The Holy Bible – God’s Word to Mankind

The Bible is an amazing book. It is no ordinary book. It stands far above the writings of any man. Man's writings may be helpful, but they can never claim to be the Word of God, nor should they be held up as though they teach exactly what the Bible teaches.

THE BIBLE IS HOLY

It is called the Holy Bible because it is ‘holy’. The word ‘holy’ means separate, set apart by God. The Bible is unlike any other book that you may have read. God has set His Word, the Holy Bible, apart from any other book that has ever been written. Many books have been written by men throughout history. No other book can truly be said to be holy, because no other book has God as the author. It is a wonderful book that has come from God to reveal Himself to mankind.

THE BIBLE IS INSPIRED

The word ‘inspired’ means ‘God-breathed’. The Holy Bible is unique from all other books because it comes from God. Yes, men wrote it, but they did so as God ‘inspired’ them to do so.

2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.

God used men to write the Bible, but they did so as they were “moved” by the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Peter makes this clear.

2 Peter 1:21 - for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Think about that. If you have a Bible, you have a book that was written by God, through men, to reveal Himself to mankind. That is a miracle in itself and worth getting excited about. No longer are you left to yourself, your thoughts, or your ideas to understand who God is. God has made Himself known in the pages of the Bible. The more you learn about the Bible, the more you are learning the truth about who God really is.

Many people think they understand God. Sadly, their views of God are based on their own thoughts rather than what God Himself says. If you want to rightly know the God who created you, you must come to know Him as He has revealed Himself in the Bible and through His Son, Jesus Christ. You are urged to lay aside your preconceived thoughts about the Bible and God. Come with a humble attitude to learn the truth about God as He revealed Himself in the Holy Bible.

THE BIBLE IS TRUTH

Not only is the Bible holy and inspired, it is also truth. Truth has been defined as “conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be”. Jesus taught that God’s Word is truth in His prayer to His Father.

John 17:17 – Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

Jesus knew that the Word of God is truth. God’s words have been preserved for mankind in the Holy Bible. If the Word of God is not truth, that would make Jesus Christ a liar. How sad that many people have been taught that the Holy Bible is simply a book filled with errors written by man! To believe such a statement is to call Christ a liar.

David, King of Israel in the Old Testament taught the same thing about God’s Word.

Psalm 119:160 - The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.

King David is known in the Bible as a “man after God’s heart”. He is described that way because he was a man who loved and obeyed God’s Word. David knew that God’s Word was truth and could be trusted. Despite the many difficulties David faced during his lifetime, he believed the Word of God to be truth, and he lived according to it.

THE BIBLE IS UNCHANGING

Because it is truth, that means that the Holy Bible is unchanging. Why? Because truth does not change. God Himself is the author, and He is unchanging. We can have confidence that what God has revealed about Himself will always be true.

Psalm 119:89 - Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.

How comforting it is to know that God’s Word will always be the same. You can stake your life on it, not only in this world, but for all eternity. There is nothing steadier than God and His Word. Throughout history, men have tried to discredit the Bible. But it has stood the test of time. God has preserved his Word!

The Apostle Peter taught that God’s Word is eternal; it will continue forever. It cannot change.

1 Peter 1:25 …but the word of the lord endures forever.

THE BIBLE IS INERRANT

Inerrant is not a word we use very often. But when it comes to understanding the Bible, it is an important word. The word “inerrant” means “without error”. In other words, the Bible, as written by God in the original languages, is without any error. That does not mean that in the Bible you will not find things that men said that have errors. Many men in the stories of the Bible have lied or said things that are not true. However, that is completely different than teaching that there are errors God made in the Bible. God’s Word, as written by men who were inspired by God, is without error. In other words, everything those men wrote is in conformity to what is true. God’s Word is inerrant.

THE BIBLE IS INFALLIBLE

While the word inerrant means without error, the word infallible means “incapable of error”. Not only is the Bible without error, it is impossible for the Bible to teach error. Everything that God has said in the Bible must be true. If it were not, then God Himself could not be trusted. If God is wrong in what He communicated to man, He would no longer be God. Therefore, if you are to properly understand the Bible, you must accept the fact that the Bible is both inerrant and infallible.

Titus 1:2 - in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago…

The Bible is clear that God CANNOT lie. It is impossible! If God in His Word taught one lie, then He Himself would be a liar. This can never be. God is infallible, and His Word is infallible. Sadly, many who teach the Bible do not believe in the inerrant, infallible Word of God. Do you?

THE BIBLE IS AUTHORITATIVE

To be authoritative means that the Bible has authority to command us how to act. God is not giving us suggestions on how to live in the Bible, He is commanding us how to live. To disobey God’s Word is sin; it is not simply a bad idea. God, as your Creator, has authority over you. Just as if you made a paper airplane, you have the authority to do with it what you want. In the same way, God has commanded you in His Word how you are to live your life. God makes it plain: if you do not obey, you will destroy your life. If you obey, you will be blessed in life. That does not mean that if you follow God through Jesus Christ, your life will be easy, but it will be blessed by God.

Have you lived your life under the authority of God’s Word? Have you submitted to His rule in your life? If not, now is the time to begin.

THE BIBLE IS SUFFICIENT

When we teach that the Bible is sufficient, we mean that it is all that we need to properly understand who God is. Everything you need to know God and live a life pleasing to Him is contained in the Holy Bible. That does not mean that God does not use other books, or people, or circumstances to teach us. What it does mean is, if you have a Bible, it is a sufficient book to teach us the truth about God.

2 Peter 1:3 …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.

Jesus was teaching the same truth when he said to Satan, while being tempted in the wilderness…

Matthew 4:4 - But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Jesus means that men cannot have true life simply from physical food. In order to experience the true life that He promises, you must live by every word that God has given. The Bible is sufficient to teach us how to live a life that pleases God.

THE BIBLE IS LIVING

While this may sound strange, it is true! God’s Word, the Bible, declares it to be so. Listen to the words of the Apostle Peter as he describes the Word of God.

1 Peter 1:23 - since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

Peter means that God’s Word is not old and useless, it is living and useful. In fact, Peter teaches in this verse that people are born again through the living and abiding Word of God.

Again, we see this same truth taught in the book of Hebrews. Notice how clear the author is to show us that God’s Word is alive and powerful. The Bible is not some outdated, useless book. It is the Living Word of God!

Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

This should bring encouragement to you as you learn about the One True and Living God. He has revealed Himself to us in a Living Book, the Holy Bible. Just as millions of lives throughout history have been changed by believing in Jesus Christ, the journey begins with His Word.

Do you want to know the Living God? Do you want to be a true follower of Jesus Christ? Maybe you would say you already do know and follow Him. Maybe you recognize you have never truly known Him. Regardless of where you are in your life today, the way to know God is through His Word.

Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of God.