What have we learned from the Bible so far? Notice that this is not what a church would have us to believe or what a group of men have set out as a belief system. These are Bible certainties that we can know by simply reading the Bible. Bible certainty #1: ALL Scripture in the Old Testament and New Testament is inspired of God. Bible certainty #2: The 66 books of the Old Testament and New Testament are ALL-sufficient for man today. Bible certainty #3: The truth of God’s Word has been once for ALL delivered. Where does that lead us?
Bible certainty #4: The Bible is ALL-authoritative in our lives. The 66 books in your Bible are not only perpetually relevant to your life today (Heb. 4:12), but Christ’s authority is perpetually supreme and active over us. It is clear that Christ has “ALL authority” (Matt. 28:18). We must “hear” (i.e., heed and submit to) Him “in all things, whatever He says” (Matt. 17:5; Acts 3:22), lest we be “utterly destroyed” (Acts 3:23). This One, who has ALL authority, made it clear that “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
When you pick up His inspired Scripture, Christ wants you to know that the “authority” within the words that He spoke AND the “authority” within the words that the Holy Spirit guided the men to write in Scripture is the very “word” and very “authority” of the Father in heaven (John 12:49-50; 16:13; 17:8, 14). Since ALL Scripture is from God, and since it is ALL-sufficient for man, and since it has been once for ALL delivered, and since it is ALL-authoritative, it is no wonder that we are commanded, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17). We have no authority outside of His authority for any doctrine or practice that is not authorized in His Word.
Bible certainty #5: The Bible is PERFECT and demands (and deserves) ALL respect and obedience. The mind of God (i.e., His “ways” and His “thoughts”) is infinitely “higher” (i.e., superior) to the greatest minds of humankind of all time (Isa. 55:8-9). Man—in his finite, sinful and helpless ways—is in desperate need of wisdom, which has been provided for us—completely and fully—in the 66 books of His Scripture. It is laughable to think that man could “become [God’s] counselor” (Rom. 11:34) or instruct and teach God something (Isa. 40:13-14). When the perfect God chose to perfectly reveal Himself and His will for mankind inside the pages of His inspired Bible, you know that the result would be perfect (Jas. 1:25; Psa. 19:7). So, what must the imperfect do with that which is perfect? (Next week)