What is the Bible’s place in the Christian life? Is it a book meant to inspire and encourage us, or is it a book to be obeyed? The answer is, of course, yes. But let’s dig a little deeper into that answer as we look at the authority of Scripture.
Because the Bible is the inspired Word of God, God’s special revelation to humanity that is completely truthful in all it teaches, The Scriptures are the ultimate authority for the Christian.
The Bible is our “norming-norm”, or the standard we use to evaluate what is true and false and right and wrong. It is our source of wisdom, instructing us on how to live life well to the glory of God.
And this means that the Bible stands in opposition to our many of our own desires. Humans want to see ourselves as the masters of our own fate. We want to be free to define and pursue our own truth, regardless of the consequences.
But the Bible tells us something different: it tells us that what is true is not defined by us. It tells us that we are limited creatures who are under the authority of their Creator. It offers the answer to the question “what in the world is wrong with the world,” and presents us with our only hope for a solution to sin: the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And it calls all of us, by faith in Jesus, to believe and obey our Creator by believing and obeying His Word.
