Can I truly trust the Bible?
2 Timothy 3:16All 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.
Paul’s use of the word “useful” is an almost understated description of the essential value of God’s Word in our lives. The original Greek term can also mean “beneficial,” “profitable,” or “advantageous.” But Paul’s listing of four distinct areas of impact (it teaches us, makes us realize what is wrong in our lives, corrects us, and teaches us to do what is right) points to the wide-ranging effectiveness of the Bible. Its usefulness flows out of the character of its author: God himself, who “breathed” his words through the writers he chose. This greatest verse affirming God’s inspiration of the Bible also contains great applications.
2 Peter 1:20-21You must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.
This is Peter’s answer to the many who try to argue that the Bible came from merely human minds and intentions. The books of the Bible reflect the various personalities, education, and experiences of the writers, yet God describes the results as “my Word.” The trustworthiness of God confirms the trustworthiness of Scripture.
1 Kings 8:56“Praise the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses.”
These thoughts, offered as part of Solomon’s dedication prayer for the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem, capture the high point of Israelite history. Almost 500 years previously they had left Egypt as a rescued slave-nation. Now they had a land at peace and a settled place of worship. They could pause and consider how God had kept his word in detail. The problem then as now is not that God isn’t faithful to his word; it’s that we are not able to keep our side of the relationship.
Psalm 18:30God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
What God does and what God says are reliable foundations for living. But we only experience the full protection he offers if we depend on him entirely.
Isaiah 55:11It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
The Bible has stood the test of time more than any other document in human history. It has been faithfully preserved because it contains God’s very words to us, and he will not let them disappear from the face of the earth or allow their truths to be twisted by human hands. This is good news indeed, for God’s Word is guaranteed to produce glorious results.
Luke 24:25-27Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Jesus claimed to be the fulfillment of God’s plan through the Jewish nation to bless the world with salvation. Jesus’ life and work—down to the very details—had been foretold in the Bible. This is a compelling reason to trust God’s Word! The problem for his disciples then and now is our failure to believe what Scripture tells us and to live by it.
Romans 2:12-15When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.
God’s Word isn’t simply a message to be valued. It also reveals that God holds us accountable for disobeying his law. Our high view of Scripture doesn’t mean much if we don’t take what God says to heart and apply it to life.
