As much as I have been writing about BELIEVE for the past few weeks, it may surprise you that this week may be one of my least favorite. What’s more, it is the week that speaks about the Bible.
It is not that
anything is in this week that is wrong, but rather that this week is, pardon
the pun, weak; it simply does not go far enough in affirming the word of
God, the Bible. I am sure it is hard to put everything about the Word of God in
a single week and a single chapter of a book. Entire books and commentaries
have been written about the Bible so how can anyone put all that needs to be
believed about the Bible in a mere week and a simple chapter.
The key idea is
not wrong but it is not fully complete. “I believe the Bible is the inspired
Word of God that guides my beliefs and actions.” Yes, that is a true statement,
but the Bible is more than merely “inspired.” 2 Timothy 3:16 says ALL of the
Bible is not only inspired but God-inspired, God-breathed. It not
only guides my beliefs, but it is absolutely authoritative to guide our
beliefs. Benjamin Warfield concludes his exposition on this verse with the following statement:
Secondly the four statements of summation of beliefs begin with this one, “I believe the Bible is absolutely true…” …if only the first statement would have stopped there. In the study guide on pages 35 and 38 it goes on but does not need to. The Bible is absolutely true period. The second statement is “the words of the Bible are the words from God,” begs the question, if they are words of God, are they therefore not absolutely true in all things and not solely “in matters of faith and morals”?
What (2 Timothy 3:16-17) affirms is that the Scriptures owe their origin to an activity of God, the Holy Ghost, and (the Scriptures) are in the highest and truest sense His creation. It is on this foundation of Divine origin that all the high attributes of Scripture are built.
Secondly the four statements of summation of beliefs begin with this one, “I believe the Bible is absolutely true…” …if only the first statement would have stopped there. In the study guide on pages 35 and 38 it goes on but does not need to. The Bible is absolutely true period. The second statement is “the words of the Bible are the words from God,” begs the question, if they are words of God, are they therefore not absolutely true in all things and not solely “in matters of faith and morals”?
While Moses being
confronted by the burning bush (the first and lengthiest section of this week's reading) is vitally true, in regards to the Scripture, the following are even more germane to the authority of the Bible:
- Jesus’ statement in Matt. 5:18 that not one jot or tittle will fall;
- 1 Peter 1:23-25 is essential in studying that the Word of God regenerates us and will endure forever;
- that the Bereans in Acts 17:11-15 were noble to search the Scriptures to know what is true;
- Jesus said the Holy Scriptures could not be broken in John 12:35-36 and frequently chided the religious by asking, “Have you not read?” implying that they were ignorant of God’s Word which is authoritative in all things;
- That the Scriptures are written so that we might know that we have eternal life (at least John's writings which are summarized in 1 John 5:13).
For a good study
on the reliability of God’s Word, the Bible, consider reading Kevin DeYoung’s
book, Taking God At His Word and Will
Davis Jr.’s book A Man Who Told Us the
Truth. At the end of DeYoung’s book, he lists 30 books that affirm the Word of God.
Perhaps one of the most greatest
encouragements of the truth of God’s Word is when Jesus, the Son of God, is
praying to the Father in John 17 and prays for us with these words, “Sanctify
them by the truth, Your Word is truth.” His word will protect us and sanctify
us.
