Articles
If the Bible is God’s Word...
Growing up, I had a healthy respect for my father and mother. They had a set of rules for our family which they expected us children to obey and adhere to. It was a simple system really -- we obeyed and did what we were asked to do in exchange for the benefit of not being disciplined. Of course the rules my parents had were not just to keep us busy; they were to teach us lessons that would instill in us godly character. The point is, I understood what my parents asked me to do, believed them when they promised both pleasant and unpleasant consequences, and acted accordingly, most of the time. Today, we have the word of God: a book in which God’s will is plainly shown for all man. Most all of our religious friends would agree that the Bible is the word of God. However, the lives lived by the majority of religious people today do not realize the implications of that belief. If we truly believe that the Bible is the word of God, what are some things we should do in response to that belief?
If we truly believe that the Bible is God’s word, we will accept it as the word of God. In 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Paul gives thanks for the brethren there because “when [they] received the word of God... [they] accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God.” If we truly believed that the Bible is God’s word and not man’s, then we would not treat it as a matter of opinion, personal preference, or as unimportant. God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). Because of this fact, we should treat His word with much more reverence than we treat any man’s word.
Also, if we believe that the Bible is indeed God’s word, we will believe what it says. We will be able to share in Paul’s conviction when he said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). Paul also writes in Romans 10:17 that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Interestingly, it seems that people in the world desire faith but do not want to study to develop that faith. One of the best ways to develop a sincere faith in the Lord is by studying his word. Once we have accepted that the Bible is the inspired word of God, we will have faith, gain faith, and desire greater faith.
Acceptance of and belief in the Bible as God’s word is not enough to save us. We must seek to know and understand it more and more everyday. The apostle John wrote, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). If we accept and believe the word of the Lord, then our hearts desire would be like those in Berea who “received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11). We can and should search the word, know the word, and understand the word. With daily practice in our personal study, we can be set free by the truth of God’s word.
In culmination of our acceptance of, belief in, and study of God’s word, we will desire to do what it says with our whole hearts. All too often we may study the word diligently only to stop here, not willing to do what it requires. God’s will for us is challenging at times. However, without being obedient to it, we will be like those who say to Jesus “Lord, Lord” (Matthew 7:21), only to be dismissed from his eternal presence. Belief is more than just mental assent that God exists. In reality, our response to His words truly shows how much we believe Him. Jesus says, “the one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge, the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day” (John 12:48). There is no sadder state for a man to be in, if he acknowledged the Bible as God’s word, believed it, studied to understand it, then did not do the things it required. Do not fall into this trap. Earthly parents have guidelines that have either pleasant or unpleasant consequences depending on if they are obeyed or not. Similarly, God’s word has eternal consequences -- eternal rest for the obedient, and eternal torment for the disobedient (1 Thess 1:5-9). If you truly believe that the Bible is the word of God, then accept it as such, believe what it says, seek to know and understand it, and do what it says!
