Books

Bible Basics

By Bill Dillon

The Bible: God’s Supreme Book

Introduction

Good morning friends. Thank you for being tuned in to the “Words of Life” gospel program and for allowing us to make another radio visit with you.

Our lesson today is from the Bible and it is about the Bible. But before we proceed to that lesson it is my pleasure to extend to you and your loved ones an invitation to visit with the Mountain Home Church of Christ for worship services today. We meet this morning at 9:30 and 10:20 AM and this evening at 6:00 PM. Also, each Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM.

The welcome mat is always out for all visitors. Visitors we appreciate as our most special friends.

Come with:

A Bible in your hand

A friend by your side

A smile on your face

A song in your heart.

Have you read any good books lately? Have you read The Good Book lately? A popular health slogan says, “You are what you eat.” A man just can’t expect to grow in knowledge (without feeding his mind) anymore than he can expect to grow physically without feeding his body. Unfortunately, there’s an ample supply of “junk-food literature” available in our world. Junk-reading leads to junk-thinking; and junk-thinking leads to junk-living.

The book I have in mind right now though is far from junk; it’s a treasure book. It has been recognized for years as the surpassing book of all time. If people would take the time to learn more of the Bible, they would love it more and without doubt it would have a tremendous effect on their lives for the better. Those who have acquainted themselves with it have happily discovered that it is a storehouse of riches, excelling in wisdom and imparting strength.

Down through the years the greatest of thinkers, speakers and writers have utilized and adapted the stories, terms and phrases of the Bible to their own works. The names of Shakespeare, Milton, Coleridge, Bunyan, Wordsworth, Pope, Dryden and a host of others fall into this category. This is not to say that the lives of these writers conformed to the teachings of the Bible; but it is to say that their lasting works, as significant contributions to the world’s great masterpieces of literature, were saturated in Bible terminology, images and thoughts.

Abraham Lincoln is a good example of one who let the Bible influence his speechmaking. Most have heard, at one time or another, of the Gettysburg Address. Such words and phrases as “our fathers”, “created”, “dedicated”, “conceived”, “Hallow”, “consecrate”, “died in vain”, and such like are recognized as words with a definite Bible flavor to them. Mr. Lincoln is also attributed as saying, “I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible. Take all this book upon reason that you can, and the balance upon faith, and you will live and die a better man.” Of course, in years gone by, such remarks were addressed to a nation of people whose religious devotion was deeper than the current age.

Another example worthy of notice is Daniel Webster who adorned his speeches with Bible allusions and quotations. Webster said of Alexander Hamilton, “He smote the rock of natural resources, and abundant streams of revenue burst forth; he touched the dead corpse of public credit and it sprang upon its feet.” Webster said this in reference to Hamilton’s providing funds for the U.S. treasury while it was still in its infancy. Webster’s words helped Hamilton become a noted historical figure, but, as well, revealed Webster’s own knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. More than one famous figure from the past has demonstrated the rich storehouse of thought found in the Bible.

How many children through the years received their early impressions for good from Bible lessons and stories that dealt with the noble themes of courage, truthfulness, honesty and many other wonderful virtues?

The book of Ruth is among the most charming love stories of all time; the book of Esther will always remind us of how important a woman was in saving God’s people in the days of ancient Persia; Joseph’s story, as related in Genesis, tells how a young man can go far in life, even though several bad breaks befell him in his young manhood; David’s encounter with the giant of Gath has instilled bravery into many young persons who were up against some modern day Goliath; the story of Job has likewise encouraged numbers of souls in trying times of extreme distress and trouble to not quit trying. How many more lessons can you think of? Do your children know of these ageless truths?

The Bible is the book for all seasons. It is not a man-made book; it is the book that has made men! It is the Good Book. Read it! To read it is to know it; to know it is to love it; to love it is to live it! Isaiah 34:16 says, “seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read.” You will never receive better or more timely advice than that.

The Bible towers above all other books as surely as Mt. Everest towers above all other mountains. The supremacy of God’s great book is seen in its information and in the estimation that great men have had for it.

The Bible Is Supreme in its Formation

The Bible is a God-formed book. It is reasonable that if God created man and the world, that God would teach man how to live in that world.

John Wesley said the Bible must have been written by good men or bad, or angels or devils. Bad men or devils would not have written it because it condemns sin and pronounces judgment upon sinners. Good men or angels wouldn’t have written it because they would not deceive men by saying God was the author. Thus, the Bible must have been written as it claims to have been, by God, who used the Holy Spirit to inspire men to transcribe it (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16).

The Bible Is Supreme in its Information

The twentieth century was the “Information Age.” Computerized technology has touched all levels of society, bringing unbelievable amounts of data to our eyes at the touch of a button. Sadly, the most valuable and needed information (the knowledge of spiritual things), is escaping the notice of modern man.

Only the Bible brings accurate information of spiritual matters. The Bible is a treasure chest of eternal truths that can free man’s soul from sin and fill his heart with gladness. The Bible gives help for the soul, holiness for the life, happiness for the heart and hope for the future.

Man needs light; the Bible throws a bright beam of truth through the darkness of tribulation and heavy clouds of discouragement.

In his death-defying speech before the Continental Congress, Patrick Henry said: “There is but one lamp to guide my feet. It is the lamp of experience.” Years later, as the shadows of death hovered over him, he pressed a Bible to his bosom and admitted, “Blessed Book! The greatest of all books which I have had no time to read, and now it is too late.” If Mr. Henry had taken time to read that “Blessed Book,” he would have found another lamp by which to live his life by. In Psalm 119:105 we read, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my pathway.” How many other men have lived and died in ignorance of the blessed information the Bible brings?

Man’s earthly journey is a crooked and treacherous path extending from the cradle to the grave. He needs a light to shine along the way. Man shall never have a brighter nor better light to guide him than the Bible light!

The Holy Scriptures are second to none in the high confidence great men have had in them. Although some men have rejected and ridiculed the scriptures, yet a multitude of others have affirmed that not one shadow of doubt can be cast over God’s supreme book. Dr. Robert Dick Wilson, professor at Princeton Theological Seminary who mastered more than 30 ancient and modern languages, applied his genius to the study of the Bible’s origins, primarily the Old Testament. He set down his conclusions defending the total veracity of the Old Testament in the monumental work A Scientific Investigation of the Old Testament, which destroyed and buried the critical liberal views of scholars who had attacked the Bible’s trustworthiness. Dr. Wilson’s conclusion was, after 45 years of study and writing, that no man knows enough to question the accuracy and veracity of the Bible!

Over a century ago, William Ramsay believed the history given by Luke in his gospel and Acts of the Apostles was inaccurate. After thorough research, Ramsay found Luke’s accounts were “first rank” history, accurate to the tiniest detail. Ramsay became one of the ripest Biblical scholars ever known. His books today are valued as classics in the history of the New Testament.

Many facts are known about Christopher Columbus and his courageous voyages to the new world, but the least known fact is the profound impact of the Bible on his life. Columbus was a devout believer in the Scriptures. The force that propelled him across the vast ocean is seen from his own words, from the Book of Prophesies, the only book he ever wrote, “the fact the gospel still must be preached to so many lands in such short time — this is what convinces me.” Robert Flood in Men Who Shaped America wrote that, “Columbus saw the success of his voyage as a direct confirmation of God’s will for his life. He saw discovery as opening up new lands and tribes to the gospel” (page 15).

Conclusion

May men everywhere have in their thinking and living a greater appreciation for the Bible. May we all see it as God’s supreme book for all human kind.

We count everyone who listens in to this broadcast, a friend. As one friend to another, from my heart to yours, I wish you and yours well and pray God’s blessings to rest upon you. We “commend you to God and to the word of His grace which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among the sanctified.” (Acts 20:32). In the Word of Grace, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself gives the commandment to:

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15,16).

And in concluding, we remind you:

“Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13b).

May God bless you, and good day.