6/11/14- Who Says the Bible is God's Word?

As we believe and confess the Scriptures of God sufficient to instruct and make perfect the man of God, so do we affirm and avow their authority to be from God, and not to depend on men or angels. We affirm, therefore, that those who say the Scriptures have no other authority save that which they have received from the Kirk are blasphemous against God and injurious to the true Kirk, which always hears and obeys the voice of her own Spouse and Pastor, but takes not upon her to be mistress over the same. (Scots Confession 19)

16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the servant of God^a may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Thoughts: Many today think our own brains and experise is sufficient but the scriptures are not so sufficient to equip and help us.  Yet, God does not say things in vain.  We would do well to trust in the wisdom o f the ages. It is always a matter of faith to believe the Bible.  
     Belief in the Bible does not depend on some angel (contra Islamic belief which says their scripture was given by angels, or the Mormons who say Moroni the angel gave them their scripture).  Likewise the Bible does not depend on some council or the church saying it is the Word of God  The Bible is God's Word whether anyone believes it or not.  God is God whether any church, or angel, or council says it or not.  To not listen to God speaking in the Bible is to not listen to God, and is to ignore or even disobey God Himself.  We do not worship the Bible, but to not show respect to what God has said would be to deny His authority. To say we respect the President but we do not listen to what he says would be wrong.  To indicate that we are in a position to say what is legal and what is not of the president's words would be more than presumptuous.  It would be illegal in and of itself, and would lead to a charge of rebellion or treason.  
      To believe in any semblance of the God of the Bible, we need to trust that the Bible is true.  For if we cannot believe that the Bible is trustworthy then we should doubt every word and come up with our own theory (much like the Jesus Seminar adherents have done).  But God cares that we know Him and that we know what we can do to please Him.  It is God who makes the Church Holy, and it is God the Holy Spirit who makes the Bible Holy.  The Spirit inspired, but also illuminates and applies the Word to us. 

Prayer: Lord, give us grace to trust your Word and live it.