The Sufficiency and Authority of the Word of God

In this month’s article, Dave Hunt stated, “Christianity has lately fallen into the hands of leaders who have lost confidence in the sufficiency of Christ, His Word, and the Holy Spirit to live the life of Christ through them and others. They have also destroyed the confidence of their followers.” To believe in Christ as Savior and Lord should produce a love for His Word and a desire to obey Him in one’s life. What does God tell us in His Word about His Word? And what does His Word say about mankind?

God’s Word to Man

2 PETER 1:3—According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue...

2 TIMOTHY 3:15-17—...thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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, throughly furnished unto all good works.

PSALM 19:7-10—The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

PSALM 119:9—Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

DEUTERONOMY 12:32—What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

JOHN 17:17—Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

1 THESSALONIANS 2:13—...thank we God...because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

1 PETER 1:23—Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

JAMES 1:18—Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

HEBREWS 4:12—For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

ROMANS 10:17—So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

DEUTERONOMY 8:3—And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not... that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

MATTHEW 4:4—But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

PROVERBS 30:5—Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

PSALM 119:160—Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

2 CORINTHIANS 6: 4-7—But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God...

EPHESIANS 1:12-13—...we...who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise...

2 TIMOTHY 2:15—Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

COLOSSIANS 1:5-6—For the hope...whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth...

PSALM 1:1-3—Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.... His delight is in the law of the LORD...and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

PSALM 119:105—Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

PSALM 25:5—Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation....

PSALM 40:11—O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

2 CORINTHIANS 12:9—And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 CORINTHIANS 3:5—Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:8—And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

DEUTERONOMY 4:2—Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Man’s Response to God

JEREMIAH 6:16—Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

NUMBERS 15:31—Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.

MATTHEW 15:6-9—Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

JEREMIAH 2:11-13—Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

JEREMIAH 18:15—Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up [paved]...

LEVITICUS 10:1-2—And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

PSALM 78:10-11—They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; and forgat his works, and his wonders that he had showed them.

JEREMIAH 50:6—My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.

2 PETER 2:19—While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.