The Power and Infallibility of Scripture (Protestant and Evangelical Caucus/Devotional)

“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (v. 11). - Isaiah 55:10–11

The Protestant Reformers worked for many things, but perhaps the goal that they worked hardest to achieve was to restore the church’s confidence in Scripture. Stressing the unique inspiration and authority of the Bible, the Reformers sought to bring the Western church in submission to the Word of God after many years of the church’s following those who claimed too much authority for themselves. They recognized that Christians are perennially tempted to look for God’s power in things such as techniques, relics, the state, and individual personalities. But with respect to ministry, God has invested His power in one place, and that is His Word.

Isaiah 55:10–11 emphasizes the power that the Lord has invested in His revelation. The word that goes forth from the mouth of our Creator—which is Scripture, as Scripture is “God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16–17)—cannot fail to accomplish the Lord’s purposes for it. When God sends forth His Word in order to bring about a person’s salvation, that person will not finally resist His revelation. It will convert the man, woman, or child that God intends to save. At the same time, when the Lord sends forth His Word to someone He has not chosen for salvation, that revelation will result in the hardened person’s hardening his heart even further. God’s Word is powerful and effective both to reveal the way of salvation to Christ’s sheep and to hide it from the goats, those who have not been chosen from the foundation of the world for redemption (Matt. 11:25–27).

Just as the Word of God cannot fail to achieve the purposes for which it is given, Scripture cannot fail to teach the truth. The Scriptures are infallible, that is, incapable of teaching error. This is a necessary consequence of divine inspiration and the omnipotence of God. Scripture is God-breathed, and since God is truth Himself (Jesus, who is God incarnate, identifies Himself as truth; John 14:6), He is incapable of telling any lie. “Every word of God proves true,” as Proverbs 30:5 tells us.

The power of God guarantees the infallibility of His inscripturated Word. Some people argue that it is possible for Scripture to contain errors because it was written by human beings, and human beings are capable of erring. However, being capable of error and actually making an error are two different things. “All things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27), and surely God can inspire people to write in such a way that their words cannot teach error.

We affirm the human origin of Scripture, for it was written by human beings and bears the marks of human authorship. However, we also affirm the divine origin of Scripture, that God superintended the authors of the biblical text in such a way that the final product cannot teach falsehood. If we believe otherwise, then we have denied the omnipotence of God and have no reason to trust that He can save us.

Job 34:12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

All must be well
Mary Bowley Peters, Matthew S. Smith

1. Through the love of God our Savior, All will be well
Free and changeless is His favor, All is well
Precious is the blood that healed us
Perfect is the grace that sealed us
Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us
All must be well

2. Though we pass through tribulation, All will be well
Ours is such a full salvation, All is well
Happy still in God confiding
Fruitful if in Christ abiding
Steadfast through the Spirit’s guiding
All must be well

3. We expect a bright tomorrow; All will be well
Faith can sing through days of sorrow, All is well
On our Father’s love relying
Jesus every need supplying
Yes in living or in dying
All must be well

Just finished reading Irenaeus Against Heresies. Irenaeus' primary truth was to instruct believers that one needs to understand and use the word of God to fight off any heresy. Irenaeus had a powerful grasp on the written word and the early church understood the power of the God-breathed, word of God.

It is amazing how many time Jesus relied on the statement “it is written” to either answer critics or reveal who he is. Just a few examples:

Mat 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.

Mat 4:7

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Mat 4:10

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

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