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-16-
God Hath Spoken
Inspiration and Authority
All revelation must be laid beside the plumbline of Scripture. The Scriptures, as written revelation, are God breathed. When God breathed into man the breath of life, man became a living soul, and when God breathed into His Word, it became the living Word, the life giving Word.
Written revelation is as much the Word of God as the organic word when God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. It is as truly the Word of God as the spoken Word, and although preserved in writing, it remains the Word of God.
Self Interpreting
The Bible is self interpreting. We compare Scripture with Scripture. When we find an apparent contradiction in Scripture, we know that the Bible is free from errors and contradictions except to unbelievers for "The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (I Corinthians 2:14). When, therefore, two passages seem to contradict each other, we interpret the unknown in light of the known, and not vice versa. This will solve most problems of interpretation.
The Bible is the best commentary on the Bible. However, God has called men to be pastors and teachers, and the fact that a man is dead does not mean he must cease from his good works. If he has stopped long enough to write, "...he being dead, yet speaketh." We must not allow the foolishness of some who condemn the use of books. God Himself has committed His Word to writing.
Perspicuous
When we say the Bible is "God breathed" we not only mean that the Bible is self interpreting, but also that it is clear. God designed His Word for the man on the street, and not for a few brilliant intellectuals. The Bible is not a puzzle that only wizards and those with the keenest minds can unravel. It is simple so that a child may understand. William Cowper wrote, "God is His own Interpreter, And He will make it plain."
During the great revival known in history as the Protestant Reformation, there was a return in preaching to some very important Bible doctrines. One of these was "the universal priesthood of the believer." We do not need a priest to pray for us because Christ is our priest. We have access by faith to the throne of God.
Another doctrine enunciated by the Reformers was "solo gratia," or "grace alone." The Bible teaches us that salvation is by the grace of God alone. Men cannot be saved by doing the best they can.
A third doctrine proclaimed was "Sola Scriptura," or "Scripture alone." Scripture alone is our authority in determining what we are to believe, and how we are to behave ourselves. Jesus said, "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures" (Matthew 22:29), and commanded, "Search the Scriptures" (John 5:39). The apostle Paul asked, "What saith the Scripture?" (Romans 4:3).
Reader, what settles disputes for you? What is the basis for your opinions? The Bereans made the Word of God their opinion. More than the great swelling words of an apostle, it was the Bible that was their authority. This truth cannot be over emphasized.
God is. God has spoken. John Wesley preached, "I have thought I am a creature of a day just passing through time as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God and returning to God just hovering over the great gulf till a few moments hence I drop into an unchangeable eternity. I want to know one thing: the way to heaven— how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach us the way. For this very end he came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. Oh, give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God!"