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By Hank Walker | Pastor at Peach City Fellowship

Our last two articles addressed the authenticity of the Bible by considering the immense body of internal and external evidence that it has remained unchanged and accurate over the last 1900 years. This time, we will look at the AUTHORITY and SUFFICIENCY of the Bible.

We began with the premise that the Bible has distinguishing features that set it apart from all other religious texts. Of all the ways in which the Bible is unique, however, none is more important than its authority and sufficiency.

When we say that the Bible is authoritative, we mean that it carries the authority of God. Of its divine origin, Paul told Timothy— “ALL Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It is HIS Word. With God as its source, there can be no higher authority.

Paul continued his instruction to Timothy by speaking of Scripture’s SUFFICIENCY: [the Bible is] “…profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Because it is authoritative, we need not appeal to any other source to answer the most important questions in life, such as, “Why am I here?” “Why does it matter?” “Is there anything beyond this life?” or “What happens when we die?”

Because it is sufficient, we need not look for some special revelation or voice from God “whispering in our ears.” The King of creation has given us all we need for life and obedience. Because GOD is infallible and makes no errors, His WORD is infallible and contains no errors. He cannot lie, so the Bible consists ONLY of TRUTH.

Ultimately, from the human perspective, we should take great comfort in knowing that the One who spoke EVERYTHING into existence loved us enough to speak His will to US.

Have you considered how unknowable God would be if He had not sought to reveal Himself to us in the Bible? How else might we know that we have been “cut off” and cursed by God? How would we know that—through Jesus, the living WORD—He’s provided a way of reconciliation to Himself? Thanks be to God that He has given us a Bible that we can obey and instruction that is sufficient for every need until we are in His presence!

Grace and peace, y’all. Soli Deo Gloria