HOLY SCRIPTURE IS THE WORD OF GOD

 

By Gary Ray Branscome

 

Unlike all other books in the world, the Holy Bible (the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments) is the Word of God. It is the Word of God in the same way that the writings of George Washington are his word, and the writings of Abraham Lincoln are his word. Through the words, “Search the scriptures; for in them you think that you have eternal life: and they are they that testify of me,” Jesus tells us that the Bible was written to testify of him (John 5:39). And, the words, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God,” tell us that God gives us everlasting life through His Word (Luke 4:4). As it is written, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

          The words, “Unto them [the Jews] was committed the word of God,” tell us that the Hebrew Scriptures are Word of God (Romans 3:2). Jesus’ words, “Everything must be fulfilled, that was written in the law of Moses, in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me,” tell us that because the Old Testament is the Word of God, “everything” it says about Christ had to be “fulfilled” (Luke 24:44). [Note: the phrase, “In the law of Moses, in the prophets, and in the psalms,” refers to the three divisions of the Hebrew Bible, and was a way of saying, “In all of the Scriptures”.]

          Regarding the fulfillment of God’s word, the words, “Until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter or stroke will pass from the law, until everything has been fulfilled,” tell us that even the letters and strokes are the Word of God, and that all that is written will be fulfilled (Matthew 5:18). The words, “All this took place, to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin will be with child, and will bring forth a son, and they will call His name Emmanuel,” tell us that Christ was born in fulfillment of Scripture (Matthew 1:22-23 - See Isaiah 7:14). The words, “Fulfilling what was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, who said, Out of Egypt have I called my son,” tell us that the words of the prophet were the words of God, and the flight of Mary, Joseph and Jesus to Egypt took place in fulfillment of Scripture (Matthew 2:15 - See Hosea 11:1). The words, “None of them is lost, except the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled,” tell us that Judas betrayed Christ in fulfillment of Scripture (John 17:12). And, the words, “Do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and He would at once give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, that say it must be so?” tell us that Christ’s own suffering and death took place in fulfillment of Scripture (Matthew 26:53-54).

 

          The words, “Lord… You said through the mouth of your servant David, Why do the heathen rage, and the people plot in vain?” tell us that the words of David (quoted from Psalm 2:1) were spoken by God (Acts 4:24-25). The words, “The Holy Spirit rightly said to our fathers through Isaiah the prophet,” tell us that words spoken by Isaiah the prophet were spoken by the Holy Ghost (Acts 28:25). [See Isaiah 6:9.] The words, “As the Holy Ghost says, Today if you hear Him speak do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion,” tell us that the words of Psalm 95:7-8 are the words of the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 3:7-8). The words, “What advantage then has the Jew? or what profit is there in circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because the words of God were entrusted to them,” call the scriptures entrusted to God’s people in the Old Testament, “the words of God” (Romans 3:1-2). And, the words, “To the law and to the testimony: if they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them,” tell us that those who contradict Scripture have “no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).

 

          Consider carefully the words, “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into,” (1Peter 1;10-12). Those words tell us that the same “Spirit of Christ” who spoke through the prophets, was speaking through the apostles.  

          The words, “Therefore, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast to the instructions that you were taught, either by what we said, or our letter,” tell us that the writings of the apostles carry the same God-given authority as if they were speaking in person (2Thessalonians 2:15). The words, “You want proof that Christ is speaking through me,” tell us that Christ was speaking through the apostles (2Corinthians 13:3). The words, “If any man thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man will not hear what I have said, refuse to hear him,” tell us that the words of the apostles are the words of God, and we should not listen to those who refuse to heed what they say (1Corinthians 14:37-38). The words, “Those who know God accept what we say; those who are not of God will not accept what we say. That is how we can distinguish the spirit of truth from the spirit of error,” tell us that those who will not accept what the Bible says have a spirit of error (1John 4:6). And, the words, “You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone,” accord the Old testament writings of the prophets equal authority with the New Testament writings of the apostles (Ephesians 2:19-20).