Whose Word?

Friday February 6, 2015

Whether it was the 10 hour TV series The Bible or the films Son of God and Noah, the world has watched a lot of stories based in varying degrees on the Bible in the past few years. But what do people truly believe about God´s Word?

A 2013 State of the Bible survey (conducted in America) revealed that the percentage of individuals who are sceptical of the Bible - thinking it´s "just another book of teachings written by men that contains stories and advice" - has nearly doubled from 10 percent to 19 percent in just 3 years. The survey results also declared that just 56 percent of the respondents believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God.

Paul prophesied that people would increasingly "turn away from the true faith" and "[scoff] at God" (1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:2). So he reminded Timothy to remain faithful to God´s Word (3:14). He also told him not to be ashamed of the Bible, but to be diligent in "correctly explain[ing] the word of truth" (2:15). Paul emphasised how essential and important the Scriptures are (3:15), affirming that God´s Word is accurate, truthful and helpful for daily living.

"All Scripture is inspired by God" (v. 16) literally means that the Bible is "God-breathed" (NIV) or contains the words that come "from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). The human authors of the Bible clearly acknowledged that what they spoke or wrote were "the Lord´s instructions" (Exodus 24:3-4, 32:27; Jeremiah 30:1-2; Hosea 1:1; Joel 1:1; Haggai 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:1). They simply wrote down what God revealed to them (2 Peter 1:21).

Let´s "remain faithful to the things [we] have been taught" because "they are true... and have given [us] the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:14-15). - K.T. Sim.

Read
2 Timothy 3:13-17
while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God- breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Peter 1:16-21
for it is written : "Be holy, because I am holy."
Since you call on a Father who judges each man´s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Question to Ponder
What can we do to "remain faithful to the things [we´ve] been taught? (2 Timothy 3:14)
How can you grow in your knowledge of God´s Word this week?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Dec 2014 - Feb 2015