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-13-
God Hath Spoken
Written Revelation
The Lord of heaven and earth considered it to be important to make a written record of His will. In the wisdom of God, the will of God was revealed by God in written form. God has become an author. Divine revelation is now encapsulated in a book—the Holy Bible. With the completion of the last book of the Bible, all revelation must be interpreted in light of this Book of God. The Scriptures, or writings, is the Word of God. During the great revival, known in history as the Reformation, there was a man who one day took his brother into a field, and told him to kneel down. Then taking his sword, he cut off his brother's head. He was summarily arrested on the charge of murder.
When the day came for him to appear in court to answer the charges, he told the authorities they could not try him because God had told him to kill his brother. They replied they could, they would, and they did. The reason men had a right to try him for murder was because all revelation must be laid beside the plumbline of Scripture, the written revelation of God.
The Bible is our authority as to our creed, what we are to believe, and to our conduct, how we are to behave ourselves. Any doctrine or conduct contrary to the teaching of Scripture is not of God. The Bible is our authority. We are "people of the Book." Therefore, when people say, "The Lord told me to do this, or that" we should wonder who their lord is.
Written revelation, as found in the Bible, is called the "canon," or the "measuring rod," of Scripture. Direct revelation and special revelation are not to be trusted. They must be laid beside the Scriptures.
The Bible is the means God has given that we may be able to determine the validity of such things. If they violate the clear teaching of the Bible, they are false. The Word of God is our infallible and inerrant guide. By "infallible" we mean that Scripture is incapable of error; and by "inerrant" we mean it is free from error.
People who do not accept the Word of God as their final authority are able to be swindled by religious hucksters. They are able to be lorded over by men, and oppressed. "Sola Scriptura" was the familiar cry of the Reformation. Scripture alone is our authority in matters of faith and practice. For this reason, it is called the "canon" or "measuring rod" of Scripture.
The revelation of God is complete. He will add nothing more to it. In fact, God has pronounced the severest judgment upon all who add to or who diminish aught from it. Note II Peter 1:16-18; it is of gravest importance.
Peter says, "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
When did this occur? On the Mount of Transfiguration. We have already read it in Matthew chapter 17. "And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount."
Note II Pet. 1:19: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts."
The Scriptures are more reliable, and therefore more to be trusted, than hearing for ourselves the voice of God. The Bible is more reliable, and therefore more to be trusted than seeing the Lord transfigured before our very eyes. "Whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts."
We ought to commit God's Word to memory, and to hold it as our authority, "knowing this first," that is, this is of chiefest importance, "that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation."
Neither Peter, nor James, nor John sat down and said, "I think I will write some inspired words today." The Bible tells us, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (vs. 21). This is the Word of the Lord.
"He which leaveth off preaching and hearing of the word of God, for fear of excommunication of men, he is already excommunicated of God, and shall in the day of judgment be counted a traitor to Christ." —John Wycliffe, 1320-1384