Notes from Voddie Baucham's sermon "Why I choose to believe the Bible

Notes from Voddie Baucham's sermon "Why I choose to believe the Bible"

Why I choose to believe the Bible
Peter 1: 16-21
For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."  And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;  knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,  for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

I choose to believe the Bible because…
“The Bible is a reliable collection of historical documents written down by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses that reports supernatural events that took place in fulfillment of specific prophecies and claim that their writings are divine writings rather than human in origin.”

I.  A reliable collection of historical documents
a.       2 Peter 1:16 –“we were eyewitness of his majesty”
b.      Luke  1:1-4 –“Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us,  it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.”
c.       John 1:1-4  “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—  the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—  that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.  And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”

II.  Written down by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses
a.       2 Peter 1:17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
b.      1 Cor 15:3-8   “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,  and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.  After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.  After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.  Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.”

III.  That reports supernatural events that took place in fulfillment of specific prophecies
a.       2 Peter 1:18-19
b.       Psalm 22

IV.  Claim that their writings are divine rather than human in origin
a.       2 Peter 1:20-21
b.      2 Timothy 3:16-17
c.       Hebrews 4:12
d.      1 John 1:1

Remember, we cannot use the scientific method ( observable, measurable and repeatable) to validate historic events.
Historic events are validated by the reliability, internal consistency and collaboration of sources and reports.
Notes from Voddie Baucham