10:34 AM
heavenslight
An Infallible Word
The Infallibility and Sufficiency of Scripture
Psalm 19:7-9 – 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. NASB
PART 2 - The Bible….. “is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him”
Notice here, the Bible is the ONLY rule…... This is to say that God has not given us any other directives about how we may glorify and enjoy Him other than from the Bible. Therefore, the Bible is sufficient to address the problems we face in life and properly directs us concerning our origin, purposes and destiny in life, and how we are to properly relate to our creator God. It is a complete resource from God about our lives.
The Bible is sufficient as a guide to direct us how we may glorify God and enjoy Him.
The Bible is sufficient to address every matter in life. If it has not spoken explicitly to every matter, it has addressed it in principle. In fact God has met the deepest needs of mankind in His Word, for His Word brings about the most necessary changes which are needed for mankind’s fulfillment. The Word of God is sufficient because it has transforming power to change us into the likeness of God.
Consider how the Bible itself describes its sufficiency to address our life and relationship to God.
Turn with me to 2 Peter 1:2-4….
This passage explains that as we come to know God and Jesus through the Word, we become like Him and have everything we need for life and everything we need to be like Him.
2 Peter 1:2-4 - 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. NASB
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord
- We have grace and peace overflowing IN the knowledge of God, that is, coming to truly know Him
3 His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness
- He has given us EVERYTHING that we need for life and to be LIKE HIM!
3 through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence
- We have everything pertaining to godliness THROUGH the true knowledge of Him,
that is, coming to know Him truly
4 He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature
- through the promises(that is the Word of God), we become partakers of the divine
nature….God is revealed and we see Him, by the revelation of the Spirit, and therefore know Him, and become like Him because He becomes our delight, and we seek to become what we delight in….this all happens by the transforming power of the Word and the Spirit
4 having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. NASB
- becoming like God we escape the corruption of sin
Turn with me to Psalm 19:7-11….
This passage explains to us many facets of the sufficiency of Scripture to address our needs in life and our relationship to God.
Psalm 19:7-11 - 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. 10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them Thy servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward. NASB
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
- God’s Word is perfect…it is flawless, it is complete.
- The Word of God is sufficient to restore our soul, that is in our hearts and minds….it is
able to heal us
7 The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
- The Word of God is sure, it is settled, not wavering or moving, it is certain…it can be
relied on, as sure as it is God’s own Word
- it makes the simple wise….God’s Word is pure wisdom and gives us clear and practical instruction about how to live and make decisions…
- it makes the simple wise….it instructs us how we are to fear God and relate to him….
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
- The Word of God sets for the standard for Right and wrong….it explains what righteousness is, and what true moral principles are….it tells us what is GOOD!
- and knowledge of what is true and right and noble and good causes our hearts to rejoice….not in what is fickle and unsure, but in what is truly righteous and Good…
8 The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
- The words of the Lord are pure words…they are holy and undefiled from the beginning to the end, they do not savor anything that is earthly and impure, rather they are holy and command everything that is holy, and they forbid everything that is impure and unholy. It is evident that the Scriptures are the words of the Holy God, and that the holy men that wrote them were obviously move by the Holy Spirit!
- The Bible gives light to the eyes of our hearts so that we can know, see, and relate to God in such a way as to please Him in every respect….
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
- Here the scripture referred to as “the fear of the Lord”….that is what reverences and respects the Lord….the Scriptures teaches us to fear God and hold Him in proper regard, lest we displease Him and be destroyed!
- The Word of God is fixed in the heavens and will never pass away…..
Matthew 24:35 - 35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away.
NASB
9 The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
- The judgments that God pronounces in His Word will surely come to pass. Every assessment that God makes about anything at all is most certainly according to fact and God’s Word is itself the very standard of Truth! God’s Word teaches us about Justice (which is the very character of God), what it means and its importance to life. When we see how God judges and make responses to situations and ethical matters, we learn the true standard of righteousness and justice.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
- God’s Word is more valuable than anything we can own. It is to be the thing we delight above all other things, because in delighting in God’s Word, we delight in God.
Psalm 119:24 - 24 Thy testimonies also are my delight; They are my counselors. NASB
Psalm 119:111 - 111 I have inherited Thy testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart. NASB
Job 23:12 - 12 "I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. NASB
11 Moreover, by them Thy servant is warned;
- God’s Word is filled with wise warnings about how to conduct our lives in a manner that pleases God. The Bible warns that when we fail to please God we sin and the Bible warns us that God is the avenger of sin. The most stern and strict warnings that can be pronounced, are proclaimed in the Bible.
Proverbs 8:32-36 - 32 "Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, For blessed are they who keep my ways. 33 "Heed instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it. 34 "Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts. 35 "For he who finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord. 36 "But he who sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love death." NASB
11 In keeping them there is great reward.
- God promises over and over again in His Word to reward those who seek Him and obey Him. The Bible lays out a great contrast of the two kinds of people in the world. Those who glorify and enjoy God, and those who sin against Him and displease Him and ignore Him. The Lord is indeed a rewarder of those who fear Him and love Him, but those who ignore Him He will destroy.
Psalm 145:18-20 - 18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them. 20 The Lord keeps all who love Him; But all the wicked, He will destroy. NASB
Joshua 1:8 - 8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. NASB
Dear church family, let it be known today and take it to your heart…..“the word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him”
3 comments:
Hello brother Shaan!
Thank you for this great message on God's Word! I have a question for you that we've been kicking around. You're probably going to think I'm nuts, but I wonder if we'll still be studying the Scriptures as we know them now in Heaven.
Isaiah 40:8 says the Word of the Lord stands forever, Yet Matthew 5:18 seems to imply that the Law will disappear, at some point when everything is accomplished.
What do you think?
Hope your'e having a blessed week!
Hey Diane,
Well I surely don't think your nuts, but I do think that is a good question. Here is a few quick thoughts.....
I believe that when we Christians are resurrected in the age to come, we shall see God. Historically, this has been referred to as the "beatific vision," when the saints shall see God in His glory in Heaven at Glorification. There is some understanding of this given in 1 Corinthians 13....
1 Corinthians 13:8-12 - 8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known.NASB
In this context Paul explains that there will come a time when "knowledge will pass away." It is very clear from this context that "when the perfect comes" refers to the Second Coming of Christ, when the saints will be finally glorified. Although some Cessationists see this as when the biblical canon is completed, the vast majority of commentators point to the Second Coming. It seems clear from texts like 1 John 3:2 & 2 Cor 3:18 that the very sight of God has a transforming effect on us and also imply also that there is a consummation of this transformation that takes place at the Second Coming. I think when Paul says, "but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known" he is speaking of that glorious day when we shall see God and be utterly transformed by the very sight of His glorious beauty. I think it is at this point that we undergo a transformation that we cannot comprehend while we are in the confines of this fallen world and in time ans space. In 1 Cor 15:51-54 Paul describes this change saying that we will be made "immortal and imperishable," he also writes in Phil 3:21 that Christ "will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory." These words are very profound in understanding what this tranformation will be like, but coupled together with the texts above and others like Isa 65:17, Jer 3:16 and so seem to imply that our knowledge of things will change drastically. It makes me wonder if that world will be so utterly different from this fallen world, that we will have no need of knowledge as we know it, for "they shall seee His face.....and....God and Christ shall there be their light and shall illumine them" (Rev 22:5). This final knowledge of God will be so personal and intimate and powerfully complete that what was "seeing in a mirror dimly," then shall be fully illumined, glorious and bright shining and beyond our current comprehension. The vision of reality this will give to our hearts and minds shall make us utterly blessed and happy, never again to be tormented by the darkness of sin, shame or contempt of any kind, for there "He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.." Since this personal knowledge of God shall be so comprehensive, knowledge as we know it today will no longer have a function to serve. There we will be totally and completely fulfilled in our knowledge of Him, world without end. Knowledge, as we know it, "will pass away."
Shaan
Concerning Isaiah 40:8, "the word of our God stands forever," I believe in context this means that what God has said is sure, immovable, certain and will not fail. Much like Psalm 33:11 - 11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. NASB. The idea is that everything that the Lord has said, which of course we realize means in the ultimate sense the divine decree, shall indeed come to pass for the Lord "watches over His word to perform it" (Jer 1:12). Whether or not we will have a Bible in heaven as a memorial to God's glorious word we now hold in our hand, I do not know of any scripture that would support that, especially in light of Isa 65:17 and Jer 3:16....
Isa 65:17 - 17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. NASB
Jer 3:16-17 - 16 "And it shall be in those days when you are multiplied and increased in the land," declares the Lord, "they shall say no more, 'The ark of the covenant of the Lord.' And it shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they miss it, nor shall it be made again. NASB
Concerning Matthew 5:18-19 - 18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. NASB. I think that the entire Law has its ultimate fulfilment in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and His glorious messianic work. Although much of this work has been completed in His priestly ministry as the suffering servant, He has a yet grand and glorious future Kingly work which He will begin and complete at His Second Coming. This will all be accomplished during the Millenial Kingdom, when He fulfills all God's promises to the nation of Israel(Land, Seed, Blessing), but also He will recieve the Gentile nations of this world as His inheritance, in fulfilment of God's promise to the Messiah Himself. For example consider Psalm 2....
Psalm2:6-9 - "But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain." 7 "I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, 'Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee. 8 'Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Thine inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Thy possession. 9 'Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron,Thou shalt shatter them like earthenware.'" NASB
When all of this is completed and Christ has "put all His enemies under His feet," (1 Cor 15:25) including the destruction of death and hell at the Great White Throne judgment in Rev 20:7-15, then comes the end and Matt 5:18 will have fulfilment and "all will be accomplished." 1 Cor 15:24-26 - 24 then comes the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. NASB... at this point the Law(every stroke and letter) will have served its purpose and the great end for which God created all things will be fulfilled in the New Heavens and Earth.
Those are some thoughts that I think apply to your question.
What think ye sister?
Shaan
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