Breathed out by God

“ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)

Scripture is inerrant, meaning it is without error or fault. It is not a mere storybook, like Aesop’s Fables, but a divine revelation given to humans by God for His glory. This belief is not just a claim but a truth that is consistently upheld throughout the Bible. Psalm 119, for instance, is a beautiful ode to the importance and truth of God's word. The Bible itself claims to be inerrant and pure, and passages in Numbers, Titus, and Hebrews affirm that God, who is the ultimate source of Scripture, cannot lie.

God, we can see that science often aligns with scripture. Archaeology and geology reflect the accuracy of scripture. Herbert Spencer received accolades as a scientist who developed the theory that all that exists falls into five categories: time, force, action, space, and matter. Just look at Genesis 1: In the beginning (time), God (force), Action (created), Space (heaven), and matter (earth).1 This idea seemed to be developed long before Mr. Spencer made his conclusions.

I have never known a true Christian, one who had submitted to the will of God and received salvation through faith in Christ, who did not believe the Bible, all of it. The indwelling of the Spirit gives us this confidence. We can hear and understand the gospel and all of scripture.

We are blessed that there are two volumes to the Bible: the Old Testament, which predicts the work of God in humanity and the need for salvation, and the New Testament, which reveals the fulfillment of the word of God in humanity through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 53 is the perfect example; John MacArthur noted it should be called the first gospel because Isaiah announces the crucifixion and the resulting availability of salvation in detail.2

Not believing in the authority of scripture is tantamount to not believing in God's sovereignty. It's important to remember that the laws of physics and nature do not bind God; He can manipulate creation as He sees fit. We cannot selectively choose which parts of scripture to believe; the entirety of scripture is eternally valid. As Isaiah wrote in 40:8, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” This verse underscores the enduring authority of God's word, which remains unchanged despite the transient nature of the world.

If a “Christian” wants to debate the veracity of scripture, remember that they may not be born of the Spirit, so your arguments could fall on deaf ears. Picking away at the reliability of scripture is an attempt to pick away at the sovereignty of God. No Christian who has placed their faith in Christ would attempt to defame the one true living God and question the accuracy of scripture is just that: defamation of the Lord.

Scripture exists for one purpose, and one purpose alone: Soli Deo Gloria, for the Glory of God alone. This truth should fill us with a deep sense of reverence and respect for the word of God, understanding that it is not just a book but a divine revelation that exists solely for the glorification of our Creator.

Grace and Peace!

[1] John MacArthur, Ligonier Ministries, For the Authority of Scripture, 2016

[2] Ibid