STUDY

"Make it an object of constant study, and of daily reflection and prayer, to learn how to deal with sinners so as to promote their conversion." 

– Charles G. Finney (1792-1875) American Presbyterian Minister 

STUDY SANCTIFICATION TO THE UTMOST 

"Self-righteousness is the largest idol of the human heart - the idol which man loves most and God hates most. Dearly beloved, you will always be going back to this idol. You are always trying to be something in yourself, to gain God's favour by thinking little of your sin, or by looking to your repentance, tears, prayers ; or by looking to your religious exercises, your frames, etc; or by looking to your graces, the Spirit's work in your heart. Beware of false Christs. Study sanctification to the utmost, but make not a Christ of it." 

 - Robert Murray McCheyne (1813-1843) Church of Scotland Minister

PRAYER AND BIBLE STUDY ARE BASIC

"Underlying the preaching of the Puritans are three basic axioms: 1. The unique place of preaching is to convert, feed and sustain, 2. The life of the preacher must radiate the reality of what he preaches, 3. Prayer and solid Bible study are basic to effective preaching."

- J. I. Packer (1926-2020) Canadian Evangelical Theologian

REGULAR SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF THE BIBLE

"We also need a regular systematic study of the Scriptures. We cannot maintain our spiritual life without it any more than we can maintain our physical bodies without proper nourishment."

- G. Campbell Morgan (1863-1945) British Evangelist, Preacher, Bible Teacher 

EVERY CHRISTIAN WHO DOES NOT STUDY

"Every Christian who does not study, really study, the Bible every day is a fool."

- R. A. Torrey (1856-1928) American Evangelist. Educator, Writer

FAITH IN THE ORIGIN OF THE BIBLE

"When the Christian asserts his faith in the divine origin of his Bible, he does not mean to deny that it was composed and written by men or that it was given by men to the world. He believes that the marks of its human origin are ineradicably stamped on every page of the whole volume. He means to state only that it is not merely human in its origin."

- B. B. Warfield (1851-1921) Princeton Theological Seminary Professor

MERELY READING THE BIBLE

"Merely reading the Bible is no use at all without we study it thoroughly, and hunt it through, as it were, for some great truth."

- D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

STUDY THROROUGHLY THE PROPHESIES OF THE BIBLE

"Soulish believers are inordinately curious. For example, simply for the sake of knowing what the future holds do they try to satisfy their curiosity by studying thoroughly the prophecies of the Bible."

- WWatchman Nee (1903-1972) Chinese Church Leader   

CHRIST'S SCHOLARS MUST STUDY ON THEIR KNEES

"Remember, Christ's scholars must study upon their knees."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher 

AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU

"Lord, enable us to search our hearts and humble ourselves before Thee. Oh, for a closer walk with God, more faith, more sincerity, more earnestness, and more love. I must study more the Word of God. 'If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you.' The Master said so, and His words are true."

- Alexander Mackay (1800-1800) Scottish Missionary to Uganda

I WILL STUDY YOUR COMMANDMENTS

"I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word."

Psalm 119:15-16 

BIBLE STUDY IS THE MOST ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT

“Bible study is the most essential ingredient in the believer’s spiritual life, because it is only in study of the Bible as that is blessed by the Holy Spirit that Christians hear Christ and discover what it means to follow Him.” 

— James M. Boice (1938-2000) American Christian Theologian, Teacher

ONE THING I HAVE NOTICED IN STUDYING GOD'D WORD

“One thing I have noticed in studying the Word of God, and that is, when a man is filled with the Spirit he deals largely with the Word of God, whereas the man who is filled with his own Ideas refers rarely to the Word of God. He gets along without it, and you seldom see it mentioned in his discourses.” 

- D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

WE MUST STUDY THE BIBLE MORE

“We must study the Bible more. We must not only lay it up within us, but transfuse it through the whole texture of the soul.” 

-  Horatius Bonar

I OPENED MY BIBLE AND BEGAN TO STUDY

"I prayed for faith and thought that some day faith would come down and strike me like lightning. But faith did not seem to come. One day I read in the tenth chapter of Romans, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." I had up to this time closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now opened my Bible and began to study, and faith has been growing ever since."

- D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

CONNECTION WITH THE WORD OF GOD  

"I seek the will of the Spirit of God through or in connection with the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also."  

- George Mueller (1805-1898) English Evangelist and Helper of Orphans

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