The Truths of the Bible By Andy Ward
e, as a denomination, believe that the scriptures are infallible, iner- rant, and the absolute truth of our Triune God as stated by the Lord Himself. An important thing that was re-discovered from the Protes- tant Reformation is the principle of “Scripture Interpreting Scripture.” This is based upon the truth that since God is unchanging (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8) and Scripture is how the Lord reveals Himself to us (2Timothy 3:16), the Lord cannot and will not contradict Himself. So any scripture on a given subject is essential to understanding another passage dealing with the same topic. This is how we determine the truth and interpretation of a passage. So, for example, if we interpret a passage one way and another passage is contrary to our views, we would have a wrong interpretation. The Scripture, totally and comprehen- sively, is our guide to understanding God, life, the world, and us. But there is the argument that people use saying that because men them- selves wrote the Bible, therefore it is fallible and not totally absolute truth. Here are some things that rule that out:
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• The Bible consists of 66 books with 36 authors that were written over the scope of 1600 years.
• With that many authors over that kind of time and distance, there is amazing unity and harmony in the Bible, especially in describing the coming of Jesus Christ. That is humanly impossible!
• He appeared to the disciples numerous times and to Paul. They all preached Jesus fearlessly and died for Him.
• Over 500 people saw Him alive at once. • In the Old Testament alone, there are at least 2000 times where God says, “Thus says the Lord,” or its equivalent.
• The Scriptures themselves declare that they are the very words of God, directed by the Holy Spirit.
that He and His Word are true.
The Westminster Confession of Faith, which we hold to, says in Chapter 1, part 4:
“The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, depends not upon the testimony of any man, or Church: but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be re- ceived because it is the Word of God.” Some scripture that supports these truths are:
May/June 2022
2 Peter 1:21 – “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
John 16:13 – “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” 1 Peter 1:22-23 – “Now that you
- ing the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” 2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is
God-breathed and is useful for teach- ing, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”
1 Thessalonians 2:13 – “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it is, the word of God, which is in- deed at work in you who believe.” Isaiah 55:11 – “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accom- plish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
These details are important be- cause the truths of the scriptures, in their totality, are our guide for what we believe about the Lord and His Church. This is what our denomina- tion holds to, and we should believe about the Bible – that it is the inerrant and infallible absolute truth of our God. We praise the Lord that He re- veals Himself to us through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and through the Word of God (which are His words to us)! Only through prayer and the scriptures can we draw close to Him – reading and praying on an individual basis, sitting under the “preached Word of God” in worship, and studying His Word together. May we be in the Word and pray with the Lord daily because these are means that God has given to change and transform us!
Reverend Andy Ward is the pas- tor of Mooresville ARP Church in Mooresville, NC.
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