We are spending several weeks looking at the simplest summary of what the church has meant when it says, “The Bible is God’s word.” When we come to God’s special revelation, the Bible, we believe God by His Spirit immediately illumines our hearts. It is He who teaches us. We are, as Romans says, taught, “in Him.”
Not only is this knowledge graciously given, but it is sufficient for everything that I need for life and Godliness. The Bible is the Lord’s provision for my wisdom and understanding. Every subject of real living and life finds its foundation in the Bible.
This last Sunday I sarcastically, unkindly took potshots at a quote taken from an esteemed teacher, writer, and preacher in our denomination. (I am quite certain he’d feel as threatened by me as Mike Tyson would if Nicholas and Noah Poimbeouf attacked him.) Read out of context his quote seems, at least superficially, to be wrong headed. All things reflect the truth of God. He is the Author of all things. Everything points to Him one way or another.
We don’t depend on “pop psychology” to placate people into trusting the gospel, but more Christians need to be challenged to love their neighbors by understanding that every human being sees things from their own cultural perspective. No one examines life without previous assumptions,and many of ours are from the blessing of a strong heritage, but that heritage is not the same thing as the scripture.
The scripture is sufficient, but we can’t read the scripture without assumptions. Those assumptions must constantly be acknowledged, surrendered and held gently. In that way we remain partners in the constant abiding work of the Holy Spirit who teaches us Divine truth.
There is absolute truth. No one culture sees it completely. Therefore we remain dependent on our Heavenly Father to make His revelation, unchanging and new every day.
If I say the scripture is sufficient for my life then I must ask, “How am I living by the words of God?” Better still, “What part of my day today is an emptying of my certain expectations and what is a humble acknowledgment of His Divine prerogative to teach me His word. How do you say, “Teach me thy Law O Lord that I might not sin against thee.”
God’s word will give you everything you need today.
In His Love,
Ted