The Word of God
The bible is a rather bold book. It claims to have been written by the Creator God who spoke the universe into existence. It is a history of the earth from beginning to end, even writing the pre-history of the future that hasn't even happened yet. It claims to have power to raise the dead. It claims to be entirely true from cover to cover without error. It promises eternal life for all who put their faith in it's very words. And it asks us to lay down everything that we are too it.
1. The bible is written by God.
The 66 different books of the bible, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament, were written by more than 40 human authors and over a period of possibly 2000 years, yet the book claims to have been written by God Himself. The very words inspired.
| 2 Timothy
3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God... 2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. |
And even though it carries the writing styles and personalities of the human authors the claim is that the words are purely God's...
| Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. |
We can have assurance of the truth of the book because it tells the end from the beginning. God's Word foretells the future with 100% accuracy. It has been estimated that Jesus fulfilled over 300 specific prophecies in His earthly life.
Also the Word of God has a unity of design that is simply incredible. The Old Testament is written using stories that picture spiritual truth in the New Testament. The human writers of the Old Testament could not have known the spiritual truths that would be revealed in the New Testament, so they simply could not have foreseen how to write these pictures into their writing.
2. Without the Word of God no one could be spiritually reborn.
The Word of God is the instrument which brings about the new birth.
| 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. |
It is by faith that anyone is saved...
| Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith... |
That faith comes only from hearing the Word of god...
| Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. |
3. God's Holy Spirit reveals the Word of God.
Unsaved people cannot understand the Word of God because they do not have the Holy Spirit in them.
| 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. |
The indwelling of God's Holy Spirit is a gift given to all believers after they put their faith in the Lord Jesus at the moment of salvation. Prior to that God's Holy Spirit may convict them about their need for Jesus, but they will not be able to understand God's Word because it is spiritually discerned.
The Holy Spirit teaches us the bible and brings to our remembrance what we have learned...
| John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father
will send
in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. |
4. Once saved the Word of God transforms us.
| 2 Timothy
3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. |
The Word of God is essential to bringing us to Jesus for salvation, and then it is essential to our Christian life after salvation.
After we get saved God's desire for us is that we be transformed into His image. He wants us to become like Him. And the Word of God is the agent through which this transformation takes place. As we read the Word of God our mind is transformed.
| Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by
the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Ephesians 5:25-26 ...even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. |
5. The Word of God is our spiritual food.
Just as our bodies need food, so do our spirits...
| Milk -
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere
milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: Honey - Psalm 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Apples - Proverbs 7:2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bread - Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Water - Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, Meat - Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. |
The Word of God cleanses us to please Him...
| Psalm
119:9-11 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. |
