See the Q&A Series here
Q: When you speak of the Bible it sounds like you are talking about a single document that was written by one author, one who was flawless and crystal clear. Since there may have been 40+ authors, how are you able to speak with such confidence about what the Bible says and what it means? With so many different authors, how do you know which author was speaking for God, and when he was adding his own human contribution?
A: By faith, is the short answer, my Friend. Thank you for this question.
The Bible was scribed by many authors whom God declares were ‘Holy Spirit-inspired’ to write what they wrote. Born again Christians embrace this by faith. Ponder Who God Almighty is. He literally not only expresses His Sovereignty over ALL the affairs of man, but as The Supreme power and authority, He is actually managing it according to His own framework which includes allowing free will to us and to His angels to decide whether to obey Him or not. He fore-knows everything, and will eventually judge every deed, thought and word.
The Bible is His instrument to communicate to us His conceptual and strategic framework by which He is orchestrating not only everything in Heaven, but also everything in the physical universe. There is not one speck of dust in the universe that escapes His control. The challenge for us as carnally-minded rather than spiritually-minded beings, is to perceive Him spiritually, by faith, using the instrument of His Bible to convey His will and ways. He promises to help us do this by the re-birth experience, which comprises:
1. Asking forgiveness for sins that go against His acceptable framework
2. Receiving Jesus’ whipping post suffering and death as having been done on our behalf, in our place, for what our sin deserved
3. Asking for and receiving the gift of His Holy Spirit to merge with our own spirit and to help us perceive, understand, obey, and honor Jesus as God in the flesh, to Whom Father God has delegated ALL things related to humans. In Heaven, Jesus sits on The Throne AS GOD. (Hebrews 1)
4. Daily reading and studying parts of The Bible through which He spiritually communicates with us in our spirit. In this manner, He grows us up, in Him.
So yep, though scribed by many authors, the book was spiritually God breathed. Thus it is The Word of God Almighty, not just of men.
Without faith to embrace this, which is what He says in His book, we cannot be saved and become His sons. Thus, we will remain eternally lost sinners. Only He calls the shots regarding how we might have an eternal, personal, intimate relationship with Him.
There is clearly a hidden, spiritual dimension to this life, not just physical. Most of us are more controlled by our carnal soul. Many folk have little or no conception of spirit, therefore, even the notion of an almighty spiritual being is totally foreign to them. And the notion of this Being influencing all things in the physical universe and on Earth, is preposterous! They are staunch un-believers in anything spiritual, yet they, themselves, are greatly and unknowingly influenced by evil spiritual beings! Imagine that!
Please pray for faith to believe what God says in His Book, amazingly preserved across the ages to convey His will for us, and what’s important to Him. After you pray, just say, ‘Thank You for answering my prayer.’ Then start reading and trust it is HIS spiritual voice your spirit is hearing. Please do not read His Book like any other carnal book. If you do, you will be dumb-founded, and possibly frustrated. The carnal mind cannot perceive, let alone understand or appreciate high spiritual matters. My friend, get to know and trust your spirit. ;o)
