Bible Questions and Answers

The problem with that argument is that I have to take your word for it that you are inspired by the Holy Spirit. How do I know that what you believe and teach is correct?  Why should I believe you? I was raised as a Catholic and was told that the Pope and the church hierarchy is led by the Holy Spirit. I have been told by Mormons that Joseph Smith had the Holy Spirit. I have heard the same from Seventh Day Adventists about their "prophetess", Mary Ellen White, and from Christian Scientists about Mary Baker Eddy and from the Jehovah's Witnesses about their leadership in their Brooklyn headquarters. Pentecostals and evangelicals, some teaching and believing contradictory things all claim to be led by the spirit. These have been some of the most sincere and morally upright people I have ever met. So, if these people are deluded and mistaken, what makes you so sure that you are not?

God is not the author of confusion. He does not sanction contradictory statements about Himself or His purpose. He does encourage us to test those who claim to speak according to His spirit:

1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

The only way we can test the authenticity of the "spirit" by which you claim to speak is by God's word. How else will I be able to tell if you are not among that great throng of misbelievers and charlatans, "peddlers of God's word" [2 Cor. 2:17] who have fallen under the power of anti-Christ and are caught up in the strong delusion, believing the lies of their false prophets and deluded by their false "miracles." [see 2 Thessalonians 2:11].

As soon as a "Christian" denigrates the importance of the Word of God, I know that he or she is apostate. No true Christian would dare set aside God's word in favour of his own experience. Peter says:

2 Peter 1:19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place... 

Peter had just described his ultimate personal experience with the Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration. That experience was important to him personally but he places the word far above it.

The Psalmist says that God has set His Word above even his Holy Name.

Psalm 138:2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.

The prophet Isaiah says:

Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

What does the Psalmist say, a man filled with the Spirit, by word of advice to those who would seek to follow God?

Psalm 119:9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.

What does Paul say about the value of the Scripture?

2 Timothy 3:15-17and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for 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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

If one seeks to set aside God's word in favour of one's own revelation, one becomes just another one of the vast crowd of those who exalt themselves above God. There will be a price to pay for that kind of arrogance when  the Lord returns.

Revelation 22:18,19For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

If you want to know why you should study the Bible, the bottom line is this: apart from God's revealed word, the Bible, there is no salvation. The Holy Spirit did come to teach us all things in Truth. The product of that revelation is the Bible. You ignore it in favour of your own delusions at your peril.

I hope you have found this helpful.

God bless,
Mike