JESUS CHRIST: GOD-MAN - Vital Christianity

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Scripture is uniquely reliable because of its nature, function, and origin. Since it is
inspired by God Himself it has a reliability that is foreign to mere human writings. Even though
it is not encyclopedic in its scope of knowledge, what the Bible communicates about God in His
word and work is absolutely reliable. This reliability also includes incidental matters (historical
information) as long as it is seen within the context and purpose in which they are given.19
God's authoritative word continues as it has both a static (the written biblical record) and
dynamic side (His living voice). It is the authority of the Holy Spirit that we encounter as He
uses Scripture as a continuing word and work. Thus the voice of Scripture is the voice of God.
Geoffrey Bromiley summarizes inspiration and authority this way:
"In the last analysis, then, Scripture's authority is God's authority. The Bible is
no paper pope. It is the writing by which God, who spoke and acted definitely
in Jesus Christ, still speaks and acts by the Holy Spirit. It is the organ by which
Christ Himself does His work and rules the church in a holy continuity of
doctrine and practice.
One dares to say that Scripture is the supreme, unique, infallible, and absolute
norm because it is God who gave it and God who uses it in this role. God
Himself is the supreme, unique, infallible and absolute norm. He discharges
this normative function through holy Scripture."20
EVIDENCE FOR INSPIRATION
There are numerous reasons why we can be assured that the Bible is inspired by God—
God-breathed. Some may argue that such evidences are unnecessary and even contradictory to
faith. What is faith? The writer to the book of Hebrews put it:
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
(Heb 11:1)
The two aspects of faith here are assurance ("being sure") and certainty. The word
assurance is also translated "substance" (hypostasis) which means literally "to stand under, to
support." This word gives the sense of something foundational, basic, a concrete reality upon
which other things are built. The root word stasis means the place or setting, like a standing
pillar upon which other stones are placed. Faith, then, is to a Christian what a foundation is to a
house. It gives confidence and assurance that he will stand. Instead of faith being an imaginary
product of the mind fabricated out of its own need, it is a solid assurance of that for which we
hope because it is based upon reality. Faith then is the basis and the substructure of all that the
Christian life means and all that the Christian hopes for.