In view of Tim's excellent and hugely important current series of posts showing us why we have good and sufficient reasons for believing that the Bible is truly the Word of God, I thought it good to respond by saying----- so what? That is, so what difference must this make in our lives in response to the reality that the Bible is indeed the very Word of the infinite-personal God?
I know of perhaps no better succinct description of what our response must be than how it is said in the great Westminster Confession of Faith, where in connection with how true saving faith ---that is, that genuine trust which accepts, receives, and rests upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life--- expresses itself, it says:
"...... a Christian believes to be true whatever is revealed in the Word, because of the authority of God himself speaking in it. He also responds differently to what each particular passage contains-----obeying the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come." (WCF Chapter 14, Section 2).
And so, 2 questions: Are you? Am I?
O to hear the Bible as if it were the audible voice of God from heaven--with all the reverence, awe, joy, astonishment, submissiveness, eagerness, and attentiveness that that experience would, and a right view of Scripture should produce.
ReplyDeleteIt is God's Voice recorded. I wonder if we'd access the truth a bit more if we think of it like we would a CD. When we pop a CD into a player we hear the words and voice of the speaker, and depending on who it is, it creates various emotions and responses.
Every time we read the Bible, it's like hearing a CD from God, only better because if we're Christians, we've got God's Spirit inside us to make it come alive!
Maybe a poor analogy, but maybe it'll provoke thought...
When God saved me He blessed me with a hunger and thirst for His word. It continues to this day. That was and is His grace at work in me.
ReplyDeleteBut I believe we have all been given that grace and God's very Spirit to confirm that what we read is true.
If you are in doubt about this read 1 Corinthians 2, the whole chapter. See if this does not cause you to respond differently at how you look at your Bible. And it all starts with the Gospel.
Let me wet your appetite!
1 Corinthians 2
1And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Don't stop here, get out your Bible and continue reading you'll find out what "so what?" really means.