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What We Believe and Why
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

Copyright - Lester Hutson - 1986
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.

CHAPTER FIVE

ONLY THE BIBLE IS DIVINELY INSPIRED

It is our firm conviction that the Bible is the only divinely inspired writing there is and that only the Bible writers can claim infallibility. We believe that it is a serious, damnable sin against God for men to claim infallibility today or make any writing equal to the scriptures. Thus, adding to or taking from is a cursed act. This lesson is designed to give you the teaching of the Word of God upon the subject.

I. Only the Bible writers can claim infallibility:

A. Recall that our previous message gave many scriptures showing all the Bible is indeed God's holy, divinely inspired word:

1. The question that arises now is, "Were the Bible writers the only divinely inspired writers the world has seen and thus is the Bible the world's only divinely inspired book?"

2. Many religious sects say no:

a. The Catholics, Mormons, and Pentecostals are among those who say they are infallibly inspired.
b. Especially the Pentecostals apply John 16:12-14 to themselves.

3. Our answer is "yes". The Bible is it: there is no other, and no man today is inspired in the divine sense of the Bible.

B. Now, notice the difference in the way the apostles received scriptural knowledge and in the way we receive it:

1. The apostles received it verbatum; directly of God in absolutely infallible form:

a. The apostles were told in Mk. 13:11 "Take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: But whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
b. Paul said in Gal. 1:12, "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
C. John 16:12-14 Jesus said, "the Spirit" would tell them "all truth.
d . I Cor. 2:7-16 shows well that God simply opened their minds and gave them the truth, apart from study, a rare happening in all of history.

2. Our way of learning the truth is so different; we are only able to get it by study:

a. I Tim. 4:13, 15 tells us to read and study.
b. II Tim. 2:7 says "consider what I say and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. "
C. II Tim. 1:13 reads, "Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me."
d. And, II Tim. 2:15 tells us to "study".

3. It is quite evident that the apostles' way and our way of receiving truth is very different:

a. It should be noted that the apostles did not get their truth by strange impulse and feelings as do so many of the modernists who apply divine inspiration to themselves.
b. These men clearly had it revealed to them of God as we've already given scripture to substantiate.

C. It should be becoming clear that the promise of infallibility as set forth in Jn. 16:13 applies only to the revelation of scripture; not the interpreting of it:

1. If the promise applied to interpretation, then all sincere, spirit-led, Bible students would of necessity come to the same conclusions. (But they don't. They hold all sorts of conflicting views, yet all claim to be infallibly led of God.)

2. If it is true that the Spirit today guides us into "all truth". then surely some of us would have gotten there, for God is not the author of confusion--- I Cor. 14:32-33.

3. If God inspired all those "modern infalliblists", then harmony would prevail among them, even as it does in the Bible.

4. Today, knowledge of God's mind is inseparable from study, meditation, and consideration of God's word and providence; and most of the problems we confront today are directly related to shallow misinterpretations given to the scriptures. The problem is that men base their actions on how they feel; not on what God says about it.

D. The Bible warns about men misapplying infallibility to themselves; and thus coming up with other works and statements which are avowedly infallible:

1. There are many warnings of false teachers who will arise:

a. I Tim. 4:1-3, Mt. 24:11, 24, 1 Jn. 4:1, II Pet. 2:1-3.
b. Mt. 7:15 says, "Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheeps clothing.

2. Notice what a dangerous thing it is to add to or take away from:

a. Deut. 4:2 and 12:32 warns.
b. Ezra 6:11-12 also warns.
C. Rev. 22:18-19 is also a case to illustrate.

E. The Bible is sufficient and we don't need another revelation:

1. I Cor. 13:10. You can't improve that which is perfect.

2. II Tim. 3:16-17. It furnishes us all we need.

3. Notice how God thouqht it was sufficient:

a. Isa. 30:8. It's for time and eternity.
b. Mt. 5:18. Heaven and earth may pass, but the Word endures forever, Mt. 24:35.
C. I Pet. 1:25 says, "the word of the Lord endureth forever.

F. The conclusions:

1. No man may apply infallibility to himself today.

2. All other writings besides the Bible which claim infallibility are fakes.

 

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"