The Bible

 

The Bible   

The Bible is inerrant, infallible and sufficient. What this states is it is without error, incapable of being wrong and all that we need as our guide for salvation. It is written over a span of 1,500 years by more than forty authors, contains sixty six books, is written in three languages, and yet completely harmonious regarding our salvation through Jesus Christ. The ability for this to happen by chance is similar to asking every state in the nation to place a stone on a train and send it to the state capital, and upon their arrival each stone fits together perfectly to form the statue of liberty. If this happened you would have to declare that there was some sort of intelligent designer that orchestrated the entire event, sending out specifications to each state. “All Scripture is God-breathed.” (2 Timothy 3:16) This is no “chance” book.

Jesus tells us the importance of the words of the Bible, holding the ungodly accountable to it:

“The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked Him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother. So too the second and third, down to the seventh. After them all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.” But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God...” (Matthew 22:23-31)

The question asked here is a trap from the Sadducees, an attempt to force Jesus to fumble His answer, not adhere to the Scriptures and the Law and therefore lessening His character and validity. Jesus rebukes them saying, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” He declares them wrong because they do not know the power of God, a knowledge attained from knowing the Scriptures. He then goes on to state, “Have you not read what was said to you by God?” Notice the word choices here. Jesus doesn’t ask, “Have you not heard what was said to you by God?” Or, “Have you not read what was written to you by God?” Rather, “Have you not read what was said to you by God?” He is holding them, and therefore us, accountable to God’s words that speak to us when we read them. God will not whisper them in your ear, but has written them for all to see. Jesus is declaring that the words of Scripture, the Bible, are the spoken words of God and shall be treated so. Being the spoken words of a perfect God, and perfection meaning without error, they must be without error and incapable of being wrong.

The Bible commands man that it is not to be added to or taken away from. “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophesy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away the words of the book of this prophesy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” (Revelation 22: 18-19) “You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2) “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30: 5-6) Therefore, any book that comes after the Bible claiming to be a new revelation is false. For example, the Book of Mormon, The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) or the Qur’an. The Bible shall not be added to and is unnecessary because it tells us our beginning and our end.

We are also told the many uses of God’s word. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) “...man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 8:3) “Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29)

In Matthew chapter 4, Jesus uses the spoken word of God to rebuke the devil. Satan twists the words of scripture to tempt Jesus. Three times he does this and three times Jesus rebukes him using only the words of scripture. It is the only weapon that he chooses because it is fully sufficient for such a purpose.

The bible and every word contained thereof is the living and active spoken word of God and fully sufficient. Sufficient to pierce the division of the soul and spirit and to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Sufficient to ignite in flames and to break into pieces like a hammer. Sufficient to provide us with everything we need to live in this life. Sufficient as a shield and as a sword to rebuke satan himself.

The Bible is inerrant, infallible and sufficient. This means Adam and Eve are the first man and woman, our ancestors and were born thousands of years ago not millions. This means every living creature was destroyed in a flood except for Noah and his family, for, “...he found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” (Genesis 6: 8) This means we are wretched sinners before God and will be held accountable to His word and every thought, word and deed of our own, when we stand before Him and are judged. We cannot possibly be found innocent because God tells us, “None is righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10) This means we will be found guilty and deserve nothing more than to be thrown into, “The lake that burns with fire and sulfur.” (Revelation 21: 8)

Alas, there is Good News! With a Bible that has no errors, and is incapable of such, this also means that, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) This means that Jesus Christ, being fully God and fully man, lived a perfect sinless life and gave up that life on the cross for our wretched sins. This means we have a free gift of eternal life if we only repent of our sins and put our faith in Jesus by obeying His commands and submitting to Him as our Lord and Savior. This is the inerrant, infallible and sufficient truth in the Bible. I pray that the word of God will pierce to the division of your soul and spirit.