Grace World Outreach Church
Pastor Daniel K Norris
ROOTS: PLANTED IN TRUTH
Reconstructing Faith
Text: John 1:1–19 (ESV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”)
16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
John tells us the WORD of God and the SON of God are…
- Inseparable
- Infinite
If my faith is not rooted in truth then I have a faith that will eventually fail
Deconstruction - a post-modern phenomenon where people unpack, rethink and examine their belief systems
“If a crooked stick is before you, you need not explain how crooked it is. Lay a straight one down by the side of it, and the work is well done. Preach the truth, and error will stand abashed in its presence” Charles Spurgeon
First Foundational Truth: The Word Of God
QUESTION ONE: IS THE BIBLE ABSOLUTE TRUTH THAT CAN BE ABSOLUTELY TRUSTED?
What we believe: The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV)
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
We believe Scripture is:
- Inspired
- Infallible
- Authoritative
It is better to trust in the Lord, Than to put confidence in man. – Psalm 118:8
Three types of trust
- Unreasonable trust
- Blind trust
- Reasonable trust
4 reasons Why It’s Reasonable to Trust God’s Word
1) The Textual Testimony
No other work in all literature has been so carefully studied than scripture. What we see is a document that has been painstakingly preserved through the ages by people who treated it with great reverence.
2) The Historical Testimony
The Bible is a historical book, that has not once been disproven by our study of history.
From the Smithsonian Institute. “…in particular the historical books of the old testament, are as accurate historical documents as any that we have from antiquity and are in fact more accurate than many of the Egyptian, Mesopotamian, or Greek histories…These Biblical records can be and are used as are other ancient documents in archeological work. For the most part, historical events described took place and the peoples cited really existed.”
3) The Prophetic Testimony
There are over 700 prophesies in scripture with more than 2/3 have been fulfilled. Some with such detail that the writer would had to have seen the events themselves before writing about them.
4) The Personal Testimony
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” - John 6:68-69
Take it further:
https://www.josh.org/is-the-bible-reliable/
https://www.amazon.com/Evidence-That-Demands-Verdict-Life-Changing/dp/1401676707
QUESTION TWO: HOW CAN A 2000 YEAR AGO BOOK HELP ME LIVE 2000 YEARS LATER?
Consider that a book that has endured through the changes of time might have something to say about enduring during times of change
2 Timothy 3:14–17 (ESV)
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Three things I need that God’s Word Provides
1. A library of wisdom
2. A map to Salvation
3. An arsenal for Success
- It TEACHES me the truth
- It EXPOSES lies
- It STRAIGHTENS my path
- EQUIPS me to be successful