Jesus Christ is my God!
Issued 28.04.2003
The Scriptures on my heartboard
The Bible leads godless people to the salvation and gives teachings to believers. The men of God have written the Bible, but God writes His words with His own hand on the boards of our hearts.
To whom has the Bible been written?
The teachings of the Bible have been written to the believers and its testimonies to all the people. The four gospels prove to everybody that Jesus Messiah is the Son of God. The apostle John says about his gospel: "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." John 20:31
Paul says that the Bible is for the man of God in other words for a believer: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2Tim.3:16-17
The teachings of the Bible have been written to the believers and its testimonies to all the people. The four gospels prove to everybody that Jesus Messiah is the Son of God. The apostle John says about his gospel: "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." John 20:31
Paul says that the Bible is for the man of God in other words for a believer: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2Tim.3:16-17
Who has written the Bible?
God has commanded some of His servants to write down what they got from God. The genuineness of their writings has always been attacked. God told Moses to write the law. He asked the prophets to write the prophecies they received. The apostles of Jesus were commanded to write about the life, the deeds and the teachings of Jesus.
Common to all the writers of the Bible is the fact that they are eye-witnesses and pieces of evidence of the events they write about. When you read the Bible you can learn something about their personality. When they repeat to you the words they heard from the mouth of God, you can learn something about the personality of God. In this way God speaks to us from the middle of human imperfection.
He could have commanded an angel to write the Bible or He could have written it Himself. However He didn't do so, because He was pleased to have a human being witnessing of Him. Jesus Himself didn't write a letter to be a part of the Bible, because He followed His Father also in this matter.
God has commanded some of His servants to write down what they got from God. The genuineness of their writings has always been attacked. God told Moses to write the law. He asked the prophets to write the prophecies they received. The apostles of Jesus were commanded to write about the life, the deeds and the teachings of Jesus.
Common to all the writers of the Bible is the fact that they are eye-witnesses and pieces of evidence of the events they write about. When you read the Bible you can learn something about their personality. When they repeat to you the words they heard from the mouth of God, you can learn something about the personality of God. In this way God speaks to us from the middle of human imperfection.
He could have commanded an angel to write the Bible or He could have written it Himself. However He didn't do so, because He was pleased to have a human being witnessing of Him. Jesus Himself didn't write a letter to be a part of the Bible, because He followed His Father also in this matter.
Why is some book in the Bible?
In the Bible there are only writings of the prophets and the apostles authorized by God. In the world there have been many false prophets and false apostles. Also they have their own books. A book shares the same spirit as the writer of the book. Therefore you must recognize spirits, what is from God and what is not. You can recognize that the books of the Bible share the same Spirit.
Is it so that only the writings of the Bible are God-breathed? In the Bible it is nowhere said that only this book is inspired by the Spirit of God. On the contrary it emphasizes that the whole world would have not enough room for the books that are possible to write about the Word of God.
How do you know what a book has got its birth from the Spirit of God? Only the persons who themselves have got their births from the Spirit of God are able to recognize it. One who has been born of the Spirit of God recognizes another one who is born of the same Spirit. The New Testament is an exclusive selection of books that believers of the early congregation accepted as the writings of the apostles of Jesus.
The Church Council that decided on the books of the New Testament had not a spiritual ability to recognize the right books. It didn't do the selection but only accepted the books that were in use. The discarded books were not like-minded with the books that believers used.
In any case the Bible doesn't tell everything that could have been written. The apostle John says: "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book." John 20:30 The Bible is only a part of what would be possible to write about the Word of God. "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." John 21:25
In the New Testament the apostles bear their own witness of Jesus. They saw how Jesus lived, died, rose from dead and stepped up to heaven. Therefore the Bible is more than the other writings that have got their birth from the Spirit of God. Every day new writings are being born from the Spirit of God and they are useful for people. However they are not equivalent to the New Testament because none of their writers is one of the twelve.
In the Bible there are only writings of the prophets and the apostles authorized by God. In the world there have been many false prophets and false apostles. Also they have their own books. A book shares the same spirit as the writer of the book. Therefore you must recognize spirits, what is from God and what is not. You can recognize that the books of the Bible share the same Spirit.
Is it so that only the writings of the Bible are God-breathed? In the Bible it is nowhere said that only this book is inspired by the Spirit of God. On the contrary it emphasizes that the whole world would have not enough room for the books that are possible to write about the Word of God.
How do you know what a book has got its birth from the Spirit of God? Only the persons who themselves have got their births from the Spirit of God are able to recognize it. One who has been born of the Spirit of God recognizes another one who is born of the same Spirit. The New Testament is an exclusive selection of books that believers of the early congregation accepted as the writings of the apostles of Jesus.
The Church Council that decided on the books of the New Testament had not a spiritual ability to recognize the right books. It didn't do the selection but only accepted the books that were in use. The discarded books were not like-minded with the books that believers used.
In any case the Bible doesn't tell everything that could have been written. The apostle John says: "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book." John 20:30 The Bible is only a part of what would be possible to write about the Word of God. "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." John 21:25
In the New Testament the apostles bear their own witness of Jesus. They saw how Jesus lived, died, rose from dead and stepped up to heaven. Therefore the Bible is more than the other writings that have got their birth from the Spirit of God. Every day new writings are being born from the Spirit of God and they are useful for people. However they are not equivalent to the New Testament because none of their writers is one of the twelve.
Reliability of the Bible
The Bible is trustworthy because it speaks about matters that work in practice just as written. God is good and the world is under the control of the evil one and who believes in Jesus experiences a salvation. The Bible only confirms the matters that people in any case know in their consciences. The deeds of God are on view for all.
In some cases archaeology or other sources support the reliability of the Bible. These impersonal evidences are as though objective proofs. However they determine nothing. Man's heart must in any case decide whether to accept the content of the message or not. If it says no to the matter, then there is no evidence that would be enough.
Jesus of the Bible is so convincing a person that he who rejected Him would also resist Jesus if he met Him on a street.
A book is just as reliable as its writer. The effect of the Spirit of God can be noticed in the writers of the Bible. Indeed it is confidence in a person that is needed and not a scientific analysis. God has a good reason why He has not written the Bible with His own hand. Yes, God's finger wrote the Ten Commandments on stone and Moses copied them to his book. If God's finger had written the whole Bible, we hardly would trust in the Bible more. Instead God has promised to write with His own hand a better writing than a book, but not on paper or on stone.
The Bible is trustworthy because it speaks about matters that work in practice just as written. God is good and the world is under the control of the evil one and who believes in Jesus experiences a salvation. The Bible only confirms the matters that people in any case know in their consciences. The deeds of God are on view for all.
In some cases archaeology or other sources support the reliability of the Bible. These impersonal evidences are as though objective proofs. However they determine nothing. Man's heart must in any case decide whether to accept the content of the message or not. If it says no to the matter, then there is no evidence that would be enough.
Jesus of the Bible is so convincing a person that he who rejected Him would also resist Jesus if he met Him on a street.
A book is just as reliable as its writer. The effect of the Spirit of God can be noticed in the writers of the Bible. Indeed it is confidence in a person that is needed and not a scientific analysis. God has a good reason why He has not written the Bible with His own hand. Yes, God's finger wrote the Ten Commandments on stone and Moses copied them to his book. If God's finger had written the whole Bible, we hardly would trust in the Bible more. Instead God has promised to write with His own hand a better writing than a book, but not on paper or on stone.
Errors of the Bible
When man doesn't accept the rebuke of the Bible and his conscience, he tries to defend himself by searching errors in the Bible. Just the same happens to a person who rebukes his neighbour who doesn't accept the rebuke. "Are you saying to me that you are better than me? Also you are guilty..." A proud one tries to turn a negative attention away from oneself.
The Bible is totally inspired by the Spirit of God. However it doesn't mean that the text would be completely without errors. In the Bible there are some errors, as there are also in the best believer. However those errors are not remarkable from the point of the message.
For instance these two Bible passages contain different numbers: 1 Chron.18:4 says that charioteers were 7000. 2Samuel 8:4 says about the same event that charioteers were 1700. What is the meaning of this error? Maybe it is a copying error, because another version of the text gives the same number in the book of Samuel as in the Chronicles. In the Bible there are also other same kinds of errors, but you are mindless if you discard its message because of them.
In addition there are some little translation errors. For instance in the previous Bible text the word "charioteer" is translated "horseman" in the Finnish Bible (1933 translation). I suppose that a horseman is incorrect, because it is mostly translated as a charioteer.
Many claim to find conflicts also in the message of the Bible. Usually it is caused by the fact that they share a different spirit from the writers of the Bible. If they understood the thoughts of God they would notice that there are no conflicts.
God has allowed some errors in the Bible so that nobody would give the Bible the glory that belongs to God. Do not search a perfect book, but be fascinated with the perfect God.
When man doesn't accept the rebuke of the Bible and his conscience, he tries to defend himself by searching errors in the Bible. Just the same happens to a person who rebukes his neighbour who doesn't accept the rebuke. "Are you saying to me that you are better than me? Also you are guilty..." A proud one tries to turn a negative attention away from oneself.
The Bible is totally inspired by the Spirit of God. However it doesn't mean that the text would be completely without errors. In the Bible there are some errors, as there are also in the best believer. However those errors are not remarkable from the point of the message.
For instance these two Bible passages contain different numbers: 1 Chron.18:4 says that charioteers were 7000. 2Samuel 8:4 says about the same event that charioteers were 1700. What is the meaning of this error? Maybe it is a copying error, because another version of the text gives the same number in the book of Samuel as in the Chronicles. In the Bible there are also other same kinds of errors, but you are mindless if you discard its message because of them.
In addition there are some little translation errors. For instance in the previous Bible text the word "charioteer" is translated "horseman" in the Finnish Bible (1933 translation). I suppose that a horseman is incorrect, because it is mostly translated as a charioteer.
Many claim to find conflicts also in the message of the Bible. Usually it is caused by the fact that they share a different spirit from the writers of the Bible. If they understood the thoughts of God they would notice that there are no conflicts.
God has allowed some errors in the Bible so that nobody would give the Bible the glory that belongs to God. Do not search a perfect book, but be fascinated with the perfect God.
Worship of the Bible
The opponents of Jesus respected the Bible too much and therefore they didn't recognize Him. "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you posses eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." John 5:39-40 The Bible guides us to God. If we don't put the word of the Bible into practice in our life, a Bible study doesn't benefit us at all.
They who worship the Bible cannot accept that there could be any error in the Bible. They consider the Bible a supernatural fetish that radiates mystic light. They repeat Bible passages like spells. They believe that the Word has an effect although it doesn't go to their hearts. They have excluded God away from their hearts and put Biblicism on them.
Worshippers of the Bible claim that there is no God's word outside the Bible. They don't say that the Bible is a part of God's word but they say that the Bible is the Word of God. In this way they make the Bible into Jesus. Only He is the Word of God.
All the fulness of the Deity lives in Jesus, not in the Bible. The Bible is only a drop of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the perfect storage of the words of God, not the Bible. He distributes to us from the property of Jesus, and the whole world would not have room for the books that were possible to write about His fullness.
The opponents of Jesus respected the Bible too much and therefore they didn't recognize Him. "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you posses eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." John 5:39-40 The Bible guides us to God. If we don't put the word of the Bible into practice in our life, a Bible study doesn't benefit us at all.
They who worship the Bible cannot accept that there could be any error in the Bible. They consider the Bible a supernatural fetish that radiates mystic light. They repeat Bible passages like spells. They believe that the Word has an effect although it doesn't go to their hearts. They have excluded God away from their hearts and put Biblicism on them.
Worshippers of the Bible claim that there is no God's word outside the Bible. They don't say that the Bible is a part of God's word but they say that the Bible is the Word of God. In this way they make the Bible into Jesus. Only He is the Word of God.
All the fulness of the Deity lives in Jesus, not in the Bible. The Bible is only a drop of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the perfect storage of the words of God, not the Bible. He distributes to us from the property of Jesus, and the whole world would not have room for the books that were possible to write about His fullness.
Scriptures on your heart
Although God has not written us a book with His own hand, He has promised to do more. He wants to write His words to the board of our hearts. "'This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after that time', declares the LORD. 'I will put my law in their minds and WRITE it ON THEIR HEARTS. I will be their God, and they will be my people.'" Jer.31:33
We know that this writing doesn't concern only the Jews but everybody who believes in Jesus. The previous text resides also in the New Testament: "'This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will WRITE them ON THEIR MINDS.' Then He adds: 'Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.'" Heb.10:16-17
This is a great experience! God Himself writes on my heart. When Paul speaks to the Corinthian he refers to this writing work. "You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." 2Cor.3:3 Notice that the Scriptures of your heart is more valuable for you than the Bible as a book, because its writer is God Himself. "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2Cor.4:7
Jesus said to those Jews who believed in the Bible as a Word of God: "Nor does His word dwell in you." John 5:38 If God has succeeded in writing His word on your heart, then His word dwells in you.
Why is there not in the Bible the book called: "The Letter of Christ"? Therefore because God wants to write it to Your heart.
Although God has not written us a book with His own hand, He has promised to do more. He wants to write His words to the board of our hearts. "'This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after that time', declares the LORD. 'I will put my law in their minds and WRITE it ON THEIR HEARTS. I will be their God, and they will be my people.'" Jer.31:33
We know that this writing doesn't concern only the Jews but everybody who believes in Jesus. The previous text resides also in the New Testament: "'This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will WRITE them ON THEIR MINDS.' Then He adds: 'Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.'" Heb.10:16-17
This is a great experience! God Himself writes on my heart. When Paul speaks to the Corinthian he refers to this writing work. "You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." 2Cor.3:3 Notice that the Scriptures of your heart is more valuable for you than the Bible as a book, because its writer is God Himself. "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2Cor.4:7
Jesus said to those Jews who believed in the Bible as a Word of God: "Nor does His word dwell in you." John 5:38 If God has succeeded in writing His word on your heart, then His word dwells in you.
Why is there not in the Bible the book called: "The Letter of Christ"? Therefore because God wants to write it to Your heart.
The Bible version used in references is NIV