Discussion of the literal inspiration of the Bible – March 28, 2007 Mickey Burleson, minister – St. Andrews Road Church of Christ 1. When the apostles preached, their words were not theirs but God’s. Acts 10:19-20 “But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak.  For it will be given you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” 2. Even Jesus Christ, the Son of God spoke only as His Father taught. John 8:26-28 “I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.  They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.  Then Jesus said to them, ‘When you life up  the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.” 3. The apostles and inspired writers of the Bible were guided by the Holy Spirit. John 16:13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will tell you of what is Mine and declare it to you.” 4. The Scripture which came from God by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration to the writers does not contain any private interpretation or origin. 2 Peter 1:20-21 “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.” 5. We must teach God’s word as God’s word without any reservation or compromise. 2 Timothy 4:2-4 “Preach the word…For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers, and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” 1 Timothy 6:3-5 explains the condition of those who will not consent to the words of Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which accords with godliness. In verses 20-21 Paul warns Timothy to “Guard what was committed to your trust…” 6. Paul warns of some who were “perverting the gospel of Christ” of some who would want to change the teachings of the Bible. Galatians 1:6-10 “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” (8-9) 7. Notice where Paul received his instruction from… Galatians 2:1-2 “But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.  For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 8. When thinking about 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 read verse 37 and think about where Paul received his authority for saying these things. Verse 37 “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.” Old Testament versus New Testament “First covenant” was faulty (Hebrews 8:7). It was “obsolete, growing old, and is ready to vanish away” (8:13). Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come and with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, not of this creation (9:11-12). The Old Testament or Old Covenant is referred to as “the law” (10). Galatians 3 teaches us about faith in Jesus bringing salvation, not “the law.” “Therefore the law was our tutor (school teacher) to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (23-24).