“Risikili”
– Part 4 – Can you trust your Bible?
We continue with RiSiKiLi−
You know-- Read it, study it, know it, live it.
In my last post we looked at ways to
know God’s plan and the importance of verifying that the plan lines up with
God’s written word, the Bible. Now let’s look at some reasons why we can trust
the Word of God.
I appreciate
the words of Bible scholar and pastor Jack Hayford, extolling the truth and
value of the Scriptures. He said:
“God’s
Word has been unscrolled in both the Scriptures and in His incarnate Son− Jesus
Christ. Jesus, in describing the importance of the eternal Scriptures said,
‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the
mouth of God’ (Matt. 4:4). He also commended the steadfast inquiry into the
Word of God: ‘Search the Scriptures … they … testify of Me.’ There is no such
thing as health or growth in Christian living apart from a clear priority on
the place of the Bible in the life of the individual or the group.
 |
| Psalm 119:9-10 |
The
Scriptures are the conclusive standard for our faith, morals, and practical
living and are the nourishment for our rising to strength in faith, holiness in
living, and effectiveness in service. The Holy Spirit who comes to fill us is
the same Person who has given us the Book to guide and sustain us. The writer
of this study has demonstrated the balance the Bible brings to living in his
life, in his teaching ministry, and in his leadership.”*
Here are the first five of fourteen attributes of the Bible, given by Pastor Hayford:
“THE SOURCE AND NATURE OF
GOD’S WORD”
1.
The Divine Inspiration of the Bible
The
Bible is ‘God-breathed’ and the words planned by God’s creative design.*
2
Tim. 3:16 > “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for
reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”
2.
The Complete Trustworthiness of the Bible
The
Word of God is ‘perfect’ in its accuracy and ‘sure’ in its dependability.* Ps. 19:7 > “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;”
3.
The Content of God’s Word is Complete
The
Bible is complete, completely trustworthy, and sufficient to completely answer
anything we need to know about eternal salvation or practical wisdom concerning
relationships, morality, character, and conduct.*
Prov. 30:5-6 > “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. 6 Do
not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.”
4.
Jesus and the Holy Scriptures
Jesus confirms that every word of Scripture is given by God, every truth is to be held inviolable, that the Scriptures are indissoluble and credible.*
Luke 16:17 > And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.
5.
The Way God’s Word Is to Be
The
Word of God is to be ministered literally and life-givingly in the Spirit of
Truth and Spirit of Life.*
2
Cor. 3:5-8 > “Not that we are
sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who
also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but
of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But
if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious,
so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses
because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how
will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?”
So
according to Pastor Hayford, God’s Word is divinely inspired, totally
trustworthy, complete, confirmed by Jesus Himself, and is to be ministered
literally. Let’s meditate on these truths and their accompanying passages.
Thank
you for reading this post. I hope it strengthens your own admiration and love
for the Word of God. In my next post I plan to give the rest of Pastor
Hayford’s fourteen Bible adulations.
I
will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. Psalm
119:16
*Spirit Filled Life Bible, Kingdom Dynamics, Thomas Nelson, Page xii
Thank you Connie for the reminder of the truth, sufficient, power of the word of God, to never take it for granted, and to use it in every day life. I too love to read it, study it, and pass it on for others to love it like I do.
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed by the how God brings to light the right bit of truth to fit each day. As I read, a few words seem to be lit up and, later in the day, those words whisper to me when I need to make a decision or to get help to control my reactions. His Word is powerful but intimate!
ReplyDeleteThis is why we need God's Word taught in our schools today. I am praying that the Ten Commandments would become a moral code in our public schools. Thank you for your post, Connie!
ReplyDeleteI know from personal experience that God's Word changes lives. Thanks for sharing this list, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest.
ReplyDelete