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The Bible is one of the most important books in all of human history. It is God’s letter to humanity, and yet we so often struggle to read it or fail to place much importance on it. This week, Gary Wilkerson and Joshua West discuss the nature of scripture. The Bible is perfectly reliable, entirely unified and the most important portrait that we will ever receive of God. It is the means through which an unapproachable, unknowable God chose to approach humanity and made himself known.
Key Points from the Podcast
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We must be careful not to read our desires into the Bible. God’s ways are not our ways, and scripture is meant to instruct us in the Lord’s desires, not justify our dreams or longings.
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The authority of the Bible is often seen as threatening because it frequently conflicts with our culture and personal practices.
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If you truly study the Bible and scripture’s history, you either must accept it as God’s divinely inspired instructions to humanity, or you must leave all of it. There is no middle ground where we can pick and choose what we want to believe from the Bible.
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The Bible’s human authors were guided by God as they wrote, and he protected the process. His scriptures in their original language are pure and perfect.
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Biblical preaching of scripture doesn’t elevate the preacher; it elevates the congregation because they are then called to study the Bible and show themselves approved workmen in Christ.
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Inerrancy of scripture means that the Bible is without error because it was inspired by God. Infallibility means that the doctrine of the Bible does not contradict itself and is completely in unity.
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Some of the greatest growth we can experience spiritual often comes through struggling with difficult passages of the Bible.The Bible wasn’t intended to answer your questions; it was intended to answer the questions God deemed most important. The Bible is meant to reveal God to us. It’s necessary for us to truly come into a relationship with God.
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Scripture is also entirely sufficient for everything we need for life and godliness.
Bible Verses Referenced in the Podcast
2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21
Podcast episodes in this series:
About Joshua West
Joshua West serves as the Church Leadership Network Director at World Challenge helping equip and empower pastors all over the world. Joshua’s desire is to raise up ministers who will correctly and boldly preach the word with passion and integrity. The point of all his work and writings is to preach the gospel, glorify God and to teach sound doctrine.