The Character of God's Word: Truth? Or Hoax?
In order to know the character of God's Word is based upon what is revealed in scripture. There are numerous passages of scripture that witness that of the character of scripture (2 Pet. 1:19 with 2 Timothy 3:16). Even though there are many professing "Christian" teachers denies God's Word for what it truly is but nonetheless throughout the Bible affirms the character of God's Word. In order for God's Word to what it claim to be as to that of its divine character is to know the character of God (Rom. 3:23). God is perfect within His own character by which God is the Author of scripture. Since God is perfect in His moral character is that the character of God's Word is perfect. Since the Church have a perfect Book (i.e. "God's Word) by which it reveal Who God is therefore scripture is perfect in all that it says (Matt. 5:17). The law of the Lord is perfect making wise the simple. Whenever the Word of God is being challenged by postmodernism, feminism, relativism, and neo-orthodoxy demonstrates that such philosophical views are diametrically oppose to the clear teaching of scripture (2 Tim. 6:3-5).
There is a "frontal" attack upon the nature and character of the Bible by which there is a greater enemy that disguise itself as being "Christian" but denies God's Word for what it truly is and that is in the form of the Word-Faith movement (1 Tim. 6:20). The contemporary African American Word of Faith movement churches in particular denies that of the character of scripture by which it questioned the Author of the Bible, misrepresent what God's Word says, and to put words in God's own mouth (Rom. 16:17-18). The whole of the Word-Faith movement "appears" to be Christian but is a "admixture" of Charismatic Christianity and Pentecostalism. Many of its Faith leaders willfully "utilize" such Christian terminologies (e.g. "Faith") so as to be acceptable by its peers but have "total" different meanings (2 Cor. 11:3). It is very important to know and understand that whenever the Church engage in pre-cult evangelism is to insist that many "Faith" cultist define biblical words according to the standard definition of the Bible. The "inexperience" of believers and naïve Christians are so easily deceive simply because of the terminologies ("anointing") that many "Faith" cultist utilize as if they are in agreement with what the Church teaches. The "average" member of a cult (e.g. Jehovah's Witnesses) are aware of the fact that many Christians do not know "what" they believe else "why" they believe what the Bible teach (Amos 8:11-12). The Church as a whole have in fact failed when it comes to training its members as to the foundations of the Christian faith and pre-cult evangelism. There are so many of young people who have questions that have not been answered by the Church today. As Dr. Van Baalen once says, "Cults are the unpaid bills of the church today." There are many of Christians who once attend that of a Christian church are members of alternative and new religious movements. It is an indictment upon the church today especially many African American churches who have failed in the area of discipleship and evangelism (Matt. 28:19-20).
Throughout this article I will begin to address the issue of the character of God's Word in light of scripture (2 Pet. 1:19-21 with 2 Tim. 3:16). There are many professing believers who contend that God's Word is not what it claim to be but that there were "mere" men who wrote the Bible by which it is unreliable and untrustworthy. The attack that is "leveled" against God's Word as to its divine character is of such alarming speed by which there are an array of false teachings and heresies that seek to destroy that of the character of the Bible (1 Tim. 6:20). In fact the neo-orthodox view in regards to the character of the Bible is that scripture in "incomplete" by which it is needful for the neo-orthodox "theologians sense afresh that of "newer" revelations jumping off the pages of scripture for God's Word to come alive. Such "hermenuetical" principle or interpretation of the Bible when it comes to the character of scripture is that many neo-orthodox scholars diminish that of the integrity of God's Word (Rev. 22:18-19). Scripture is complete without any additional revelation nor revelation of the spirit. In order to understand the question, "The Character of God's Word: Truth? Or Hoax?" must be understood in light of scripture whereby God's Word answers its most crucial question. The Bible attest to the fact that of the character of scripture (2 Pet. 1:19 with 2 Tim. 3:16). Also Jesus and the apostles witness to that of the character of scripture (Matt. 4:1-11; 5:17; Heb. 1:1-2a; 2 Pet. 1:19; 2 Tim. 3:16). When it comes to the character of God's Word that many world religions, sects, and cults denies that of its true integrity: that of the reliability of scripture (2 Pet. 1:19). Many world religions will contend that the Bible is a collection of books along with the Hindu scriptures that are on par with each other. God's Word alone stands all by itself by which we can confidently trust in what it says simply because of its Author (2 Tim. 3:16). There are no lost books of the Bible by which many so-called Christian "theologians" will have the Church to believe. Many of the books like The Gospel of Thomas, The Aquarian Gospel, and Apocalyptic Gospel are "spurious" books that are very much inconsistent with the character and integrity of canon or "rule" of scripture (2 Pet. 1:19-21 with 2 Tim. 3:16). It was necessary for the early church to defend its position on the authority and inspiration of the Bible as a declaration or statement of faith against the intrusion and infiltration of early Gnosticism. Early Gnosticism during the first and second century church to be in competition with early Christianity (i.e. "Christ's divinity") but it was a way to infiltrate that of the Church to do its untold damage by destroying the faith and life of believers (2 Tim. 2:17, 18). Never in the history of the church today when there is an attack upon the reliability and truthfulness of scripture (2 Pet. 1:20).
According to 2 Peter 1:19 where the apostle Peter says,"And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light [Jn. 1:4, 5, 9] that shines in a dark place, until [Prov. 4:18] the day [Rev. 2:28; 22:16] dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." (2 Cor. 4:5-7) First, when it comes to that of the "prophetic word," (v. 19) "prophecy of scripture," (v. 20) and "prophecy" (v. 21) it makes reference to the Holy Scripture (2 Tim. 3:15) and every scripture (2 Tim. 3:16). In so many words the prophetic word refers to God's Word. Nothing more; nothing less. It always refers to God's Word. Many Charismatics and Pentecostal makes the mistake of taking biblical words (e.g. "prophecy") to make it say what they want it to say by saying, "God gives personal prophecies and revelations to give a fresh word to the church today." They have at will "utilize" that of the language of the Bible but also have different meanings. They have in fact "redefine" biblical Christian terminologies to fit within the "mold" of the cultural context of neo-Pentecostalism (Acts 2:4). In order to strip Oneness Pentecostals of its most powerful arsenal is to "insist" that they define biblical terms ("anointing") according to the standard definition of the Bible (1 Jn. 4:1 with Acts 17:11).
Secondly, when it comes to the character of God's Word is that God's Word is reliable (2 Pet. 1:19). What does it mean by God's Word being reliable. In so many words believers can confidently trust in what God's Word says because it is divinely inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16). The character of God in fact reflect that of the character of scripture. God is divine Truth whereby God's Word is true and reliable (Psa. 119:4, 6; 2 Pet. 1:19). When it comes to the reliability and truthfulness of God's Word exemplify the character of scripture. God's Word is complete without any additional revelation nor revelation of the spirit by which many professing "Christian" teachers would have the Church to believe that scripture is "incomplete" without the Spirit giving such spiritual revelation within a person's spirit (2 Pet. 1:20). Whenever the Church "substitute" that of God's Word for such personal prophecies, revelations, and "inward" voice of the spirit have in fact crossed over the threshold of mysticism (Col. 2:18, 19). To add or to take away from God's Word is to envision God's divine judgment (Rev. 22:18, 19; [2 Pet. 2:1]).
Lastly, when it comes to that of the character of scripture or that of the prophetic word is that it is not manufactured by men but by God (2 Pet. 1:21). The Bible does not assume to be the Word of God but it is the very Word of God. The Bible witness that of its own character (Matt. 5:17). It is unfortunate that many professing "Christian" teachers discredit that of God's Word as to be unreliable and untrustworthy. The way by which many false spiritual leaders in the church today "discredit" that of the character of God's Word is to say what God's Word does not say. In so many words it is always putting words in God's own mouth so as to diminish the effectiveness of God's Word (Matt. 4:1-11). Many evangelicals who claim to believe in the character of God's Word very much deny the genuineness and truthfulness of scripture. Personal prophecies, revelations, and voice of the spirit holds sway among many evangelicals today. The genuineness and truthfulness of the character of scripture is put on the back burner of the theological self by which personal prophecies is front and center of many evangelical pulpits across America today. Many of people are wondering why the church is in the state that it is in simply because God's Word is not enough to satisfy the yearning of people's hearts today. Many evangelicals want something other than God's Word to affirm their relationship with God so as be in tune with the theistic God of the Bible through such "inner" voice of the spirit. Our relationship with God is by knowing the Person of Jesus in receiving God's free gift of salvation whereby a person can be saved (Rom. 10:9-10). Salvation is not through "mere" knowledge in discovering the "spark" of divinity from within or that of esotericism but that a person must acknowledge that they are a sinner in need of God's saving grace as they are convicted by convicting work and power of the Holy Spirit. We are saved by hearing the message of Christ (Rom. 10:17). It is the power of the gospel that changes people's lives; not through some "inward" voice or "mere" experience that seems to "dramatically" change people's lives today.
Rev. Darryl L. Miller is the president & Chairman of "Darryl Miller International Ministries" in Atlanta, Georgia and travels extensively throughout the United States and continents. Darryl is the Podcast Host of, "ASK DARRYL" which airs regularly @ www.spreaker.com/user/bishopoflyons. He is also the bestselling author of his book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation? As a apologist, conference speaker, and lecturer he is in great demand both in the United States and around the world. Darryl lives with his wife Vivian outside metro Atlanta with their puppy "Little Baby."
Throughout this article I will begin to address the issue of the character of God's Word in light of scripture (2 Pet. 1:19-21 with 2 Tim. 3:16). There are many professing believers who contend that God's Word is not what it claim to be but that there were "mere" men who wrote the Bible by which it is unreliable and untrustworthy. The attack that is "leveled" against God's Word as to its divine character is of such alarming speed by which there are an array of false teachings and heresies that seek to destroy that of the character of the Bible (1 Tim. 6:20). In fact the neo-orthodox view in regards to the character of the Bible is that scripture in "incomplete" by which it is needful for the neo-orthodox "theologians sense afresh that of "newer" revelations jumping off the pages of scripture for God's Word to come alive. Such "hermenuetical" principle or interpretation of the Bible when it comes to the character of scripture is that many neo-orthodox scholars diminish that of the integrity of God's Word (Rev. 22:18-19). Scripture is complete without any additional revelation nor revelation of the spirit. In order to understand the question, "The Character of God's Word: Truth? Or Hoax?" must be understood in light of scripture whereby God's Word answers its most crucial question. The Bible attest to the fact that of the character of scripture (2 Pet. 1:19 with 2 Tim. 3:16). Also Jesus and the apostles witness to that of the character of scripture (Matt. 4:1-11; 5:17; Heb. 1:1-2a; 2 Pet. 1:19; 2 Tim. 3:16). When it comes to the character of God's Word that many world religions, sects, and cults denies that of its true integrity: that of the reliability of scripture (2 Pet. 1:19). Many world religions will contend that the Bible is a collection of books along with the Hindu scriptures that are on par with each other. God's Word alone stands all by itself by which we can confidently trust in what it says simply because of its Author (2 Tim. 3:16). There are no lost books of the Bible by which many so-called Christian "theologians" will have the Church to believe. Many of the books like The Gospel of Thomas, The Aquarian Gospel, and Apocalyptic Gospel are "spurious" books that are very much inconsistent with the character and integrity of canon or "rule" of scripture (2 Pet. 1:19-21 with 2 Tim. 3:16). It was necessary for the early church to defend its position on the authority and inspiration of the Bible as a declaration or statement of faith against the intrusion and infiltration of early Gnosticism. Early Gnosticism during the first and second century church to be in competition with early Christianity (i.e. "Christ's divinity") but it was a way to infiltrate that of the Church to do its untold damage by destroying the faith and life of believers (2 Tim. 2:17, 18). Never in the history of the church today when there is an attack upon the reliability and truthfulness of scripture (2 Pet. 1:20).
According to 2 Peter 1:19 where the apostle Peter says,"And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light [Jn. 1:4, 5, 9] that shines in a dark place, until [Prov. 4:18] the day [Rev. 2:28; 22:16] dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." (2 Cor. 4:5-7) First, when it comes to that of the "prophetic word," (v. 19) "prophecy of scripture," (v. 20) and "prophecy" (v. 21) it makes reference to the Holy Scripture (2 Tim. 3:15) and every scripture (2 Tim. 3:16). In so many words the prophetic word refers to God's Word. Nothing more; nothing less. It always refers to God's Word. Many Charismatics and Pentecostal makes the mistake of taking biblical words (e.g. "prophecy") to make it say what they want it to say by saying, "God gives personal prophecies and revelations to give a fresh word to the church today." They have at will "utilize" that of the language of the Bible but also have different meanings. They have in fact "redefine" biblical Christian terminologies to fit within the "mold" of the cultural context of neo-Pentecostalism (Acts 2:4). In order to strip Oneness Pentecostals of its most powerful arsenal is to "insist" that they define biblical terms ("anointing") according to the standard definition of the Bible (1 Jn. 4:1 with Acts 17:11).
Secondly, when it comes to the character of God's Word is that God's Word is reliable (2 Pet. 1:19). What does it mean by God's Word being reliable. In so many words believers can confidently trust in what God's Word says because it is divinely inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16). The character of God in fact reflect that of the character of scripture. God is divine Truth whereby God's Word is true and reliable (Psa. 119:4, 6; 2 Pet. 1:19). When it comes to the reliability and truthfulness of God's Word exemplify the character of scripture. God's Word is complete without any additional revelation nor revelation of the spirit by which many professing "Christian" teachers would have the Church to believe that scripture is "incomplete" without the Spirit giving such spiritual revelation within a person's spirit (2 Pet. 1:20). Whenever the Church "substitute" that of God's Word for such personal prophecies, revelations, and "inward" voice of the spirit have in fact crossed over the threshold of mysticism (Col. 2:18, 19). To add or to take away from God's Word is to envision God's divine judgment (Rev. 22:18, 19; [2 Pet. 2:1]).
Lastly, when it comes to that of the character of scripture or that of the prophetic word is that it is not manufactured by men but by God (2 Pet. 1:21). The Bible does not assume to be the Word of God but it is the very Word of God. The Bible witness that of its own character (Matt. 5:17). It is unfortunate that many professing "Christian" teachers discredit that of God's Word as to be unreliable and untrustworthy. The way by which many false spiritual leaders in the church today "discredit" that of the character of God's Word is to say what God's Word does not say. In so many words it is always putting words in God's own mouth so as to diminish the effectiveness of God's Word (Matt. 4:1-11). Many evangelicals who claim to believe in the character of God's Word very much deny the genuineness and truthfulness of scripture. Personal prophecies, revelations, and voice of the spirit holds sway among many evangelicals today. The genuineness and truthfulness of the character of scripture is put on the back burner of the theological self by which personal prophecies is front and center of many evangelical pulpits across America today. Many of people are wondering why the church is in the state that it is in simply because God's Word is not enough to satisfy the yearning of people's hearts today. Many evangelicals want something other than God's Word to affirm their relationship with God so as be in tune with the theistic God of the Bible through such "inner" voice of the spirit. Our relationship with God is by knowing the Person of Jesus in receiving God's free gift of salvation whereby a person can be saved (Rom. 10:9-10). Salvation is not through "mere" knowledge in discovering the "spark" of divinity from within or that of esotericism but that a person must acknowledge that they are a sinner in need of God's saving grace as they are convicted by convicting work and power of the Holy Spirit. We are saved by hearing the message of Christ (Rom. 10:17). It is the power of the gospel that changes people's lives; not through some "inward" voice or "mere" experience that seems to "dramatically" change people's lives today.
Rev. Darryl L. Miller is the president & Chairman of "Darryl Miller International Ministries" in Atlanta, Georgia and travels extensively throughout the United States and continents. Darryl is the Podcast Host of, "ASK DARRYL" which airs regularly @ www.spreaker.com/user/bishopoflyons. He is also the bestselling author of his book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation? As a apologist, conference speaker, and lecturer he is in great demand both in the United States and around the world. Darryl lives with his wife Vivian outside metro Atlanta with their puppy "Little Baby."
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