by Keith Sharp
Through the years Bible believers have tended to treat the Bible as a book of curiosities. One “scholar” wrote a series of books on “All the … in the Bible” – all the trees, all the animals, all the birds, etc. Some have committed many of the genealogies of the Bible to memory. I’m with the apostle Paul – “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless” (Titus 3:9; cf. 1 Timothy 1:4). The key here is “useless.” The Bible is preeminently useful, its practical guidance shows us the way to heaven. What should the Bible mean to us?
Word of God
The value of the Scriptures begins with the fact they are from God, the Creator of the universe, not from man. “…No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:19-21). Those who contend the Bible just contains the opinions and prejudices of ancient men are dead wrong, spiritually dead. The prophets characteristically introduced their messages with “Thus says the Lord” (354 occurrences in Isaiah – Malachi). Not only did the Old Testament writers speak for the Lord, the New Testament authors did as well. The divine will “has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 3:1-7). We should welcome “it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13 ).
Authoritative
Since the Scriptures are from God, they are authoritative. The Master declared of the Mosaic Law:
“Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19).
He emphasized, “the Scripture (Old Testament – KS) cannot be broken” (John 10:35), i.e. set aside as untrue. Of the New Testament, Paul taught we must “not go beyond what is written” (1 Corinthians 4:6, English Standard Version).
Complete
The Scriptures are complete; they contain all the will of God for us. The Holy Spirit led the apostles into “all the truth” (John 16:13). There was none left for Muhammad (Muslims) or Joseph Smith (Mormons) to reveal. The curse of God rests upon any, even an angel from heaven, who would add to it (Galatians 1:6-9). Both Muhammad and Joseph Smith claimed their “revelations” came from an angel.
Sufficient
Thus the Scriptures, the inspired, “”God-breathed,” Word of God, the Bible, are sufficient to meet all our spiritual needs.
“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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Everything we need to know, believe, and do in order to be all the Lord would have us to be and do to go to heaven in the hereafter is found in Scripture.
Unchanging
All things merely human change with the changing times. Until 2020 the Roman Catholic Church plainly condemned homosexuality. Now the Pope has decided it’s OK for practicing homosexuals to live together in a civil union.
But, the divine Scriptures have not changed since they were completed in the first century. “‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the lord endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you” (1 Peter 1:24-25).
Our Responsibility
Thus we are obligated to believe all Scripture, both the Old Testament (Acts 24:14) and the New (1 Thessalonians 2:13). We also must follow it both in what we teach (1 Peter 4:11) and practice (Matthew 28:20; 2 John 9).
Basis of Judgment
The Word of Christ, found in the Scriptures, is the divine standard by which we shall be judged on the last, great day (John 12:48).
Conclusion
As John Clifford so beautifully penned in his poem, “The Hammer and The Anvil”:
Last eve I passed a blacksmith’s door
And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime,
When, looking in, I saw upon the floor
Old hammers worn with beating years of time.
‘How many anvils have you had,’ said I
‘To wear and batter all these hammers so?’
‘Just one,’ said he, then said with twinkling eye
‘The anvil wears the hammers out you know.’
And so, I thought, the anvil of God’s word
For ages skeptics blows have beat upon;
Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,
The anvil is unharmed—the hammers gone!
Will you not make the Scriptures your rule of life and guide to Heaven?
