Has God adequately preserved the Bible?

About the Bible?, All Questions

Has God adequately preserved the Bible?

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Bible,   All Questions

Last Updated

Jan 22, 2025

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The preservation of the Bible is closely tied to the nature of God Himself. Christians believe that God is perfect and if so, the Bible should also be without any imperfection. The question then arises: Would a perfect God who inspired a perfect word,  let it deteriorate over time?

The Bible, as God’s revealed word, is a perfect expression of His mind and will.  It is consistent with God’s nature and power that He would also preserve this revelation for future generations. The idea that God would allow His crucial revelation, especially one so integral to human salvation, to become corrupted over time, is absurd to even think of.

Despite the challenges of textual transmission over centuries, especially before the invention of the printing press, the core message and essential doctrines of the Bible have remained intact. Modern textual criticism has shown that while there are minor variations in the manuscripts, however these do not affect the Bible’s fundamental teachings. The substantial number and quality of New and Old Testament manuscripts available reinforce the confidence that the message we have is the one as revealed to the writers.

In conclusion, considering God’s character and the historical process of textual preservation, there is strong theological and empirical evidence to believe that God has indeed preserved the Bible effectively. This preservation ensures that the Scriptures remains reliable , reflecting God’s unchanging truth.

The preservation of the Bible reflects God's perfect nature and unchanging truth, ensuring that His revealed word remains intact and reliable for all generations.

What does it mean when said “the Bible was “inspired” by God?

About the Bible?, All Questions

What does it mean when said “the Bible was “inspired” by God?

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Bible,   All Questions

Last Updated

Jan 22, 2025

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In order to answer this question, we need to understand the difference between revelation and inspiration. Revelation is the communication of divine truth to man by God; inspiration is the recording of this communication in a reliable way.

During the writing of the Bible, the Holy Spirit exerted a supernatural influence on the writers, ensuring that what they wrote was accurate and reliable. 

2 Peter 1:21 (NKJV)

for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Paul also affirmed this concept to Timothy by stating that the scriptures were literally “God-breathed”;

2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)

All scripture is given by inspiration of God (or God-breathed), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

As Peter understood it (2 Peter 1:21), prophecies of scripture are not the result of human initiative or human will, but are the result of the Holy Spirit working supernaturally through holy men of God.

Inspiration does not mean that God dictated His messages word for word to those who wrote the Bible. Rather, the Holy Spirit conveyed God’s exact words through human writers by guiding their thoughts, desires, and language, ensuring that what they wrote was precisely what God intended.

In the same way that a ship is guided to its destination by the wind, the Holy Spirit moved the human authors of Scripture to accurately convey God’s message.

By combining His sovereign will with the writers’ unique styles, vocabularies, and experiences, the Spirit of God filled the minds, souls, and hearts of the Bible writers, guiding them to produce a perfect and inerrant text.

The phrase “breathed out by God” is an important expression of divine inspiration, meaning that God is the source and ultimate author of scripture. 

Though written by human authors, the scriptures have the full weight of His authority; the Bible is God’s inerrant word from start to finish.

Most importantly, the Greek term “theopneustos,” translated as “breathed out by God,” refers to all of scripture and not just portions of it. In other words, the totality of the canon of scripture, down to the individual words themselves, was given by God and, therefore, is entirely true.

We also learn from scripture (2 Peter 1:20–21) that when the Holy Spirit of God used men to write the Word of God, He did not erase their natural characteristics but, in His Providence, prepared the writers for the task of developing the Scriptures. Each writer maintained their own distinctive style and vocabulary, as they wrote out of their special set of circumstances that were guided by the Spirit to bring about the miracle of the scripture.

Sometimes God told the Bible writers the exact words to say (e.g., Jer. 1:9), but more often, He used their minds, vocabulary, and experiences to produce His own perfect, infallible, inerrant Word (1 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21). 

In conclusion, God’s perfect and complete revelation of the Bible reveals the glorious character of its author. Because He is a God of truth, His Word is infallible. Because He cannot lie, His Word is inerrant. Because He is the King of kings, His Word is absolute and supreme.

Scriptures speak with His authority, and certainly there can be no more reliable source of truth. 

The totality of Scripture, from beginning to end, is 'God-breathed,' carrying the full weight of His authority, infallibility, and inerrancy, as the Holy Spirit guided human authors to convey His perfect truth.

To which member of the trinity should I pray to?

About the Holy Spirit, All Questions

To which member of the trinity should I pray to?

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Trinity,   All Questions

Last Updated

Jan 18, 2025

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Christians believe in a trine God which often leads to the question of who we should address our prayers to? Are we to address our prayers only to the Father? Can we pray to Jesus and the Holy Spirit? Is there any biblical basis to pray to each person of the Trinity?

The scriptures gives us every right to pray to every member of the Trinity, there are no limitations.

      • Praying to the Father: According to the Gospel of John (14:13-14), Jesus instructs believers to pray to the Father in His name, emphasizing the Father’s authority and the Son’s role as mediator. This pattern of prayer, recognizes the Father’s sovereignty and the Son’s intercessory function. The verse encourages us to have direct communication to with the Father, through the Son. Additionally, we are commanded to worship the Father throughout Scripture. Jesus teaches us to honor the Father and to pray, “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name” (Matthew 6:9).
      • Praying in the Spirit: The Apostle Paul, in Romans 8:26-27 describes the Holy Spirit’s unique role in prayer, interceding with “groanings which cannot be uttered.” This passage highlights the Holy Spirit’s active involvement in guiding believers in prayer, aligning their desires with God’s will. The concept of praying “in the Spirit” suggests a reliance on the Holy Spirit for spiritual communion and supplication.
      • Praying to Jesus: Jesus Himself provides the basis for praying to Him. He says, “If you ask me anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:14). This statement indicates that believers can directly address Jesus in prayer, knowing that He will respond.  Additionally, Jesus encourages us to ask in His name, as seen in John 16:23-24: “In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.”

In practical terms, believers can address prayers to the Father, seeking His will and provision; to Jesus, acknowledging His role as Savior and Mediator; and to the Holy Spirit, for guidance, comfort, and empowerment. Each person of the Trinity plays a unique role in our lives and our prayers. We worship and fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, acknowledging their distinct roles and unified purpose in our salvation and spiritual growth.

We must worship the Holy Spirit, the Father and the Son. We also have the right to speak to every member of the Trinity. There are no limitations placed in all of Scripture that would cause us to assume any kind of pecking order or hierarchy that we have to work through.

Pray to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—embrace the unity and accessibility of the Trinity.

What does it mean to quench the Holy Spirit?

About the Holy Spirit, All Questions

What does it mean to quench the Holy Spirit?

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Holy Spirit,   All Questions
Last Updated
Jan 12, 2025
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1 Thessalonians 5:19 (NKJV)

Do not quench the Spirit.

In the New Testament, “to quench” refers to the act of suppressing the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

In order to accomplish God’s will, the Spirit instills a holy passion within believers for the things of God as they grow in sanctification. Therefore, whatever stifles the cooperation of the work of God within us is, in effect, quenching the Spirit.

It is certainly possible for the Holy Spirit to be quenched; otherwise, the Bible wouldn’t mention or warn against it. The scriptures also record that He can be grieved (Eph 4:30), resisted (Acts 7:51), and blasphemed (Matt 12:24 to 32).

Unbelievers can blaspheme and resist the Holy Spirit, while believers can quench and grieve Him.

What is the difference between quenching and grieving?

Quenching is what believers do to the Spirit by suppressing His work in our lives, and grieving is simply how He responds to what you did.

Simply put, we can grieve the Holy Spirit and cause Him personal pain when we quench the holy fire He has kindled in our hearts.

This will be further explored by examining some of the works the Holy Spirit performs in our lives and how we can quench these works.

In the following section we will look at some of the works of the Holy Spirt and how we can quench it in our lives.

Quenching the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification in the believer’s life

Throughout our lives, the Holy Spirit works to sanctify us so that we become increasingly holy and separate from sin. He wants to produce in us a decreasing frequency of sin, a decreasing power of temptation, a decreasing obsession with the world, a decreasing victimization to the flesh, and while doing this, He wants to produce in us an increasing longingness for God.

Therefore, we need to trust God’s process of sanctification by allowing Him to finish what He began.

As Paul states in Galatians 3:3, “Are you so foolish, having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”

Assuming that the Holy Spirit only initiates salvation, but then leaves it up to us to complete it is not only inaccurate, but also unbiblical.

We can quench the spirit’s progress of our sanctification by substituting His true saving work for the following;

      • Trying to earn your way to heaven or working for your salvation by serving in ministry, doing good deeds, etc.
      • By seeking ecstatic experiences, goosebumps, emotional thrills, good feelings to make you feel closer to God or have an intimacy with Him.
      • By indulging in therapeutic / relaxing activities or mystical new age practices such as closing your eyes and shutting off your mind expecting to experience the presence of God.
      • By creating man-made formulas (i.e. subscribing to ten steps to unlock secrets of life) to get rid of sin, become more like Christ and do His will.
      • By subscribing to self-love motivation, spontaneous experiences (always seeking something new and exciting) to push you to do God’s will.
      • By subscribing to self-help guides, deep psychology, or deep therapy stuff to help you get rid of your sin problems.
      • By attending conferences, camps and worship events in hopes to spark a fire in your heart to love God more.
      • By overemphasizing spiritual warfare battles, assuming that Satan is sovereign over God and declaring the enemy off your shoulders so that you can defeat sin.

At certain phases of our Christian walk, all of these might be beneficial, but what is wrong is allowing them to replace the Holy Spirit.

Our tendency is to mistakenly assume that the Holy Spirit is a band-aid and that all the things listed above are necessary to do deep surgery in the heart of the believer.

This is exactly the kind of thinking that Paul warns us about in Galatians 3:3 by saying that it is foolish to assume that your sinful and fallen human nature could ever improve on the saving work of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit has already accomplished the hard work at the moment of our conversion by effecting a complete reversal and renewal of our heart. By placing you in the body of Christ, He sets you apart from sin, sanctifies you for spiritual service, seals you for eternal glory, and pours the love of God into your heart for Him and others.

It is absurd to assume that the Holy Spirit, who does all this at the moment of your salvation, cannot complete the remainder of His work.

Quenching the work of illumination that is performed by the Holy Spirit

Our Christian growth is primarily motivated by the Word of God (Peter 2:2), and the Holy Spirit sanctifies us by using that same Word (that He inspired).

1 Peter 2:2

as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

It is the Holy Spirit who illuminates God’s word and helps us apply it to our lives.

Nevertheless, we can quench His illumination in our lives by doing the following;

      • By failing to study the word of God.
      • By failing to show yourself approved unto God, mishandling scripture, and not rightly dividing it  (2 Timothy 2:15).
      • By not receiving the word with humility (James 1:21)
      • By not applying the word to your life (just a hearer and not a doer).
      • By not hiding the word of God in your heart and searching it diligently, and by not letting it dwell within you richly (Colossians 3).
      • By not desiring the word of God.

Quenching the Holy Spirit’s work of bringing us into intimacy with God.

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in drawing us into an intimate relationship with the Father and enabling us to cry “Abba Father” (Romans 8:15). It is also recorded in the scriptures that it is only through the Holy Spirit that a person can say, “Jesus is Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:3).

Unbelievers may view God as distant, but the Holy Spirit’s work in believers makes Him a God of love, compassion, and understanding.

The following acts can quench His work of bringing us into intimacy with God:

      • By not accepting life’s difficulties and by living angry and bitter lives.
      • By not being consistently prayerful and not enjoying communion with God.
      • By not being true worshippers acknowledging that He is worthy of our praises.
      • By not willing to cast our cares upon Him and by not trusting in Him to provide all our needs.
      • By operating in our fleshly powers instead of relying on Him
      • By sticking with our human materialistic resources, saying, “I don’t need God,” I don’t need to go to Him,”  “I have everything I need,”  “I can handle it myself.”
      • By feeling inadequate and incomplete, even though He has adopted you as a son/daughter.

Quenching the Holy Spirit’s work of guiding you into the will of God.

As revealed in scripture, the Holy Spirit guides us into doing God’s will. As we read the Scriptures, He leads, directs, urges, prompts, and convicts us to act accordingly.

God’s Spirit, however, goes beyond what is revealed in Scripture and speaks to our hearts and directs our circumstances through our inward desires. In doing so, He accomplishes His ‘providential will’ by challenging and directing us through life’s circumstances, opportunities and responsibilities.

As believers consistently meditate on God’s word and are faithful in their prayer life, God’s Spirit will speak to their conscience and mind, guiding them through their inward spiritual and pure desires.

As believers follow Christ, the Holy Spirit stirs their hearts, enlightens their minds, and directs their paths. The promise in Psalms 37:5 means that He will “direct your path” or “level the ground.” It simply means that He will move around all hurdles and obstacles and make it clear what He expects of us.

Nevertheless, we can quench His work of directing us to obey God’s will;

      • By being selfish, saying, “I want to do what I want to and only in the way, I want to do it.”
      • By being stubborn and arrogant, saying, “I will not obey that command or I am not interested in doing that ministry.”
      • By being self-willed, stubborn, prideful, lazy, and indifferent which ultimately leads to us being insensitive towards His leading.

These are just some of the ways in which we can quench the subjective guidance of the Spirit.

There is, however, an important disclaimer that needs to be added here: if you do not read the word and do not follow the objective leading of the spirit (from the Scriptures), then your subjective leading of the spirit will not be as trustworthy.

Quenching the work of the Spirit to strengthen us inwardly.

Keeping God’s commandments daily requires an inward strength that only comes from God’s Spirit.

The Scriptures rightly state, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” (Zechariah 4:6).

The following are a few examples of what we would lack without His strength;

      • We wouldn’t be able to witness without His strength, as Jesus said, “you will receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you, then you’ll be a witness.” (Acts 1:8)
      • We wouldn’t have victory over sin without His strength because the flesh will ultimately overtake you. As Galatians 5:16-17 describes, the flesh cannot overcome the flesh; only the Spirit can.
      • We wouldn’t have any security for salvation because it is only through the sealing of the Spirit that we can have the assurance (Ephesians 1:13).
      • We wouldn’t be ale to serve God effectively apart from the power of the Spirit.
      • We wouldn’t be able to praise God in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs unless we are filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:19-20).

It is evident from the scriptures that the Spirit of God enables us to accomplish all things. Unfortunately, we can quench His work of strengthening us;

      • By being proud and arrogant not willing to accept His help.
      • By not being humble, assuming we can do everything in our own strength.
      • By not recognizing our weaknesses and need of Him.
      • By not recognizing our utter dependency and need of Him.
      • By being too overconfident in our fleshly abilities.

        Quenching the Spirit’s power in the growth of the Church

We can also quench the Spirit’s power in the Church today by replacing proper powerful teaching, exposition of scripture, and biblical preaching with manipulation & entertainment.

Many church leaders today believe that church growth is a matter of clever entrepreneurial activity rather than the power of the Spirit.

Notwithstanding, sin in the church, traditions, man-made rules & regulations in public worship, disunity, cold looks, contemptuous words, silent treatment, or ignoring the real issue, including unsympathetic criticism, can all quench the Spirit of God.

Conclusion

Quenching the Spirit is not merely neglecting His presence or gifts; it is failing to cooperate with His true work in our lives. This happens when we replace His guidance with our own methods, depend on human strength instead of His power, or misunderstand His role in sanctification, guidance, and the growth of the Church. To avoid quenching the Spirit, we must yield to His work, trust His leading, and stay rooted in God’s Word. By doing so, we honor His ministry and allow Him to transform us into Christ’s likeness for God’s glory.

Quenching the Spirit is not merely ignoring Him but failing to cooperate with His true work in our lives.

What does it mean to fear God?

About God, All Questions

What does it mean to fear God?

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God,   All Questions

Last Updated

Jan 11, 2025

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The concept of the “fear of the Lord” is a key theme in the Bible. Understanding this term is crucial for a deeper comprehension of our relationship with God.

Simply put, it means to respect and revere God and to be in awe of His majesty and power.

Psalm 33:8 (NKJV) 

Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

This fear is less about being afraid and more about acknowledging God’s supreme authority and our accountability to Him as our Creator and Sustainer.

As God is aware of all that we think, desire, speak, and do, we are accountable for the lives we live and should always remember that we live in His presence. It’s important to distinguish between being afraid of God’s punishment and having a reverential fear of Him. The biblical ‘fear of the Lord’ encompasses a deep sense of reverence, love, and awe, recognizing our place before God, rather than merely fearing divine retribution.

According to the Bible, finding real wisdom begins with fearing the Lord. 

Proverbs 1:7 (NKJV)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Having a fear of God is also connected to our purpose in life. 

Ecclesiastes 3:14 (NKJV)

I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.

Living in fear of the Lord helps us find our God-given purpose, shaping our priorities and influencing our choices.

Purpose in life begins with “who we know,” not what we know or how successful we are. We often fail to identify our God-given purpose in life, but we cannot do that until we fear God and give Him the priority. Having a high regard and reverence for God affects everything we do.

Reformer Martin Luther described the fear of the Lord as “filial fear,” akin to the respectful fear a child has for a loving parent. This analogy beautifully illustrates how fear of God is rooted in love and trust, not in dread of punishment. It’s about fearing to offend God, who is our source of security and love.

It’s not that the child fears torture or punishment, but rather that he fears offending the one who is the source of security and love in his life.

Fearing God is fundamental to the Christian faith and life. It’s a balanced blend of awe, reverence, love, and understanding of God’s majesty. This fear guides us to live in harmony with His will, leading to a deeper, more meaningful relationship with our Creator.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7

Why does God allow sin to exist?

About God, All Questions

Why does God allow sin to exist?

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God,   All Questions

Last Updated

Jan 11, 2025

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A straightforward explanation as to why God allows sin in the world, and the overarching reason behind all His actions, is for one ultimate purpose: His glory. However, it’s important to clarify that God’s glory isn’t dependent on sin; rather, His response to sin showcases His glorious attributes.

It was God’s desire to put His full glory on display, which includes His compassion, mercy, grace, forgiveness, kindness, justice, wrath and holiness. These attributes of God are not necessitated by sin, but through His interaction with a fallen world, these aspects of His character are vividly revealed.

Unless sin existed, aspects such as God’s mercy, grace, forgiveness, compassion, and lovingkindness might not be as evident. Sin serves as a backdrop that highlights the beauty of God’s holiness and righteousness. By understanding what is unholy, we come to appreciate the holiness of God. The existence of evil allows us to recognize good, and the presence of impurity underscores the value of purity.

While God allows the existence of sin, it is still within the bounds of His sovereign will and purpose. This allowance is not an endorsement of sin but a part of the greater narrative of redemption and transformation.

Every action of God is meant to achieve His glory. He exhibits His glory not just before creatures on earth, but also to angels in heaven:

Ephesians 3:10 (NKJV)

to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,

In conclusion, the existence of sin in the world serves to highlight, by contrast, the magnificent attributes of God. It also points us toward the ultimate redemption and transformation that is at the heart of God’s plan. This understanding offers hope and assurance in the meaningfulness of God’s actions in a world touched by sin.

THE FOOL SAYS IN HIS HEART, 'THERE IS NO GOD.'

Pslam 14:1

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