Tribute to Queen Elizabeth | What does the Bible say about Itself?
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What does the Bible say about Itself?
— Prince Thomas
It's worth noting that none among the 40 contributors to the Bible ever imagined that their works will be compiled to form a unified book which would then be used by tens of millions for centuries to come and hence the unique challenge in presenting this subject.
I'm reminded of Paul's letter to Timothy, which exhorts Timothy to read the scriptures so that they will make him wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. It reads like this in 2 Timothy chapter 3, verses 15 to 17,
So the Bible claims to be useful for making us wise for salvation. It also claims to be God-breathed, meaning that it is a product of the very breath of God. And since it is from God, it is also useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
Now, people spend a lifetime reading this book. They research about it and they write papers on it. But today, I'd like to put down what the Bible says about itself in four words that all begin with the letter S. The Bible says about itself that it is,
Supreme
Sufficient
Self-illuminating for the spiritually inclined
Saves by introducing the reader to the Savior
So it is Supreme, Sufficient, Self-illuminating for the spiritually inclined, and it Saves.
#1 - Supreme
Let's look at why the Bible calls itself Supreme. It's Supreme because we as Christians believe that it is the inspired word of God. Its inspiration is supernatural. There is no other way to describe it.
When a library of sixty-six books, which has 1,187 chapters and 31,173 verses written by 40 people in three different languages - Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic, covering a span of 1,500 years, yet weaving through its pages a unity in a theme that there is the salvation of the human race through the person of Jesus Christ, that itself is incredible! And for the discerning reader, this book is as relevant today as it was 2000 years ago. Its Supreme authority, by virtue of its origins that is, we know that it is God-breathed, is perhaps the reason why millions of people over the centuries have found it to be sufficient, which brings me to my second point that the Bible says about itself, that it is sufficient.
#2 - Sufficient
Why is the Bible sufficient?
Because it is not man's vision of God but God's vision for man. Hence it provides wisdom and solution for all ranges of human behaviour. As we just read in Paul's letter to Timothy, it corrects, rebukes, teaches, and trains a person for every good work.
It is a book which has spoken with the same intensity to Presidents and prisoners. Abraham Lincoln, the famous president of America, has often quoted this book on various important junctures in his life, both political and personal. We have live examples of many prisoners coming to Christ through prison ministry fellowships.
And because it's God's vision for man, its integrity is unquestionable. It doesn't whitewash any personality. For example, it portrays King David in all his valour and splendour. And at the same time, it exposes him for all his vulnerabilities. This integrity validates the Bible as an all-sufficient resource to mankind from the maker himself. The Bible calls itself a sufficient book. And as with any worthy resource, you get the most benefit out of it when you approach it with the right attitude and mindset.
#3 - Self-illuminating for the spiritually inclined
People can read the Bible for its signs. Some people say it is a book of poetries and you know, it has sixty-six books and it's got all genres in it, but at the end of the day, the Holy Bible is God unfolding his plan for mankind. There is a very deep spiritual message in it. And hence, the Bible says about itself that it's self-illuminating for the spiritually inclined.
In Deuteronomy, chapter 4 verse 7, there is this beautiful quote, which I like. It says,
It's a very often repeated quote which says the Bible is the only book whose author is always present when one reads it. How true it is!
In the New Testament, apostle John records an interesting conversation that Jesus is having with his disciples. He was referring to what would eventually happen after his physical departure from Earth. Jesus said that he would send his Spirit on his behalf, which we call the Holy Spirit now, to reside on his believers as a source of Jesus' power and God's guarantee. We see that in John chapter 15 from verses 13 to 15. It goes like this,
You see, the Bible is a spiritually loaded book and it is self-illuminating for the spiritually inclined. So to just recap my previous points, the Bible is Supreme. The Bible is sufficient. The Bible says about itself that it's a self-illuminating book for the spiritually inclined. But finally, I would've missed out on the point completely if I don't mention the most important reason for the Bible's existence.
#4 - Saves
The Bible says about itself that it is able to save mankind because it would introduce the reader to the Saviour himself. So how does it do that?
It constantly empowers the believer to lead fulfilling lives. Not only during their time on earth but also after we have passed away. The Bible saves. The belief of a Christian and basically our Christian worldview is that we, as a race, have fallen from the maker's grace due to the initial disobedience. And Jesus came down to redeem us from the fallen state, by shedding his blood as a sacrifice to put us right with the Holy God. And we need to believe in the work of his Son in order for us to be saved. The message Bible has put this so eloquently, in John chapter 3, verses 16 to 18, it reads like this,
And that's what the message Bible says. We know the NIV version of it, which says,
CONVERSATION STREET
With: Matt & Sharon Edmundson
What is Conversation Street?
Conversation Street is part of our live stream, where the hosts (in this case, Matt & Sharon) chat through Prince's talk and answer questions that were sent in through the live stream. You can watch the conversation in the video, it starts at 42 min 29 seconds into the live stream, or you can go straight there by clicking here. This week’s questions and topics of conversation are:
What does it mean "The Bible is inspired of God"?
How much authority does the Bible have in today's modern world?
The late Queen Elizabeth said in her 2016 Christmas speech that "It is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God's love." Why is it important to forgive?
Why should we obey God's word when it is quite easy to challenge it's authority?
Why should I live according to the rules of a book that's 2000 years old?
More Bible Verses About Itself
2 Peter 1:20,21 - Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 30:5 - Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.
Deuteronomy 29:29 - The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
John 5:39 - You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!
Amos 8:11 - “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.
Psalms 19:7-9 - The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous.
Matthew 24:35 - Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Isaiah 55:11 - So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Hebrews 4:12,13 - For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Matthew 4:4 - But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”