GOD

… Reconciling the world unto God …

The Scripture used throughout this study is quoted from the King James Version. Any explanatory insertions by the author within a Scripture verse are enclosed in brackets [ ].

© 1996 by Vincent C. Finnegan

P.O. Box 3098, Latham NY 12110, USA

---

TABLE OF CONTENTS

God's Word is Truth

The Integrity of God's Word

---

God's Word is Truth

God has magnified His Word above all His name (Psalms 138:2). All those who have walked closely with God understand the importance of God’s Word and the exalted position it rightfully deserves. Jesus Christ always highly esteemed God’s Word. Luke 24 contains a record which dramatically illustrates this.

Two men were walking from Jerusalem to a village called Emmaus. While walking they talked about the things that had recently transpired in Jerusalem. The topic of most perplexing concern was the empty tomb of Jesus. On this day they had been firsthand witnesses of at least three separate communications from those who reported Jesus was resurrected or missing. But the record in Luke 24 clearly indicates these men did not believe that God had raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Then Jesus Christ himself, in his resurrected body, drew near and began to walk and talk with these men. They did not recognize him.

Our Lord could have revealed himself in many ways to these two men. However, the way he chose to make himself known speaks very loudly to those who have ears to hear and eyes to see.

Luke 24:27:
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concern ing himself.

Jesus Christ in this post-resurrection appearance took the time to open all the scriptures concerning himself in the Old Testament to these two unbelieving disciples. How much time would that have taken? He had the ability to show them his body with the holes in his hands, feet, and side, but rather he shared the Scriptures. He certainly could have given them personal testimony or sternly reproved them, but instead he shared the Scriptures.

When they arrived at their village, they constrained Jesus to come home with them, still not knowing who he was. During the meal their understanding was finally enlightened.

Luke 24:31 and 32:
And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

The Scriptures caused their hearts to burn within them. Jesus Christ knew the dynamic power and importance of the Scriptures.

Jesus Christ’s attitude toward God’s Word is shown pointedly in that he took this much time shortly after his resurrection to open the Scriptures to two unbelieving disciples. Our Lord held the Word of God in the highest esteem in his life and ministry because he knew God’s esteem for His Word.

Psalms 138:2:
… for thou [God] hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

This verse shows God’s attitude towards His Word. What more can be added to emphasize the importance of God’s Word than that which is stated here? God magnified His Word above all His name. Wow!

Very few people were privileged to spend much time with Jesus Christ in his earthly ministry. The twelve apostles, of course, spent the most time with him. From among the twelve, Jesus often separated Peter, John, and James to teach even more. One such occasion was when he took the three to a high mountain and was transfigured before them.

Matthew 17:2-9:
And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

Can you imagine the profound impact this incident had on these three men — to see Jesus Christ transfigured, to see a vision of Moses and Elias, then to hear God say audibly, “this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him”!

Many years later at the end of his life, Peter recounted this incident and wrote the following:

II Peter 1:16-18:
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

Years later Peter clearly remembered this dynamic experi- ence. Yet, he referred to God’s Word as “more sure” than even this paramount experience had been.

II Peter 1:19-21:
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; where unto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
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.

The “more sure word of prophecy” than Peter’s personal experience with the Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration is God’s written Word.

These scriptures are a few among many which show us the exalted position God has given to His written Word. If our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ hold the Word of God in such high esteem, we, too, should magnify the Word of God.

Again we look at II Peter 1:21 to see why the Word of God is to be held in such high esteem.

II Peter 1:21
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.

In current terminology, the word “prophecy” most often refers to foretelling the future. “Prophecy” is used a number of ways in the Scriptures, but most often in reference to words spoken or written by divine inspiration. Biblically, “prophecy” is when someone speaks or writes words given by God. It thus includes some foretelling but, more often, a straight-forward declaration of the truth. In this verse, “prophecy” refers to the written words of God which we know as the Bible.

This verse tells us how we did not get God’s Word and how we did get it. No prophecy of God’s Word is by the will of man. Man did not determine what to write. God’s Word is not like any other book which contains men’s will, thoughts, ideas, or conclusions.

“Holy men” spoke as they were moved by God to do so. “Holy men” are men God made holy. No one has the ability to make himself holy, regardless of any religious garb he may wear. Only God makes men holy. These men loved God and were committed to communicating His will in words. The prophecy in the Bible is God’s will in written form. The Word of God is the will of God.

The question arises: how did these men know what to write? Galatians 1:11 and 12 begin to answer this question.

Galatians 1:11 and 12
But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Again, this verse informs us that God’s Word did not originate with man, but was received or taught by God. “Revelation” is God’s making known His will to man. God is Spirit. He gave His gift of spirit to men who believed in Him. Then God, being Spirit, communicated with the spirit He gave to men, which then taught their minds that which God wanted them to know.

Radio waves are all around us. Yet, these radio waves do not communicate to us unless we have the receiver which we call a radio. With a radio we can tune in the radio waves which communicate words or music to our minds. In a similar sense the spirit gives man the ability to hear words from God. Revelation is God’s speaking to man via His spirit within him. The Word of God was written by revelation. God told men that which He wanted communicated, and they wrote it.

Having reviewed Galatians chapter one, we can go back to II Peter 1:21 and better understand this verse.

II Peter 1:21
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.

“Moved by the holy ghost [spirit]” is revelation. Holy men of God spoke or wrote that which God wanted written. God’s Word had many writers but only one author. Let us review a few verses which clearly communicate how we got the Word of God. Moses was the writer (not the author) of the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Exodus 34:27 tells us how Moses wrote.

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.

The prophet Jeremiah was the writer of the book of Jeremiah, but God was the author.

Jeremiah 30:1 and 2:
The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.

We now understand that every book in the Bible was given by revelation; however, one book is called the book of Revelation. The Apostle John was the writer of this book. John wrote that which God wanted written.

Revelation 1:19:
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

Revelation 21:5:
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

A record in Jeremiah clearly illustrates how we received God’s Word.

Jeremiah 36:1 and 2:
And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.

God wanted this written so that Judah would repent of their evil ways and God could forgive them. God told Jeremiah that which He wanted written, and Jeremiah had Baruch write it down.

Jeremiah 36:4:
Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.

Jeremiah commanded Baruch to read the scroll in the house of the Lord, which he did. Michaiah heard Baruch and rehearsed the words to scribes and princes of the king’s house. They, in turn, asked Baruch to come and read for them.

Jeremiah 36:16-18:
Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and other, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words.
And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?
Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.

This clarifies how we received the written Word. The king finally heard of this scroll and had it read to him. The king’s response was most devilish.

Jeremiah 36:22-24:
Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.
And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.
Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.

The king had no respect for the words of God and tried to get rid of them. He succeeded in destroying the written Word, but not the Author. So, God told Jeremiah again that which He wanted written.

Jeremiah 36:28:
Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.

The king, as many others since, tried to eliminate God’s Word. He did destroy the scroll, but in no way could he touch the Author. God simply had His Word written again and added a few extra paragraphs about the king because he had burned the scroll. Many have tried to destroy God’s Word, but God Almighty protects His Word. “The Word of God liveth and abideth forever” (I Peter 1:23). Those who stand against God and His Word are like the grass of the field, they eventually wither, die, and blow away.

We have seen that God’s Word has many writers but only one author. Moses was the first writer. Paul, John, and Peter were among the last to write. The thousands of years which came between Moses and the apostles help explain some of the literary differences in the Scriptures. Time, place, age, and culture all affected the vocabularies and communication of the men who wrote down God’s Word. God’s communication was limited to the vocabulary of each man who wrote. The first five books were all written by Moses; therefore, all have the same style of writing. Com pare these five with Isaiah and Jeremiah, and you can see differences in style because they were different writers. Differences in style and vocabulary may be seen, but abso lutely no difference in truth because all of it is authored by God.

The Gospel of John is very different in style from Matthew, Mark, and Luke because they were different writers. However, compare the Gospel of John with the Epistles of John, and you will see similarities in vocabulary and style. The seven Church Epistles, Romans through Thessalonians, were written by Paul; the style differs from Peter and James. God’s Word has many writers but only one author, God.

All scriptures, regardless of who wrote them, are given by inspiration of God.

II Timothy 3:16:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

All scripture, without exception, is given by inspiration of God. Thus, the whole Bible is God’s Word from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. When we read the Bible, we are reading God’s Word. God’s Word is His will in written form. Therefore, the Word of God is the will of God. The Word of God is God speaking to you!

Back to Table of Contents

---

The Integrity of God’s Word

God is the author of His Word; therefore His Word has integrity. Having “integrity” means that God’s Word is perfect, sound, trustworthy, sure, and absolutely true.

John 1:1 and 2:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.

“Word” in Greek is logos. The English word “logic” comes from logos. In Greek literature the word logos was used of thinking as well as verbal expression. Logos thus relates both to the pattern of thinking and to speaking which outwardly expresses the inward thought.

The term “In the beginning,” relates more to origin than time. The logos begins with God. The Word (logos) of God is God’s thoughts communicated to man.

God uses four distinct ways to communicate Himself to man:

1. Revelation — God speaks directly to an individual.
2. The Spoken Word — after God gives revelation to someone, that individual speaks the communication to others.
3. The Written Word — after God communicates (gives revelation) to an individual, the person writes it down.
4. Jesus Christ — God’s Word in the flesh. He is also called “the logos” because he always did and spoke God’s will.

John 1:1:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

God’s Word, logos (whether by direct revelation, spoken, written, or in the flesh) originates with God and is His will communicated to man. God and His Word are inseparable.

God is perfect; therefore His work is perfect.

Deuteronomy 32:3 and 4:
Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

God is perfect; therefore His way is perfect.

II Samuel 22:31:
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

God is perfect; His work is perfect; His way is perfect; therefore His Word is perfect.

Psalms 19:7:
The law [Word] of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

God is perfect; His work is perfect; His way is perfect; His Word is perfect. God has a purpose for everything He says where He says it, why He says it, how He says it, to whom He says it, and when He says it.

The original Word of God as it was first written down had no errors, no mistakes. But the Bible we read today is not the original Word of God. It is an English version of a trans- lation from Hebrew and Greek, and it does have human errors which were introduced in the translations. Nevertheless, God has protected His Word (see Jeremiah 36) and continues to protect it. We can still understand God’s Word today. And when we understand God’s Word, we understand God’s will for man.

God’s Word is pure.

Psalms 12:6:
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Man, his life, his thoughts, and opinions are fleeting, but the Word of our God shall stand forever.

Isaiah 40:6-8:
The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

On whose words do you want to base your life: man’s impure, ever-changing, fleeting words or God Almighty’s pure Word which stands forever?

Matthew 24:35:
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

God’s Word is true.

Psalms 119:151,160:
Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.
Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

John 17:17:
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

The Word of God is the will of God and has absolute integrity. God’s Word, and His Word only, is that upon which we should base our lives. It is true, pure, and shall stand forever.

The Word of God, not the word of men, is that in which we can have absolute trust, confidence, and believing.

We have seen God’s attitude towards His Word. We have also seen Jesus Christ’s attitude towards God’s Word. What is our attitude? Our attitude towards God’s Word determines our spirituality.

Please consider slowly and deliberately the following verses from Psalm 119. At the same time, ask God to help you develop a similar attitude toward His Word.

Psalm 119
14: I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
16: I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
20: My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
24: Thy testimonies also are my delight and my coun sellors.
40: Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
47: And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
97: O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
103:How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
111:Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
127:Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
130:The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
131:I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
140:Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
151:Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy command ments are truth.
162:I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
174:I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.

When we diligently seek Him to know His Word, He will reward us. We must humbly ask God to help us to know His Word.

Psalms 119
12: Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
18: Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
26: I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
27: Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
29: Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
32: I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

 

>> back to overview <<