The Bible claims to be the special revelation of God to mankind. The Scriptures claim to be “inspired of God” and to thoroughly supply mankind with soul-saving information (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). This Scripture was “not produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). Peter had earlier stated that he and other apostles had not followed “cleverly designed myths,” but were “eyewitnesses” of the Lord’s majesty (v. 16). These explanations by the apostle were proofs of his statement in verse 3, that God “has given to usall things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3) Thus, the Scriptures claim to be the inspired, infallible and all-sufficient revelation of God. The word of God is the complete guide to salvation.
Jesus confirmed this fact when He prayed to the Father, “Sanctify them through your truth; your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). He affirmed God’s “word” to be “truth.” One may be thinking, “But Jesus claimed That He was ‘the truth.’” Yes, Jesus is “the truth” personified. However, Jesus, in His prayer, acknowledged the absolute necessity of truth being communicated in “words.” When God created man(kind), He created him with the ability to reason from stated and observable facts and premises. God said to the people, “Come, let us reason together…though your sins be as scarlet…,” (Isaiah 1:18). We are capable of “reasoning” from God’s word (Acts 17:2, 3), and we are capable of reaching sound conclusions from it (Ephesians 3:4). One violates plain truth when he denies this God-given ability (Matthew 13:23).
Many people in religion give lip service to the Bible’s claim to all-sufficiency, but in practice they deny it. They often resort to their own thoughts and opinions as defenses of religious beliefs, doctrines and practices. They forget that “the way of man is not in himself: It is not in man that walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). They forget that “there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death”(Proverbs 14:12). We need to be reminded that truth is from God. Humans are simply incapable of the degree of knowledge and thought that are necessary to devise a perfect religious guide. As much higher as the heavens are above the earth, so are God’s thoughts higher than man’s thoughts, and God’s ways than man’s ways (Isaiah 55:8, 9). And, how are God’s thoughts and ways expressed? The very next two verses of Isaiah 55 answer that question: God’s ways and thoughts are expressed through Hisword. Let us consult God’s infallible word for all truth relating to “life and godliness.” Let us not resort to our own wisdom.
Tim Haile