The Bible is God’s message revealed by the Holy Spirit through inspired men (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Cor. 2:13; 14:37). David referred to the work of the Holy Spirit in explaining the origin of the portions of Scripture he wrote. In 2 Samuel 23:1-2, he wrote, “Now these are the last words of David. Thus says David the son of Jesse; Thus says the man raised up on high, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel: ‘The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue.’” David claimed that the Holy Spirit spoke through him, putting the very words on his tongue. In Mark 12:36, Jesus corroborated this claim by His statement concerning the words of David found in Psalm 110, saying, “For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: “The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” The process of the Holy Spirit using men, such as David, to write the Old Testament was described by Peter in 2 Peter 1:20-21, “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.”

The Holy Spirit moved men to write the New Testament as well. While various means were employed by God to communicate His will in the Old Testament, in the New Testament He has spoken by His Son Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1-2). Inspired men, such as the apostles who heard Jesus themselves, were used by the Holy Spirit to produce the New Testament. We are not left with merely the claim that these individuals were speaking the message of God, but with authentication from God Himself that this message was from Him. This authentication is found in miracles which the Holy Spirit worked. In Hebrews 2:3-4, this question is asked: “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?”  The salvation God provides to us now through His Son was first spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself while He was here on earth and was confirmed by those who heard Him. These were the apostles who accompanied Jesus from the baptism of John to the time of the resurrection, of which they were witnesses (Acts 1:22). Jesus did not reveal all that was to be included in the New Covenant while He was here on earth; there were more truths that the apostles could not yet bear, but they would be guided by the Holy Spirit who would remind them of what Jesus taught them and teach them the remaining portions of the saving truth God desired to reveal. Jesus promised His apostles in John 14:25-26, “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” Later, in John 16:13, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would guide the apostles into all truth. God bore witness to the veracity of their message that it was indeed from Him, “both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit” (Heb. 2:4).

Thus, while around forty individuals were used in writing the Bible, there is really one author: God. He has revealed His will for us in the Bible and we can understand it (Eph. 3:4). This coming weekend, Eric Lyons will be here to speak on the abundant evidence for why we can trust the Bible as a reliable guide from God. Will you come?

-Mark Day

            And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:6-8)

            This passage asks one of the questions found on the heart of the Lord Jesus, “will He find faith?” Archaeologists study ancient civilizations to see how they lived, what they valued, whom they worshipped, and what they thought. Jesus too examines our minds and hearts to see how we live, what we value, whom we worship, and what we think. I wonder how he finds us, what he sees in our lives.  Will he find faith?

            Those who watch American society can easily see the enormous changes in America, even in a generation. A Barna survey showed only 40 percent of American adults believe Jesus Christ lived a sinless life while he was on earth. Only 27 percent believe Satan is a real being or force to reckon with. A recent Pew Forum study revealed 42 percent of Christians in America say that atheism can nonetheless lead to eternal life. What would our grandparents have said about that? How could things change so quickly?

            Even the best of parents sometimes fail to reach their children. In our society where parents and church often have to compete with public schools and the media for the hearts of children, it is easy to see how children can grow up compromised or confused. When ungodly and secular agendas color and distort the truth, it is easy to see how younger generations can be deceived and fall into error.

When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? The greatest challenge facing our children in the coming days is not sex, alcohol, or drugs. It is not the media or the internet. The greatest challenge is whether they will remain faithful to God.

I recently learned of a large, prominent denomination that boasted millions of members but had only 28 percent of the adherents attending church on any given Sunday. On many moral issues today, one can hardly see any difference between the lives of nominal Christians and the world.

Will he find parents involved in their children’s spiritual lives?  Will he find families sacrificing so they can give to the Lord? Will he find Sunday classes that dig deep into the Bible?  Will he find Christians sharing the gospel with their neighbors?

Will he find men and women who have learned to say no to the world, Christians who have put to death the deeds of the body (Rom. 8:12-13; Col. 3:5-11)? Will he find parents who have taken the time to explain the errors of evolution?  Will our children know there are some absolute moral truths? Will they be able to give a reason for the hope that lies within them, yet with gentleness and respect (1 Pet. 3:15)?

When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?

-Phil Sanders

(You can hear and see brother Phil on the “In Search of the Lord’s Way” TV program on WVAH, channel 11 every Sunday morning at 7:30am.)

-Jerry D. Sturgill