I wanted to share some scripture about what the Bible says about itself, the written word.
Over the years I've met a few different people who do not believe that they need the written word. I wanted to have an answer and so I studied it out. This is the result of three different studies brought together.
Nothing is too hard for God. Every day we see His creation all around us. The mountains, the oceans, a sunrise and a sunset, the grass and trees, the flowers, and all of his creatures from birds to bumblebees!
God created all of these intricate designs that scientists study, physicist examine to the most minuet sub-atomic particles, philosophers question and theorize about it (and have throughout history,) and astronomers seek to know how the universe works to the farest reaches and beyond.
Each of us recognizes the beauty woven into His creation because God is the great scientist, He is the author of it all, the creator of all things who set the laws of nature in place, and even those laws are subject to HIM. Jesus walked on water, He raised the dead, He healed the sick, He spoke of things that are far beyond human understanding.
God can and did do all of that, and yet we question if He can preserve ink on paper? I have absolutely no doubt that God is in control of what is written, and He has preserved it. He is not the author of confusion. He wants us to seek His truth.
Proverbs 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
It Is Written
When Jesus was in the wilderness and the enemy attempted to temp Him, The responses that Jesus gave are written for us. We're called to follow Him, and in following Him, we should be able to answer by what is written.
Here are the three responses that Jesus gave when answering each temptation:
Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
-Matthew 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.._
Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Three times the enemy attempted to tempt Jesus, and all three times He answered with, "It is written."
The very first response also included, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on Every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
The Apostle Paul also used the same term on several occasions. Here are a few examples.
Acts 23:5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
There are several passages where God told people to "write it." Here are a few examples:
Write it
Revelation 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me,
Write: for these words are true and faithful.
The book of Revelation has several occasions where God instructed it to be written, to the seven churches, about the seven candlesticks...etc.
Isaiah 30:8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
Jeremiah 30:2 Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.
(I want to point out that there are many more verses on this subject. I encourage anyone who reads this to search it out.)
Peter tells us how it was written
2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
When God speaks, what He says happens. When God told Moses, Elijah, Abraham, Elisha, Deborah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Jonah and any of the people He used to speak His word, or to write it down, the things that God told each of them to speak, to write and to do as an example, happened, is happening and will happen in every case.
God's word tells us that it is preserved
Psalms 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Psalms 12:7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Psalms 33:4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
Psalms 33:5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
Psalms 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
The first image used is my own.
June 24 2017
