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ARE THE BIBLE AND CHURCH RELEVANT?
PART 2–WHY THE BIBLE IS RELEVANT
2 TIMOTHY 3:13-17; 4:1-5
Introduction
We began looking at the question of whether the Bible and the Church are relevant for today?
Last week was an introductory message where we looked at Some Things That Show That People Do Not Think The Bible and The Church Are Relevant Today:
1. SOME REGARD WORLDLY PHILOSOPHY AS BEING SUPERIOR TO GOD’S WORD.
2. GOD’S COMMANDMENTS HAVE BEEN LARGELY CAST ASIDE AND DISREGARDED.
3. OTHER SOUND BIBLE PRINCIPLES HAVE BEEN IGNORED.
We live in a world that largely views the Bible as just another ancient book.
Many people see it as a book that may have, at some time past, had a purpose to a more primitive, simple-minded people.
It is viewed by most as a great book of literature. It is viewed by some as a book having historical significance. It is even viewed by some as a book having some good principles. But those who view it as the absolute, infallible Word of God are in the minority.
That idea just doesn’t line up with today’s situation ethics that is born out of humanistic philosophy which has absolutely cast off the idea of there being any absolutes.
We live in the 21st century! This is the age of Science, technology, computers and many modern inventions that have made our lives more convenient.
After all, we are a society that has advanced far beyond those donkey riding and camel riding simpletons of the past. We do it our way!
So the question we want to answer this morning is this:
“What possible relevance could an ancient book have today in our culture?”
I want to share with you some reasons why the Bible is still relevant today:
I. BECAUSE THE BIBLE IS THE LIVING WORD OF THE LIVING GOD!
A. God Is Eternal And He Never Changes!
Psalms 102:26-27–“They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: 27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.”
Malachi 3:6–“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
Numbers 23:19–“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
James 1:17–“. . .the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
Hebrews 13:8–“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
B. God’s Word Is Eternal And It Never Changes!
Psalms 119:89–“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”
Isaiah 40:8–“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
Matthew 24:35–“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
1 Peter 1:23-25–“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
C. God’s Word Is Alive, Powerful, And Piercing!
Hebrews 4:12–“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even
to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents
of the heart.”
No other Book is alive.
No other Book is as powerful.
No other Book is as piercing.
BECAUSE THE BIBLE IS THE LIVING WORD OF THE LIVING GOD!
II. BECAUSE THE BIBLE ANSWERS MAN’S BASIC PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS!
There are three basic philosophical questions every man has:
A. Where Did I Come From?
B. Why Am I Here?
C. Where Am I Going?
III. BECAUSE THE BIBLE REVEALS MAN’S MAIN PROBLEM!
There are those who study people to try to find the cause of societal ills.
And we all know that we live in a society that wants to blame its ills on whatever it can find.
But the Bible says man’s real problem, his root problem, is SIN:
Romans 5:12–“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
Romans 3:10-12–“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
Romans 3:23–“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”
Romans 6:23–“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
IV. BECAUSE THE BIBLE REVEALS TO US THE ONE AND ONLY SOLUTION FOR MAN’S MAIN PROBLEM OF SIN!
John 5:39-40–“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”
John 3:16, 18–“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. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
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.”
Acts 4:12–“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
John 14:6–“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
V. BECAUSE THE BIBLE GIVES US EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW TO GET ALONG IN LIFE!
God left us with an instruction manual about this life. When we ignore the manual we can expect to make a mess out of life.
I believe it was Dr. Kent Hovind who gave this acrostic for “BIBLE”:
B –asic
I –nstructions
B –efore
L –eaving
E –earth.
What are some of these things that the Bible gives us for life?:
A. It Gives Us The Basics Of Good Law And Good Government And Tells Us How To Be Good Citizens.
God created the institution of Human Government and He is the great Lawgiver!
He tells rulers how to rule!
He tells governors how to govern!
He tells judges how to judge!
He tells citizens how to be good citizens!
B. It Gives Us The Basics Of A Good Home.
God created the institution of Marriage and the Home and He best knows how to direct it toward fulfillment.
1. Husbands and Fathers.
2. Wives and Mothers.
3. Children.
C. It Tells Us What The Church Is And How To Conduct Ourselves In It.
It tells us that Christ created the institution of the Church.
It tells us that it is Christ’s Body and He is the Head of it!
It tells us that Christ is the one who places us into the Body called the Church and His Holy Spirit gifts us to perform His will in the Church!
It tells us that the Church exists for His purposes which He tells us!
It tells each of us how to conduct ourselves in the Church!
It tells Pastors how to pastor!
It tells Members how to fit in to the body and serve Christ!
D. It Tells Us How To Conduct Ourselves No Matter What Our Lot In Life May Be.
It addresses both ministers and laymen–business owners and employers–those in authority and those who are under authority!
It has a word for those who are rich, the middle class, and those who are poor!
It addresses employers, employees, the unemployed, and even slaves!
It addresses children, young people, adults, and the elderly!
It addresses sinners and saints (sinners who have been saved)!
It has words for us when we are up and in and it has words for us when we are on the down and out!
It addresses those who are wise as well as fools!
It tells us how to walk in the Spirit and warns us against walking in the flesh!
It tells us what is right! It tells us what is wrong!
It tells us how to take what’s wrong in our lives and make it right!
It tells us how to keep right!
It reproves us, rebukes us, and exhorts us!
No matter what our lot in life, it has a Word for us!
It is Sound Doctrine!
E. It Gives Us The Formula For Good Success And Blessing In Life.
Joshua 1:8–“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.”
Psalm 1:1-3–“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
F. It Gives The Way To Heaven And Tells How To Avoid Hell.
VI. BECAUSE THE BIBLE TELLS US WHAT IS YET TO COME!
A. Perilous Times.
B. The Rapture Of The Church.
C. The Tribulation Period.
D. The Second Coming Of Christ.
E. The Millennial Reign Of Christ.
F. The New Jerusalem.
G. Eternity With Christ.
Conclusion
We have shown that the Bible is relevant this morning.
But some might say, “Well preacher I don’t think it is relevant to me!”
If you don’t think it’s relevant, then you what is going to happen is that you are going to neglect it or ignore it altogether to your own eternal detriment.
The Bible is too important to cast aside as being irrelevant. It has the answers that you need to the important questions of life! The stakes are way too high to ignore It or neglect It.
You may not think its relevant now, but there will come a time that you will see
just how relevant it really should have been to you!
Home Page Contact Us Service Times Sermons Are You Going To Heaven?
NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!