THE WORD OF GOD- THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CHRISTIAN FAITH – 2 Peter 1:19-21; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Tim 3:16

Lesson Aim: To understand the word of God and know how to handle it appropriately and properly to profit our lives as children of God

The Word of God is loaded with profit for man (Isa. 48:17). Many Christians today carry the Bible but fail to understand what the Bible carries. It is not possible to know and fully comprehend what the Bible carries and remain an ordinary person. The Word of God is the richest treasure on the face of the earth, the richest treasure that a man can access (Col. 2:3; John 1:1)

What is Bible vs Word of God? The Book of God the Bible is a collection of 66 books written originally in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Its writers included prophets (Moses and Isaiah), Kings (David and Solomon), a farmer (Amos), a tax collector (Matthew), a doctor (Luke) and many others. This alone of all the religious books in the world is God’s book. We cannot add anything to it (like the Catholics, Mormons and Moslems try to do) nor can we take anything from it (Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18-19; Mark 7:1-13).

The Scripture is not the same as earthly literature, it is spiritual adventure. Scripture does not come to give you information but for instruction, it comes to impart you revelation (1Sam. 3:21). The Bible does not claim to tell us all that can be known about God and his ways; the more we learn, the more we know. The Bible is not given to satisfy our curiosity about all scientific, philosophical or theological questions; it is given to show us who God is and how we can come to know, love and please him: (Deuteronomy 29:29; John 20:30-31). If we read the Bible with reverence, humility of heart and with understanding of the Holy Spirit, then we shall find that God speaks through it to us today and it is ever relevant words.

Bible comprises Old and New Testament, with different writing styles and focus but all pointing to the living God, His ways and wills leading us how to please Him all the days of our lives.

The Origin/Author of the Word of God:

Men spoke from God

The Bible is God’s book through which he speaks to us clearly and unmistakably through all kinds of different men: 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 Peter 1:20-21).

Each book of the Bible therefore has two authors, the Holy Spirit who is the primary author and the person who wrote the book! We must recognize therefore both the human and the divine elements throughout the Bible. We can see that the different authors each have their own style, uniqueness and characteristics. But regardless of men writing down the word of God, it remain infallible and preserved by God, authors through Holy Spirit are prevented from making errors either in doctrine or in matters of historical fact.

The Old Testament as God’s Word and how the New Testament writers believed it.

The Old Testament worship and sacrifices were temporary and pointed forward to the coming of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ. This is explained very fully in the Letter to the Hebrews. This means that parts of the law given to Moses were of a temporary nature to be observed only until Jesus

There are many examples where New Testament writers quote from the Old Testament, showing their full acceptance of it as the word of God. Throughout his writings Paul is continually quotes from the Old Testament to prove various points-

And we declare to you glad tidings – that promise made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are my Son, Today I have begotten You’ (Acts 13:32 – 33).

See also Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Galatians 3:6 -13. The writer to the Hebrews, James, Peter and Jude all do the same (Hebrews 1:5-13; James 2:8-11; 1 Peter 2:6-10; Jude 7, 11, 14)

The Word of God is one and unbroken- John 10:35ff

a) Jesus Christ believed it. The Lord Jesus Christ fully believed the Old Testament and often quoted passages from it to prove a point. Here are some examples-Isaiah 61:1- 2; Luke 4:17,20-21; John 5:46-47; Luke 24:44).

b) Why God caused it to be written down. God took great care to see that his Word was written down very accurately so that it could be handed down from one generation to another. In this way his will would be made known and preserved for the future. We can see how this was done both in the life of Moses and in the prophets who lived several hundred years after him: -Exod. 24:3-4; Isaiah 8:1; 30:8; Jeremiah 25:13). The word of God is written as the Bible to preserve from loss ( (2 Kings 22:8-23:2; Nehemiah 8-10).

For further study look up Deuteronomy 17:13-19; 31:24-39; Joshua 24:26; 1 Samuel 10:25; Jeremiah 36:4, 45:1; Habakkuk 2: 2.

c) The word of God is precious: God’s Word is very precious because it shows us the truth about God, about ourselves and the way to everlasting life. It teaches us how God wants us to live and it preserves us from sin and from temptation-Psalm 19:9- 11).

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope (Romans 15:4).