31 Days toward Spiritual Maturity — Day 15
February 17th, 2008 Posted in 31 Days toward Spiritual Maturity, Growth
LEARNING FROM CHRIST — Directions That Are True
How do we know that the Bible is true and that it really speaks God’s Word to us? Let me share with you why I have supreme confidence that the Bible is God’s true Word.
Most people would agree that what Jesus taught was true. We have no good reason to doubt the gospel accounts of what Jesus said and did. The authors reported that they wrote with the intention of being historically accurate. Luke wrote, “I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account . . .” (Luke 1:3) The apostle Peter wrote, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” (2 Peter 1:16) The New Testament writers were clear in their insistence that they stuck to historical facts when they spoke or wrote about Jesus.
What did they record that Jesus taught about Scripture? First, we have a record that Jesus believed that the Old Testament (which He knew as the Hebrew Scriptures) was God’s Word. Each of the three times Jesus was tempted, He said, “It is written.” (Matthew 4:4,7,10) He considered the Hebrew Scriptures to be authoritative.
Second, Jesus said that His own words were from God the Father. On one occasion Jesus prayed to the Father, “For I gave them the words you gave me . . .” (John 17:8a) He also indicated that His followers would be able to accurately recall His words through the Holy Spirit’s working. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit “will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) This authenticates the four gospels as being accurate.
Third, Jesus authenticated the rest of the New Testament that would be written by the apostles. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would build and add to the teaching He had given them: “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears and he will tell you what is yet to come.” (John 16:12-13)
There’s no good reason to doubt the authenticity and truthfulness of the Bible. It offers the best input for direction on the journey toward becoming spiritually mature, becoming all that God intends us to be.
Dave
