Standing Firm: The Bible's Relevance in Today's Culture

 

Summary

In today's discussion, we delved into the pressing cultural and theological challenges facing Christians today, particularly regarding the reliability and relevance of the Bible. We live in a time of significant cultural shifts, where traditional biblical values are increasingly questioned. This session aimed to equip believers with the confidence to stand firm on the Word of God amidst these challenges.

The Bible, though ancient, remains profoundly relevant. It is not merely a historical document but a living testament that speaks to the human condition and God's redemptive plan. The Old Testament, often criticized for its depictions of violence and judgment, is a narrative of God's grace and the consequences of sin. It points to the need for a Savior, fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus Christ. The New Testament, far from being a mere story, is a detailed account of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, offering salvation to all who believe.

We also addressed the skepticism surrounding the Bible's authenticity, particularly the New Testament. Despite claims of "lost books," the 27 books of the New Testament have been consistently recognized by the early church as divinely inspired. The manuscript evidence and the early church's recognition affirm their authenticity and authority.

In a world that often views the Bible as outdated, we are reminded that our confidence should not rest in cultural acceptance but in the unchanging truth of God's Word. The Bible is not a luxury but a necessity, providing the foundation for our faith and the lens through which we view the world. As believers, we are called to engage with Scripture deeply, allowing it to shape our lives and guide our responses to the cultural challenges we face.

Key Takeaways:

- The Relevance of the Bible: Despite cultural shifts, the Bible remains relevant, offering timeless truths that address the human condition and God's redemptive plan. It is not just an ancient text but a living document that speaks to our lives today. [03:40]

- Understanding the Old Testament: The Old Testament, while often criticized, is a narrative of God's grace and the consequences of sin. It highlights the need for a Savior and points to the coming of Christ, offering hope and redemption. [11:54]

- Authenticity of the New Testament: The New Testament's authenticity is supported by early church recognition and manuscript evidence. Despite claims of "lost books," the 27 books have been consistently affirmed as divinely inspired. [25:41]

- Confidence in God's Word: Our confidence should not rest in cultural acceptance but in the unchanging truth of God's Word. The Bible is a necessity, providing the foundation for our faith and guiding our responses to cultural challenges. [43:51]

- Engaging with Scripture: Believers are called to engage deeply with Scripture, allowing it to shape our lives and guide our responses to the world. The Bible is not a luxury but a necessity, offering the anchor we need in turbulent times. [45:00]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to the Discussion
- [00:22] - Introducing Dr. Steve Nichols
- [01:04] - Faculty Introductions
- [02:33] - Cultural Changes and Challenges
- [03:40] - Trusting the Bible in Modern Times
- [05:10] - Importance of Biblical Conviction
- [06:53] - Obstacles to Biblical Living
- [10:12] - Studying the Old Testament
- [14:05] - Addressing Old Testament Criticisms
- [17:28] - Understanding Genesis
- [19:07] - Importance of the New Testament
- [24:17] - Why 27 Books in the New Testament?
- [26:13] - Lost Books of the Bible
- [30:29] - Responding to Criticism
- [32:10] - Exclusive Message of the Gospel
- [37:07] - Current Cultural Challenges
- [42:06] - Importance of Daily Scripture Reading
- [45:38] - Bottom Line on Scripture's Reliability
- [50:19] - Closing Remarks and Encouragement

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Romans 15:4 - "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope."
2. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
3. 2 Peter 1:20-21 - "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

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Observation Questions:

1. What are some of the cultural challenges mentioned in the sermon that Christians face today regarding the Bible's relevance? [03:04]

2. How does the sermon describe the Old Testament's role in pointing to the need for a Savior? [11:54]

3. What evidence does the sermon provide to support the authenticity of the New Testament? [25:41]

4. According to the sermon, why is it important for believers to engage deeply with Scripture? [45:00]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Romans 15:4 relate to the sermon’s message about the relevance of the Old Testament for modern believers? [10:46]

2. In what ways does 2 Timothy 3:16-17 support the sermon’s claim that the Bible is a necessity for guiding our responses to cultural challenges? [43:51]

3. How does the sermon’s discussion of the New Testament’s authenticity align with 2 Peter 1:20-21? [25:41]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between cultural acceptance and confidence in God’s Word? [43:51]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt pressured to conform to cultural norms that conflicted with biblical teachings. How did you respond, and what might you do differently now? [03:40]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of engaging deeply with Scripture. What specific steps can you take this week to increase your time and focus on Bible study? [45:00]

3. Consider the skepticism you or others might have about the Bible’s authenticity. How can you address these doubts in a way that strengthens your faith and understanding? [25:41]

4. How can you use the Old Testament to find hope and encouragement in your current life situation, as suggested by Romans 15:4? [10:46]

5. Identify a specific cultural challenge you are facing today. How can the truths of the New Testament guide your response to this challenge? [43:51]

6. The sermon mentions the importance of standing firm on the Word of God. What practical steps can you take to ensure that your confidence is rooted in Scripture rather than cultural acceptance? [43:51]

7. Think of someone in your life who questions the relevance of the Bible. How can you engage them in a conversation that highlights the Bible’s enduring truths? [03:40]

Devotional

Day 1: The Bible's Timeless Relevance
The Bible, though written in ancient times, continues to offer profound insights and guidance for today's world. It addresses the human condition and God's redemptive plan, making it a living document that speaks to our lives today. Despite cultural shifts and challenges, the Bible remains a steadfast source of truth and wisdom. It is not just a historical text but a guide that helps us navigate the complexities of modern life. As believers, we are encouraged to trust in its teachings and allow them to shape our understanding and actions. [03:40]

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you incorporate the Bible's teachings into your daily decision-making processes this week?


Day 2: The Old Testament's Narrative of Grace
The Old Testament, often misunderstood, is a powerful narrative of God's grace and the consequences of sin. It highlights humanity's need for a Savior and points to the coming of Christ, offering hope and redemption. Despite its depictions of violence and judgment, it is a testament to God's enduring love and mercy. By understanding the Old Testament's context and message, believers can gain a deeper appreciation for God's plan and the fulfillment of His promises in the New Testament. [11:54]

"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27, ESV)

Reflection: How can you approach the Old Testament with a fresh perspective, seeking to understand its relevance to your faith journey today?


Day 3: The New Testament's Authenticity
The New Testament's authenticity is affirmed by the early church's recognition and the wealth of manuscript evidence supporting its divine inspiration. Despite claims of "lost books," the 27 books of the New Testament have been consistently recognized as authoritative and inspired. This assurance allows believers to trust in the New Testament's teachings and the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. By understanding the historical and spiritual significance of these texts, we can confidently rely on them as the foundation of our faith. [25:41]

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of the New Testament's historical context and its implications for your faith?


Day 4: Confidence in God's Unchanging Word
In a world that often questions the Bible's relevance, believers are reminded to place their confidence not in cultural acceptance but in the unchanging truth of God's Word. The Bible is a necessity, providing the foundation for our faith and guiding our responses to cultural challenges. By engaging deeply with Scripture, we can find the strength and wisdom needed to navigate the complexities of life and remain steadfast in our beliefs. [43:51]

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." (Isaiah 40:8, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a habit of daily Scripture reading to strengthen your confidence in God's Word?


Day 5: Engaging Deeply with Scripture
Believers are called to engage deeply with Scripture, allowing it to shape their lives and guide their responses to the world. The Bible is not a luxury but a necessity, offering the anchor needed in turbulent times. By immersing ourselves in its teachings, we can develop a deeper relationship with God and gain the wisdom to face life's challenges with faith and resilience. [45:00]

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to engage more deeply with Scripture and allow it to influence your daily life?

Quotes


Nathan it absolutely does I think you nailed it when you said this is just such an interesting moment that we live in of cultural change of cultural challenge you know we've always had challenges to scripture there's you go back to the turn of the twentieth century it was the new Darwinism and that was the challenge but we find ourselves literally under attack by the so called social sciences you know so we have these new understandings of what it means to be human new understandings of marriage new understandings of even gender is is up for grabs gender has become a social construct and the view of many in our time so we're clearly in a moment of coal well challenge I don't think we need to do the chicken little thing and the sky is falling instead what we need to do is stand on that ancient word and recognize that in a time of biblical learn time of cultural challenge we really need to be a people biblical conviction and I'm very much looking forward to this talk because I think especially in house we as Christians need to talk to each other about why it is that we can trust the Bible how it is perfectly legitimate to raise questions if we have doubts about the Bible within these contexts where we can be helped by those who've studied these things so that we can see those biblical convictions and stand on them [00:03:40]

well we all know that everything began to go downhill the first time II didn't believe what God said that is the defining quality in my judgment of what sin is it's a failure to believe God and so that's what brings on judgment not just in the sense that gods in heaven and gods angry when we don't believe him and he has this box full of Thunderbolts and he throws them at us but rather a failure to believe God is a failure to to recognize the way he's made us the way he's designed us and that's true outside of the church that when the culture drifts more and more away from even a almost symbolic sort of civic honoring of the Word of God it's not just getting away from the true religion it's getting away from decent human lives and so we're watching the destruction of the broader culture precisely because we don't believe what God has said or we refuse to acknowledge what we know God has said [00:11:54]

probably one of our biggest obstacles is we just don't simply spend enough time in Scripture we have many things that just distract us and we can fill our days with all sorts of things when we need to daily be in God's Word so I think that's one of the main obstacles is to not be distracted by all the noise and static of our agent spend time in God's Word but as we come to these different challenges you could probably lump them into different categories they're the sort of philosophical or ethical objections to God's Word we'll get into some of these I think as we progress some folks read texts in the Old Testament that just strike them as as as mean or cool so how do we deal with these ethical objections or as we have people telling us today what's wrong if two people love each other what difference does it make whether it's homosexual relationship or a heterosexual relationship isn't God's Word you know over 2,000 years old it should be really trusted so we have those ethical categories we have some historical contentions against Scripture I think we'll get into some of that we find this sometimes in terms of the Gospels seems like every Easter every Christmas you know rolls around we hear the new discoveries related to Jesus that try to discredit the Gospels but it also seems that what may be underlying all of these is just the human heart I think what dr. stroll said is just very telling it does go back to half God said and that rebellion that is within us to hear God's Word and see it but yet when to go in the opposite directions and so that's where I think as we discuss some of these objections we really need to drill down deeply and see that what we're talking about in many instances is what's going in on in our hearts [00:25:41]

but people have always faced challenging times in culture the Apostle Paul actually says in Romans 15 that God's Word was given for our encouragement and our endurance and ultimately our hope and so the Old Testament is a book about the trauma of sin in the life of God's people and the tenacity of God's grace in sending them a redeemer a great example of this is the book of Judges in it you have sexual promiscuity spiritual dysfunction pervasive violence and wholesale idolatry if there was ever a portion of the Old Testament that spoke to today situation perhaps it's the book of Judges we learned that the greatest problem isn't an external one isn't the Laura of culture or the Laura of Canaan the greatest problem and threat that God's people have is an internal one as they face their own moral decadence and sin and they're in the book of Judges we discover as everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes God sins a king God ultimately sins David and would come into the new testament we see that he sins David's greater son so the Old Testament is a book of hope that showcases our sin but more importantly points us to the grace of the triune God [00:45:00]

well it's certainly a difficult question but we need to be clear regarding what the Bible teaches and the bible does teach that the wages of sin is death death is a consequence of our moral rebellion and so when we come across difficult portions of the Old Testament like when God calls Israel to push the pagan nations we need to be honest with those who raise that objection that in the first place nations like Canaan deserved God's punishment Canaan was a snarly place they rebelled against God they oppressed God's people and as a result they deserved God's judgment and so you can look at a place like Deuteronomy 7 where God warns Israel that if they follow the Canaanites they will become like the canines and so we have to be clear that the pagan nations deserved God's punishment because the wages of sin is death but we don't do so with the callous heart I think we also have to be clear that Israel deserved God's punishment in that same chapter in Deuteronomy 7 we're told that the reason why God put his redeeming grace upon Israel wasn't because they were mighty it wasn't because they were wealthy it wasn't because they were good but be cut because God placed his eternal love on them they deserved God's punishment and instead they got God's grace and so we look at God's punishing the nation's in the Old Testament we have to understand that they represent a judgment in miniature they provide for us a picture of the final judgment where on the day of the Lord God will punish all those who reject him so not only does Canaan deserve punishment and Israel deserve punishment we deserve punishment so when you come into the New Testament you realize a major theme is that Jesus isn't only Savior but Jesus is also judge and so the greatest question in many ways we're faced is when we stand before God with Jesus as Savior or Jesus as judge in Christ as Savior we have life that when we face him as judge we find that we have death because of our sin [00:50:19]

yeah the New Testament is obviously important for the Christian - no - no well and to seek to live it out it's important to know how God fulfills his plan of redemption stemming from the shadow of the glorious shadow of the Old Testament all the way up to the glorious fulfillment in the New Testament it's important to know the person and work of Jesus Christ how he is fully God and fully man one person with two distinct natures yet inseparable nature's divine and human it's important to know the work on the croc on the cross that he provided salvation for his people by grace alone through faith alone and it's important to know what he's done on the cross as well as in the resurrection made how God has raised him from the dead and he ascended to the right hand of God the Father and he reigns as Lord over all the universe over the church as head those things are very important to know and I think you can't know that if you're just a casual reader of the New Testament a casual reader will just dip into the scriptures ever so often read a couple chapters of New Testament try to find a point that stands out and apply it to their lives if that kind of reading doesn't allow you to defend the truth to know the truth first and foremost but to also defend them against criticism in this world so it's really it's really important to to really adopt an approach where we seek to know God's Word and to live it out I think of Martin Luther for instance who pictured Scripture as a mighty tree and every single word as little branches and he says that he would just go to the little branches and shake them to know what God's Word is and what it means and that's where the earnest desire to know Scripture and to know the New Testament in particular and to learn from those who have come before us is extremely important for us today especially in light of the fact that there are so many criticisms being thrown our way at the same time and this is one thing that I love about RBC is the emphasis on knowing God but also living for God after all a disciple of Christ doesn't seek to learn from Christ and and not be like Christ and so it's it's important for us to have the Word of God dwell a rich rich and well dwelling richly within us as we submit to it as our authority and seek to glorify God in our lives [01:04:48]

well the simple answer would be because they're in the Bible all the books that should be in the Bible are in the Bible and God providentially guided those who received and recognized God's Word the 27 books New Testament in particular so there are other other varying factors as well that led the church to receive these as the Word of God the divine qualities the beauty and the excellence the power and the efficacy the unity and the harmony of these letters and Gospels and the general epistles revelation also because the Apostles wrote them or someone who was closely connected to the Apostle you also have the church receiving them very early on and developing even a kora Canon of these books from the outset as well as the fact that you you have the Spirit authenticating these to his people the inner testimony the Holy Spirit that confirms in our hearts that this is God's Word all those factors led to collecting these 27 books as part of the New Testament and it proves true John 10 when when Jesus speaks of his sheep knowing his voice and by the spirit they do know his voice and they have known his voice and and they've collected these books as a result and for more on this I would highly recommend reading Michael Krueger's book Canon revisited which is great [01:14:05]

I think it's important to come back to the the mighty tree of Scripture and come under its authority and shake the branches and receive the heavenly fruit of Christ given to you and held out to you I think it's important to to come under it in order to gain confidence and boldness that this truly is the Word of God and and in doing so being able to withstand the persecution that Christians will inevitably face as the years go on and to remember the words of Jesus Christ so the servant is not greater than his master and if they persecuted me they will also persecute you I think it's also important to remember Peters words that if anyone suffers as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in that name [01:32:10]

well I try to encourage in my own life and to sort of model this for the students a posture of we're not scholars taking the Bible and putting under a microscope and assessing it and judging it but rather we're looking at the Bible as the Word of God it is the microscope that's looking at us it's the mirror that shows us what we are so so part of what that means is we sort of have a hermeneutic that's always conscious of our own sin always conscious of our own propensity to self justify always conscious of our desire to escape the requirements of God's law but also always tempted to forget the fullness of God's grace so we want to in another way we want the gospel itself to infuse our study of the Word of God and to infuse our studying the things of God and even to infuse our study of apologetics we need this rejoice that we have been rescued and we have been saved and we need to have that zeal for the rescuing of others rather than the protection of our own reputations [01:43:51]

I want to tie that together with the answer to your question the answer to that temptation is to remember that our confidence must be in God and in God's Word it's that simple we can't put our confidence and our ability to connect with culture we can't find our culture celebrities who also happen to be Christians and sort of ride their coattails back into the cool table we need to recognize that it's God's Word and that it's God there's really not a whole lot of difference between life and 2015 and life in the first century we go to the first century what do we find we find Rome beginning its downward slide of barbarism and almost a Miss and throat approach to life an anti humanity and is precisely in that context if the New Testament is written the church is born and the gospel takes root and the gospel is victorious Paul is in prison in Rome with the Praetorian Guard right this elite special forces unit symbol of Roman power and the gospel is making an inroad among the Praetorian Guard and in the Imperial Palace and Paul specifically says there is opening verses of Philippians that our confidence is in the Lord our confidence is in the gospel so we need to be reminded of that and when we realize that this is what we come to realize the Bible is not a luxury it's a necessity we are tossed to and fro among the waves and it is the anchor of God's Word it is the solid rock if I'm mixing metaphors it's the solid rock of God's Word that holds us and that we turn to and in some ways this sort of cultural shaking out that we're experiencing right now tell Paul it's it's driving us back to where I should be on God on his word confident in the gospel [01:50:19]

well at the bottom line and it's what the Word of God is true I've heard the story told of my father's mentor dr. John Gerstner that one of the ways that he just sort of brought this issue down to a visceral level in the classroom is he'd write across the blackboard the Bible is the Word of God which Purse and then he would slowly word by word erase different work you take on the first and then he'd take off word of so that it was left with God the Bible ends up with God Irv's the God that we worship Nathan is the God who not only doesn't lie he's incapable of lying and the reason he's incapable of lying is true for one because of its moral purity but also because of his power if he if God said something it happens God is to reality what - was to gold okay God says is it happens because that's what it means to be gone and that same God with all of that power all of that Majesty is the God who descends on the sentence to speak to us as Calvin put it to speak to us with a list and can give us his trustworthy word I would encourage people that took to remember that the best way to to shore up their trusts in the scripture is to read the scripture if only because when you read the scripture what you see is God blessing and taking care of those who trust in him it's it is a story it's a true story a historical story but it's the story of God blessing and delivering his people and showing forth his power by going into that praetorian guard and showing the power of the gospel there so I want us to to to understand that the best defense of the truthfulness of the scripture is the power of God's Word it is true because God is true [02:45:38]

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Transcript
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