The doctrine of Scripture teaches us about the authority of God's Word. Scripture must be the final rule of faith and practice for our lives. Not our feelings or emotions. Not signs or prophetic words or hunches.
What more can God give us than what He's given in Scripture? The question is, will we listen? Will we obey when we don't like what the Bible has to say?
This is a moment when our belief about Scripture meets reality. What we say we believe makes little difference until we act on our belief. I suppose most Christians would say that the Bible is the authoritative Word of God. But until this authority of Scripture is nothing but a bunch of religious lingo. We're treating the God-breathed Word of God like a lot of hot air.
Scripture is always meant to work in our lives. When Paul said Scripture is God-breathed, he didn't stop there. He said, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV).
God's Word teaches us how to think. It teaches us truth. It rebukes and corrects our old, self-centered ways of thinking. It trains us in righteousness. God's Word has authority, and when we submit ourselves to it, Scripture equips us for good works. It gives us what we need to love, serve, and sacrifice.
Joshua Harris, Dug Down Deep
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