FAQ - 20190526 - EP02
FAQ BIO
Do you ever sit around wondering about certain spiritual questions like…
“Is it wrong to go dancing?”
“Should a Christian get a tattoo?”
“Will we be married in heaven?”
“Do people turn into angels in heaven?”
“Is it wrong to trust in horoscopes?”
“Is it OK to spank your kids?”
“What’s up with the whole dinosaur stuff?”
“Is there ‘for real’ an unforgiveable sin?”
You’ve got questions? The Bible has the answers. And where the text is unclear, we will give you our opinions and what has formed them. Some of life’s most fun, most interesting, most shocking, and most trivial questions will be discussed with real questions from real people.
Q&A RULES:
The Bible is the STANDARD OF TRUTH
Wherever the BIBLE SPEAKS CLEARLY, I will stand with it and will not waiver a bit
Where the BIBLE DOESN’T SPEAK DIRECTLY to an issue, I will look for PRINCIPLES TO APPLY
If I CAN’T FIND PRINCIPLES that apply, I will give MY OPINION
Let’s do it all with a SPIRIT OF GRACE, compassion, empathy and shared experiences. Nobody is a “STUPID IDIOT!”
1 PETER 3:15 NIV Always be PREPARED TO GIVE AN ANSWER to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with GENTLENESS and RESPECT.
2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 NIV All SCRIPTURE is God-breathed and is useful for TEACHING, REBUKING, CORRECTING and TRAINING in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
TOPICS IN FAQ SERIES - FOUR CATEGORIZED TOPICS
God’s Love, Salvation & Eternity
Bible Interpretation, Faith & Science
Church Community & Relationships with Unbelievers
Moral Behavior & Sexuality
TODAYS MESSAGE - BIBLE INTERPRETATION, FAITH AND SCIENCE
1. BIBLE – Why do Christians believe the BIBLE is INSPIRED, INERRANT or INFALLIBLE? Should the BIBLE be taken LITERALLY?
DEFINITIONS
INSPIRED – “God divinely influenced writers”
INERRANT – “Without error”
INFALLIBLE – “Incapable of teaching any error”
WHAT INERRANCY DOESN’T MEAN
Everything in the Bible is TRUE
There are no PERCEIVED contradictions
That all extra copies and all translations ARE
2 TIMOTHY 3:16 NKJV All Scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…
REASONS I BELIEVE
JESUS believed the Bible as authoritative
PROPHESIES of OT & NT Fulfillment
Jesus DISCIPLES treated Bible as authoritative
It has CHANGED MY LIFE
2. BIBLE INTERPRETATION – Is there a good system to INTERPRET the BIBLE?
While the BIBLE is inspired and authoritative,
a person’s INTERPRETATION is NOT!
METHODS OF GOOD INTERPRETATION
Jesus & Redemption is our greatest revelation of God
History (culture & background)
Grammar (nuances of Hebrew & Greek)
Context (person speaking, speaking to, before & after)
Scripture to Interpret Scripture
3. JOB – Does God still TEST OUR FAITH as He did JOB, where He STEPS BACK and ALLOWS THE ENEMY a free hand to TORMENT us?
JOB 1:8-12 NKJV Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that [there is] none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" 9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 "Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 "But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" 12 And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has [is] in your power; only do not lay a hand on his [person]." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.