Monday 25 November 2013

Read Ecclesiastes 12:9-10. 2 Tim 3:16-17

A particular “evangelical” (which means Bible believing) website posted these words, “If Jesus as a finite human being erred from time to time, there is no reason at all to suppose that Moses, Paul, John [sic] wrote Scripture without error. Rather, we are wise to assume that the biblical authors expressed themselves as human beings writing from the perspectives of their own finite, broken horizons.” What they are basically saying is that it is highly possible that the Bible contains errors.

If the Word of God is not infallible and inerrant then a host of problems arise. How do we know which bits of the Bible are true and which bits aren’t? How do we judge between the various bits of the Bible? Do we call in an outside arbiter like science, logic or reason? How do we know which bits are allegorical and which bits are literal? Who has the ultimate say?

If the Bible contains errors then we believers have no surety. We have no foundation on which to build our life. We have not solid foundation on which to stand. Reading the Bible becomes guess work in which I determine the bits I want to believe and the bits that I don’t want to believe. The Bible quickly becomes about me and not about GOD!

2 Tim 3:16-17 says that all Scripture is inspired (literally God-breathed). It means that every Word of the Bible has been spoken out to us by God. Can God breathe out error? Can God speak what is false?

Over and over again the Word of God affirms that it is true, inerrant and infallible. Read Proverbs 30:5, 2 Peter 1:21 as well to help you see what the Bible says about itself.

The question is whether or not you and I believe the Word of God to be true in its entirety.

Prayer:

ª Ask the Lord to bring a deep seated conviction to everyone in your congregation that the Bible is inerrant, infallible and totally true from cover to cover.

 Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. How does today’s passage account for older non-believers who come to faith in their old age?

2. Can you explain today’s passage in you own words?