1040. Is the Bible God's Word and Our Final Authority?

In our culture today, the collection of writings commonly referred to as The Bible has often been called God's Word. Some call it our final authority. Yet we see within the pages where it is Jesus who is specifically defined as the Word who was with God from the beginning—and was God—and He became flesh. In Him was life and light. Jesus never promised an addendum to the writings of the old, holy, Jewish scriptures ... but did indeed promise to send His Spirit as a helper and guide.

This is not to minimize the Bible or anything in it, whether it be Old or New Testament. The pages are a reliable source of truth that point us to the Life-giver. But there is much confusion amongst thousands of corporate Christian church denominations with a multitude of different opinions that do not align ... and yet they pretty much all consider the Bible as the source for their beliefs. God is not the author of that confusion. Considering the phrase, "the word" ... it can be defined in multiple ways when looking through the pages of the Bible. For example, there was a word of law for the Jews and there was something better that came along that Paul preached, which he called the word of faith. One was given for the Jews "to do" under what is now an obsolete covenant, while the other was given for anyone to believe in a new and better covenant.

But we are not on a divine path to become perfect interpreters of the Bible. This is not our destination. It's all about keeping our eyes on the person of Jesus with the help of His Spirit while getting to know Him. He is our final authority and the Author of faith, life, and salvation.



   
Get the book

1039. Is God the "Author" of the Publication Known as The Holy Bible?

A slogan heard quite often within Christian circles—used in various ways—is that God is the Author of the Bible. It's a concept that somewhat turns into a catchphrase without entirely taking into consideration what this specifically means.

For those who have listened to us for the past twenty years, you know how we embrace the truths found within the pages of this compilation of writings called The Bible. You also know how many things we've come to see differently from the beginning of our journey into grace and throughout the years as we grow in our understanding of the gospel of grace and the knowledge of the truth concerning Jesus. There are "concepts" about the Bible that are often handed down to all of us through religious mindsets that may not always be accurate and will have influence over us ... sometimes positively and sometimes negatively—depending on whether it is based on real truth or theorized assumptions that may be at least partially false.

For some, their belief is anchored in thinking everything in the Bible was dictated by God to humans who transcribed it in writing. Does inspiration really means dictation? Is the phrase God-breathed synonymous with "God spoke?" Is the Bible alive and able to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart? Let's be clear ... we continue to be cheerleaders for the Bible as we always have been. But our faith and confidence isn't contained in the writings themselves, but in the living One to whom the writings point to as the Author of faith, life and salvation.



   
Get the book

1035. Like the Apostles, We Don't Know Everything

It's easy to look at "Bible characters" such as the apostles and assume they were some type of spiritual super-humans who understood everything there is to know about God.

In their writings, there are references to growing in various ways when it comes to Jesus, our knowledge of the truth, His grace and love, etc. We'll always be learning, otherwise, eternity might get rather dull.

Regardless of how God chooses to use people in extraordinary ways, it doesn't change the fact that we're all humans who depend upon God to reveal truth and enlighten us to grow in our spiritual understanding. This week, we'll look at just one example which left many Jewish believers and apostles divided due to a lack of understanding when it came to the first covenant and the new one that replaced it.



   
Get the book

960. The Living God Revealing Himself

God desires to reveal Himself to us. It is not something that is comprehended with the mind or intellect but is spiritually discerned. While our knowledge may grow and our minds become renewed when it comes to understanding the truth of the gospel, the revelation comes from God's Spirit to our spirit in the heart of our innermost being. It opens the spiritual eyes of our understanding.

It is not rooted in an academic approach because God's revelation surpasses knowledge and Bible philosophy or theology—and it is centered on the person of Jesus Christ. As we've been discussing, God's will for us is based more on knowing the living Christ than it is simply having knowledge about Him.



   
Get the book

959. "Flesh and Blood Has Not Revealed This to You"

Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" After they answered, He then asked, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter spoke up and said that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus declared that Peter was blessed because flesh and blood had not revealed this to him, but it came from the Father in heaven.

Peter probably wasn't even aware of his source at the time ... but he didn't hear it from another human who was trying to recruit him as a convert or a visitor for the Sunday School class. This wasn't a "one and done" where Peter would be the only person to receive such a revelation. God desires to reveal so much to us by His Spirit who now abides in the hearts of believers in Christ ... and it may be happening much more than we realize. But it all begins with not just having knowledge about Jesus, but knowing Him. It goes beyond a philosophical or intellectual belief.



   
Get the book

402. The Ultimate Demonstration of Unconditional Love

One of the greatest things God has given to the world is love. Sadly most of us have understood very little about the depth of this love that has no boundaries and no conditions. Often our perspective of God's love is viewed through the eyes of our earthly experience. The love we've experienced between people in this life is not equal to the love demonstrated by Jesus Christ. God is love and He desires us to know more of Him and this love that surpasses knowledge.

BTW, we've now posted two bonus podcasts to celebrate the occasion of our 400th podcast! Here is "GIGBite Bonus Podcast 1" and here is GIGBite Bonus Podcast 2.  Look for the third and final bonus podcast this coming Wednesday.

---

Download The Ultimate Demonstration of Unconditional Love
(Click to Play or Right-Click to Download.)

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.

---

This week's GIG Bite - A tasty sample of this week's program!

---

399. Religion Chases People From God

Many have been exposed to various kinds of "religious" teachings in the past and it has led them to a place where they attempt to avoid anything to do with God in the present. This would indicate that they either haven't heard the actual gospel or never arrived at a place where they began to understand it. It can lead to a desire to hide from God or act as if He doesn't exist. Of course we really can't hide from the Lord but this can be the mentality that one can fall into. If you've ever felt like you weren't worthy of God or that you couldn't live up to His expectations as good as the "church" people you've been around, we've got good news for you!

Religion Chases People From God (14 Min, 9.6 MB)
(Click to Play or Right-Click to Download.)

---

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.

This week's GIG Bite (A quick highlight from this week's program.)

---

375. What It Means to Grow in Grace

The Apostle Peter encouraged believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we think of growing in grace, what will usually come to mind? Improving or modifying our behavior? Trying to do more for God? Working harder and hoping our efforts will be acceptable to Him? Praying and studying the Bible more? Perhaps it's much less complicated. Maybe it's more about rest. After all, grace and righteousness came to us apart from works.

What It Means to Grow in Grace (14 Min, 9.6 MB)
(Click to Play or Right-Click to Download.)

---

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.

This week's GIGBite (A quick audio sample of this week's program.)

---