There are many people in the secular world who question and doubt the validly and the authority of the Bible, God’s word. And this doubt has been making its way in to denominations, theological schools, into churches and into the minds of good intentioned believers causing them to become confused. This confusion robs them of God’s blessings and leads them down a path of living according to the standards of the world, the flesh and the devil.
And people are always looking for a way to escape authority. They may be individualist and only want to do their own thing. Or they may be relativist; they think is all right if they violate moral and ethical standards, because that God understands. Or they may be free thinkers who feel that God’s ways are old fashion and obsolete for our times.
Is the Bible the word of God? Can we understanding literally or allegorically or symbolically? Is it out of date for our world. Not at all. The Bible, God’s word is a different kind of book. It is not a natural book, it is a supernatural book. That is why is has been around for almost 2000 years. It has influenced nations and peoples all around the globe. It has resisted attempts to wipe it up or restrict it. It continues to inspire and give people hope in any age.
What is it that makes the Bible, God’s word different from any other writing? There are a number of characteristics:
God’s word is inspired
2 Timothy 3:16 – Every writing [scripture is] inspired by God is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work
God’s word was written by men moved by the Holy Spirit
2 Peter 1:20, 21 – …knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
The source of God’s Word was God, the Father
John 12:49 – For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
God’s Word can not be broken
John 10:34, 35 – Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods?’ If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken)
God’s word will not pass away
Matthew 5:17, 18 – Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. For most assuredly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.
God’s Word Abides forever
1 Peter 1:24, 25 – For, “All flesh is like grass, And all of man’s glory like the flower in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls; But the Lord’s word endures forever.” This is the word of good news which was preached to you.
God’s word is living, active and effective
Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
God’s word is the source of truth
2 Timothy 2:15 – Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.
John 17:17 – Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.
Numbers 23:19 – God is not a man, that he should lie, neither the son of man, that he should repent:
Titus 1:2 – …in hope of eternal life, which God, who can’t lie, promised before eternal times;
Hebrews 6:18 – that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us.
1 John 2:21 – I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
God’s word is God speaking directly to us
Matthew 22:29-32 – But Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like God’s angels in heaven. But concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’ God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
God’s word judges our behavior and even our thoughts and intentions
John 12:48 – He who rejects me, and doesn’t receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day.
Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
It also penetrates to the deepest part of our souls.
God’s word is incorruptible seed through which we can be born again
1 Peter 1:23 – ..having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever.
God’s word works in those who believe
1 Thessalonians 2:13 – For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.
Enables us to bear fruit
Luke 8:11, 15 – Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God…That in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and bring forth fruit with patience.
God’s word is the power of God to the those who believe
Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.
1 Corinthians 1:18 – For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is the power of God.
Yet the world see it as foolishness – 1 Corinthians 1:18
God’s word necessary to sustain our lives
Matthew 4:4 – But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'”
God’s word can not be challenged by Satan
Psalm 119:89 – LORD, your word is settled in heaven forever.
God’s word necessary for our spiritual growth
1 Peter 2:1, 2 – Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby…
God’s word is a source of spirit and life to us
John 6:63 – It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.
Spirit filled, live-giving words.
God’s word must be properly handled
2 Timothy 2:15 – Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.
And when diligent applied to our lives brings approval – 2 Timothy 2:15
God’s word is the source for equipping God’s people
2 Timothy 3:16 – Every writing [scripture is] inspired by God is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work
God’s word can not and should not be added to
Deuteronomy 4:2 – You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your God which I command you.
Proverbs 30:5, 6 – Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Don’t you add to his words, Lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.
God’s word is our source for hope and faith
Romans 15:4 – For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through patience and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 10:17 – So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Note that faith does not come by reading, but by hearing. Neither is it by what we once heard. It comes from what we are hearing now in the present moment.
God’s word bestows blessings on those who follow it
James 1:25 – But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.
And gives us freedom.
God’s word gives illumination to our lives
Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light for my path.
Psalm 119:130 – The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.
God’s word requires us to pay greater attention to the things that were heard
Hebrews 2:1- 4 – Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense; how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation – which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard; God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by various works of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?
rather than allow these truths to drift away.
God’s word accomplishes the purpose for which it was intended
Isaiah 55:9-11 – For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky, and doesn’t return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
And it does not return void.
God’s word foretells the coming of Jesus, the Messiah
Luke 24:25-27 – He said to them, “Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?” Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:44 – He said to them, “This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled.”
John 1:45 – Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
God’s word is validated by fulfilled prophecies
Matthew 26:56 – But all this has happened, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.
John 2:22 – When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
And even historical and archeological evidence.
God’s word is confirmed by signs and wonders
Mark 16:20 – They went out, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.
Hebrews 2:3- 4 – …which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard; God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by various works of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?
God’s word will stand the test of time
Jeremiah 44:27, 28 – Behold, I watch over them for evil, and not for good; and all the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them. Those who escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, few in number; and all the remnant of Judah, who have gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose word shall stand, mine, or theirs.
God’s Word is unchanging
Psalm 89:34 – I will not break my covenant, Nor alter what my lips have uttered.
The promises of God’s word enables us to partake in his divine nature
2 Peter 1:3, 4 – …seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue; by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.
We are clean through the Word that has spoken to us
John 15:3 – You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
As we abide in Christ and have God’s word abiding in our hearts are requested are carried out
John 15:8 – If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.
Meditation on God’s word produces success and prosperity in our lives
Joshua 1:8 – This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate thereon day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.
Psalm 1:2, 3 – But his delight is in law of THE LORD; On his law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper.
Psalm 119:97-99 – How love I your law! It is my meditation all day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For your commandments are always with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, For your testimonies are my meditation.
Yes the word of God is powerful, enduring, has been confirmed by those who believe. Thus, we can place our confidence in it and obey it for it is the authority of God in written form.
Copyright © 2009 by Alan Pasho, www.disciplepedia.org. All rights reserved. Scriptures taken from the Word English Bible (WEB)