• Without it man could never know:Without it man could never know:– God’s CharacterGod’s Character– Where Evil Came FromWhere Evil Came From– Man’s Origin Man’s Origin – Man’s PurposeMan’s Purpose– Man’s DestinyMan’s Destiny

• Man faces crucial religious questions:Man faces crucial religious questions:– In whom or what am I to believe?In whom or what am I to believe?–Have I sinned, broken God’s law?Have I sinned, broken God’s law?–What, if anything, can I do to escape What, if anything, can I do to escape

the consequences of sin?the consequences of sin?–What sort of life should I live?What sort of life should I live?–Must one obey God’s will?Must one obey God’s will?–What will happen if I do not obey?What will happen if I do not obey?

HEB. 1:1 HEB. 1:1 God, who at various times and in God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets...fathers by the prophets...–Directly, with a voice.Directly, with a voice.• To Adam, To Adam, GEN. 3:9GEN. 3:9• To Cain, To Cain, GEN. 4:10GEN. 4:10• To Abraham, To Abraham, GEN. 12:1-3GEN. 12:1-3• To Isaiah, To Isaiah, ISA. 38:4-5ISA. 38:4-5

• With His “fingers”With His “fingers”–To Belshazzar, To Belshazzar, DAN. 5:5DAN. 5:5–Ten commandments, Ten commandments, EX. 31:18EX. 31:18

• With action, indicating His powerWith action, indicating His power–Burning bush, Burning bush, EX. 3:2EX. 3:2–Daniel in lion’s den, Daniel in lion’s den, DAN. 6:22DAN. 6:22–Veil of temple torn, Veil of temple torn, MATT. 27:51MATT. 27:51

• With dreams and visionsWith dreams and visions–To Jacob, To Jacob, GEN. 46:2-3GEN. 46:2-3–To Joseph, To Joseph, MATT. 1:20MATT. 1:20–To Peter, To Peter, ACTS 10:10-15ACTS 10:10-15

• Through prophetsThrough prophets– Jeremiah, Jeremiah, JER. 1:9JER. 1:9–Ezekiel, Ezekiel, EZE. 3:11EZE. 3:11

HEB. 1:2 HEB. 1:2 has in these last days spoken to has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds...made the worlds... ““Has spoken” = Has spoken” = ελαλησενελαλησεν = elalesen= elalesen

Aorist tense indicates “He Aorist tense indicates “He hashas spokenspokenand is finished speaking”and is finished speaking”

• God’s revelation, God’s revelation, EPH. 3:4EPH. 3:4• God’s God’s FULLFULL revelation, revelation, JN. 16:13JN. 16:13• God’s God’s FINALFINAL revelation, revelation, JUDE 3JUDE 3• God’s God’s authoritativeauthoritative revelation, revelation, 2 COR. 5:72 COR. 5:7• God’s God’s all-sufficientall-sufficient revelation, revelation, 2 PET. 1:32 PET. 1:3• God’s God’s judgmentaljudgmental revelation, revelation, JN. 12:48JN. 12:48

• No doubt that the Bible existsNo doubt that the Bible exists• Man incapable of producing it Man incapable of producing it

2 PET. 1:20-212 PET. 1:20-21

From From pherophero, “moved as a , “moved as a gust of wind” blowing the gust of wind” blowing the

sails of a ship (Thayer).sails of a ship (Thayer).

• No doubt that the Bible existsNo doubt that the Bible exists• Man incapable of producing it Man incapable of producing it

2 PET. 1:20-212 PET. 1:20-21• Therefore, God revealed it to manTherefore, God revealed it to man• The Bible was inspired by God The Bible was inspired by God

2 TIM. 3:16-172 TIM. 3:16-17

• For comforting the distressedFor comforting the distressed• For encouragement of goodFor encouragement of good• For conviction of sinFor conviction of sin• For living wiselyFor living wisely• For confidence in dyingFor confidence in dying• For unshakeable hopeFor unshakeable hope

• Can know the future with itCan know the future with it• Can know danger with itCan know danger with it• Can prepare for eternity with itCan prepare for eternity with it• Can know ourselves with itCan know ourselves with it• Can know God with itCan know God with it• Can please God by obeying itCan please God by obeying it

Are you listening?Are you listening?

1 SAM. 3:101 SAM. 3:10 And Samuel And Samuel answered, "Speak, answered, "Speak, for Your servant for Your servant hears"hears"

1 SAM. 3:101 SAM. 3:10 And Samuel And Samuel answered, "Speak, answered, "Speak, for Your servant for Your servant hears"hears"

• We sometimes rely on how we feel, think, our emotions, etc.

• His ways and thoughts are not ours. Isa. 55:8- 9

“My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are

My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

• We can be misled by human emotion and reasoning.

• Consider Saul of Tarsus.– The apostle began as a persecutor.• 1 Tim. 1:12-13

–Why? He thought it was the right thing to do.• Acts 26:9

• We must set aside our own thoughts and feelings

• Family is important.• But family cannot take priority over the Lord.

Matt. 10:34-37- v. 37 “He who loves father or mother more than

Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”

• Family is important.• But family cannot take priority over the Lord.

Matt. 10:34-37• Our faith can be tested by differences with

family.– Family can be mistaken– God’s Word is never mistaken

• Why do you do the things you do? Believe the things you believe?

• “We’ve always done it this way.”• Traditions are not necessarily bad.• But hear Jesus’ warning. Mark 7:1-13– “You reject the commandment of God, that you

may keep your tradition….making the word of God of no effect through your tradition.”

• God’s revelation, God’s revelation, EPH. 3:4EPH. 3:4• God’s God’s FULLFULL revelation, revelation, JN. 16:13JN. 16:13• God’s God’s FINALFINAL revelation, revelation, JUDE 3JUDE 3• God’s God’s authoritativeauthoritative revelation, revelation, 2 COR. 5:72 COR. 5:7• God’s God’s all-sufficientall-sufficient revelation, revelation, 2 PET. 1:32 PET. 1:3• God’s God’s judgmentaljudgmental revelation, revelation, JN. 12:48JN. 12:48

HEAR the gospel.HEAR the gospel. BELIEVE the gospel.BELIEVE the gospel. REPENT of sin.REPENT of sin. CONFESS faith in Christ.CONFESS faith in Christ. BE BAPTIZED to wash away sin.BE BAPTIZED to wash away sin. BE FAITHFUL unto death.BE FAITHFUL unto death.