A married woman tells herself that having a drink alone with her boss after work won’t hurt anything.(1)
A woman has a gut feeling that the yoga chants she’s doing are unbiblical, but the more she does them, the less they bother her.
A young couple decides that watching movies that mock godly values won’t affect them and might even help them identify with their unsaved neighbors.(2)
God's Word is a mirror, revealing our sins so we can repent and spare ourselves sorrow.
But we need to do more than look into the mirror. We need to apply what we see to our lives (James 1:22-25).
If we don't obey, we deceive ourselves. And self-deception always leads to greater sins (1 John 1:8; Jeremiah 17:9).
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(1) See Two Steps to Sexual Sin.
(2) See Soft-Core Christians.
I was looking in that mirror today. I fall so short! :'(
ReplyDeleteIn what sense we call the bible God's word. Please note I'm not questioning the authority or truthfulness of the bible. As far as I'm concerned if the bible says it, then that settles it. I'm asking because the term God's word is not clear to me. I mean it's obvious that God has disagreed with Job's friends yet we still call this as God's word.
ReplyDeleteHi Hadi Youssef,
DeleteIt is God's Word because God chose which historic events and what aspects of those events He wanted recorded. For example, if I wrote a book about an historic event, I would use my words to describe it and even though I would include quotes from people with whom I disagreed, I would still be the author of the book. The conversations of Job's friends are in God's recorded Word, but those specific words were not spoken by God. In the same way, the arguments of the Pharisees are recorded. Both Job's friends and the Pharisees serve as bad examples and God uses those situations to teach us His principles.
Also, Throughout the Bible, Scripture is referred to as God's Word.
Here are some examples:
Psalm 119:9-16: How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees;I will not neglect your word.
Proverbs 30:5: Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
In this conversation, Jesus specifically called the Scriptures God's Word:
John 8:31: "...to whom the word of God came--and Scripture cannot be set aside--"
It's God-breathed meaning it comes from God, so calling it His Word is an accurate way to describe it:
2 Timothy 3:16-17:All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Men didn't decide what to record:
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.
I hope this helps you understand that it's completely legitimate to call the Bible God's Word.