Another Gospel?: 5 Days to a Firm FaithExemplo

 What about the Bible? 

It’s popular in some circles to claim that the Bible is not necessarily the Word of God. Rather than viewing it as the authoritative message from God to people, they see the Bible as an antiquated library of books that we can examine like ancient relics. In their view, the Bible is our spiritual ancestors’ best attempts to understand God in their own cultures, using whatever knowledge they had at the time. The Bible becomes more like a spiritual travel journal than the inspired Word of God with authority over our lives.

When I first heard of these new (to me at least) ways of reading and understanding the Bible, my view of Scripture as the Word of God was what I was taught at my private Christian schools, in my evangelical churches, and by my Bible-believing parents. But was this belief nothing but a blind leap of faith?

If the Bible is reliable both in text and in eyewitness testimony, then I have good reason to believe that what it records Jesus saying and teaching is accurate. And according to the four Gospels, Jesus has quite a bit to say about Scripture. In fact, Jesus taught that it is the authoritative and inspired Word of God.

When Jesus was being tempted by the devil in the wilderness, he, as the Creator of the universe, could have called a legion of angels to his side to banish the devil. Instead, Jesus chose to fight using the authority of the Scriptures. Quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, he said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4, ESV).

In an argument with the Pharisees, Jesus appealed to the inspiration of Scripture to help them understand that the Messiah is more than just a descendant of David. He said, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him [the Messiah] ‘Lord’?” (Matthew 22:43, NIV, emphasis mine). This is where we get our very definition of divine inspiration—from Jesus himself.

Over and over again, Jesus stated explicitly that Scripture is the very Word of God. One example is when the Pharisees were trying to trip him up in Matthew 15:4. He answered by referencing several commands from Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, saying, “For God commanded . . .” (ESV).

As followers of Jesus, we should understand Scripture the way Jesus understood it. Jesus clearly taught that it is God’s inspired Word . . . with the authority to inform and correct our behavior.

As Scripture was a shield and refuge for Jesus, let us follow in his footsteps by praying Psalm 119:114, ESV:

Father,

You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.

Amen.