THE BIBLE
The bible is an historical record of God’s words and deeds and what he reveals about himself and mankind. It is the evidence that God exists and is known to man and to other beings in the universe. The bible was written down by God’s chosen children, the Jews, who were witnesses of all that God said and did in the Old and New Testaments. The authority of bible is endorsed by Jesus Christ. In his encounter with Satan, he said, ‘It is written Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God.’ (Luke 4:4) This is clear evidence that Jesus believed the Scriptures to be the word of God.
‘How foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets said,’ he chided two of his disciples, disappointed and dismayed that their lord had been crucified. Nor did they believe the rumours of some women that Jesus had risen from the dead.
Jesus said to them, ‘Was the Messiah not bound to suffer before entering upon his glory?’ Then he began with Moses and all the prophets, and explained to them the passages which referred to himself in every part of the Scriptures. (Luke 24:25-27)
From the beginning the Christian church accepted the Scriptures to be God’s word. St. Paul, for instance, in his letter to Timothy, said, ‘All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16)
The Scriptures are the objective evidence and authority of faith in Jesus Christ. It is the Scriptures that we must turn to to answer the question who is Jesus, first, to the Old Testament and secondly to the New Testament. The New Testament is where we meet him in the flesh, where we meet him in person and where we meet him in the Word made flesh, the prophet, Messiah, Lord and Saviour of mankind, healer, teacher, Son of God. In the Scriptures we also meet the church, the body of Christ, (1 Corinthians 12:27) the disciples of Jesus who spread the good news that Jesus had risen from the dead, making disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19) The gospel message was always ‘according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; James 2:8)
GOD’S WORD
The bible tells us what God’s word is. The word of God is God’s word as opposed to a human word. We know, do we not, how human words affect us? Words not only name things, they explain them. They illuminate our understanding. They fill us with hope and love for the person who speaks them. The first words we learn, mamma, dada, convey to us a sense of belonging. Words are the mesh that bind people together or separate them. Words can hurt us deeply or they can relieve us of worry and misunderstanding. The power and force of a human word is considerable. What then of God’s word? Jesus said, ‘The words that I speak to you are spirit and life.’ Paul compared the word of God to the sword of the Spirit. an essential weapon in the armour of the follower of Christ. Indeed, he said, ‘The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edge sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow, able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.’
How important then are God’s words. If human words can explain things, illuminate our understanding, tell us that we are loved, how much more does God’s word?
The bible is an historical record of God’s words and deeds and what he reveals about himself and mankind. It is the evidence that God exists and is known to man and to other beings in the universe. The bible was written down by God’s chosen children, the Jews, who were witnesses of all that God said and did in the Old and New Testaments. The authority of bible is endorsed by Jesus Christ. In his encounter with Satan, he said, ‘It is written Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God.’ (Luke 4:4) This is clear evidence that Jesus believed the Scriptures to be the word of God.
‘How foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets said,’ he chided two of his disciples, disappointed and dismayed that their lord had been crucified. Nor did they believe the rumours of some women that Jesus had risen from the dead.
Jesus said to them, ‘Was the Messiah not bound to suffer before entering upon his glory?’ Then he began with Moses and all the prophets, and explained to them the passages which referred to himself in every part of the Scriptures. (Luke 24:25-27)
From the beginning the Christian church accepted the Scriptures to be God’s word. St. Paul, for instance, in his letter to Timothy, said, ‘All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16)
The Scriptures are the objective evidence and authority of faith in Jesus Christ. It is the Scriptures that we must turn to to answer the question who is Jesus, first, to the Old Testament and secondly to the New Testament. The New Testament is where we meet him in the flesh, where we meet him in person and where we meet him in the Word made flesh, the prophet, Messiah, Lord and Saviour of mankind, healer, teacher, Son of God. In the Scriptures we also meet the church, the body of Christ, (1 Corinthians 12:27) the disciples of Jesus who spread the good news that Jesus had risen from the dead, making disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19) The gospel message was always ‘according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; James 2:8)
GOD’S WORD
The bible tells us what God’s word is. The word of God is God’s word as opposed to a human word. We know, do we not, how human words affect us? Words not only name things, they explain them. They illuminate our understanding. They fill us with hope and love for the person who speaks them. The first words we learn, mamma, dada, convey to us a sense of belonging. Words are the mesh that bind people together or separate them. Words can hurt us deeply or they can relieve us of worry and misunderstanding. The power and force of a human word is considerable. What then of God’s word? Jesus said, ‘The words that I speak to you are spirit and life.’ Paul compared the word of God to the sword of the Spirit. an essential weapon in the armour of the follower of Christ. Indeed, he said, ‘The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edge sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow, able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.’
How important then are God’s words. If human words can explain things, illuminate our understanding, tell us that we are loved, how much more does God’s word?
