The Mechanics of Inspiration

(Article for publication week of 9-30-2009 AD)

"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (II Peter 1:21).

One of the great challenges we face in our day is to convince people of the inspiration and authority of the Bible. The inspiration and authority of the Bible has been undermined in many ways, not the least of which is the liberal seminaries that have brainwashed their students by so-called "higher criticism". The genuine believers of the Bible appear to be very few.

I declare unto you my friends that the Bible is the unadulterated word of God. The Lord is the Author of the Bible, not men. The inspired writers of the Bible wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The scriptures came to us by God's will, not man's.

How did the Holy Ghost "move" the sacred writers? As we shall see, it was in different ways, but they were always being "moved" by the Holy Ghost.

The Ten Commandments, God's moral law, were written by God Himself. We read in Exodus 31:18, "and He gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of communing with him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." So we see this part of scripture was written by God Himself.

Quite a bit of scripture was dictated by God and the Holy Men wrote exactly what was dictated. We read in Exodus 34:27, "and the LORD said unto Moses, 'write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.' " It appears that the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch were dictated verbatim by God to Moses and he wrote exactly what God told him. Again, we read in I Timothy 4:1, "the Spirit speaketh EXPRESSLY." So we see that some major portions of God's word were "mechanically " inspired, an idea that has been ridiculed by liberals, and sadly parroted by some who are otherwise conservative.

In Revelation 1:11 we read, "what thou seest, write in a book." The way the Holy Spirit "moved" the Apostle John to write the Book of Revelation was, He showed him visions and instructed him to write down what he saw. The Holy Spirit continued moving John as he wrote what he saw, for we read in Revelation 2:7, "he that hath an ear, let him hear what the SPIRIT saith unto the churches."

The Apostles were given perfect recall to write the gospels. We read in John 14:26, ""but the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." When Matthew, Mark, Luke and John wrote the four gospel accounts, the Holy Spirit moved them by causing them to have a perfect memory of everything they had heard Jesus say.

The Old Testament prophets were given a message and told to write it out. Thus we read often in the prophets, "the burden of the Lord" and "thus saith the Lord." King David the sweet psalmist of Israel said, "the Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His word was in my tongue." So we see the Holy Spirit moved David when he wrote the inspired Hymnal.

In short my friends, the Bible is a miraculous Book. Our God is a miracle working God and His verbally inspired word is one of His greatest miracles. Never doubt the Word of God.

The Inspiration of Scripture

(Article for publication week of 9-25-2009 AD)

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (II Timothy 3:16-17).

When we see and understand that the Bible is the Word of God, then we will believe it and yield ourselves to it. The Holy Scriptures are the only writings in the world that are written by God. Inspiration means that God Himself is the Author of the Bible.

The inspiration of scripture is far different from the writing of a hymn, poem or sermon. Sometimes people speak of a poet or hymn writer as having “inspiration”. Poets and hymn writers may indeed have their thoughts influenced by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, but the inspiration of scripture is far different from that.

The word “inspiration” means, “God breathed”. This is a very interesting, enlightening and powerful word. The same word that is translated “breath” and “wind” in the New Testament is the same word that is translated “spirit”, and especially for the Holy Spirit. So you see the scriptures are “breathed out “ by God Himself. The Holy Spirit, Who is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, Who is coequal with the Father and the Son, “breathed” upon men to write the Word of God.

II Peter 1:21 tells us “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” The various writers of the Books of the Bible such as Moses, David, the prophets and the apostles wrote what God would have them to write. The Holy Ghost influenced their minds in a miraculous way so every word they wrote was exactly what God would have them write. Every word in the Bible is therefore the word of God.

The Psalmist David, one of the inspired writers of scripture said “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His word was in my tongue.” ( II Samuel 23:2). When David took pen in hand to write the Psalms, the Holy Spirit, Who is God, told David what to write. David did not write what he thought, but what God inspired. And thus it is with all the sixty-six books of the Bible, The Holy Spirit is the True author.

When we read the Bible we must be aware that what we are reading is not a human production. We are reading the words of God. When people are convinced that the Bible is inspired of God, they approach the scriptures in a different way than those who doubt their inspiration. When we read the Bible with faith in God and His word, we will be instructed, corrected, reproved and rebuked so that we may indeed be perfect. As you read your Bible this week, think to yourself, ”this is God’s word I am reading; I am holding in my hand the production of the Holy Spirit.”

Thank God for His inspired Word.

The Necessity of Scripture

(Article for publication week of 9-9-2009 AD)

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the daystar arise in your hearts:” (II Peter 1:19). Although Peter had been with the Lord on the Mount of transfiguration, and heard a voice from heaven, he says we have in the scriptures a more sure word of prophecy. If you heard a voice from heaven telling you something contrary to the word, would you believe it? Most people would, but they should not.

The scriptures are necessary for us because all special revelation has ceased. Paul says in Galatians 1 that even if an angel from heaven preaches another gospel, we should not believe it. That which is perfect is come (that is the entire canon of scripture), and we are not to look for further revelation (see I Corinthians 13:10 and Revelation 22:18-19).

Furthermore, the scriptures are necessary because general revelation is insufficient to give saving knowledge. All men know there is a God because of His creation (Psalm 19:1-3; Roman 1:20), and because of the conscience that He has placed in every man (Romans 2:14-15). This general revelation is sufficient to leave all men inexcusable, but it is not sufficient to give the knowledge of salvation. No one will be able to stand before God on the Day of Judgment (and there will be such a day, mark you well), and claim they did not have enough knowledge of God. The most benighted heathen in Africa who has not heard the gospel knows there is a God because the heavens declare Him, and he will be inexcusable on the Day of Judgment for not worshipping the God Who created him and all things. Though all men do not have the written law of God, they have His law written in their hearts and they will be inexcusable for not obeying that law perfectly as God requires of all men. All men have enough knowledge to be damned, but saving knowledge is only through the Word of God.

Life eternal is to know the Lord Jesus Christ, and you cannot know Him apart from His gospel revealed in His word. Romans 1:16-17 tells us that the gospel is THE power of God unto salvation and that justification is revealed exclusively in the gospel. Acts 4:12 tells us that there is no other Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved, and no one can believe through a name of which they have not heard. Romans 10:17 plainly says “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

So you see the absolute necessity of scripture. God has been very good to us in giving us His word. I urge you my friends and neighbors, if you value your never dying souls, read the word of God. The scriptures testify of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only way of salvation. You have enough knowledge of God to be without excuse on the Day of Judgment, but will you gain the knowledge necessary to be saved? May the Lord be merciful to some of you and cause His Word to be the power of God unto salvation to you.