What Is the Bible?
We are told in 2 Timothy 3:16 that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”(NLT) All Scripture is inspired, infallible, and inerrant and “useful”. This word means “beneficial, helpful, valuable and full of profit”. I would like to explore in this message what is so special, so unique about the Bible that Christians believe it is literally the inspired word of God? .
The English word Bible means, "Book." It is derived from the Latin word biblia and the Greek words biblion and biblion meaning, "scroll" or "book." Christians use the term Bible to refer to the sixty-six books that they hold to be sacred Scripture. Consequently the Bible has been called the "Divine Library” The Bible is the most copied book of antiquity. It is scientifically accurate and historically reliable. It even contains information that was far ahead of its time and its accounts are specific. There are more copies of the biblical manuscripts, with remarkable consistency between them, than there are for any of the classics like Plato, Aristotle and Socrates. Again and again archaeological discoveries have verified the accuracy of the historical and cultural references in the Bible. The more they dig, the more it confirms as the Word of truth.
The Bible contains 66 books written over 1,500 years by 40 different writers but it tells one "big love story" of God's plan of salvation that culminated in Jesus Christ. It was completed approximately 2,000 years ago. In the Bible we have books that were written in the ancient languages of Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic and were written in 3 different continents: Africa, Asia, and Europe. Think about the varied historical and cultural circumstances in which each of these 66 books were written by 40 different authors, over 1500 years, in 3 different languages, and on 3 different continents. Yet, in all the centuries that have passed, none of its contents have ever been found inaccurate. So it would be impossible to claim to be an educated person in today's world without having at least some familiarity with the events contained in this book. In fact all of the events contained in this book should be known by everyone.
There Are Two Testaments in Scripture
The Bible is made up of two testaments, the Old and the New. The Old Testament is about three times larger than the New Testament. There are thirty-nine books in the Old Testament and twenty-seven in the New Testament. The Old Testament was composed from about 1,400 to 400 B.C. Thus it took about one thousand years to complete the various books of the Bible. Its writers lived at different times and came from many walks of life. Some were farmers, fishermen, and shepherds. Others were prophets, judges, and kings. The Gospel writer Luke was a doctor. Despite the varied backgrounds of its writers, the Bible is harmonious from beginning to end. New Testament was written during a much shorter period of time. The various books were composed from approximately A.D. 40 to A.D. 90. The earliest New Testament book written is most likely one of three (Galatians, 1 Thessalonians, or James). The last book written was the Book of Revelation.
Why Bible is imperative?
Why Bible is significant? What is so special, so unique about the Bible that Christians believe it is literally the inspired word of God?
In answering these questions, let us consider the amazing influence and the exceptional truth about this book: The Bible is an exciting book--not just because of the adventurous stories--but because God had it written just for us. The Bible is a gift from God, one for which we can be truly grateful. The Holy Spirit moved prophets like Moses and apostles like Paul to write about God’s relationship with the world. The Bible is one large book made up of sixty-six smaller books. It is the divine library - the Word of God to humanity. Although the Bible does not contain everything we would like to know about God it does contain everything that is indispensable. This unique book reveals things that we could never find out otherwise. For example, it tells us about the creation of the heavens, the earth, and the first man and woman. The Bible contains reliable principles to help us cope with life’s problems and anxieties. It explains how God will fulfill his purpose and bring about better conditions on the earth. The first book of the Bible tells us how mankind’s problems began. The last book shows that the whole earth will become a paradise, or garden. All the material in the Bible covers thousands of years of history and relates in some way to the unfolding of God’s purpose. The harmony of the Bible is impressive, but that is what we would expect of a book from God.
The Bible discloses that God has revealed Himself to humanity in a various ways.
In the Old Testament, God sometimes revealed himself directly. He spoke to Adam (Genesis 3:9-19), to Cain (Genesis 4:6-15), to Noah (Genesis 6:13 – 9:17), to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3, 7), to Moses (Exodus 33:11), to Samuel (1 Samuel 3:2-14), and others. Sometimes God revealed himself through unusual ways. To Job, God revealed himself in a whirlwind (Job 38:1). To Moses, the Angel of God revealed himself in an unconsumed flame of fire in a burning bush (Exodus 3:1-2). To Balaam, the Angel of God revealed himself through a talking donkey (Numbers 22:28-35). To Gideon, God certified his will through fleece (Judges 6:36-40). To Elijah, God revealed himself through a still small voice (1 Kings 19:13). Sometimes God revealed himself through dreams. This he did to Abimelech (Genesis 20:3), to Pharoah (Genesis 41:25), to Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:28), and others. Through visions, God revealed himself to Jacob (Genesis 46:2), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:1) and others. Sometimes God revealed himself through his mighty acts, as he did when he sent the plagues against the Egyptians (Exodus 10:1-2). He dried up the Red Sea (Exodus 14:15-30), he fed manna to the Israelites in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:3) and he enabled the Israelites to conquer the land of Canaan (Joshua; Psalm 105). Sometimes God revealed his will through priests and prophets.
In New Testament times as well as the Old, God revealed himself and his will in miraculous ways. Through angels, God revealed events related to the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:20-23; 2:13; Luke 1:11-20; 26-38; 2:9-14). God’s will for apostolic activity was sometimes directed through angels (Acts 5:19-20; 12:6-11; 27:23-24). God also revealed his will through visions (Luke 1:22; 24:24-26; Acts 9:10-16; 10:3-6; 9-17; 18:9-10; 23:11). Most notable among these is that of Paul’s visionary experience on the road to Damascus, which led to his conversion (Acts 9; 22; 26). Miracles of Jesus and the apostles confirmed the spoken word (Mark 16:20; Acts 14:3; Hebrews 2:4). Nicodemus realized that Jesus was a teacher come from God because "no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him" (John 3:2). The blind man who had been healed declared that "if this Man were not from God, He could do nothing" (John 9:33).However, the primary way God revealed himself in New Testament times was through his son. "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son" (Hebrews 1:1). Jesus was the word of God personified. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Some theologians note that history is His - story. The Bible clearly indicates in numerous places that God is moving the course of history and is controlling the destinies of nations (Job 12:23; Psalm 47:7-8, 66:7; Isaiah 10:5-13; Daniel 2:21; Acts 17:26). It should then be possible to sense God at work within history.
A careful analysis of the history of the nation of Israel should provide more evidence than is needed. The author the Book of Hebrews wrote that God has spoken to humanity in various ways. In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe (Hebrews 1:1,2). In a concise manner, the Bible lists four main ways God has revealed Himself to humanity: They include (1) Nature (2) Our conscience (3) Jesus Christ (4) The Bible.
1. The Creation of the Universe
The universe with its vastness and complexity gives testimony to God and His glory. The Bible says: “For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse (Romans 1:20)
C.S. Lewis said “No philosophical theory which I have yet come across is a radical improvement on the words of Genesis, that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The BIBLE opens by announcing the sublime Truth of GOD and HIS existence. Therefore the first verse of the Bible refutes atheism, because the universe was created by God. It refutes pantheism, for God is transcendent to that which He created. It refutes polytheism, for one God created everything. It refutes materialism, for matter had a beginning. It refutes dualism, because God was alone when He created. It refutes humanism, because God, not man, is the ultimate reality. It refutes evolutionism, because God created all things.
The first verse of the Bible begins with the greatest observable truth known to man: the existence of the universe, the heavens and the earth, and it links to that the greatest truth made known by revelation: the existence of a God who creates. There is thus brought together in this simple verse at the beginning of the Bible the recognition of the two great sources of human knowledge: nature, which is discoverable by the five senses of our physical life; and revelation, which is discoverable only by a mind and heart illuminated and taught by the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:14). Both of these sources of knowledge are from God, and each of them is a means of knowing something about God.
The scientist who studies nature is searching ultimately for truth. Also, those who seek to understand the Bible, to grasp its great themes and to understand the depths that are revealed there, are likewise in search of truth. Nature is designed to teach us certain facts about God of truth, but revelation is designed to lead us to the God about whom nature speaks. So the two are complementary, they are not contradictory in any sense, but complete one another. This is why “Dr. F. A. Filby, said “The material world is designed to produce parallels -- parables -- of the spiritual. There is indeed a spiritual law operating in the natural world, and God put us on a planet where light is separated from darkness for our spiritual education as well as for our physical needs. There is a spiritual, as well as a physical reason, for the pattern of creation and he who divorces science from true religion will never be able to come to a real understanding of the world.”
The Bible declares that God has revealed Himself through nature. Psalm 19:1–4 "The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display His marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known. They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies; yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world..." When one considers the vast oceans, the majestic mountain peaks, the enormity of the earth and the incomprehensible size of the stars and the billions of galaxies, it is easy to discern that God must be incredibly powerful. When one examines the intricate design and harmony all around us or the irreducibly complex interior of a cell or the code embedded in the DNA, it is easy to conclude that God must be incredibly intelligent. Think of the millions of kinds of animals, and reptiles, bugs, fish. There are at least 10 million species of insects. If we can communicate, if we can hear and see, then surely our Creator who made the ear and the eye can hear and see also.
2. Our Conscience Tells Us that God Exists
Secondly, God has revealed Himself, to some degree, through and in man's: CONSCIENCE. God has revealed Himself through the spirit, or mind, of humanity. God has programmed every individual to know that certain things are right and certain things are wrong regardless of whether the laws are put into legislation by human governments. The existence of these moral laws points man to a Moral Lawgiver that transcends (or is over and above) human governments and manmade laws. All societies have a certain moral code built into them in which stealing, lying, murder, and such are universally condemned. Humanity's sense of right and wrong testifies to God's existence. The Apostle Paul wrote: For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things contained in the law, these although not having the law are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them (Romans 2:14-15). Both testimonies of creation and conscience fall under the heading of: General Revelation. General revelation refers to God's revelation that reaches all people, of all times, in every culture.
3. Jesus Christ Has Revealed God
God has also revealed Himself to the world through the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself testified that He had come to earth to reveal the Father. Jesus said "If you have seen me you have seen the Father." (John 14:9) He also said “All things have been delivered to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and he to whom the Son wills to reveal him (Mathew 11:27). The Bible teaches that Jesus was God incarnate (e.g., John 1:1, 5:18, and 8:58). God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds (Hebrews 1:1-2).
There are literally thousands of prophetic predictions made in the Bible. Some of these prophecies are quite dramatic in nature. For instance, Isaiah mentions Cyrus the Persian King, by name, 125 years before he was born. Not a single one prophecy made in the Bible has ever failed, or will ever fail, to come to pass! Some of the most remarkable prophecies are those related to the Lord Jesus Christ.
For instance, if you were to take just a few of the most specific prophecies concerning the Lord Jesus and His birth and earthly life, you can see how astonishing the accuracy of the Bible truly is. Consider just these seventeen prophecies:
1. He would be born in Bethlehem, Micah 5:2
2. He would be preceded by a forerunner, Isa. 40:3
3. He would enter Jerusalem on a colt, Zech. 9:9 (By the way, Jesus entered Jerusalem on the exact day Daniel had prophesied hundreds of years earlier, Dan. 9:25-27.)
4. He would be betrayed by a friend, Psa. 41:9
5. His hands and His feet would be pierced, Psa. 22:16
6. He would be wounded by His enemies, Isa. 53:5
7. He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, Zech. 11:12
8. He would be spit upon and beaten, Isa. 50:6
9. The betrayal money would be cast down in temple and would be used to buy a potter’s field, Zech. 11:13
10. He would be silent before His accusers, Isa. 53:7
11. He would be crucified with thieves, Isa. 53:12
12. People would gamble for His garments, Psa. 22:8
13. His side would be pierced, Zech. 12:10
14. No a bone in His body would be broken, Psa. 34:20
15. His body would not decay, Psa. 16:10
16. He would be burial in the tomb of a rich man, Isa. 53:9
17. Darkness would cover the earth, Amos 8:9.
4. The Canon of Scriptures Testify Of God's Existence
God also has revealed Himself through the written Word, the Scriptures. The word canon means "standard." By canon means the standard collection of 66 books that make up the Bible. The Scriptures reveal to us that God exists, what He is like, what His will is for us, and His dealings with people in the past and what is to come in the future. John said, "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:31). The Bible is God's revelation of Himself to humankind. The Scripture says of itself: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). And we believe there is a wealth of good evidence that has demonstrated the Bible's trustworthiness. I'm talking about: Over 2500 prophecies out of which over 2000 fulfilled prophecies. There are over 300 specific prophecies in the Old Testament that are fulfilled in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. The very dimension of the sheer fulfillment of prophecy of the Old Testament Scriptures should be enough to convince anyone that we are dealing with a supernatural piece of literature….God has himself planted within the scriptures an internal consistency that bears witness that this is his Word. The Bible's amazing internal unity, scientific accuracy and a greater influence on the laws, art, ethics, music and literature of world civilization is proof this book is from God.
The Inspiration of the Bible
Inspiration has been defined as, “God’s superintendence of the human authors so that, using their own individual personalities, they composed and recorded without error His revelation to man in the words of the original autographs”( Charles C. Ryrie) But, the question comes, how did He do this? Well, of course, there are many different views, but only one correct view. Let me share with you the biblical view of inspiration. Most fundamentalists believe in what is called the “Verbal, Plenary Inspiration of the Bible.” This means that we believe that “all” (plenary) the very “words” (verbal) of the Bible are inspired. This is the claim of the Bible, 2 Tim. 3:16; Matt. 4:4; John 6:63, and it is the position I gladly affirm. What this means is that God gave His Word to human authors. But, He did not override their personalities. He did, however, guide their choice of words. When they had written down all that God had given them in His revelation, they had produced a perfectly inspired record of God’s revelation. God breathed His Word through human vessels giving the world a perfectly inspired statement of His Word to men.
The Bible was written by humans under the direct inspiration of God. Inspiration, then, is what God used to transmit to us the special revelation contained in the Bible. Revelation is a supernatural communication of divine truth presented to men (Deut 29:29), of that which they otherwise would not know. Inspiration is the term used to describe how the Scriptures were given by God, men supernaturally guided to express exactly what God intended (verbal-plenary), therefore that word spoken in old time by holy men of God is infallible, and preserved for us today (2 Pet 1:19-21; 2 Tim 3:16; Jer 1:9; Ps 100:5; Ps 12:7).
After the Inspiration and revelation, the third process is getting the Word of God to men is the process known as illumination. This is “the process by which God uses the inspired written record of His revelation to speak to the hearts of individual people. This is when the Holy Spirit causes the light to come on in the human heart and men see themselves as they are and Jesus as the need of their heart. It is also the process whereby the Spirit of God allows us to understand the truth of the Word of God. Thus, the cycle of inspiration is complete. Illumination refers to the Spirit enlightening the understanding of man whereby the meaning of Scripture is understood by the reader. We need illumination because: We are spiritually blind because of our sin. (1 Cor. 2:14, Matt. 16:16-17)
The doctrine of illumination must not be confused with revelation and inspiration. The following differences need to be understood:
(1) Revelation refers to the content of God’s truth as it was revealed to the Old Testament and New Testament authors of Scripture.
(2) Inspiration refers to the accurate transmission of that content to men, first verbally (as with the prophets) and then in written form.
(3) Illumination refers to understanding of the Bible’s message to believers. Unbelievers can only experience this work as it pertains to His convicting ministry in relation to the gospel message (John 16:8-11).
There are many wondrous things in nature: the plants, the beaches, the sky, the rainbow, the butterflies, the flowers, the smile of infants-- yet what are these things to us if we are naturally blind? In the same way, unless the Lord opens our spiritual eyes, the wondrous things in the word of God will be of no significant value to us. Since we are helpless in ourselves to see spiritual beauty and the wonder of God in the teachings and events of the Bible without God's gracious illumination, we should ask him for spiritual insight. The Bible has liberated many from oppression by its clear teachings. It raises the dignity and rights of every human being ever born. It is truly an amazing and remarkable book ever written. It contains clear teaching on the value and worth of every individual. It will astonish and surprise you and likely move you to transform your mind. From St. Augustine to Martin Luther to Mother Teresa to countless everyday men, women and children, the words of the Bible have transformed lives unmistakably and forever.
This book itself represents true freedom. It belongs to everyone and it has been possessed by everyone, every culture and every tribe and race of people. Reading it will strike you directly in your heart. It has the "ring of truth" to all who love the same. It is a message to all people everywhere, in every time period, relevant to their everyday lives. It contains pure truth about God, about life, the nature of mankind and our own hearts as human beings. Scripture was written for everyone to read and understand. You'll be amazed what you discover about God, and about yourself. Abraham Lincoln said “But for this book we could not know right from wrong. I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from The Savior of the world is communicated to us through this Book.”
Yes, the Bible is a unique book! But, this uniqueness was not accidental, it was purposeful. How can this be? “All scripture is given by inspiration of God”. The word “inspiration” literally means “God breathed”. If God has given His Word, delivered by His very breath, then it stands to reason that the scripture He has given us is absolutely perfect. Let’s look into the matter of inspiration and think together for a while about The Perfection of the Holy Scriptures. We know what inspiration is and we can see the God’s fingerprints all over His Word. If we accept the Bible as the inspired Word of God, what does that teach us? What can we take away from such an examination? We are left with three precious truths that must never be taken for granted.
A. The Bible Is Infallible - This word means that the Scriptures are incapable of failing! Everything the Bible says is truth and all everything it promises will come to pass! The Scriptures are in every sense perfect and they are a perfect revelation of the mind of God to man!
B. The Bible Is Inerrant - E.J. Young defines inerrancy this way, “By this word, we mean that the Scriptures possess the quality of freedom from all error. They are exempt from the liability to mistake, incapable of error. In all their teachings they are in perfect accord with the truth.”
When people say that the Bible contains mistakes and errors, they are calling the very character of God into question! We are told that God simply cannot tell a lie, Heb. 6:18. If He claimed inspiration for His Word, then that Word must be inerrant. If it isn’t then God lied when He claimed to have inspired the original text.
C. The Bible Is Complete - When the Apostle John laid down his pen at the close of the book of Revelation, the revelation in the Scriptures was perfect and fully complete. There has not been a single inspired word since that time and there never will be. God has finished His Scriptures and we hold in our hands the perfect and complete record of that revelation. If you lived 10,000 life times and read every book ever written and that would ever be written, you would never again encounter another book like the Bible. In fact, you would never again encounter any other Scripture. The Bible is complete!
The message of the Bible
The message of the Bible is for all people in all countries, for all time. Jesus told His disciples to go out into the entire world and teach and preach His message. Dwight Lyman Moody said “The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation.” So long as there are . . . death and suffering, tears and sorrows, broken hearts, and crushed hopes, human failures and lives burdened and despairing-- so long will the Bible be an indispensable book. Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face. It is full of inspiration, light, help and strength for earth's weary ones. Bible has numerous virtues:-
1. It is a timeless book. “Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens." (Psalm 119:89)
2. It is a truthful book. “Your justice is eternal, and your instructions are perfectly true.“(Psalm 119:142)
3. It is a treasured book. “Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver” (Psalm 119:72.NLT)
4. It is a living book. “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” (Hebrews 4:12)
5. It is a liberating Book. “I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments”. (Psalm 119:45)
6. It is an influential book. “My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. (Psalm 119:28)
7. It is a guidebook. “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
8. It is a peace making book. “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.” (Psalm 119:165)
9. It is a cleansing book. “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” (Psalm 119:9)
10. It is a safeguarding book. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)
The message of the Bible is the transforming grace of God’s love displayed primarily in redeeming and restoring his fallen creation by fulfilling his covenant promises and commands through the glorious person and atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Christ is the Lord and the King of the Bible” The Bible’s unifying theme is God’s one eternal purpose in Christ to redeem sinners to the praise of His glory. Jesus Christ and the salvation that is in Him is the main message in the Bible. It’s been said, that the Bible’s main message is about Christ Who would come (the prophets), Who has come (the gospels), and Who will come again (the epistles). Dr. Gordon Hugenberger said “The message of the Bible in one sentence is that genuine truth, unlike every human philosophy, is far too luxuriant, too enthralling, too personal, too all-encompassing, too sovereign, and too life-changing to be reducible to one sentence (or, as Einstein once put it, the challenge is to 'make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler'.
What is truth?
The Bible has a great deal to say about truth, particularly the truth about God and our relationship to him as human beings created with God-like qualities. On practically every page of the New Testament this emphasis is apparent. The gospel message concerning the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is spoken of as "the word of truth" From Genesis to Revelation the Bible underlines the point that we can know the truth about God because he has chosen to make himself known to us.
Almost two thousand years ago, Truth was put on trial and judged by people who were devoted to lies. In fact, Truth faced six trials in less than one full day, three of which were religious, and three that were legal. In the end, few people involved in those events could answer the question, “What is truth?”
A Roman governor Pontius Pilate —the man who handed Jesus over to be crucified—turned to Jesus in His final hour, and asked, “What is truth?” It was a rhetorical question, a cynical response to what Jesus had just revealed: “I have come into the world, to testify to the truth.” After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again, and told them, "I find no wrong in Him." (John 18:37-38) Whether spoken out of sarcasm, or frustration, or as an honest question, the words of Pontius Pilate, "What is truth?" have become legendary to millions of people. Ironically, and illegally, despite his question about truth, Pilate then knowingly ordered the brutal execution of an innocent man, the man who brought truth into the world. Jesus is truth incarnate—the perfect expression of God and therefore the absolute embodiment of all that is true. Christ, as God, is the personification of truth. He embodies truth.
When Jesus said of Himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)”, He was thereby making a profound claim about His own deity. He was also making it clear that all truth must ultimately be defined in terms of God and His eternal glory. After all, Jesus is “the brightness of [God’s] glory and the express image of His person” (Heb 1:3). The Old Testament refers to the Almighty as the “God of truth” (Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 31:5) Jesus also said that the written Word of God is truth. He said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32). The night before His crucifixion, Jesus offered a heartfelt prayer to His Father on behalf of His disciples—not only those of that day, but also those who would follow Him in the future. Within the context of that prayer, He said, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17)
Nothing can change the lives of people like the Bible. Jesus said it like this in John 8:31-32, “If you abide in my Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” .The freedom Jesus offers is a spiritual freedom from the bondage of sin—that is, release from the lifestyle of habitual lawlessness. We should read and study the Bible because it is totally reliable and without error. The Bible claims that "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right" (2 Timothy 3:16, NLT). Psalm 119, the longest psalm in the Bible, is entirely focused on the marvels virtues and values of the Word of God. Each verse in Psalm 119 deals with the unique feature of the vitality of God’s Word, to help us to know and understand His truth. “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21)
God is the source of truth through His Word. Jesus embodied truth. Of course, there cannot be any discord or difference of opinion between the written Word of God (Scripture) and the incarnate Word of God (Jesus). In the first place, truth by definition cannot contradict itself. Second, Scripture is called “the word of Christ” (Col 3:16). It is His message, His self-expression. In other words, the truth of Christ and the truth of the Bible are of the very same character. They are in perfect agreement in every respect. Both are equally true. God has revealed Himself to humanity through Scripture and through His Son. Both perfectly embody the essence of what truth is. In fact, the one most valuable lesson humanity ought to have learned from philosophy is that it is impossible to make sense of truth without acknowledging God as the necessary starting point. Truth is the self-expression of God. Therefore God is the author, source, determiner, governor, arbiter, ultimate standard, and final judge of all truth.
To rejects and rebel against the truth of God results in darkness, folly, sin, judgment, and the never-ending wrath of God. To accept and submit to the truth of God is to see clearly, to know with certainty, and to find life everlasting. Truth makes men real and brings their origin into perfect harmony with eternal facts, and their personal conduct into perfect accord with their conceptions. Jesus Christ is personified truth. The preciousness of this truth may be estimated by the influence it has exerted on the race. Intellectual truth is precious, moral truth is more precious, but redemptive truth is more precious than all. We have substituted facts for truth. Facts are like a recipe, and truth is like the meal.
Truth can be sold. Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus, sold it for 30 pieces of silver. It can be sold for power, for fame, for worldly pleasure, etc. If you sell it, you sell your moral worth. You sell your self-respect. You sell your power of conscience. You sell your dignity. Hold it as we see in the bible that Daniel, Stephen, and Paul held it. Truth has sometimes to be paid for; it has its own price, and we must be willing to buy it. Nothing on earth represents its value. To lose it is to sign away our inheritance. It is to be held at all costs whatever. Truth is indispensable, absolute and attainable. So must prize the truth, practice the truth, preserve the truth and proclaim the truth. We also must alert and guard against those who would deny the truth, distort the truth, dilute the truth, and defile the truth. Knowing the truth is wonderful, but it is not enough! God expects us to act on the truth as He helps us learn it. More important than knowing the truth is living the truth—walking in truth. Wisdom, knowledge, understanding and truth are all attributes of God. You can know the truth if you diligently and prayerfully seek for it. Jesus said “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." He also said “I am the way, the truth, & the life. Know Him. Trust Him. Worship Him. Love Him. Obey Him. Serve Him. And, proclaim Him.
