David Holwick      I                                        [Bible.pco]
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
March 11, 1990




            "WHY I BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS GOD'S WORD"       Isaiah 46:9-10




    I. Bible:  God's Word or human document?

        A. Crucial question, much disputed.
        B. Not most important question in evangelism.
            1) Don't have to prove Bible before witnessing.
            2) Relationship with Jesus, not Bible, brings salvation.
        C. Bible can be accepted before doctrine of inspiration is.


   II. Reasons for believing in inspiration.

        A. It claims to be inspired.
            1) Direct statements.
                a) Views of OT prophets.
                b) Views of NT speakers.
            2) View of Jesus.

        B. Fulfilled prophecies.
            1) Secular and religious prophecy.
                a) Does not prophesy, or...
                b) Fails at prophesy.
            2) Biblical prophecy.
                a) Ezekiel and cities of Tyre and Sidon.


  III. Example of exact Biblical prophecy.

        A. Sidon.
            1) Ruin, but survival.
            2) Fulfilled to present.

        B. Tyre.
            1) Total destruction.
            2) Fulfilled over hundreds of years.
                a) Nebuchadnezzar.
                b) Alexander the Great.
                c) Moslems.

   IV. Conclusion.

        A. Study of scriptures should lead to faith in Jesus.




           [Preached from original manuscript of March 13, 1983.