It’s very difficult witnessing to unbelievers, and even preaching to Christians, when many people today don’t believe in the inspiration of the Scripture. So, what do I mean when I use the term inspiration? The beginning of The Baptist Faith and Message states, “The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man.” To believe in the inspiration of the Scripture is to acknowledge that God spoke to the authors and writers of the Bible through the Holy Spirit, guiding their thoughts as they put pen to paper (or quill to scroll). 2 Peter 1:19-21 states,
We have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” To hold that the Bible is inspired by God means it holds weight and authority in our lives, providing a moral compass to guide our thoughts and actions. The Bible, therefore, becomes the source of truth by which we live. The prophet Daniel said of the Scripture, “But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth” (Daniel 10:21).
The inspired Word of God, being the source of truth, lends authoritative weight to its precepts. The Baptist Faith and Message continues to say, “[The Scripture] is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.”
The Baptist Faith and Message says that the precepts contained in the Scripture guide the Lord in His judgments and are meant to guide us in our conduct, creeds, and opinions. I already stated that the Bible is the source of truth; however, we live in a world today where people want to form their own truth, and make it up as they go – a false truth that becomes a license to sin and live independently from accountability to God or anyone else, for that matter. When everyone holds his or her own truth, and there is no absolute standard, then chaos ensues leading to social collapse.
A rejection of the inspiration and authority of the Scripture is simply the resurfacing of a very old problem, one that’s been around since the beginning of the creation of the world; which is sin and rebellion against God. What you believe concerning the inspiration of the Scripture boils down to a matter of faith. You either believe that the Bible is inspired, or you don’t. You either believe God is who He says He is, or you don’t. You can’t walk the middle of the road or ride the fence, for Jesus views those who are lukewarm as vomit to be spat out and rejected (Revelation 3:15-16).
This may sound like a harsh, unloving and judgmental message to those who believe in tolerance and allowing people to believe what they want. Josh McDowell writes, “Tolerance says, ‘You must agree with me.’ Love responds, ‘I must do something harder: I will tell you the truth, because I am convinced the truth will set you free’.” Bill Fay, in his book Share Jesus Without Fear, says, “Either you can share your faith, or you can say nothing and in your silence love your friends into hell.”
God didn’t call me to be tolerant and share a false love; He called me to demonstrate true love, which sometimes requires offending people to set them on the right path; and the right path concerning the Scripture is to receive it in faith as being the inspired and authoritative Word of God, “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Joshua said of the Scripture, “You shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8). Heeding the Bible as the inspired and authoritative Word of God will lead to abundant life; therefore, I encourage you to receive the Scripture in faith; to believe it and trust it with all your heart.