The word of God: the only AUTHORITY

NO BOOK HAS BEEN SO LOVED, SO HATED, so damned as the Bible. Others have killed for it. It has inspired man’s greatest, noblest acts and been blamed for his most damnable and degenerate. Wars have raged over the Bible, revolutions have been nurtured in its pages, and kingdoms crumbled through its ideas. People of all viewpoints-from liberation theologians to capitalists, from fascists to Marxists, from dictators to liberators, from pacifists to militarists-search its pages for words with which to justify their deeds.

The Bible’s uniqueness does not come from its unparalleled political, cultural, and social influence but from its source and its subject matter. It is God’s revelation of the unique God-man: the Son of God, Jesus Christ- the Savior of the world.

We must therefore focus on the scriptures for it reveals God and exposes humanity. It reveals our predicament and reveals His solution. It presents us as lost, estranged from God, and reveals Jesus as the one who finds us and brings us back to God.

It is therefore expedient to get answers for the following questions concerning the scriptures are

Questions and answers:

• Who is the author of the Holy Scripture?

2 Sam 23:2, Isa 34:16, 8:1, Jn 1:1

• How were the scriptures revealed to the prophets?

Num 12:6, Gal 1:12

• Are the Scriptures really inspired?

2 Tim 3:16, 1 Pet 2:20, 21

• What are the characteristics of God’s word?

Ps. 12:6, Prov. 30:5, Ps.119:160,   Mat 24: 35

• What benefits will I get from the scriptures?

Deut 29:29, Prov. 2:1-6, 2 Tim 3:15-17,  Jn. 20:30-31, Ps. 119:11, 105.

• Is some portion of the scriptures irrelevant?

2 Tim 3:16, Mat 24:35, Lk. 24:27

Note: When Jesus said “Ye search the scriptures (Jn. 5:39) and began from “Moses and the prophets and expounded unto them the scriptures” the New testament was not yet written.

• What must we then do with the Scriptures?

Jn. 5:39, Ps. 119:9-16

• How must we search the scriptures?

Isa. 28:9, 10, 13; 1 Cor. 2:13

• Do we need the Holy Spirit’s assistance to understand the scriptures?

1 Cor. 2:9-11.

The writers of the Bible intimate that their messages come directly from God. It is “the word of the Lord”, they say.

Throughout the ministry of Jesus, He demonstrated to mankind that the word of God is the authority in the matters of this life and hereafter. When He was tempted by Satan and battled it out in the wilderness, “It is written’ was His defense (Mat 4:4-10; Lk 20:17). Jesus placed the Bible above human traditions and opinions. He rebuked the Jews for setting aside the authority of the scriptures (Mark 7:7-9) and appealed to them to study the Scriptures more carefully saying, “Haven’t you ever read what the Scriptures say?” (Mark 12:10, 26)

The word of God includes the Scriptures of the old Testament as well as the new. One is not complete without the other. While the former reveals Jesus Christ and His ministry for mankind in types and symbols; the latter shows the actual fulfillment of the former in the ministry of Jesus Christ, the antitype.

A superficial reading of the Scriptures will yield a superficial understanding of it. Read in such a way, the Bible may appear to be a jumble of stories, sermons and history. Yet, those open to the illumination of the Spirit of God, those willing to search for the hidden truths with patience and much prayer, discover that the Bible evidences an underlying unity in what it teaches about the principles of salvation. The Bible is not monotonously uniform. Rather, it comprises a rich and colorful diversity of harmonious testimonies of rare and distinct beauty. And because of its variety of perspectives it is better able to meet human needs through all times. 

 The intellect, sanctified, will unlock the treasures of God’s word, and gather its precious gems to present to other minds, and lead them also to search for the deep things of God. A knowledge of the riches of this grace, will ennoble and elevate the human soul, and through connection with Christ, it will become a partaker of the divine nature, and obtain power to resist the advances of Satan.  {CE 27.1}

Wherever the truths of the gospel are proclaimed, those who honestly desire to do right are led to a diligent searching of the Scriptures. If, in the closing scenes of this earth’s history, those to whom testing truths are proclaimed would follow the example of the Bereans, searching the Scriptures daily, and comparing with God’s word the messages brought them, there would today be a large number loyal to the precepts of God’s law, where now there are comparatively few. But when unpopular Bible truths are presented, many refuse to make this investigation. Though unable to controvert the plain teachings of Scripture, they yet manifest the utmost reluctance to study the evidences offered. Some assume that even if these doctrines are indeed true, it matters little whether or not they accept the new light, and they cling to pleasing fables which the enemy uses to lead souls astray. Thus their minds are blinded by error, and they become separated from heaven. 

God graciously calls us to become acquainted with Him by searching His Word. In it we can find the rich blessing of the assurance of our salvation. We can discover for ourselves that the scriptures are “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Through them we “may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16, 17).

May God richly bless you as you begin to see the precious gems He has hidden in His word!!!