Jerry C. Brewer
The authoritative God has spoken through His Son Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1-2), Who has all authority in things spiritual (Matt. 28:18). Christ delegated authority to His apostles, and inspired prophets of the first century who wrote all truth in what we know as the New Testament. As Jesus cannot be separated from His written word, consider how we should regard the Bible:
As Divinely Inspired
Every word of the Bible is inspired (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:21). The supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit upon the writers of the Bible guaranteed the total trustworthiness and authority of their productions (John 14:26; 16:13). That inspiration is plenary and verbal—complete, and extending to every word they wrote (1 Cor. 2:13).
As God’s Final Revelation to Man
God “hath spoken” (past tense) through Christ (Heb. 1:1-2), meaning that no revelation will be given to man again. The apostles of Christ remain His spokesmen and are forever the teachers of the world (Matt. 19:28). They were promised—and received—the baptism of the Holy Spirit to guide them into all truth (John 16:13; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5; 2:1-4).
Paul told the Galatians that there is only one gospel, and men who preach “another” are cursed (Gal. 1:8-9). Jude wrote that “the faith” has been once and for all time “delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). The next time a Divine voice is heard from heaven will be at the judgment.
As The Instrument of Salvation
The gospel is God’s power to save men from sin (Rom. 1:16-17). The Holy Spirit is not the Saviour, but the Revelator of the gospel plan of salvation and revealed that plan through the written word of God. Where that word does not go, salvation does not go. Salvation comes through obedience to doctrine (teaching) (Rom. 6:1718), and it is by the word of God that man is begotten and born (Jas. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23).
Let men regard the Bible rightfully, as the Divinely inspired, authoritative word of God that is heaven’s instrument to save. Let us have the attitude toward God’s word of the ancient worthies who said, “Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth” (1 Sam. 3:9), and “Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end” (Psa. 119:33). David said it is, “A lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psa. 119:105), and without the Bible man is hopelessly and irrevocably eternally lost.
