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Notes for our next studies – 5 Common Heresies Today – borrowed from – pursueGOD.org

https://www.pursuegod.org/five-common-heresies-today-2/

WHY these studies? — SEE Ephesians 4:8-16 & Isaiah 30:8-11

I invite you to listen to: ‘Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet’

Falsehood #2 Don’t Take the Bible too Literally

This is the idea that the Bible is a great book that can be really helpful, but it’s not to be taken too literally or seriously. Many believe that while the Bible might be inspired by God on some level, there are many errors, corruptions, and myths in it. Many also believe that the Bible was written to a certain time and culture and therefore it is irrelevant for our world today. While it’s good to study the Bible for some general principles or to study the Bible as literature, we shouldn’t apply all of it’s teaching to our lives today.

— (The error of this teaching is displayed in the following scriptures.)

(2^nd Timothy 3:14-17; 2^nd Peter 1:20-21.)

2^nd Timothy 3:10-17… (GNB) But you have followed my teaching, my conduct, and my purpose in life; you have observed my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance,  (11)  my persecutions, and my sufferings. You know all that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, the terrible persecutions I endured! But the Lord rescued me from them all.  (12)  Everyone who wants to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted;  (13)  and evil persons and impostors will keep on going from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves.  (14)  But as for you, continue in the truths that you were taught and firmly believe. You know who your teachers were,  (15)  and you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living,  (17)  so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.

— Q1/ I anticipate a question as to, “What happened to Paul in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra? (Vs.11)

SEE Acts 14:19-23 (CEV) Some Jews came from Antioch in Pisidia and from Iconium; they won the crowds over to their side, stoned Paul and dragged him out of the town, thinking that he was dead.  (20)  But when the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he and Barnabas went to Derbe.  (21)  Paul and Barnabas preached the Good News in Derbe and won many disciples. Then they went back to Lystra, to Iconium, and on to Antioch in Pisidia.  (22)  They strengthened the believers and encouraged them to remain true to the faith. “We must pass through many troubles to enter the Kingdom of God,” they taught.  (23)  In each church they appointed elders, and with prayers and fasting they commended them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

— Q2/ I see a lead back to the subject of Bible authority here… How did these foreigners, who became believers in Jesus, continue in their faith when they had no Bible to follow? (Acts 14:23)

(We need to look at their actions of “appointed elders, and with prayers and fasting they commended them to the Lord”… Then compare this with how the NT Bible came into being.)

— Q3/ We also need to put our faith in God’s Holy Spirit to “teach us all things”, (John 14:26 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 that I have said to you.) …How does that apply to the Bible? (2^nd Timothy 3:16-17)

The OT scriptures validate the NT writings… SEE 2^nd Peter 1:19-21… (CEV) All of this makes us even more certain that what the prophets said is true. So you should pay close attention to their message, as you would to a lamp shining in some dark place. You must keep on paying attention until daylight comes and the morning star rises in your hearts.  (20)  But you need to realize that no one alone can understand any of the prophecies in the Scriptures.  (21)  The prophets did not think these things up on their own, but they were guided by the Spirit of God.

— Q4/ How did their prophecies give Jesus validation as the Messiah?

Hint: Read the next page and decide for yourself…

5 Proof-Prophecies of Jesus as Messiah… (Taken from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s article)

1. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. — Biblical prophecy: Micah 5:2 (NKJV)

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” —

Prophecy fulfilled: Matthew 2:5-6 (NKJV) After Christ’s birth, King Herod gathered the chief priests and scribes to ask them where the Messiah would be born. They responded by citing the Old Testament prophecy revealing that Christ would be born in Bethlehem: They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

— Also, John 7:42 (NKJV) says, “Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”

2. Jesus was born of a virgin. — Biblical prophecy: Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) says, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

Prophecy fulfilled: Matthew 1:23 (NKJV) “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’”

— Just as Isaiah said, the virgin Mary did indeed conceive and have a Son who is called Immanuel. Jesus being born of a virgin and the prophecy of this event show God’s infinite power and knowledge. He defied nature to bring His Son to the earth.

3. Jesus was rejected by His people. In biblical times, building foundations were built from stone, starting with a single stone placed in the corner as a guide for the entire structure. The cornerstone was essential to the structure of the building and ensured each wall would be balanced, straight and solid.

God’s Word tells us Jesus was sent to be the cornerstone for the world but, He would be rejected in the process.

Biblical prophecy: Psalm 118:22-23 (NKJV) “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvellous in our eyes.”

Prophecy fulfilled: Later in the book of Matthew, there’s a conversation in which Jesus uses David’s words from Psalm 118 to remind the religious leaders who He was: Matthew 21:42-43 (NKJV)

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes’?”

4. Jesus suffered with (and for) sinners — Biblical prophecy: Isaiah 53:12 (ESV) “Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”

Prophecy fulfilled:
Matthew 27:38 (NKJV) “Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.”
Mark 15:2 (NKJV) “With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left.”
Luke 23:32-33 (NKJV) “There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.”
Isaiah 53 — Isaiah, whose name means “salvation of the Lord,” is known as one of the greatest prophets in the Bible. The coming of Christ is foretold throughout the book of Isaiah, with Isaiah 53 explaining just how much Jesus would suffer during His sacrifice for our sins.

5. Jesus performed miracles. — Biblical prophecy: Isaiah 35:5-6 (ESV) says, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.”

Prophecy fulfilled: Some 700 years after Isaiah, this was written in John 11:47 (NKJV): “Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, ‘What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.’”

And Luke 7:21 (NKJV): “And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.”

There are more than 300 other prophecies Jesus fulfilled with 100 percent accuracy

something no psychic, medium, or other religion can guarantee.

God promised He’d send a Savior for the world. And He did.

KK — I note further the promise of the effective Word Of God in Matthew 24:35…

Jesus said… “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

— This is why the Bible is still so powerful – We will close with further discussion, a song, and our prayer time.

Closing song: ‘Give ear to my words Oh Lord’