The Inspiration of the Scriptures
The revelation of God is given through three channels: creation, the Holy Bible, and the Son Incarnate. In creation we see God’s power, His omnipotence; in the Holy Bible we see His purpose, His omniscience; in the Son Incarnate we see His personality, His omnipresence. Let us consider the central one, the Holy Bible, as the channel of the revelation of God’s purpose.
Its Dependability
In the Bible we see the faithfulness of God, it cannot be broken (John 10:35); the foresight of God, it cannot be mistaken (Gal. 3:80); the finality of God, its verdict is conclusive (Gal. 3:22).
The Spirit of God as the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation bears a threefold relationship to the truth: revelation, inspiration, and illumination. The first embodies the choosing of the vessels through which the truth may be conveyed infallibly (2 Tim. 3:16); the second, the preservation of the truth (Neh. 8:8); third, the impartation of divine capacity to understand truth (Luke 24:45).
Its dependability is proved by the following facts: It has an origin that is divine (2 Pet. 1:21); an existence that is miraculous (1 Pet. 1:25); a depth that is unfathomable (Matt. 13:52); a unity that is magnificent (2 Pet. 3:16); a fulfilment that is amazing (Matt. 5:17-18); an influence that is unbounded (Acts 2:8); and a spirituality that is unique (John 6:63).
The unique spirituality of the Holy Bible is seen to be vital in its nature (Heb. 4:12), powerful in its operation(Acts 19:20), assuring in its statements (1 John 5:11-13), saving in its reception (1 Thess. 1:8-10, 2 Tim. 3:15), sanctifying in its work (John 17:17), and perfecting in its accomplishments (2 Tim. 3:17).
Its Purpose
Several things might be noted here; for example, the Bible was given by God
To reveal Christ. Christ is revealed in picture from Genesis to Esther; in poetry from Job to the Song of Solomon; in prophecy from Isaiah to Malachi; in person from Matthew to John; in preaching in the Book of Acts; in preeminence from Romans to Jude; and In power in the Book of the Revelation.
In the Book of the Revelation Christ is manifested in a twofold way; first, as the Lamb; second, as the Lion. As the Lamb He accomplishes atonement to the satisfaction of the Father’s heart; as the Lion, He executes the will of God upon the throne. In the first, we recall the sufferings of Christ; in the second, we anticipate the glory that is His eternally. The cross of Christ is the centre and base of every operation of divine grace.
To reveal the Father. The Father’s heart is made bare (John 3:16, 4:23). Christ came down from Heaven to tell us of the love of God, of the Father’s home (John 14:1-6), the Father’s power and wisdom (1 Cor. 1:24), and the Father’s purpose to make Christ the Head of a new order (Eph. 1:10), that in the future all things will be subjected by Christ and God will be all in all (1 Cor. 15:28).
To reveal the final outcome of the conflict between righteousness and unrighteousness. This may be seen readily by a comparison of the Book of Revelation with that of Genesis. Genesis records historical facts such as the creation of the heavens and the earth; the loss by man of Paradise and of access to the tree of life; the first man, Adam and his wife, Eve, set over creation; the serpent in the
Garden of Eden; the first sacrificial offering; the first murderer, drunkard, rebel, and polygamist; the rise of Babel; and the curse of sorrow, death, pain, and tears upon humanity. The Book of the Revelation predicts the new heavens and the new earth; Paradise regained by man along with access to the tree of life; the reign of the Lamb of God and His Bride over the new creation; the serpent in the lake of fire; the glory of the Lamb who had been slain; the banishment of all wickedness; the fall of Babylon; no more death neither sorrow, pain nor tears.
One has written concerning the men whom God used to give us the Bible:
“Whence but from Heaven could men unskilled in arts,
In several ages born, in several parts,
Weave such agreeing truths;
Or how or why should all conspire to cheat us with a lie;
Unasked their pains, ungrateful their advice,
Starving their gain and martyrdom their price.”
—Drydon.