God's Word Is the Truth
By Rev. Erik Strunk
By Rev. Erik Strunk
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit. 1
Corinthians 2:13
To err is human. We see this from big mistakes made in the secular world: the Edsel car, named for Henry Ford's son; the changed flavor of Coca Cola; the Susan B. Anthony dollar issued by the U.S. mint.
People make mistakes also in the church at large and in local congregations. Missions are opened in
unpromising communities, churches are built in wrong locations, investments are not wisely made. Where and
when human beings, imperfect despite their commitment to Jesus Christ, are at work, errors in judgment can
be expected. The Bible tells us this through many examples. Elijah erred when he thought he was the only
one in Israel still true to the Lord in an age of apostasy. John and James were off base in asking Jesus
whether they should invoke fire from heaven to consume an inhospitable Samaritan village. Saint Paul tells
the Galatians that Saint Peter "was clearly in the wrong" when he refused to eat with Gentiles when
Judaizers were around (see Galatians 2:11-12). Saint Paul himself erred on occasion--in the choice of
co-workers, in wanting to preach in a region when the Spirit said no, in being subject to conceit and vanity
because of God's special revelations to him. Also in Christendom today people can err when they follow
their own wisdom in things spiritual.
The apostles, while they did occasionally err in everyday affairs, were totally truthful and correct when the Holy Spirit moved them in their oral preaching and their writings of the New Testament Scripture. When speaking as the oracles of God, they were guarded from error. The Old Testament Scripture and the words of Jesus to them that the Spirit brought back to their remembrance were the source, norm, and standard of the apostles' doctrine.
It is by the written Word, also today, that all who preach and teach in the church are to be examined. If
they are found to be in agreement with Scripture, then they should be honored and faithfully followed because
they proclaim Christ Jesus as the only Savior from sin. The "sola Scripture"--Scripture alone--emphasis of the Reformation keeps this truth before our eyes.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, keep all Christians steadfast in Your inerrant Word. Amen.
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