But these
are written so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that believing you might have life in His name. John 20:31
The Bible was not designed to teach science and other branches of learning. It
is primarily a religious book, pointing men to CHRIST and teaching them how to
live.
As a religious book it is:
A. AUTHORITATIVE
As a religious book it is:
A. AUTHORITATIVE
If the Bible is divinely inspired, then it is authoritative in its message.
When it speaks it is to be obeyed. Some religious groups place the authority
altogether in the Church, as do the Roman Catholics. They claim that it is the
church in which men are to believe, and it tells them how they must live.
Others attribute partial authority to the Bible. They say it contains the seed of truth, but it must be supplemented by the decrees and opinions of men. There are others who reject the authority of the Bible, and look to the individual conscience and to human reason for religious authority -- every man being his own authority.
We know, however, that the Bible, interpreted to the believer by the HOLY SPIRIT, is the final authority because it is the Word of GOD.
More than once, as Paul combated the errors of religious leaders, he appealed to the Scriptures. As he spoke in the synagogue at Thessalonica, he "reasoned with them out of the Scriptures" (Acts 17:2). In Romans we see such expressions as these: "What saith the Scripture?" (Romans 4:3); "For the Scripture saith" (Romans 10:11). It is to the Scriptures we must still go for our authority. When it is a choice between man's words and GOD's, "we ought to obey God rather than men". (Acts 5:29).
B. SUFFICIENT AND FINAL (Matthew 24:35)
Others attribute partial authority to the Bible. They say it contains the seed of truth, but it must be supplemented by the decrees and opinions of men. There are others who reject the authority of the Bible, and look to the individual conscience and to human reason for religious authority -- every man being his own authority.
We know, however, that the Bible, interpreted to the believer by the HOLY SPIRIT, is the final authority because it is the Word of GOD.
More than once, as Paul combated the errors of religious leaders, he appealed to the Scriptures. As he spoke in the synagogue at Thessalonica, he "reasoned with them out of the Scriptures" (Acts 17:2). In Romans we see such expressions as these: "What saith the Scripture?" (Romans 4:3); "For the Scripture saith" (Romans 10:11). It is to the Scriptures we must still go for our authority. When it is a choice between man's words and GOD's, "we ought to obey God rather than men". (Acts 5:29).
B. SUFFICIENT AND FINAL (Matthew 24:35)
There will never be another Bible, because there will never be a need for
another. It contains all that is necessary for man to know in order to work out
his destiny. It is an all-sufficient rule of faith and practice.
C. TO BE REVERENCED
C. TO BE REVERENCED
"For the Word of GOD is quick, and powerful", or it is living
and alive (Hebrews 4:12). The Bible is living and active because it is the Word
of a living and active GOD. Peter describes it as "the Word of GOD
which liveth and abideth" (1Peter 1:23). Men have tried to destroy it.
It has been ridiculed by atheists and rejected by unbelievers. But the Bible
still lives and continues to be the world's best seller.
Since we believe the Bible to be the Word of GOD, let us be reverent and prayerful in our approach to it. Let us ask the HOLY SPIRIT who inspired it to help us to interpret it. JESUS promised that when the HOLY SPIRIT came, He would guide us "into all truth" (John 16:13). Because the Bible is the Word of GOD we should not approach it lightly.
D. TO BE STUDIED (2Timothy 2:15; Romans 15:4)
Since we believe the Bible to be the Word of GOD, let us be reverent and prayerful in our approach to it. Let us ask the HOLY SPIRIT who inspired it to help us to interpret it. JESUS promised that when the HOLY SPIRIT came, He would guide us "into all truth" (John 16:13). Because the Bible is the Word of GOD we should not approach it lightly.
D. TO BE STUDIED (2Timothy 2:15; Romans 15:4)
If all we have been saying is true, then surely we have a tremendous need to
study the Bible and to understand it. Officially a Roman Catholic is not
allowed to read the Bible but just as officially he is not to seek to try and
understand, or interpret, it. Thus the Bible has been ignored. But it is the
duty and privilege of every Christian to submit himself to the teaching of the
HOLY SPIRIT in the Word (1John 2:20; 1John 2:27). No Christian, whether in the
barrio (Philippine village) or in the city, can be an effective church member
without a definite program of personal Bible study.
E. TO BE OBEYED (Matthew 7:24-29)
E. TO BE OBEYED (Matthew 7:24-29)
It is not enough to revere the Bible or even to know it. The supreme thing is
to obey its teachings, its precepts. The world outside the church may not read
the Bible but it will read our lives! Remember that we are the only Bible that
some may ever read, so keep its pages clean!
Therefore, let all true Christians be not only hearers of GOD's Word but doers as well.
CONCLUSION
Therefore, let all true Christians be not only hearers of GOD's Word but doers as well.
CONCLUSION
Let each of us commit ourselves anew to the Bible as the inspired Word of GOD
and the only authoritative, sufficient, and certain guide in all matters.
Surely we will want as never before to become acquainted with the Bible. We
trust also that each of us will be filled with a deep desire to live out its
truth in daily life.
by Bill Wakefield from the book Christian Doctrines for New Church Members (Originally copyrighted 1963. It is now in the public domain).
by Bill Wakefield from the book Christian Doctrines for New Church Members (Originally copyrighted 1963. It is now in the public domain).
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