Inspiration of Scripture, 2of2

~ External Evidence of Inspiration ~

This is the second of two postings about the inspiration of the Holy Bible. Our prior focus was on what the Bible says about its inspiration. Today’s focus regards empirical evidence of the inspiration of the Holy Bible.

Fulfillment of Prophecies  ~  There are well over 300 predictions of Christ in the Old Covenant which were made over a period of 4,000 years—all of which were fulfilled in the life of one person. A statistician has calculated the odds of that happening as 1 out of 8.4 times 10⁹⁸—now that is a lot of zeros!

Amazing Unity  ~  It was written on 3 different continents by more than 40 writers over a time period of about 1,600 years. These varied writers included fishermen, herdsmen, physicians, judges, priests, prophets, poets, scribes, scholars, and kings. Amazingly, the Bible is one book telling one story. For example, a reader cannot understand the New Testament Book of Revelation without understanding the Book of Daniel in the Old Covenant. Consider that about 630 years passed between the writing of these two books and they were written in different locations about 1,200 miles apart.

Survival Against Constant Attack  ~  No other book has been attacked by so many adversaries or for so many centuries and survived. Today, the Bible continues to be near the top of sales every year.

Perennial Freshness / Never Ending Interest  ~  One of the many reasons for its survival is its continuing message. It is an ancient book with eternal truths which are applicable for humankind today.

Extreme Antiquity  ~  The average life of books in our society is less than 10 years. Most new books sell less than 500 copies over their life and 70% of all books printed are thrown out within 90 days of purchase.

Remarkable Influence On Mankind  ~  No other book has had such a positive influence on mankind. Virtually all of modern civil law can be traced to origins in the Bible. It teaches love for one another and the highest values. Because of its teachings thousands of educational facilities and hospitals were founded.

Transforming Power / “Living Oracles” of God  ~  The greatest empirical evidence of all is the miracle of changed lives. Those who have listened and responded to the message of the Word of God find a power for good on earth while waiting for their eternal destiny with God. We read the story of the blind man in the Gospel of John and we realize that his testimony represents all who have responded to the love of God at Calvary. “One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25b). He was physically blind and received his physical sight. Untold millions who were spiritually blind have received spiritual sight.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 56

~ Not a Bone Would Be Broken, 3 ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“I can count all My bones” (Psalm 22:17a).  

The Messiah  

“Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs” (John 19:31-33). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “MESSIAH” NOTES ~~~   

(1)  Each Saturday ALN posts an example of a Hebrew Scriptures prophecy (or foreshadowing) related to the coming Messiah which was fulfilled in the birth, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(2)  While extensive it will not be a complete list—there are hundreds of prophecies of the coming Messiah which have been fulfilled by one man—Jesus Christ at His First Coming.

(3)  It is important that there are many more prophecies of the Messiah, yet unfulfilled, which Christians believe will be fulfilled at the time of His Second Coming.  A particularly relevant Scripture verse in this regard is: “Do not despise prophesies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

(4)  These posts will typically consist only of Scripture—which speaks for itself.  Sometimes italicized or bold font will be used by ALN for emphasis.

(5)  The numbering of these fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah is used to differentiate individual posts. It is not chronological (either by time of the prophecy or by sequence in the life of the Messiah).  The posting sequence will, for the most part, be in the order that the prophecies appear in Scripture.

(6)  Because of the chosen methodology (#5 above) we will find many specific prophecies repeated multiple times throughout the Scriptures.

(7)  These serial posts are in addition to our regular Tuesday ALN postings on random topics.

(8)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

God Particle or God Light?

~ Do Recent Discoveries Move Man Closer to Truth? ~      

INFINITY PUBLISHING
PRESS RELEASE…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

www.BooksRLR.com

Contact: Robert Lloyd Russell

AbundantLifeNowBlog@gmail.com

God Particle or God Light?

Do recent discoveries move man closer to truth?

WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA—With the believed discovery of the long-sought Higgs boson particle (popularly known as the “God particle”), many physicists believe man has taken a significant step toward understanding a basic mechanism of how our universe is held together. If so, it provides a major key to understanding the existence of all things. God Light: Sunlight Sonlight identifies Biblical truth regarding the source of all energy on earth—light from our sun.

Thirty years in development, God Light (paperback, 978-0-7414-7553-4; e-book, 0-7414-7554-1) provides a new look at the role of the Son of God. “In Him [the Son of God] we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). “In Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17). John, the beloved apostle, tells us that “God is light” (1 John 1:5).

Scientists have known for decades that sunlight is essential to all life on earth. In Part One God Light shows clear parallels between the attributes of God and the attributes of light. Part Two provides an overview of the “Light of the World” in Scripture. Part Three compares the interaction of physical objects with natural light and human beings with spiritual light. All three parts are full of practical ramifications and applications.

God Light is part of the “Christian Concepts Series” (Timeless Truths * Contemporary Perspectives). It is available now from Infinity Publishing, Amazon and other sources. Retailers may order God Light through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors. The most recent prior release in this series won five national and international literary awards.

Robert Lloyd Russell currently resides in Camas, Washington.

Inspiration of Scripture, 1of2

~ Internal Evidence of Inspiration ~

This is the first of two postings about the inspiration of the Holy Bible. Today’s focus is on what the Bible says about its inspiration. The second post will focus on the empirical evidence of the inspiration of the Holy Bible.

Scripture’s Divine Origin  ~  “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Scripture’s Human Channels  ~   “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2). “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21). 

Scripture Claims to be The “Word of God”  ~  “And Moses turned and went down from the mountain, and the two tablets of the Testimony were in his hand. The tablets were written on both sides; on the one side and on the other they were written. Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on the tablets” (Exodus 32:15-16). Phrases translated as “The Lord said,” “The Lord spoke,” or “The Word of the Lord came” occur frequently in Scripture. They occur over 700 times in the first five books, about 1,200 times in the prophetical books, and about 3,800 times throughout the Old Covenant. The New Testament speaks of the Old Covenant authority over 50 times.

Scripture’s Absolute Purity  ~  “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:8). “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him” (Proverbs 30:5).

Scripture’s Supreme Authority  ~  “Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right” (Psalm 119:128a).  “I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your loving kindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name” (Psalm 138:2).

Scripture’s Acceptance by the Lord Jesus  ~  “Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me’ And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures” (Luke 24:44-45). 

Scripture’s Eternal and Imperishable Nature ~  “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:35). “But the word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Peter 1:25a).

Scripture Can Be Corrupted by Men  ~  “For we are not, as so many, peddling the Word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:17). “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:16).

Scripture Can Be Made Void by Tradition  ~  “Making the Word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do” (Mark 7:13). “And they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:4).  

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Book Review – OPP, 8

~ A Review of “One Precious Pearl” by San Francisco Book Review ~

Reproduced immediately below is one of the many positive reviews the book “One Precious Pearl” has received.

One Precious Pearl: God's Design for His Church
By Robert Russell
Infinity Publishing, $14.95, 137 pages
Reviewed by San Francisco Book Review
Star Rating: 4 out of 5

One could spend a lifetime studying each verse of the Bible.  Robert Lloyd Russell, in his book One Precious Pearl: God's Design for His Church, helps the reader better understand the parable known as the Pearl of Great Price found in Matthew 13:45-46.  His goal is to demystify a passage that is often misinterpreted or overlooked.  In Russell's analysis, the one precious pearl is analogous to God's universal Church.  Made up of short chapters (between two to five pages each), the book is divided into two parts; Part One is a broad discussion of Matthew 13, and Part Two includes analogies that the symbol of the pearl provides to the modern reader. 

The chapters can be used in Bible study and Sunday school for both adults and children and can be used for the basis of sermons or as a devotional.  At the end of each chapter are questions, summaries, and key concepts for further study and consideration.  Russell's book is a useful source for personal or group study.  He begins with a discussion on the Two Adams (first Adam was the fallen Adam of the Garden of Eden and the last Adam is Jesus Christ).  He compares and contrasts the birth, life and death of the Two Adams as a way to prepare for the discussion of the one pearl of great price. 

A plus is that anyone who picks up the book can use it as a study guide because of its simplicity and clarity.  It certainly encourages deeper analysis of other versus or phrases found in the Bible.

“ONE PRECIOUS PEARL: God’s Design for His Church” has received many accolades including being named

“2011 Book-Of-The-Year” (Religion: Eastern/Western) by Reader Views Literary Awards,

“2011 Runner-up” (Religion: Christianity) by the International Book Awards, and

“2011 Winner” (Book: Biblical Studies) by The Word Guild. 

“2011 Finalist” (Religion: Christianity) by The USA “Best Books of 2011” Awards

“2011 Gold” (Literary Excellence – 1 of 3 Gold Awards across all genres) by the World Book Awards

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

There is more information about One Precious Pearl at the author’s website. 

You may order directly from Amazon or from Infinity Publishing. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW