How Do We Know that the Bible really is God’s Word?
Two women walking in the neighborhood who seemed so very different from each other.
I would walk in shorts, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes. Some of the days were extremely warm with temperatures soaring into the 90’s.
The other woman, my neighbor, had darker skin and was covered from head to toe. She even wore a hijab (a scarf covering her head and neck) on the hottest days.
She and her family had relocated from Kuwait to move right next door to us… a little Baptist preacher’s family.
We’d walk about two miles, three to four times a week, discussing our children, our neighborhood, our lives, and our religions.
One particular week, I invited her to share her faith with me. I listened, I asked questions, and I had the chance to better understand her Muslim beliefs.
Then, in time, she returned the favor.
She asked me about my faith and what I believed. It was so sweet to share with her about the truths from the Bible, God’s Word.
– Why do Christians believe the Bible?
– What makes us trust the Bible over the Quran, the Book of Mormon, or some other religious book?
– Why do we trust that it is God’s Word?
– And, why do we believe the Bible is the ultimate authority for our lives?
Why do we believe the Bible is the ultimate authority for our lives? Click To Tweet
The words, “Thus says the Lord,” appear hundreds of times in the Bible.
(For example, you find this phrase in Exodus 4:22; Exodus 7:17; Joshua 24:2; Judges 6:8; 1 Samuel 15:2; 1 Kings 12:24, and in many additional places.)
When the prophets would speak, they would claim to be speaking in God’s name.
(See Num. 22:38; Ezek. 2:7; 1 Kings 14:18; Jer. 37:2; Zech. 7:7)
Many New Testament verses make this claim as well. One of the most well-known is 2 Timothy 3:16:
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
Paul, Peter, and many of the other NT writers also mention that the Bible is God’s Word to men.
(See 2 Peter 1:21; Luke 1:70; John 5:45-47; Acts 3:18; Romans 1:2; 3:2; Hebrew 1:1-2; Romans 15:4)
**KEY TRUTH – We believe the Bible because the Bible itself claims to be God’s Word.
We believe the Bible because the Bible itself claims to be God’s Word. Click To Tweet
In other words, as we read and study the Bible, God’s Spirit confirms with our spirits that what we are reading is truth. And, this truth is from God.
Paul explains the way that the Spirit convinces us of the truth of Scripture in 1 Corinthians 2:13-14:
When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.
But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.
**KEY TRUTH – We believe the Bible because the Holy Spirit convinces us of the Bible’s claims.
If we believe that God is who He says He is, we also believe that He is truthful—unable to lie or speak falsely.
Titus 1:2 puts it plainly:
“which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.”
Our God can be trusted!
He is completely worthy of our respect, trust, and faith.
**KEY TRUTH – We believe the Bible is God’s Word because we believe in a God who does not lie.
We believe the Bible is God’s Word because we believe in a God who does not lie. Click To Tweet
In believing that God is truthful and does not lie, then we also believe that His Words are completely true and without error.
Several scriptures testify to the truth of God’s Word:
Psalm 12:6 – “And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.”
Proverbs 30:5 – “Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.”
Psalm 119:89 – “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven [standing firm and unchangeable].”
*KEY TRUTH – We believe the Bible is God’s Word because all of Scripture is completely true and without error.
The Bible is our final authority.
The written words of Scripture are our ultimate guide.
We can trust them.
“We must continually remember that we have in the Bible God’s very words, and we must not try to ‘improve’ on them in some way, for this cannot be done. Rather, we should seek to understand them and then trust them and obey them with our whole heart.” (Grudem, page 85)
**KEY TRUTH – We believe the Bible is God’s Word because truth is what God says, and we have what He has said in the Bible.
Go back with me to the story I shared with you at the beginning of this post.
In talking with my neighbor from Kuwait, I also discovered something fascinating about my Bible that wasn’t included in hers.
As I shared with Nita about the concept of GRACE, she got very flustered.
Very upset.
After many questions and a great deal of discussion, she looked at me with sad eyes, and said,
“In my religion, we have no concept of this GRACE.
I do not understand this grace.
It is not part of what we believe.”
Grace!
God’s grace.
Unmerited favor.
Unearned love.
God’s riches at Christ’s expense.
Other religions and religious books may sound interesting, appealing, or even partially true.
But, there is no other religion like ours.
There is no other Bible like ours.
For at the very core of our Bible is this concept of GRACE.
For at the very core of our Bible is this concept of GRACE. Click To Tweet
When I survey the wondrous Cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain, I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
See from His head, His hands, His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet?
Or thorns compose, so rich a crown
Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
All who gather here by grace, draw near and bless Your name
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all
Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. Click To Tweet
Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
All who gather here by grace, draw near and bless Your name
(Lyrics to The Wonderful Cross by Chris Tomlin)
Do you believe the Bible is God’s Word? Is it truthful?
What causes you to believe the Bible is God’s Word?
If you don’t believe, what makes you doubt?
What about GRACE? Have you experienced it? Are you familiar with this concept?
I always enjoy hearing from you!
Each week, we will highlight and explain a core doctrine. Then, we will pose the question, “Why does this matter to you and me?”
You can catch all of this year’s “Delight in Doctrine” posts by clicking HERE.
For the purposes of the study, our main texts will be first, the Bible, of course, and Wayne Grudem’s classic, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine.
It is our prayer that by the end of 2017, we will all find more delight in understanding what we believe and why we believe it.
“…And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27 (ESV)
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