April 21, 2023
By Elijah McSwain, Sr.
Throughout the record of human history, many people have questioned the reliability, sufficiency, integrity, authenticity, accuracy, and trustworthiness of the Bible. Scripture has been under continuous attack over the years from many opponents concerning its validity. Many opponents of the Bible are historians, theologians, scholars, professors, intellectuals, humanists, and other groups as well as individuals who doubt the sacredness and authority of Scripture.
The Word of God is inerrant, infallible, pure and a trusted source because it contains the very truths of God and there is no error found in God. Hebrews 6:18 states that “by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” The Word of God is not contaminated with changeable false notions, false presuppositions, false theorizations, or false propaganda but the heart of Scripture is filled with the essence and imprint of God. People have tried to impose their own thoughts of what they deemed is right and truthful in their eyesight as it relates to the Bible. This type of rationalization equates to heresy since it operates outside the sphere of God’s will and revelatory means, His Word.
James Montgomery Boice once stated “some persons think they can know God by means of their own human reason. But reason is a blind ally spiritually. It has always been the great minds exercising their powers apart from the Word of God who have produced the great heresies. Some think they can discover God by listening to a so-called “inner voice.” But the voice is often nothing more than an expression of their own inner desires. Quite a few think that spiritual truths can be verified by supernatural events or miracles. But the Bible everywhere teaches that even miracles will not lead men and women to understand and receive God’s truth unless they themselves are illuminated by the Bible (see Luke 16:31). I believe that we can state categorically that there is no knowledge apart from Jesus Christ and that there is no knowledge of Jesus Christ apart from a knowledge of the Bible.”3
Furthermore, Scripture has stood the tests of time from those who oppose its authority. The loopholes and attempts to undermine its legitimacy have constantly failed because the Holy Scriptures are divinely inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16).
Voddie Bachmann proclaimed that “I choose to believe the Bible because it is a reliable collection of historical documents written down by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. They reported supernatural events that took place in fulfillment of specific prophecies and claimed that their writings are divine rather than human in origin.” 4
Bearing this in mind, let us consider the infallibility and inerrancy of the sacred Scriptures.
The Bible Is Trustworthy
Proverbs 30:5 declares “every word of God proves true.” God’s Word is undefiled and flawless. The Word is pure in its form, pattern, arrangement, linguistics, stance, and position. The divine revelation of God is error free. There is no contagion or contamination in the canon of Scripture. Psalm 12:6 ESV alludes to the idea that “the words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.”
“The imagery of sevenfold purification emphasizes complete purity. Like a precious metal utterly perfect.” 5
God’s Word is perfect. It is the picture of perfection as it reflects the decree of His will, His mind, His ways, and His essence as the embodiment of Himself. Scripture is the authoritative decree of God that demonstrates the sacred writings as being rooted in the doctrine of God as a book of perfection.
Matthew Barrett mentioned that “the doctrine of the authority and inerrancy of Scripture is rooted in the doctrine of God; as God is true and trustworthy, so is His Word recorded in the original autographs of Scriptures. This means that all things that the Scriptures assert are wholly true, both in the Old Testament, the Scriptures of Jesus and the apostles, and in the New Testament, the writings of the apostles. As the original autographs have been faithfully copied, translated, and passed down, Scripture is inerrant in its copies. This inerrancy means that all things that the Scriptures assert function with the authority of God’s own Word for Christians." 2
Furthermore, the Bible is infallible. Infallible denotes that it is incapable of fallacy as it stands forever settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89). The Word of God is fixated and eternally positioned with God without any inkling of change. Isaiah 40:8 is recorded that “the grass withers, the flower fades but the word of our God stands forever.” Matthew 24:35 declare that “heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” In respect to life, there are many things that change like the time, the seasons, the human aging process, the geographic location of our residence, and many other facets. However, the Scriptures are immutable or changeless. Therefore, no one can impose upon its written stance as a result of God only having exclusive divine rights to its penmanship.
No human being has the editorial privilege to alter Scripture.
When God allowed the biblical writers to pen the words of Scripture under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they wrote only as they were informed by the Holy Spirit as opposed to inserting their own human wisdom. Thus, the Holy Spirit guided the writers to write in their own unique style while at the same time directing them to say exactly what God would have then to write. God’s Word is reliable because “the truthfulness of the Bible reflects the truthfulness of its divine author.” 2
The Standard of Human Living
It has once been stated that the acronym for the Bible means “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” God has graciously provided instructions for the human populace on how we are to live before Him. God has a standard for human living and that standard is revealed in His Word. This is the standard by which all men, women, boys, and girls will be tried. God has given the parameters and boundaries for the sphere that humanity should live in and operate in according to His Word. God has a set arrangement in which He desires for mankind to follow as a guide for moral living and ethical behavior.
The Bible is humanity’s navigational system for morality, especially for the believer.
“Morality is totally God’s standard, and His standards and conditions are revealed to us through His written word, the Scriptures (The Bible).” 1
The psalmist declared in Psalm 19:8 NKJV “the statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” The Word of God opens our eyes to behold what it is that God requires of humanity. Therefore, our conduct and lifestyle should mirror that which is pleasing unto the Lord (Romans 12:1 & Psalm 19:14).
John MacArthur penned these words that “God’s Word is perceived as orders, charges, precepts, etc. They are viewed as the Governor’s governings. The Word is therefore perceived as divine orders.” 7 Divine orders are given to regulate the affairs of mankind in alignment with God’s Word. God has a particular order, fashion, and premise for mankind to live by. It is the standard of righteousness, holiness, truth, purity, and godliness, whereby, all of humanity will be tried and judged accordingly to.
Every lofty opinion, deed, and form of human conduct falls under the guiding principles by which God will judge us. The Hebrew writer asserted that “the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). Our intentions, deeds, words, and conduct are measured by God’s Word.
Furthermore, this is why the Gospel of John inscribed, “if anyone hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 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 (12:47-48).” “On the Day of Judgment, those who have accepted Jesus and lived His way will be raised to eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18; Revelation 21:1-7), and those who have rejected Jesus and lived any way they pleased will face eternal punishment.” 6
We all must decide if we are going to follow the written plan of God or reject it. It is imperative to note that our choices here on earth have eternal consequences. Therefore, I admonish you to allow His Word to be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105).
References
https://www.allchristianquotes.org/quotes/Reid_A_Ashbaucher/8343
Matthew Barnett. The Authority And Inerrancy of Scripture. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/authority-inerrancy-scripture/https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/authority-inerrancy-scripture/https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/authority-inerrancy-scripture/
https://gracequotes.org/topic/bible-sufficiency/
https://gracequotes.org/quote/i-choose-to-believe-the-bible-because-it-is-a-reliable-collection-of-historical-documents-written-down-by-eyewitnesses-during-the-lifetime-of-other-eyewitnesses-they-reported-supernatural-events-that/
The Grace & Truth Study Bible
The Life Application Study Bible
The MacArthur Study Bible