Defending the Faith

n this day of compromise and controversy over issues such as Biblical Separation, Scriptural soundness and doctrines so basic as Salvation by grace through faith we must stand fast for the faith and contend for those standards that our forefathers stood and in many cases died for in order to preserve them. At the heart of these conflicts is a direct assault on the very Word of God. The Devil is waging the age old fight that started in the Garden of Eden when he slickly asked Eve, "yea, hath God said?" He is still seeking to question and replace Gods Words. Because of this attack the first of many articles defending and contending for our faith will start with the Inspiration of scripture.

Evangelist Jim Gray.

Defending the Faith

By: Bill Boruff.

Brother & Mrs Boruff

Brother Boruff is an assistant pastor of Madison Baptist Church and Dean of Southeastern Fundamental Baptist College.

Jude gives us this stirring challenge in the opening verses of his brief epistle, “…that ye earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” We can rightly define “the faith” as the body of doctrines set forth in the Word of God. It is immediately obvious that successfully defending the faith will require not only “rightly dividing the Word of Truth,” but also having a proper grasp of the supernatural nature of the Bible. Two doctrines set forth in Scripture are essential to our understanding and use of God's Word.

First is the doctrine of inspiration. Many have very foolishly thought the Bible to be simply a book written by men. But the Bible itself refutes that notion, making the clear claim that its words came from God. Let us first review some the these statements, and then discuss some powerful proofs supporting that claim. Paul writes, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Tim 3:16) Peter makes an even more specific statement. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:21)

Here we see:
A)Human Penmanship-“holy men of God spake”
B)Divine Authorship-“moved by the Holy Ghost”

It is clear from these verses alone that the Bible is a supernatural, God-breathed Book! But what does “given by inspiration of God” mean? By Inspiration we mean that the Holy Spirit moved the human writers in such a way that they recorded the very words of God, though couched in their own literary style. There are four elements of inspiration as it applies to the Bible.

A.Verbal – basically, this means “word for word.” An exiting example is found in Jer 36:1-4 where we find that “…Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord, which He had spoken unto him…”
B.Plenary – simply means “extending to all parts alike.” All of the Bible, from Gen 1:1 to Rev 22:21, is equally inspired.
C.Inerrant – this means the message was written down accurately and without error.
D.Infallible – this means the Bible is completely without error in its teaching. All the words of God are right and pure. The psalmist esteemed all the Gods precepts concerning all things to be right. Solomon said, “Every word of God is pure:”

Consider some evidences for inspiration
A.Internal Evidences
1.Details of events beyond human knowledge. E.g., details about Creation, what took place in heaven when Lucifer rebelled against God, Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane.
2.Unity of the Book. Authored by some 40 human writers and compiled over 1,600 years, yet the Bible has an incredible doctrinal and structural unity!
3.Fulfilled Prophecy. A major portion of the Bible was prophetic at the time of its writing, and much of this has already been fulfilled in minute detail! This is one of the strongest internal proofs of Inspiration.

B.External Evidence
1.The Bible’s Credibility- its truthfulness and inerrancy, especially in the areas of science and archaeology. Although the Bible does not claim to be a book of science, it is correct wherever it addresses scientific matters. No archaeological discovery has ever contradicted the Word of God!
2.The Bibles Transforming Results. Not only has the Bible changed the course of nations, but the most heathen of cultures have been literally transformed by its life-changing power! Drunks have been made sober, harlots made chaste and lives ruined by sin have been made whole again!
3.The Bibles Honored Promises. Whoever follows what the Bible says receives what the Bible promises!

Yes, the doctrine of Inspiration is true-the Bible is the one and only supernatural, God-breathed Book!