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Putting Our Confidence In God's Perfect, Proven Word

Visitors who come to our assemblies are sometimes awestruck by our unwavering focus on the Scriptures for everything we believe, teach, and practice. Then we may hear these same people say, “The Bible is important, but it’s not all there is to a relationship with God.”

It’s true that our relationship with God cannot be limited to simply book knowledge alone. It is necessary that we take what we read in the Scriptures and make those words the foundation and blueprint of an active life in Christ. In fact, the Bible itself says that it is the “implanted word” that is able to save the soul (James 1:21. The doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in the inspired Scriptures are intended to complete us as servants of God, equipping us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Therefore, discipleship is not merely an educational exercise — it is the process of allowing God’s word to transform us into the likeness of Christ (Romans 12:2-NKJV; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Gal. 2:20). It is infinitely more than studying as though for an academic exam — it is being recreated into a “new man who is renewed in knowledge,” by means of the instruction and direction of God’s word (Colossians 3:10).

Let us consider the words of David, recorded in 2 Samuel 22:31 and its parallel passage in Psalm 18:30:

“As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”

Who else but God could it be said that “His way is perfect”? We have all learned many valuable things from parents, teachers, and other persons of positive influence, but would we say of any of them that everything they taught was perfect?

This writer is continually grateful for the many vital lessons learned from my father, mother, and grandparents, but they were not always correct. I have benefited from the study of many learned brothers in Christ, both through their preaching and teaching and through their writings, but I have never met a gospel preacher or teacher who was right about everything — including myself! Many times I’ve been compelled to go back to the Bible and restudy some issue, topic or text, once I realized that what I had previously believed and taught on the matter was incorrect.

When we follow God’s word, we can be certain that what He says is so for:

“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19).

As Moses said:

“He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He” (Deuteronomy 32:4).

Moreover, God’s word has been proven:

“The words of the LORD are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times” (Psalm 12:6).

There has never been anyone who ever relied on God’s word in humble faith and right understanding that has ever been disappointed by it. It’s true that many folks have suffered from unreal expectations and false interpretations of the Book, but the true word of God has been tested time after time and has never been found wanting (in fact, God tells us to test it – Romans 12:2 ESV). The Bible withstands every onslaught of skeptics and infidels who have come and gone, while the Book which they assail remains steadfast long after they have turned to dust:

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33).

Brethren and friends, we can choose to place our confidence in many things — Our own feelings (which change from moment to moment); The theories, philosophies, and ideas of other people who are as prone to error as we are — or we can put our confidence in God’s perfect, proven word as delivered through His Son (Hebrews 1:2).

Our Lord said:

“The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

It doesn’t require a great deal of thought to determine which way is wisest and best.