(Heb 12:24) And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (Heb 12:25) See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: (emphasis mine)
God’s Word has been spoken to us from Heaven and it has been recorded several times as such. First, Jesus tells us Himself that we are to live by every word of God. Obviously God’s spoken word (recorded in books) is to be taken seriously. We are told that we must live by every word of God. (Luk 4:4) And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Christ tells us that not only must we live by every word but we must keep it. (Luk 11:28 ) But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. God’s Word is not something that will change and keep us in a state of confusion. In other words, He will not say one thing in the Bible and then turn around and negate His words through another book or another man’s words. God’s Word is incorruptible according to the Apostle Peter. (1 Pet 1:23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. Yes, we normally read this verse and believe that our salvation is eternal and incorruptible. I agree. However, notice that we are born again by the incorruptible seed, the word of God which lives and abides forever! That does not sound like God’s Word cannot be preserved to me. In fact, this solidifies the fact that God’s Word can be and is preserved for all time.
A dear precious misguided catholic soul has battled with me that the Bible is not preserved in exact content from the original writings. If that is the case, then he calls God, through the Apostle Peter’s writings, a liar. As the New Testament letters were in the process of being written, their content at that time were considered holy Scriptures. Look what Peter says here about Paul’s letters (epistles): (2 Pet 3:15) And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (2 Pet 3:16) As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (emphasis mine) Peter even says that those who defy God’s Word are unlearned and they wrestle with Paul’s letters (epistles) just as they do also the other Scriptures. Even in Peter’s time, they knew that the words being written were inspired of God, they were considered holy and they knew that these words would be put together as Scriptures. They carried Scriptures with them and they were precious to them, as noted in (2 Tim 4:13) The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
Even the Apostle John knew that what the Holy Spirit had inspired him to pen would be precious words contained in the Scriptures. (Rev 1:3) Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (emphasis mine) I believe that Jesus told them what to expect when He said (Joh 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. (emphasis mine) Why would Jesus tell them that the Holy Spirit would bring to memory the things He taught them when they had their own brains? Truly 12 people could put together an accurate account, wouldn’t you think? However, Jesus knew that they would throw in “man’s words” and not God’s. That is why the Holy Spirit had to bring accounts to their memory so they would write what was inspired of God. I sure hope that makes sense to you because it sure has been a blessing to me today!
(1 Cor 2:13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Cor 2:14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (emphasis mine) Paul also made sure to tell the people he preached to that his words were not of his own wisdom but what the Holy Spirit wanted him to teach. He told the Christians to compare the spiritual things with spiritual. How can they compare unless they had God’s Word to compare with? Obviously the entire New Testament was not in print so it stands to reason that whatever was being taught was supported in the Old Testament, as well as the current epistles and letters from the other Apostles – as Peter indicated in 2 Pet 3. We now have the complete Word of God today and are truly blessed to have His spoken Word in written form so we can study.
The letters of the day were so important that the Lord Himself told the Apostle John to write down what He was showing him during the Revelation and share it with all the churches. God’s Word is not limited – God’s Word is important and must be obeyed. (Rev 1:11) Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. Every Scripture verse in our entire Bible is God breathed and spoken. The Holy Spirit’s job was to make sure that it was recorded properly and preserved through the years. God is not a man – He is able to keep His Word.
Even if you don’t believe that the Word has been preserved but you believe that you have the best translation possible, you must know that the Bible says that the Scriptures cannot be broken. Therefore, God is condemning the changing, adding to or taking away from His Word. (Joh 10:35b) … and the scripture cannot be broken; God promises that the Scriptures cannot be broken. Therefore, any man-made traditions or church doctrine that goes against what God’s Word says or adds to what God’s Word says is wrong! The simple truth is just as the Lord spoke to the Pharisees (John 8:24) I said therefore unto you that you shall die in your sins if you believe not that I am He, you shall die in your sins. If you are intent on substituting faith in your church for faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will likewise deny (in practice) His Person. Unless you repent of rationalizations to uphold the traditions that deny the absolute truth of the Lord’s written Word, you will die in your sin and will enter into eternity into the Lake of Fire.
I pray that these devotionals on God’s Word will convince one soul that God is able to preserve His Word and He means every word that is in the Bible. None of it will perish – each word will be fulfilled – and we will be held accountable for how we read it, learn from it and keep it. (Psa 18:30) As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. (emphasis mine)
From the beginning, God has desired to have His Word recorded in a book of some kind. I believe that it was so important to have God’s Words written in a book that He stated in His Word 12 times! The first historical record of God’s desire for His Word in written form can be found in the oldest book of the Bible, Job: (Job 19:23) Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!