The Spiritual Condition of America, Politics, Culture, and Current Events Analyzed Through the Lens of Scripture. Welcome to the Alex McFarland Show. How is the Bible different from all other books? Hi, Alex McFarland here. Welcome to the program.
In this short broadcast today, we're going to talk about how the Bible is unique. The Bible is different from all other books because the Bible is God's book. You know, in Hebrews 4, verse 12, and we'll do our best to unpack this, but Hebrews 4, verse 12, speaking of Scripture, it says, For the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. and is a discerner of the The thoughts and intents of the heart. End of quote.
We're going to talk about characteristics about the Bible, no the book can claim. But a couple of days ago, I went to Barnes Noble Bookstore.
Now, I love Barnes Noble. In fact, they carry a lot of the books that I've written. I'm not just trashing the store, but I was walking around looking at all the different sections, and there's everything from politics and current events and history and sociology, every imaginable category. But so much of the content I noticed was very woke, very pro-gay. And even in the religion section, there were books by Josh McDowell and myself and others.
But then, right alongside those books, affirming the Bible and affirming the faith, were books that deconstruct the faith. And, you know, having spent so many years working on apologetics material, I keep coming back. To this topic, I think it's important that we reaffirm and we assert that the Bible is the Word of God and that the Bible you have in your hand is trustworthy. And within this book, the content tells us. That we can be born again through Jesus Christ.
As I get into the verse, I'll quote the late, great Norm Geisler. He was my mentor in grad school. He led Southern Evangelical Seminary, and he was an unbelievably good apologist. Any Norm Geisler book is worth your time reading it. Dr.
Geisler would say this that it In every generation, a defense of the authority of God's Word is really an assignment for every generation of Christians. And of course, famously around 1980, he and J.I. Packer and Warren Wearsby and so many people, R. C. Sprohl, convened the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy.
And they wrote something that came to be called the ICBI statement. It basically was saying, Look, the Bible is God's Word, and we Christian leaders are going to believe it, defend it, and every imaginable Ministry signed on to the ICBI statement, the Billy Graham ministry, of course, my mentor and friend James Dobson, who just went to be with the Lord. And Geisler said on stage, and he said to me personally, he said, every generation is going to have to come back. This is the perennial topic that the Bible is the Word of God. And so let's talk about this and how no other book can say this.
And I love books. My wife and I, our house, we could be a used bookstore. And there are many books that are inspiring. One book is inspired. Number one, the Bible is of divine origin.
I believe a compelling case can be made that the Bible is of divine origin. Hebrews 4:12 says, For the word of God. It doesn't say for the word of Moses. Although Moses is in there. Doesn't even say for the word of Paul.
No, the word of God. And you've got 40 authors that were writing over a 1500-year period, different backgrounds, and yet you've got this one unified message about the Savior. and how you can know him. The kingdom of God and how to get in. Only the Bible can legitimately claim to be of divine origin.
Secondly, it is not. Static. The word of God is alive. The word in the original language is zoe, z-o-e, and it's a word for life. And it says, Hebrews 4:12, The word of God is quick.
Okay, quickening. That means alive, pregnant women, when they can feel their baby move, you know, there's in olden times they talked about the quickening. And the Bible is quick, that means alive and moving. It is so much more than ink on paper. It really is alive, and I have met so many people, and perhaps you can relate to this.
But the Bible, if you read it, if you believe it, If you act on its Promises, and you heed its prohibitions and warnings, it will change your life. What's interesting is the word Zoe, that the Bible is quick and powerful, the word also means transferable. You know what's amazing is that the truths in the Word of God that changed lives in times past, shaped history, it also will impact you. The truth of God's Word. Whosoever calls on the name of the Lord may be saved.
And yes, I think about something like Jeremiah twenty nine, eleven through thirteen. For I know the thoughts I think towards you, thoughts of good, not of evil, to bring you to a teleas, an end, a design, a purpose.
Now I know that was originally written to Israel. But it is transferable at least in this regard. If you follow God's plan, you'll be blessed. If you, as Jeremiah 29:13 says, seek the Lord with all your heart, He can be found.
So the Word of God is alive.
Now point three is it carries supernatural power. it energizes. The Word of God has potency.
Now, back to the beginning of our passage. For the Word of God is quick. and powerful. Sharper than any two-edged sword.
Okay? The Word of God is not only alive, but has power. Power or potency. The Bible, folks, the Bible has abilities. Think of it.
Are you depressed? Are you lonely? Are you bound by sin? Do you need direction?
Well, God's holy word found in the 66 canonical books, Genesis through Malachi, that's the Old Testament, Matthew through Revelation, that's the New Testament. It has the power to guide you. Inspire you, comfort you, The Bible has the power to convict you. It will make you feel bad about your sin, but it will beckon and draw you toward the one that can save you. Powerful word of God.
We've got to take a quick break, but we're going to come back and we're going to talk about the characteristics of the Bible no other book can claim. You might be wondering, why are we giving all this backstory and this history?
Well, Jeff Beck, the great guitarist, who I had the privilege of being with. Yeah, through my friendship with Brian Wilson. Jeff Beck said the difference between good and great is how deeply you study everything that came before what you're trying to accomplish. We're going to see what the Bible is all about, how we know it's God's Word, and how we respond to the skepticism about it in our day. Don't go away.
Fox News and CNN call Alex McFarland, a religion and culture expert. Stay tuned for more of his teaching and commentary after this. 100 Bible Questions and Answers for Families. That's the newest book that Bert Harper and I, Alex McFarlane, have put together from hundreds of questions from actual radio listeners to our nationally syndicated radio show, Exploring the Word. Published by Broad Street Publishing.
100 Bible Questions and Answers for Families. Ask questions like: How are children a gift from God? How can I build my family around the teachings of God's Word and Jesus Christ?
So many dozens of questions that we think will encourage and equip you in your walk and witness. It's available everywhere. Books are sold, online, your favorite local Christian bookstore, Barnes Noble, on Amazon. I encourage you to please check it out and tell your friends about 100. Bible questions and answers for families.
Enjoy reading. Thanks for reading, and may God bless you. He's been called trusted, truthful, and timely. Welcome back to the Alex McFarlane Show. Welcome back to the program.
Alex McFarland here talking about one of my favorite subjects, the Bible. And one of the reasons that I love to talk about the evidence for the Bible, but I love just to quote the Bible, is because the Bible changed my life. And the Bible will change your life and anyone who takes to heart what it promises. We are reading through Hebrews 4:12. The word of God is quick and powerful.
And we said that these characteristics no other book can claim. Number one, it is of divine origin. Number two, it is not static, it is alive. Number three, it carries potency, supernatural power. The Bible will energize and inspire, and really, the Word of God.
If you embrace and follow the one it presents, who is the Son of God, the Bible will rescue you. But point number four, it was given for a purpose. The accumulation of the biblical books was not happenstance or arbitrary. God gave this word to the human race for a purpose. And let me say, the Bible is precise and very efficient in carrying out its purpose.
And this is where Hebrews 4:12 gets very interesting.
Okay, sharper. than any two-edged sword.
Okay? You can imagine a scimitar, a sword that's maybe beveled in its edge and it's got two edges, right?
Okay. But what this speaks to really are the purposes that the Word of God was designed to accomplish. Hebrews 4:12 says, piercing. even to the dividing asunder of of soul and spirit, joints and marrow.
Now, for just a moment, let's talk about, as we discuss the purpose of God's Word, we've got to talk about what exactly is a human being. You might think, well, that's a rather odd topic. A human is duh a human, right? But 1 Thessalonians 5, 23-24, I believe more accurately than any other book, certainly any other book of antiquity. But even in the modern world, the Bible accurately Depicts what a human being is.
And modern psychology would concur. 1 Thessalonians 5, 23, 24 speaks of spirit, soul, and body. I've had Pastors and even theologians sort of take me to task on this and say, look, there's the physical, the non-physical, body and soul. That's all there is to it. No.
That is not all there is to it. Uh you are a three part being, my friend. Because we are made in God's image, we reflect our Creator. God is Is a triune God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit. And the technical word is tripartite.
We are spirit, soul, and body. And the word of God speaks to all of the components that make you you.
Now I'm going to come back to these three parts, Old and New Testaments, reference them. Let's get back to our Hebrews 4:12, the word of God can pierce and divide asunder.
Okay, that means to separate. and address the Bible with the precision of a surgeon's scalpel. The Bible has something to say about our spirit, our spirit. Our soul and our body.
Now it says this: that it is sharper than any two-edged sword. And it can pierce. And the Greek word is, well, there are a couple of words that we need to bring out. A two-edged sword, T-O-M-O-S TOMOS, means sharp and cutting. And a comparative adjective is tomoteros, means sharper.
The sharpest. cutting instrument you've got. Scalpel, sword, saw, the word of God is sharper still. By the way, there's a related English word, the Tomistoma crocodile. that gets its name from its very long, sharp snout.
The word of God is tomoteros, sharper than any sword.
Now Think of a sword, and you've got two edges.
Now, what are those edges that the Word of God, your sword, might have?
Well, I think about this revelation and information. The Bible is God's revealed word, and it's God's instructive word. Conviction and conversion. Those are two edges of the sword. It will make you aware of your sin.
If you're wise enough to yield the nudgings of the Holy Spirit, it will make you feel bad about your sin. and you'll turn to Christ and you'll be delivered from your sin. The Word of God can convict and convert. Another couple of edges, salvation and condemnation. The Bible has great promise.
and reassurance of salvation, but great warning of condemnation for those who reject. What the Bible says. The Bible is full of promises, but the Bible is full of warnings. The Bible is a gentle balm. of encouragement.
But the Bible is also a stern rebuke For those that would flaunt and brazenly disregard the Word and the God who gave it. The Bible addresses time, the Bible addresses eternity, the Bible speaks about and to God's creation, the Bible reveals to us Christ's kingdom.
So it is a sharp, two-edged sword, and it was given for the purpose of changing our lives and saving our souls. I'm going to come back to that. In the final segment, but let me give the fifth characteristic that the Bible. demonstrates that no other book can claim the Bible Yeah. Perfect accuracy speaks to the human condition.
For the word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing. even to the division Of soul, spirit. joints, marrow.
Okay, that's your mind, your eternal spirit, and your body. And again, we'll come back. to that. But think about this rather enigmatic Statement as Hebrews 4:12 concludes: The Bible is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Now, folks, the Bible is a revealer. of the thoughts and intents of God the Author. But the Bible is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart of the reader. It's been said that People read the Bible, but it's also been said that the Bible really reads us. I mean you think about this.
Maybe you've Planned a secret sin that nobody knows about, nobody will ever find out. But you read about King David, and Nathan the prophet, and David was found out. And maybe you've thought about how you're not going to give money to the church and tithe to those preachers. What do they accomplish anyway? And then the Bible convicts you as you read where it asks the question, Will a man rob God?
And yet you have robbed me in your tithes and offerings. We've got to come back. We'll talk more in the third segment. But stay tuned. Alex McFarland here talking about God's Holy Word, the Bible.
And how this generation And every generation must rediscover its power, content, and its purpose. Don't go away. Fox News and CNN call Alex McFarland, a religion and culture expert. Stay tuned for more of his teaching and commentary after this. Christian author and speaker Alex McFarland is an advocate for Christian apologetics.
Teaching in more than 2,200 churches around the world, schools, and college campuses. Alex is driven by a desire to help people grow in relationship with God. He arms his audiences with the tools they need to defend their faith, while also empowering the unchurched to find out the truth for themselves. In the midst of a culture obsessed with relativism, Alex is a sound voice who speaks timeless truths of Christianity in a timely way. With 18 published books to his name, it's no surprise that CNN, Fox, The Wall Street Journal, and other media outlets have described Alex as a religion and culture expert.
To learn more about Alex and to book him as a speaker at your next event. Visit alexmacfarlane.com. Or you can contact us directly by emailing booking at alexmcfarland.com. Would you invest a financial contribution to see young people saved? People give their lives to Christ, and people care about God and country?
If you would please make a donation securely online, you can give at alexmacfarlane.com or please mail a check to TNG.com. P.O. Box 485, Pleasant Garden, North Carolina, 27313. Your gift will be faithfully handled, fruitfully used, and we thank you in Jesus' name. He's been called trusted, truthful, and timely.
Welcome back to the Alex McFarlane Show. Welcome back to the program. Alex McFarland here.
So honored that you're listening, and I want to say a big thank you to all that pray for our ministries, the growing ministries of our conferences, camps, broadcasts, publishing. Even as we speak, folks, we're shipping out literature all over the place. We're getting easily, easily 100, 125 emails a day. Of people that are seeking spiritual help. And yes, the free gospel.
Takes money to deliver. And so I want to say a big thank you to everyone who donates. And I would ask that you would consider becoming a monthly partner with us. Folks, the more resources we have, the more people we can see that get saved, young people that begin to build their lives on a biblical worldview. And we've got to do this, folks.
I read an article that our publicist put out to the Newswire service earlier today. Activists in Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, they're working to stop a Christian music tour. and they successfully got performance permits revoked in eight Canadian cities. And they're working to make sure that this particular Christian music tour can't perform in America. Why?
Because in this CCM Contemporary Christian Music Tour, They talk about marriage and family, and they read from the Bible. and the L G B T Q activists, they said that this Christian music tour must be stopped because the biblical content is quote malicious harassment.
Now, folks, we have got to stand up and look, God loves everybody. Anybody that will turn to Christ can be born again. But we cannot let Christianity be criminalized in America. We have First Amendment free speech rights, and there's so much I could say about the Christian man that wrote the First Amendment. I often ask this question, how do 21st century secularists know more about the application of the First Amendment than the Christian man that wrote the First Amendment?
But, folks, please stand with us. You can give securely online at alexmcfarland.com, or you can mail a contribution to P.O. Box four eight five, Pleasant Garden, N Carolina, two seven three one three. Just make a check out to AMM. Alex McFarlane Ministries or Give Securely Online.
And as we record this, we are just days away. From the final two events in our summer speaker series, Conversations That Matter, Lauren Green of Fox News is with us September 14. And from the Trump White House, the International Ambassador for Religious Freedom, then October 3 and 4, if you happen to be in the area of North Myrtle Beach, I'll be giving a free seminar Friday, Saturday, October 3, and 4. The five big questions that every Christian must know how to answer. The very same content that I've taught at places like Liberty University and literally around the world.
It's yours for free. Come out, and I will be your personal apologetics professor. Complete information is at alexmacfarland.com. But right now, as we conclude, the five characteristics only the Bible can claim. It is of divine origin, it is alive, it has supernatural power, it was given for a purpose, and it is very powerful in that purpose.
But finally, the Bible, like no other book, Speaks to the reality of the human condition.
Now, I mentioned that in Old and New Testaments, it speaks to the fact that the Bible addresses the human condition. Your makeup, you are spirit, soul, and body.
Now, let's talk about the New Testament, but I also want to mention the Old.
Okay, spirit is the word pneuma. the breath of God in you. That part of you that will live everlastingly. Your soul, that's the word psyche, your mind, your knowledge, your personality. But then body is the word soma.
S-O-M-A. You know, we have words like crap. Chromosomes, the body of a cell, ribosomes, the cellular structure that is a protein-making factory. Ribosomes are found in all living cells, from bacteria to human beings, and there is ribosomal RNA and proteins.
Okay, you are body, soul, and spirit. When you put your faith in Christ, your spirit is regenerated. All your life, Romans 12 says, Your mind is renewed. One day your body will be glorified. And it is the Word of God that speaks to all three parts.
But in the Old Testament, you've got these concepts as well.
Okay, your body, soul, and spirit.
Okay, now the word for body is the Hebrew word basar, B-A-S-A-R, your flesh, your body. Genesis 2.24 says the two will become one flesh. flesh And then there is ruash, the life that you get, the spirit from God. And a related word is Neshama. I know this is deep.
Not doing a Hebrew lesson here necessarily, but something that grows.
Now, very interesting. God gives us life. But only humans have the spirit that lives everlastingly. Plants could said to be have Neshama, life, but not nephesh, mind, intelligence.
So we are body, soul, spirit in both Testaments. The word nephesh actually occurs seven hundred and fifty-four times in the Old Testaments. Humans have Neshama, life, existence, as all plants do, but only humans have the This awareness, this mind, this life from God. Animals and humans have nefesh, but We humans have A unique moral capacity. Ruash, R-U-A-C-H.
And this is Part of our accountability before God, that we have this moral capacity. Genesis 1, verse 2 speaks of this spirit, the spirit of God hovering above the waters. 1 Samuel 16, 13, the spirit of the Lord came powerfully on David. And so, folks, the word of God, even though the New Testament has much more clarity and specificity than the Old Testament. It's been said that in the Old Testament, Christ is concealed.
In the New Testament, Christ is revealed. But we've got to get back to the Truth. The authority of God's Word. And folks, that's not only who God is, where we came from. Why we're here, but marriage, family, morals, the rule of law.
Good civil government, good economics, education, the life of the mind, what is morally appropriate, what is immoral, we must, and I mean the Church and every Christian, must acknowledge and stand on and for the Word of God.
Now, as we wrap up, I want to give a challenge to each of us. You know, just days ago, a friend and colleague. And he was also a friend and a colleague and an employer of our engineer Mike Segovia and I both worked for this man. He went to be with the Lord James Dobson. And I think about let me read some names here.
doctor Dobson is gone, just days before doctor Dobson's homegoing was the passing of John MacArthur. As long as I've even been a Christian, we've known of John MacArthur. Shortly, not too long ago, Pat Robertson died. And over recent years, Billy Graham has gone, Chuck Coulson, Adrian Rogers, Charles Stanley, Dr. Don Wileman, the founder of American Family, AFA, Jerry Falwell.
Founder of Liberty University, Bill Bright. Founder of Campus Crusade, he's gone. Phyllis Schlafly, a champion for pro-life issues. I think about Beverly LaHaye, Tim LaHaye.
So many copious vacancies. Chuck Smith, The founder of Calvary Chapel and an amazing scholar, arguably one of the most influential people in the American church of our lifetimes, and Jack Hayford. A hymn writer and pastor, D. James Kennedy, a A biblical worldview expert, if there ever was one, all of these. Copious vacancies on the evangelical landscape.
But now it's your turn. And my turn. It's our hour to stand strong and defend the faith. And folks, more hangs on your involvement and your obedience than you could possibly imagine.
So as we conclude our challenge to stand for God's Word, I want to read this. And we're out of time nearly, but listen. And this is just the most beautiful paragraph found in the introduction of the Bibles distributed by the Gideons. It says, The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, the happiness of believers. The Bible's doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, its decisions immutable.
Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy. The Bible contains light to direct you, food to support you, comfort to cheer you. The Bible is the traveler's map. the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Folks, listen.
In the Bible, heaven is opened, the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good, its design, the glory of God, its end or purpose. It should fill your memory, rule your heart, guide your feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, a river of pleasure.
It is given to you in life. The Bible will be opened at the judgment. It will be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents. The Bible has God for its author, truth for its content.
without any mixture of error. That is God's Word. and it is our message. Alex McFarlane Ministries are made possible through the prayers and financial support of partners like you. For over 20 years, this ministry has been bringing individuals into a personal relationship with Christ and has been equipping people to stand strong for truth.
Learn more and donate securely online at alexmacfarlan.com. You may also reach us by calling 1-877-YESGOD and the number 1. That's 1-877-Y-E-S-G-O-D-1. Thanks for joining us. We'll see you again on the next edition of the Alex McFarlane Show.
