Biblical Inerrancy The Bible and Fulfilled Prophecy

Love Covenant Church

Min. David Simmons

Bible Inerrancy

through Prophecy

Prophecy inspired by God

(denotes accuracy)

• 2 Peter 1:19-21 - 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.

Fulfilled prophecy is strong evidence that God is the One behind it all,

because when you look at the mathematical odds of prophecy being

fulfilled, you quickly see a design, a purpose, and a guiding hand behind

the Bible.

Fulfilled Prophecies point BEYOND

man’s knowledge (extremely accurate)

Deut. 18:22 says, "If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously“

Isaiah 46:9-10 says, "Remember the

former things, those of long ago; I am

God, and there is no other; I am God,

and there is none like me. I make

known the end from the beginning,

from ancient times, what is still to

come. I say: My purpose will stand,

and I will do all that I please."

Not one prophecy has failed

(100% accurate)

“If just one prophecy failed, then we would know that God is

not the true God, because the creator of all things, which

includes time, would not be wrong about predicting the future.”

-Carm.org

Biblical Survey of

Fulfilled Prophecies that

Prove Inerrancy of the

Bible

First Example of Inerrancy-

Born of the Seed of the Woman

“Fulfilled prophecy

is strong evidence

that God is the

author of the Bible.” –Carm.org

• Take out your Fulfilled Prophecy Worksheet

(Keep this sheet out. We will use it throughout the class!)

• Old Testament Survey and Surrounding Story (Prophecy)

• New Testament Survey and Surrounding Story (Fulfillment)

A NON-MESSIANIC PROPHECY

• Let’s use our Fulfilled Prophecy Worksheet AGAIN

• EXAMPLE TO LOOK UP:

King JOSIAH

1. The prophecy

concerning His birth and

what he would do.

2. The fulfillment of that

prophecy.

USE YOUR WORKSHEET (WITH A PARTNER) TO

COMPLETE

“One of the best ways

to prove inspiration is

by examining

prophecy.”

–Carm.org

MESSIANIC PROPHECY

• Let’s use our Fulfilled Prophecy Worksheet AGAIN

• EXAMPLES TO LOOK UP:

1) Born of a Virgin

2) Born at Bethlehem

USE YOUR WORKSHEET (WITH A PARTNER) TO COMPLETE

Use YOUR TOOLS!

-Bibles

-Dictionary,

-Concordance, Online

Fulfilled Prophecy as an

Apologetic Response

(how to use it for today)

What does the term ‘Apologetic’ mean?

• What does the word “apologetic” mean?

A: The word “apologetics” is derived from an ancient Greek word apologia, or apologia, which means...an apology. Not an apology in the modern sense of the word - which is to say you’re sorry for something - but rather an apology in the ancient sense of the word, which is...to make a reasoned defense of something or someone. In ancient times, the word apology referred to the case a lawyer would make on behalf of his client.

So, , is about building the case for our Faith ...learning how to explain and defend our Faith.

Defense for the validity of God’s Inspired

Word

• We are commanded to defend the faith:

1Peter 3:15 says, "but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence."

“Apologetics is how

you put to practice

everything you have

been taught and

heard when a

question arises about

your faith.”

No other Historical Book can lay hold to

the Statistical Truth

The following probabilities are taken from Peter Stoner in Science Speaks (Moody Press, 1963) to show that coincidence is ruled out by the science of probability. Stoner says that by using the modern science of probability in reference to eight prophecies, "we find that the chance that any man might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 1 in 1017." That would be 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000. In order to help us comprehend this staggering probability, Stoner illustrates it by supposing that "we take 1017silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state two feet deep.

"Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man."

Stoner considers 48 prophecies and says, "we find the chance that any one man

fulfilled all 48 prophecies to be 1 in 10157, or 1 in

100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.

The estimated number of electrons in the universe is around 1079. It should be quite

evident that Jesus did not fulfill the prophecies by accident."

“Jesus IS WHO HE

SAYS HE IS! He was

apologetic TOO!”

Bible Inerrancy through Prophecy:

Basis for our Christian Faith

• Remember, if one prophecy did not come to pass, then our faith would be hopeless.

• Because every fulfilled prophecies happened, then our faith is a SURE FOUNDATION.

• It established and fulfilled the prophecies concerning God’s plan for redemption and His Kingdom Vision through Christ.

• Jesus, Peter, Paul and countless others all referenced fulfilled prophecy to PROVE the inerrant WORD of GOD.

• It catapults the believer (and non) to TRUST the Word of God as the truest, most accurate, most trustworthy historical religious book of ALL TIME.

“For some…just

because you’ve had

an enlightening

experience in coming

to God is not enough.

They want proof from

your Bible that your

faith is REAL. And

you should desire to

discover the proof too!”