1 Peter 1:23-25

In our ongoing study of kingdom authority, the Bible plays a major role. But can it be trusted as the true Word of God? Or is it something less? The Apostle Peter describes it in 1 Peter 1:23-25 and says we are saved through the Word of God.

The Bible is not the book of the month. It’s the Book of the Ages. It took 1,500 years for the Bible to be written. Its authors spanned 30 generations. It was completed 2,000 years ago, yet it’s still a fresh reality—

…living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

The Issue Is Authority

We cannot live victoriously in spiritual warfare without a final source of authority, an authoritative Word of God. But Satan continues to muddy the waters in the issue of biblical authority. Since the Garden of Eden, he’s been trying to cast doubt upon the Bible.

What Does God Say About It?

More than 500 times in the first five books of the Bible, God says, “This is My Word.” More than 1,000 times in the prophets, 4,000 times in the Old Testament, and 44 times in the New Testament, the Bible is called “the Word of God.”

God Himself calls the Bible “the Word of God” in hundreds of verses. It’s not the word of man. The Holy Spirit was prophesying through the Old Testament prophets. (See 1 Peter 1:10.) Although the Bible had human penmen, it wasn’t written by men but by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ Connection with the Bible

Consider this: The Holy Spirit inspired the writers to call both Jesus and the Bible the “Word of God.” (John 1:1-3,14). God not only called His Book the Word of God, but He also called His Son the Word of God.

From cover to cover, the written Word presents unerringly the living Word. And the living Word believed the written Word. The Lord Jesus and the Word of God both

• Came from Heaven
• Live forever (See 1 Peter 1:25, Revelation 1:18.)
• Are unchanging (See Hebrews 13:8, Matthew 5:18.)
• Bring light to the darkness (See John 8:12, Psalm 119:105.)
• Are absolute truth (See John 14:6, John 17:17.)

Jesus held the Word of God in the highest place of honor, and so must we. How can we logically call Jesus Lord and reject His view of Scripture?

“God-breathed” Means “Perfect”

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. (See 2 Timothy 3:16.) “Inspiration” here is literally translated “God-breathed.” It came to us because God breathed out the Scriptures, and the God of truth cannot “breathe out” error. (See Matthew 4:4, Proverbs 30:5, Psalm 19:7.)

The Bible is revelation from the transcendent, personal God. The Holy Spirit kept the human writers of Scripture from including error in what they wrote.

The Powerful Word

Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God cuts right through to the heart of the matter.

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

No wonder the God-breathed Scriptures pulsate with power.

The Incorruptible Word

Incorruptible, “imperishable,” (See 1 Peter 1:23.) means no taint, no impurities hide within the words of Scripture. Protected by the Holy Spirit, the Bible has survived the challenges of the years.

The Indestructible Word

The Word of God lives forever (1 Peter 1:23), endures forever (1 Peter 1:25), and will never pass away (Matthew 24:35).

For centuries people have tried to discredit it or destroy it. America’s public schools have banned it. Yet it endures.

The Indispensable Word

You will never have kingdom authority, speak with authority, or live with authority until you get under the authority of the Word of God.

The Word of God with its discerning, piercing, burning message is the authoritative basis for our faith. If you want to believe, you can, because God will give you faith.

If you don’t believe the Bible, your problem is not intellectual but moral. It comes out of your heart, not your head. Your problem is your will. The Bible says “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief…” (Hebrews 3:12).

The Word of God implants faith in your heart, and if you want to know, you can know. Your heart will respond to the Word of God like your eye responds to light. Open your heart today to the perfect, powerful, inerrant, indestructible Word of God.