Is the Bible the actual words of God? This might be the most
important question that confronts us. It might also be the weightiest challenge
that comes against us, as the skeptics charge, “It’s just the words of men!”
There are many reasons why we should regard it as God’s
Word. Here are just a few of the reasons:
1.
The Miracles of the Bible
2.
Fulfilled Prophecies
3.
Internal Consistency
4.
External Agreement with the various Disciplines
5.
Changed Lives and Societies
6.
Personal Experience with the Bible
7.
Wisdom of the Bible
8.
Extra-Human Perspective of the Bible
In this essay I just want to focus on one line of evidence –
How the Bible is able to provide sufficient answers for our various needs:
JEALOUSY: We will eternally enjoy all the blessings of God:
·
…For all things are yours, whether…world or life
or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and
Christ is God’s. (1 Corinthians 3:21-23; Col. 2:8-10)
·
He [our Savior] will wipe away every tear from
their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor
crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation
21:4)
INFERIORITY COMPLEX: We
longer need to be obsessed with our weaknesses rejections, and failures:
·
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no
longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the
flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians
2:20)
·
“Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it
to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.” (Daniel 4:17)
·
If God is for us, who can be against us? He who
did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with
him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32)
REGRETS/SELF-OBSESSION: We need no longer worry about our
failures or inadequacies:And we know that for those who love God all things
work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans
8:28)
·
So let no one boast in men. For all things are
yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the
present or the future—all are yours, 1 Corinthians 3:21-22)
·
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD
bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk
uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! (Psalm
84:11-12)
FEAR: Our God is always with us.
·
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What
can man do to me? (Psalm 118:6)
·
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have
called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be
with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk
through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (Isaiah
43:1-2)
·
“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What
shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the
Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you
need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all
these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:31-33)
·
do not be anxious about anything, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
LOVE: Because God loves
us, we need not crave the love of others.
·
but God shows his love for us in that while we
were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been
justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of
God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his
Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans
5:8-10)
·
…know the love of Christ that surpasses
knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19)
·
In this is love, not that we have loved God but
that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John
4:10)
ANGER/REVENGE: We need not take revenge, because our Lord
guarantees that He will bring justice:
·
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to
do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on
you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to
the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the
Lord.” (Romans 12:17-19)
·
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and
that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If
anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy,
and you are that temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
SELF-ESTEEM: Instead, we need to trust in the Lord who is our
hope:
·
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear
him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul
from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; he is
our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:18-20)
·
Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who
trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the
LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He
shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt
land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.” (Jeremiah
17:5-7)
·
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and
saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those
who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (Psalm 34:6-8)
I hope that this brief list is able to demonstrate that whatever our need might be, our Lord
provides answers through His Scriptures. These give us what we need to live
confidently, even if faced with martyrdom.
Nevertheless, wisdom isn’t everything. Ultimately, it is our
Lord who provides, whether through the wisdom He provides or directly. The Lord
has proved Himself and His wisdom to me. I pray that He will also prove Himself
to you.
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