The Importance of Scripture

In these days of relativism and skepticism, the authority of the Bible has been under severe attack, even among Christians. I have heard a pastor of a major church in California say in front of a congregation, "Why do we rely so heavily on the Bible when we have the Holy Spirit?" The people in attendance displayed their agreement with shouts of "Amen," and "Yes, brother." But one must ask the question in response to such a statement, "Are you sure you have heard the Holy Spirit and not a convincing demon?" How would you know? In fact, without a plumb line, how would you ever know if your theology, doctrine, or even daily living was in accordance with the will of God? The fact is, you can't. Without a defining boundary, or line of demarcation, there would be no certainty of who the Holy Spirit is and how He influences our lives. Paul tells Timothy what the purpose of Scripture is:

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. --2 Tim 3:16-17 (NASB)

Let no person fool you, the Bible is extremely important, and it is imperative that we depend on it. For all those that were in agreement with the fatal words of the pastor I mentioned, it would seem that they have taken for granted the purpose of Scripture, and instead relied on inward inclinations, whims, and emotions, giving way for a blind agreement to an unbiblical statement. Had I not the Bible to rely upon, it would be far to easy to fall into a pit of false teaching. In these last days it is all the more important that we study the word of God for ourselves. Paul rightly says that "All Scripture is inspired by God..." A more literal translation from the Greek is that all Scripture is "God breathed," with the same breath of life He has put into His living creation.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He was in the beginning with God.3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. --John 1:1-3 (NASB)

The written word in the Bible is Jesus Himself. This is very difficult for the human mind to comprehend or conceive, but Apostle John tells us in the beginning of his Gospel, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This is a bold statement not only about the divinity of Jesus, but also about who He is. Jesus is the living Word, the essence of all that is made, the very source of life both physical and spiritual. Jesus is the Word come to us in the form of a living man, full of grace and truth. The Apostle goes on to affirm this a few verses later:

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. --John 1:14 (NASB)

All Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, is the inspired, or God breathed word of life that was in Jesus, who was in the beginning with God and who is God, and by whom all things were made. I have heard some Christians claim that the Scriptures were written by men, as if to insinuate that the written word is fallible, or susceptible to the same weaknesses of men. But this is not true. In the same way as Jesus was not corrupted by sin and He is the living Word, the written Word is not corrupted by sin either. Though sinful man was used in the process, "all Scripture is God breathed." We do see different personalities and writing styles in the various books that make up the Bible, but the consistency and continuity of the Scriptures is not something that man could achieve of his own will.

20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation,21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. --2 Peter 1:20-21 (NASB)

13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. --1 Cor 2:13 (NASB)

The evidence against the Bible being a work of man is quite extraordinary. We have a collection of 66 books written by about 40 different authors in three different languages on three different continents over a period of 1600 years, and of the things that are addressed there is no contradiction. This is quite remarkable and could hardly be attested to the hands of men alone. A teacher once told me he has studied the Bible for most of his life, searching for error or contradictions. Mind you, he has had to learn a great deal about the original languages, historical accuracy, cultural influence and literary idioms. He has read the Bible countless times in search for just one contradiction to disprove its credibility or divine inspiration. It has been over thirty years and he is still searching.

The Bible is much more than just a book written by men and it shouldn't be treated as such. Just as we are to approach God with reverence and awe, so should we read His Word. The Bible is not merely a textbook on which we will have a final exam at the end of our lives, it is the divinely inspired Word that reveals the heavenly Father to His children. If Jesus is the Word made flesh, then to study and know the Bible is to know Jesus, and it would be impossible to love Him in whom you don't know. We love Him by obeying His commandments, but we would not know His commandments if we did not study the Bible. It is not enough that we should sit under a pastor or teacher and let them expound on the Bible for us. We have a certain responsibility to study it for ourselves to make sure that the Bible is not being misused or taken out of context.

11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. --Acts 17:11 (NASB)

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. --2 Tim 2:15 (NASB)

The Scripture is the divinely inspired word of God, it is the authority on which we derive our beliefs, and the line of demarcation that defines the boundary of truth. The Bible is good for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness and equips us for every good work. It is by the Word that we know the living Word, who is Jesus. Everything must be examined by the Bible. Every teacher and pastor, every sermon, every thought and emotion must all be viewed under the light of Scripture. How blessed are we to have a candle in the darkness that lights our way, and by its light we are able to see the path leading to salvation. Let this be an encouragement for you to diligently seek after the living Word through the written Word, to know Him so that you may love Him more deeply. May the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth as we approach the Scriptures on our knees in reverence of God's glorious work.