God’s Word – The Truth

2 Peter 1:16-21 (The Message)

^16-21 We weren’t, you know, just wishing on a star when we laid the facts out before you regarding the powerful return of our Master, Jesus Christ. We were there for the preview! We saw it with our own eyes: Jesus resplendent with light from God the Father as the voice of Majestic Glory spoke: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of all my delight.” We were there on the holy mountain with him. We heard the voice out of heaven with our very own ears. We couldn’t be more sure of what we saw and heard—God’s glory, God’s voice. The prophetic Word was confirmed to us. You’ll do well to keep focusing on it. It’s the one light you have in a dark time as you wait for daybreak and the rising of the Morning Star in your hearts. The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion. And why? Because it’s not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God’s Word.

In this day and age – when most everything is challenged and nothing – it seems – is taken without question – I want to examine the question – Is the Bible God’s Word? If the Bible IS God’s Word – it needs to be authoritative in our lives – would you agree? If the Bible is authoritative in our lives – then the Bible is the base of our understanding as we sculpt and form doctrine. I believe that our theology reflects our view of the Bible. If we believe the Bible to be the Word of God – we will weigh it heavily in our understanding of God. If we see it as a good book – a nice read or guide – but humanly created – we will not. On one hand the Bible is authoritative – on the other it is no more authoritative than our personal experience – community history – or our reasoning/thinking.

I love the way The Message puts the last part of today’s passage.  The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion. And why? Because it’s not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God’s Word.

The Bible – God’s Word – has been divinely transmitted to us – that is my belief and the belief of the Christian church for centuries. Peter – an Apostle – firmly believed this truth. He shares this understanding with his readers. The Scriptures are not from human minds. The Holy Spirit prompted folks to speak and write God’s Word.

Paul – an Apostle – wrote something very similar about Scripture in one of his letters.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. NIV

Jesus Himself understood the Scriptures to be inspired by the Holy Spirit. He is quoted in Mark’s Gospel saying that David was inspired by the Holy Spirit when he wrote in the Psalms.

Mark 12:36 – David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ‘ NIV

One could argue that these writers were all referring to the Old Testament – because that was Scripture for them. The church has adopted both the Old and New Testaments as Scripture. I believe that God was referring to the whole of Scripture when He inspired the writers about Scripture. Even though the writers knew very little about what we call the New Testament – God knew.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 – ¹ Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. ² For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. NIV

What are your thoughts concerning the authority of God’s Word – the Bible? Many of our theological differences are based on this one question! Think about it. The authority and our interpretation of the Bible is everything.

Just something for us to think about today as we go on our way.