Intro: We live in a world that believes less and less in absolute truth. People are skeptical of everything they are told, especially if historically believed. “Post-truth” the Oxford dictionary’s 2016 word of the year: an adjective relating to circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than emotional appeals. 1. All the Words in Scripture are God’s Words a. The Bible claims this about itself i. The Scriptures contain direct quotes of God’s words. “Thus says the Lord…” (Num 22:38; Deu 18:18-20; Jer 1:9; Ezek 2:7) “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write…” (Rev 2:1) ii. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Tim 3:16) iii. Prophecy was produced by men carried along by the Holy Spirit. “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Pet 1:21) iv. The words of Scripture were spoken by the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:16, Psalms 69 and 109 are said to be words which “the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David.” v. Jesus quoted the OT as from the mouth of God. In Matt 4:4, in Jesus’ repeated citations from Deuteronomy to answer every temptation, he said to the devil, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” b. Application: to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God. c. All the words in Scripture are completely true and without error in any part i. “You are God, your words are true.” (2 Sam 7:28) ii. “Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.” (Ps 119:89) iii. “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Prov 30:5) iv. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Matt 24:35) d. Application: God’s words are the ultimate standard of truth i. “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (Jn 17:17) e. The Bible is trustworthy – New Testament affirmation i. Jonah was in the whale (Mt 12:40) ii. The men of Nineveh repented after Jonah’s message (Mt 12:41) iii. The queen of the South came to hear Solomon (Mt 12:42) iv. Elijah was sent to the widow of Zarephath (Lk 4:25-26) v. On the day Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from heaven (Lk 17:29) vi. Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness (Jn 3:14) vii. Elijah spoke with God (Rom 11:2-4) viii. The people of Israel passed through the sea (1 Cor 10:11) ix. Abraham gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek (Heb 7:1-2) x. The world was created by the Word of God (Heb 1:3) xi. Eight people were saved by the ark (1 Pe 3:20; 2 Pe 2:5) xii. God turned Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes, but saved Lot (2 Pe 2:6-7) xiii. Balaam’s donkey spoke (2 Pe 2:16) xiv. The details of the history of Israel (Acts 13:17-23) 2. Westminster Confession of Faith (1642-46) Chapter 1: of the Holy Scripture IV. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, depends not upon the testimony of any man, or Church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God. 3. Is the Bible divine? (Or did men create it?) a. The Bible is the Word of God (2 Tim 3:16) 4. Is the Bible true? (Can it be trusted?) a. God is true (Titus 1:1-3) b. The Word of God is true (Jn 17:17) c. The NT writers affirmed the OT as true d. Jesus affirmed the OT as true