In the thirtieth chapter of Proverbs, Agur writes some 700 years before Christ, beginning in verse four:  Who hath ascended into heaven, or descended?  Who hath gathered the wind in his fists?  Who hath bound the waters in a garment?  Who hath established all the ends of the earth?  What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?  He continues in verses five and six:  Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

God gave us a book, it’s called the Bible….God’s Word. This book describes itself (II Timothy 3:16) as given by inspiration of God (theopneustia) which means literally God breathed. This carries the idea of not just that God breathed, but God breathed out, as to source. The Bible is the God breathed book.

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  (II Peter 1:21). God the Holy Spirit is the author.  This means that anyone claiming to speak by the Holy Spirit must not contradict Scripture.  God will not lie.  God cannot lie.  He will not contradict Himself.

This book is described in Hebrews 4:12 as; “living and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

In explaining born again Peter says in I Peter 1:23; Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.

Paul charged Timothy before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ to Preach the word… (II Timothy 4:1-5).  Why?  Because faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17).

In John 6 Jesus explained in verse 63, what He meant when He called Himself the living bread which came down from heaven.  It is the spirit that quickeneth (makes alive); the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.”

Love for Christ is revealed by obedience to the word of God.  Jesus answered and said unto him, if a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23).

The Bible is more important to the testimony of Christ than if one returned from the dead.  In Luke 16 Jesus told of the rich man in hell who wanted someone from the dead (Abraham) to go back and tell his five brothers not to come to this place of torment.  Abraham answered him in verses 29 & 31;  If they hear not Moses and the prophets (scripture), neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

This book is magnified by God.  The Psalmist wrote; .….for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” (138:2).

Psalm 119 is the longest book in the Bible.  It is written as a discourse on the word of God.  Practically every verse references the word of God and the believers relationship to it.  Verse 9 asks; Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?  By taking heed thereto according to thy word.   Verse 11 instructs; Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.  Verse 105 teaches; Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  Verse 89 declares;  Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. 

Jesus Christ read from it, preached it, expounded it, taught it, quoted it, rebuked Satan with it, and lived it.  He fulfilled the Law down to every jot and tittle.  He is the living word.  Christ declared to the Pharisees in John 5:39 & 40; Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

The Lord instructed two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection as follows:  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

The Bible excludes all other authority with these words found in Revelation 22:18 & 19;  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of this book.  If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.  This book is complete from Genesis to Revelation, the Holy Spirit is the author, and as such he will never lead contrary to the teaching of Scripture because He is God and God cannot lie.

You and I should know the Bible.  Whoso transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.  He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed (II John 9&11).  

We should test the teaching we are under.  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (test) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world  (I John 4:1).  

We should also ask honest questions;….they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11).

Use a translation as opposed to a paraphrase.  A translation is a word for word rendering from the original language.  I currently use the New King James Version.  There are other reliable translations available, such as the NASV and the ESV.  The NIV is probably the most common version available, but it is called a dynamic equivalent and is not a true word for word translation.

If God chose the very words that the Scriptures are composed of to express His intent and will for us, then it is incumbent upon believers not to be careless about the handling of His word.

Believers do not worship the Bible, but we hold it in high esteem because it is from the God we worship.