Page 41 - Bible Writers Theology Original

of soul and spmt...and is a discemer of the thoughts and intents of the heart'' (Hebrews 4:12), The written word has a sanctifying power on it's readers (John 17:17; Ephesians 5:26). Speaking to His disciples, Christ said, "Now ye are clean through the word which 1have spoken unto you" (John 15:3). It is the divine purpose of God that the word should ultimately be written in the hearts of men, and the publication of its precepts be found in their outward lives (Hebrews 8:10; II Corinthians 3:2,3).
To the believing Jews, Jesus said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32). The Bible is the word of truth. Paul declared that the church of the living God is "the pillar and ground of the truth,"(I Tim. 3:15) and that his own ministry was marked "By the word of truth, by the power of God..." (II Corinthians 6:7). Since, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correc tion, for instruction in righteousness," (II Timothy 3:16), the Bible remains
the highest authority in spiritual truth. To preach the gospel of salvation is to preach the word of truth (Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 1:5; 11 Timothy 4:2; 1 Timothy 1:9; Malachi 2:6).
Jesus in the gospels and the apostles in the book of Acts base their teach ing on the inspired scriptures (Matthew 4:4, 7,10; Luke 24:46; Matthew 19:4; 21:42; 22:29-33; Matthew 1:22; 2:15; Acts 8:35; 2:14-36; 3:22-26;7:1-53; 10:43; 13:16-41;26:27). The epistles to the Romans and the Hebrews are also liber al in quoting the scriptures. Paul's gospel, which is from divine revelation, has become the written word in the New Testament (Galatians 1:8-12; I Corinthians 15:1-11).
Peter gave preeminence to "the sure word of prophecy" (II Peter 1:19), the written word of the prophets of the Old Testament, over the voice from heaven he heard on the mount of transfiguration (II Peter 1:16-18; Matthew 17:1-5). Jesus in Luke 16:19-31 gives a vivid illustration of the authority of the scripture, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead".
The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness immediately followed His bap tism in the Jordan River where a voice from heaven was heard. Nevertheless, it should be observed that to defeat Satan, Christ quoted the scriptures saying, "it is written", rather than making mention of what He heard from heaven.
The Bible clearly teaches that the Old Testament pointed to Jesus Christ, who in turn, endorsed it (I Peter 1:10-11; Luke 24:25-26,44,46). Christ's life
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