Four Great Facts About The Bible
by W.S. Hottel
This is a literary age, an age of science, reasoning,
thinking and human exploration and exploitation.
These are days of materialism, socialism, revolutionism,
humanitarianism and rationalism.
These principles produce and promote "free
thought," "higher criticism" and "modernism." They develop a
state and condition of broadmindedness, liberality and false charity, that denies, refutes
and rejects Divine revelation. Many no longer accept what God has said, but take what man
thinks.
It is therefore needful to state and restate again and
again, some things concerning the Bible, so as to emphasize their value and
importance.
1. THE BIBLE IS DIVINE IN ITS AUTHORSHIP AND SO AUTHENTIC AND
AUTHORITATIVE (2 TIM. 3:16; 2 PET. 1:21).
There were many writers, but only one Author. No matter
who was the human penman, one great, omniscient Person inspired the writing and supervised
the preparation.
II. THE BIBLE IS CHRIST-CENTERED AS TO ITS SUBJECT MATTER (LUKE
24:25-27, 44; JOHN 1:45, 5:39; 1 COR 15:3, 4).
All of its precious truth converges upon, and radiates
around one Person, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Whatever truth there is in the Bible, Christ is the
substance and reality of it all. In the Old Testament He is enfolded. In the New Testament
He is unfolded. We like to think of the Bible in this way.
In the Old Testament we have preparation for Christ.
In the Gospels we have the manifestation of Christ
In the Epistles we have appropriation of Christ.
In the Revelation we have a revelation of Christ, in His
future glory and power.
III. THE BIBLE IS SUBLIME IN ITS OBJECT.
The prominent and outstanding purpose for Divine
revelation is human redemption.
What is written concerning Christ, is written that we
might believe that He is the Christ, and believing we might have life through His name
(John 20:31; I John 5:10-12).
The Bible is the Divine proclamation of emancipation from
sin's pollution and power.
Its chief object is to show the sinner how he may and can
be saved.
IV. THE BIBLE IS EFFECTUAL IN ITS OPERATION (HEB. 4:12; I THESS.
2:13).
The Word of God is effectual because it is living. It is
the voice of the Holy Spirit and so contains and conveys His vital energy and life.
1. It is effectual to convict men of sin and of
a holy life.
2. It is effectual to convert men from sin and to
impart to them a new and Divine nature.
3. It is effectual to confirm in the faith those who
have embraced it.
4. It is effectual to cleanse and purify the motives
and lives of believers.
5. It is effectual to sanctify (set apart) the
believer from everything sinful, fleshly and worldly.
6. It is effectual to comfort believers in sorrow and
to sustain them in trial.
The Word of God is marvelous in its make-up and contents:
It is Divine in its authorship and
authority.
It is Deep in its contents.
It is Distinct in its declarations.
It is Definite in its utterances.
It is Powerful in its influence.
It is Decisive in its claims.
It is Enduring in its texture.
It is Holy in its nature and character.
It is Perfect in its revelation.
It is Complete in its order.
It is Sound in its testimony.
The Bible is the infallible Word of the Living God, whose
power and wisdom are unlimited. Study it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and obey it to
be happy.
email