Has God Said?

 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? -Genesis 3:1

In the Garden of Eden, the enemy's first attack was against the Word of God. "Has God said?" That question is being echoed in our day from many different directions, even within the Church walls.

"Has God said?" It's being labeled as a question of academic speculation. It's being painted as open-mindedness. But if these questions stir doubts about what God said, they are the beginning of deception and devilish doctrines. Every doubtful question about the accuracy of God's Word has its roots in that first question in the Garden.

"Has God said?" I've read far too many Christian books and articles lately that question the validity, the origin, and the Source of the Bible. I capitalize "Source" here because I believe God is the Source of the Bible. Detractors argue that there are many sources who contrived, wrote, and collected the Bible in a less inspired way than what we've been led to believe by the Bible.

I go to the Source and see that:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

"By Inspiration of God" The KJV interprets theopneustos as "inspiration of God." The NIV interprets theopneustos as "God-breathed." The way God inspired was moving His Spirit upon holy men of God! For a powerful link between the Breath of God (pneustos) and the Spirit of God (pneuma), see John 20:22, where Jesus breathed on the disciples and commanded them to receive the Holy Ghost!
The Latin inspiro, where we get our word inspired, conveyed the idea, "as if a spirit were in them." And so It was! The breath of God, His very Spirit, moved upon these holy men.
This coincides with 2 Peter 1, where we are told that Scripture did not come by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost!

19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The holy men of God spake and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost! As they were inspired of God: God breathed His Spirit upon them and gave them what to say and write.

We're told that this Word came not by the will of man. I have to tell you I have recently read authors who are saying the exact opposite. Sadly, these voices of doubt are no longer just outside the Church. They are describing much of the Bible as a carefully-contrived narrative of men, who spun their tales and passed on the stories. The authors of these books and articles are asking, in essence, "Has God said?" And their response seems to be, "No." Instead, they present the idea that some impressive and crafty men of old wrapped this Bible tale together and that God has given most of it His blessing.

The Bible itself denounces this idea:

"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." -2 Peter 1:16

I like the New Living Translation's wording on this, too:

"For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes." -2 Peter 1:16

Some may argue that Old Testament books were passed around and crafted by story-tellers and the New Testament was eyewitness accounts. But I have to side with the Bible's description that "all Scripture" is given by inspiration of God. I take that very literally to mean that God was actively moving upon the authors for everything recorded in our Bible. God didn't just sign off on a compilation of stories long after the fact.

I'm troubled by what I read lately, because at its heart is that same doubt-inducing question first asked by the serpent in the Garden. "Has God said?" The answer to that question is the linchpin of the Church. It's the cornerstone of Truth. Discard one page of the Bible as only a clever creation of men, even godly men, and the Bible's authority as the Word of God can be challenged. After that, it's no surprise when a modern-day preacher can preach without ever taking a text or opening his Bible during his sermon. A person who views the Bible as the opinions of men can discard the Book altogether and just share his own opinions instead. But a believer who sees the Bible as the absolute Word of God knows there is no substitute for that life-giving Word.

This is the battlefield the Church finds itself on more and more each day. On one side, the authority of God's Word is being questioned and challenged. Ironically, it's being questioned in what appears to be complimentary tones: "Look how clever and creative these men of God were in their writing of this passage and that narrative." But shifting the attention to the messenger draws glory away from the message and the God Who inspired it. It's not long before "Has God said?" (Genesis 3:1) devolves into "You can be as gods." (Genesis 3:5)

"A person who views the Bible as the opinions of men can discard the Book altogether and just share his own opinions instead."

Church, let us earnestly contend for the Truth! We aren't supposed to be growing less sure of the Word. We have a "more sure word"! (2 Peter 1:19) Some translations phrase that as "a message that is something completely reliable". Oh that we would view our Bible that way! Without question, it is the Word of God.

Has God said? Yes, He has!