[By Ron Halbrook, adapted from Evidences for God and His Creation]

John 20:30-31

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• Introduction1. Jn. 20:30-31 The one Bible message

1. Jn. 20:30-31 The one Bible message

30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

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• Introduction2. God guided the Bible writers to unity in purpose & theme3. God protected & spread Scripture— no man can destroy its message4. The Bible’s perfect unity & harmony are evidence of God’s guiding hand

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I. Many Different Writers A. About 40 Writers Spanning 1,500 Years

Pentateuch written ca. 1,500-1,400 B.C. Malachi written ca. 400 B.C.

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I. Many Different Writers A. About 40 Writers Spanning 1,500 Years

39 books of Old Testament translated from Hebrew to Greek ca. 250 B.C. (Septuagint)

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I. Many Different Writers A. About 40 Writers Spanning 1,500 Years

Lk. 24:44 39 books as one book in 3 sections

44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

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I. Many Different Writers A. About 40 Writers Spanning 1,500 Years

Jn. 16:13 27 New Testament books James written ca. A.D. 45 Revelation written ca. A.D. 95

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

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I. Many Different Writers B. Moses Lived ca. 1,500-1,400 B.C.

Acts 7:20-22 Learned highest Egyptian culture

Acts 7:20-22 Learned highest Egyptian culture 20 In which time Moses was born,

and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months: 21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

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I. Many Different Writers C. Matthew Lived in the 1st Century A.D.

Matt. 9:9 From Capernaum, Galilee (depressed area of Palestine); tax collector for Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee (despised by Jews)

9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

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I. Many Different Writers D. Paul Lived in the 1st Century A.D. (Died A.D. 67)

Acts 22:3 (25) From Tarsus, Cilicia (center of commerce, education); Roman citizen; taught by Gamaliel (famous rabbi)

3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel

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I. Many Different Writers E. Peter Lived in the 1st Century A.D. (Died A.D. 67)

Matt. 4:18-19 Fisherman from Bethsaida, fishing village in northern Galilee

Matt. 4:18-19 Fisherman from Bethsaida, fishing village in northern Galilee

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

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I. Many Different Writers F. All Wrote of Things Beyond Their Background,

Training, & Knowledge 1 Cor. 2:9, 13 Guided by the Holy Spirit

1 Cor. 2:9, 13 Guided by the Holy Spirit

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.++++++++++ ++++++++++ ++++++++++ +++++++++ ++++++++++

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

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I. Many Different Writers F. All Wrote of Things Beyond Their Background,

Training, & Knowledge Rose above moral, social, & scientific philosophies of their age

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I. Many Different Writers F. All Wrote of Things Beyond Their Background, Training, & Knowledge

Harmony & consistency in their writings Heb. 1:1-2 One true God throughout the Bible

Heb. 1:1-2 One true God throughout the Bible

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

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I. Many Different Writers F. All Wrote of Things Beyond Their Background,

Training, & Knowledge Harmony & consistency in their writings No contradictions on God or His will

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II. Unity of Bible Doctrine A. Gen.-Rev.: Message of Salvation in Jesus Christ

Jn. 20:31 Bible evidence Jesus is our Savior

31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

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II. Unity of Bible Doctrine A. Gen.-Rev.: Message of Salvation in Jesus Christ

Every book of the Bible supports this theme

OLD TESTAMENT

NEW TESTAMENT

CHRIST, SAVIOR

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II. Unity of Bible Doctrine B. Man Sins: He Needs a Savior

Gen. 2:16-17 God gave Adam & Eve His law

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

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II. Unity of Bible Doctrine B. Man Sins: He Needs a Savior

Gen. 3:6 Adam & Eve violated God’s law 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

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II. Unity of Bible Doctrine B. Man Sins: He Needs a Savior

Rom. 3:23 We also sin!

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

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II. Unity of Bible Doctrine B. Man Sins: He Needs a Savior

Gen. 3:15 God promised to send a Savior 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

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II. Unity of Bible Doctrine B. Man Sins: He Needs a Savior

Gen. 12:3 The Savior to come from Abram

3 …and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

ABRAM ISRAELCHRIST, SAVIOR

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II. Unity of Bible Doctrine C. The Savior Has Come!

Four Gospel accounts proclaim Jesus Christ the Savior has come: one story by four authors, with four themes, for four audiences

FOUR GOSPEL ACCOUNTS: JESUS CHRIST, THE SAVIOR HAS COME!

AUTHOR Matthew

Mark Luke John

THEME Israel’s Messiah (King), Savior

of all men

Ideal Son of man, Servant, Savior

of all men

Ideal Son of man, Great

Physician, Friend

of sinners, Savior

of all men

God in the flesh,

Savior of all men

READERS Jews Romans Greeks Gentiles

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II. Unity of Bible Doctrine C. The Savior Has Come!

Jesus Christ the Savior: theme of entire Bible Old Testament: He is coming Four gospel records (Matt.-Jn.): He has come Acts & Epistles: He will come again

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II. Unity of Bible Doctrine D. Sinners Can Be Reconciled to God

Gen. 3:24 Man alienated from God: tree of life lost, physical death reigns

24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

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II. Unity of Bible Doctrine D. Sinners Can Be Reconciled to God

Rev. 22:1-2 Man reconciled to God: tree of life restored in heaven

Rev. 22:1-2 Man reconciled to God: tree of life restored in heaven

1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

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II. Unity of Bible Doctrine E. The Old & New Laws Harmonize

Lev. 17:11 Animal sacrifices made temporary atonement for sin

11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

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II. Unity of Bible Doctrine E. The Old & New Laws Harmonize

Jer. 31:31-34 God prepared His people for a new & better covenant

31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.

========== ========= =========

34 …I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sins no more.

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II. Unity of Bible Doctrine E. The Old & New Laws Harmonize

Heb. 10:9-10 Christ fulfilled the purpose of the old law: he offered a perfect sacrifice

9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

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II. Unity of Bible Doctrine E. The Old & New Laws Harmonize

Heb. 8:6 As the new high priest, he inaugurated the new covenant

6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

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II. Unity of Bible Doctrine E. The Old & New Laws Harmonize

1 Pet. 2:9-11 Christians are priests in the new temple: the church

1 Pet. 2:9-11 Christians are priests in the new temple: the church

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

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II. Unity of Bible Doctrine F. Divine Doctrine Harmonizes, Human Doctrines Contradict

Old Methodist discipline (babies born in sin) VS new discipline (babies not born in sin) Old Presbyterian creed (oppose evolution) VS new creed (accept evolution) Churches opposed immorality, now accept it (consenting adults, alternative lifestyle, etc.)

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• Invitation1. Jn. 20:30-31 The one Bible message

1. Jn. 20:30-31 The one Bible message

30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

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• Invitation2. God guided the Bible writers to unity in purpose & theme3. God protected & spread Scripture— no man can destroy its message4. The Bible’s perfect unity & harmony are evidence of God’s guiding hand

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• Invitation5. The Christ of Scripture offers salvation to all

Mk. 16:15-16 Come to him by obedient faith

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.