The Bible is the greatest Book ever written. It is made up of 66 smaller books that were written by many different authors over a span of roughly 1500 years. These 66 books are like a magnificent choir—there are many distinct voices but they all sing the same song. How can so much unity exist in the midst of such diversity? All the authors of the Bible have this in common: the Holy Spirit helped and guided and carried each of them along as they wrote down God’s words (2 Peter 1:21). The Spirit’s guidance was given to each author such that even word choice was God’s choice. Every word is a “God-breathed” word, a living word from the heart of a wonderfully personal God (2 Tim. 3:15; Hebrews 4:12). While not revealing Himself exhaustively, God has revealed Himself and His special plan of salvation sufficiently and with such clarity that, with the help of God’s Spirit, young and old, wise and simple can understand the things that have been revealed. Clearly, God wants us to know Him, love Him, and live with Him for eternity, for He has spoken throughout history and has made sure that His words were written down and preserved for us.

So how should we respond to God’s Word?

We should trust entirely in God’s words and lean not on our own understanding, for “the words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times” (Psalm 12:6). God’s words are perfectly pure and trustworthy. We can and should bank on them. Stated negatively, one should not be tossed to and fro by doubt or skepticism regarding the Bible’s reliability, for there are no errors in God’s Word. Apparent discrepancies should drive God’s children to study His Word all the more reverently and prayerfully, while patiently and humbly waiting on God for understanding. The reality is that God’s Word is the ultimate authority and standard by which every human idea and action will be judged and this standard is active whether or not one acknowledges or respects it. Therefore, we would do well to bend our minds and hearts around God’s words and feed on them like our Savior did (John 4:34). God’s words are precious and trustworthy. 

 So let us study them! Savor them! Sing them! And share them with others!

*If you have any Bible questions or would like to have a more nuanced conversation about what we believe and teach here at FBC, you are more than welcome to contact Pastor Brandon at pastor@fbcpierz.org or call him at: (320) 630-3210.

The ESV Study Bible

God Wrote a Book by James MacDonald

The Doctrine of the Word of God by John Frame

Taking God at His Word by Kevin DeYoung

*If you do not have access to a Bible please let the church know and we can get one for you.