The Authority of the Inspired Word
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Modernists today claim that writings produced by
Gods prophets are not all of equal inspiration, and many of them are not inspired at
all. They say that the Word of God is not really fully inspired, and thus not fully from
God and not fully safe to study-and -obey. Obviously, if Scripture is not fully inspired
by God all of it, it is not an authority to govern
our lives today. These Christian modernists also claim that Scriptural writings are not
infallible and therefore less trustworthy or reliable. in reality, these men do not want
to submit their lives to the authority of Gods Word. The authority of Gods
inspired Writings is the basic issue.
What does the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy tell us about
these matters? Let us consider the instruction of the Bible first:
The Bible
How much of Gods written Word was given by His direct
inspiration?
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God." 2
Timothy 3:16.
How did God inspire these writings?
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but
holy men of God spake as the were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1:21.
"Men and brethren; this scripture must needs have been fulfilled
which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas."
Acts 1:16.
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times
past unto the fathers by the prophets." Hebrews 1:1.
Is the Word of God infallible?
"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the Word of our God
shall stand forever." Isaiah 40:8.
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass
away." Matthew 24:35.
"For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man
which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.. But God
hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the
deep things of God." 1 Corinthians 2:11,10.
"The whole company of Israel [in the wilderness] were making
history for future generations. This history the unerring pen of inspiration must trace
with exact fidelity." 4 Testimonies, 370
"The Bible, with its God-given truths expressed in the language of
men, presents a union of the divine with the human. Such a union existed in the nature of
Christ, who was the Son of God and the Son of man. Thus it is true of the Bible, as it was
of Christ, that the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. "
Great Controversy, 7.
"Man is fallible, but Gods Word is infallible.. Let us meet
all opposition as did our Master, saying, it is written. Let us lift up the
banner on which is inscribed, The Bible our rule of faith and discipline." 1 Selected
Messages, 416.
"God and heaven alone are infallible. God alone is infallible. His
Word is true, and in Him is no variableness, or shadow of turning. 1 Selected Messages,
37.
("Outside evidences confirm the trustworthiness and reliability of
the Scriptures as the infallible revelation of Gods will."
Seventh-day Adventists Believe, 11.)
We recognize that Roman Catholicism does not consider these books to be
infallible, but have fundamental Protestants considered them to be so?
"Wycliffe now taught the distinctive doctrines of Protestantism
salvation through faith in Christ, and the sole infallibility of the
Scriptures." Story of Redemption, 337; Great Controversy, 89.
"He [Zwingli] presented the Word of God as the only infallible
authority." Great Controversy, 177
"He [Zwingli] submitted himself to the Bible as the Word of god,
the only sufficient, infallible rule.. The Scriptures, said Zwingli
,come from God, not from man, and even that God who enlightens will give thee to
understand that the speech comes from God. The Word of God cannot fail . . The
doctrine preached by Zwingli was not received from Luther. It was the doctrine of
Christ." Great Controversy, 173-174.
"To the Law and to the Testimony; if they speak not according to
this Word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20.
Does the Word of God teach that only part of Scripture is inspired, or
that parts of it are inspired less than other portions?
"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 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Timothy
3:16.
"Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth."
John 17:17.
"Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy name."
Psalm 138:2.
"Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life,
and they are they which testify of Me." John 5:39
("The Bible does not teach partial inspiration or degrees of
inspiration. These theories are speculations that rob the Bible of its divine
authority." Seventh-day Adventists Believe, 11.)
How can Gods Word help us today?
"The holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto
salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 3:15.
"Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou
hast the words of eternal life." John 6:68.
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and alight unto my path."
Psalm 119:105.
"For whatsoever things were written afore time were written for
our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have
hope." Romans 15:4.
"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they
received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether
those things were so." Acts 17:11.
"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."
1 Corinthians 2:11.
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of
God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14.
"Neither have I gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have
esteemed the Words of his mouth more than my necessary food." Job 23:12.
"Open Thou my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law."
Psalm 119:18.
"That the God of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation
in the knowledge of Him." Ephesians 1:17.
"Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for
understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."
Proverbs 2:3-5.
"Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand
the Scriptures." Luke 24:45.
"But He said, Yea, rather, blessed are they that hear the Word of
God, and keep it Luke 11:28.
The Spirit of
Prophecy
A special teaching of Christian
modernists in many churches, including our own, is that Scripture is not infallible,
and because it is not, we need to listen carefully to the interpretations of
learned Ph.D.s in order to understand its true meaning. Modernists in our church claim
that Ellen White taught that Scripture is not infallible. But if you will read the passage
they refer to (it is found in 1 Selected Messages, page 16:2), you will find
that she was there referring to the possibility that some minor errors might have been
made by copyists or translators of Scripture, but she adds:
"The mistakes will not cause trouble to one soul, or cause any
feet to stumble," and that Inspired Scripture "is the guidebook to the
inhabitants of a fallen world, [and] bequeathed to them that, by studying and obeying the
directions, not one soul would lose its way." 1 Selected Messages, 16.
The authority of the inspired Writings is a very important matter in
our lives. The degree to which we study and obey those writings can affect our eternal
destiny. Since there is no such thing as partial inspiration, we know that the Spirit of
Prophecy was written under the same full inspiration as that of the earlier prophets of
God. What does the Spirit of Prophecy teach us about the process of inspiration, how it
operates, and how we should receive it?
"Brethren, let not a mind or hand be engaged in criticizing the
Bible. It is a work that Satan delights to have any of you do, but it is not a work that
the Lord has pointed out for you to do. Men should let God take care of His own Book, His
living oracles, as He has done for ages. They begin to question some parts of revelation,
and pick flaws in the apparent inconsistencies of this statement and that statement."
1 Selected Messages,17.
"Brethren, cling to your Bible, as it reads, and stop your
criticisms in regard to its validity, and obey the Word, and not one of you will be
lost." 1 Selected Messages, 18.
"The Bible points to God as its author; yet it was written by
human hands; and in the varied style of its different books it presents the
characteristics of the several writers." Great Controversy, 7.
"The writers of the Bible had to express their ideas in human
language. It was written by human men. These men were inspired of the Holy Spirit.. The
Scriptures were given to men, not in a continuous chain of unbroken utterances, but piece
by piece through successive generations, as God in His providence saw a fitting
opportunity to impress men at sundry times and divers places. Men wrote as they were moved
upon by the Holy Ghost." 1 Selected Messages, 19-20.
"The writers of the Bible were Gods penmen, not His pen.
Look at the different writers. It is not the words of the Bible that are inspired, but the
men that were inspired. Inspiration acts not on the mans words or his expressions
but on the man himself, who, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, is imbued with
thoughts." 1 Selected Messages, 21.
"The Bible is not given to us in grand superhuman language. Jesus,
in order to reach man where he is, took humanity. The Bible must be given in the language
of the people." 1 Selected Messages,20.
"Instead of the expressions of the Bible being exaggerated, as
many suppose, the strong expressions break down before the magnificence of the thought,
though the penman selected the most expressive language through which to convey the truths
of higher education." 1 Selected Messages, 22.
"God has been pleased to communicate His truth to the world by
human agencies, and He Himself, by His Holy Spirit, qualified men and enabled them to do
His work. He guided the mind in the selection of what to speak and what to write. The treasure
was entrusted to earthen vessels, yet it is, none the less, from Heaven. The testimony
is conveyed through the imperfect expression of human language, yet it is the testimony of
God; and the obedient, believing child of God beholds in it the glory of a divine power,
full of grace and truth." 1 Selected Messages, 26.
"In those letters which I write, in the testimonies I bear, I am
presenting to you that which the Lord has presented to me. I do not write one article in
the paper expressing merely my own ideas. They are what God has opened before me in vision
the precious rays of light shining from the throne." 5 Testimonies,
67.
"The Word of the Lord comes to us all who have not resisted His
Spirit by determining not to hear and obey. This voice is heard in warnings, in counsels,
in reproof. It is the Lords message of light to His people. If we wait for
louder calls or better opportunities, the light may be withdrawn, and we left in
darkness" 1 Selected Messages, 28.
"As the end draws near and
the work of giving the last warning to the world extends, it becomes more important for
those who accept present truth to have a clear understanding of the nature and influence
of the Testimonies, which God in His providence has linked with the work of the third
angels message from its very rise." 5 Testimonies, 654.
"The message came to me, dedicate yourself to the highest work
ever committed to mortals. I will give you high aspirations and powers and a true sense of
the work of Christ. You are not your own, for you are bought with a price, by the life and
death of the Son of God. I gave myself, my whole being, to God to obey His call in
everything, and since that time my life has been spent in giving the message, with my
pen and in speaking before large congregations. It is not I who controls my words and
actions at such times." 1 Selected Messages, 39.
"As inquiries are frequently made as to my state in vision, and
after I come out, I would say that when the Lord sees fit to give a vision, I am taken
into the presence of Jesus and angels, and am entirely lost to earthly things. I can see
no farther than the angel directs me. My attention is often directed to scenes transpiring
upon earth.
"At times I am carried far ahead into the future and shown what is
to take place. Then again I am shown things as they have occurred in the past. After I
come out of vision I do not at once remember all that I have seen, and the matter is
not so clear before me until I write, then the scene rises before me as was
presented in vision, and I can write with freedom. Sometimes the things which I have
seen are hid from me after I come out of vision, and I cannot call them to mind until I am
brought before a company where that vision applies, then the things which I have seen come
to my mind with force. I am just as dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord in relating or
writing a vision, as in having the vision. It is impossible for me to call up things which
have been shown me unless the Lord brings them before me at the time that He is pleased to
have me relate or write them." 2 Spiritual Gifts, 292-293.
"I took the precious Bible and surrounded it with the several Testimonies
for the Church, given for the people of God. Here, said I, the cases of nearly all are
met. The sins they are to shun are pointed out. The counsel that they desire can be found
here." 2 Testimonies, 605.
"Although I am as dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord in writing
my views as I am in receiving them, yet the words I employ in describing what I have seen
are my own, unless they be those spoken to me by an angel, which I always enclose in marks
of quotation." 1 Selected Messages, 37
"A wealth of moral
influence has been brought to us in the last half century. Through His Holy Spirit the
voice of God has come to us continually in warning and instruction, to confirm the faith
of the believers in the Spirit of prophecy. Repeatedly the word has come, "Write the
things that I have given you to confirm the faith of My people in the position they have
taken. Time and trial have not made void the instruction given, but through years of
suffering and self-sacrifice have established the truth, the testimony given. The
instruction that was given in the early days of the message is to be held as safe
instruction to follow in these its closing days. Those who are indifferent to this
light and instruction must not expect to escape the snares which we have been plainly told
will cause the rejecters of light to stumble, and fall, and be snared, and be taken. If we
study carefully the second chapter of Hebrews, we shall learn how important it is that we
hold steadfastly to every principle of truth that has been given 1 Selected Messages,
41
"In ancient times God spoke to men by the mouth of prophets and
apostles. In these days He speaks to them by the testimonies of His Spirit. There was
never a time when God instructed His people more earnestly than He instructs them now concerning
His will and the course that He would have them pursue." 4Testimonies, 148.
It does not become anyone to drop a word of doubt here and there that
shall work like poison in other minds, shaking their confidence in the messages which God
has given, which have aided in laying the foundation of this work, and have attended it to
the present day, in reproofs, warnings, correction, and encouragement's. To all
who have stood in the way of the Testimonies, I would say, God has given a message to His
people, and His voice will be heard, whether you hear or forbear. Your opposition has
not injured me; but you must give an account to the God of heaven, who has sent these
warnings and instructions to keep His people in the right way. You will have to answer to
Him for your blindness, for being a stumbling block in the way of sinners." 1
Selected Messages, 43
"It requires much wisdom and sound judgment, quickened by the
Spirit of God, to know the proper time and manner to present the instruction that has been
given. When the minds of persons reproved are under a strong deception, they naturally
resist the testimony; and having taken an attitude of resistance, it is difficult for them
afterward to acknowledge that they have been wrong.
"Testimonies of warning have been repeated. I inquire: Who have
heeded them? Who have been zealous in repenting of their sins and have been earnestly
pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus?."
2 Testimonies, 483. 484.
"If those whose errors are pointed out make confession of their
wrongdoing, the spell of the enemy may be broken. If they will repent and forsake their
sins, God is faithful and just to forgive their sins, and to cleanse them from all
unrighteousness. Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer, will remove the filthy garments from
them, give them change of raiment, and set a fair miter upon their head. But so long as
they refuse to turn from iniquity they cannot develop a character that will stand in the
great day of judgment." 1 Selected Messages, 51
For years you have had many evidences that the Lord has given me a work
to do. These evidences could scarcely have been greater than they are. Will you brush
away all these evidences as a cobweb, at the suggestion of a mans unbelief? That
which makes my heart ache is the fact that many who are now perplexed and tempted are
those who have had abundance of evidence and opportunity to consider and pray and
understand; and yet they do not discern the nature of the sophistries that are
presented to influence them to reject the warnings God has given to save them from the
delusions of these last days." 1 Selected Messages, 52
"When the Lord last presented your case before me, and made known
to me that you had not regarded the light which had been given you, I was bidden to speak
to you plainly in for His anger was kindled against you. These words were spoken to me: Your
work is appointed you of God. Many will not hear you, for they refused to hear the Great
Teacher; many will not be corrected, for their ways are right in their own eyes. Yet bear
to them the reproofs and warnings I shall give you, whether they will hear or
forbear.. " 1 Selected Messages, 29
"Some sit in judgment on
the Scriptures, declaring that this or that passage is not inspired, because it does
not strike their minds favorably. They cannot harmonize it with their ideas of philosophy
and science, "falsely so called" (1 Timothy 6:20). Others for different reasons
question portions of the Word of God. Thus many walk blindly where the enemy prepares the
way. Now, it is not the province of any man to pronounce sentence upon the Scriptures,
to judge or condemn any portion of Gods Word. When one presumes to do this,
Satan will create an atmosphere for him to breathe which will dwarf spiritual growth. When
a man feels so very wise that he dares to dissect Gods Word, his wisdom is, with
God, counted foolishness. When he knows more, he will feel that he has everything to
learn. And his very first lesson is to be come teachable. Learn of me, says
the Great Teacher; for l am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your
souls. You who have been educating yourselves and others in a spirit of criticism
and accusing, remember that you are imitating the example of Satan. When it suits your
purpose, you treat the testimonies as if you believed them, quoting from them to
strengthen any statement you wish to have prevail. But how is it when light is given to
correct your errors? Do you then accept the light? When the testimonies speak contrary to
your ideas, you treat them very lightly." (Matthew 11 :29). 1
Selected Messages, 42
"In many cases the
testimonies are fully received, the sin and indulgence broken off, and reformation at once
commences in harmony with the light God has given. In other instances sinful indulgences
are cherished, the testimonies are rejected, and many excuses which are untrue are offered
to others as the reason for refusing to receive them. The true reason is not given.
It is a lack of moral courage a will, strengthened and controlled by the Spirit
of God, to renounce hurtful habits. " 4 Testimonies, 32.
"Many excused their disregard of the testimonies by saying, Sister
White is influenced by her husband; the testimonies are molded by his spirit
and judgment. Others were seeking to gain something from me which they could construe to
justify their course or to give them influence. It was then I decided that nothing more
should go from my pen until the converting power of God was seen in the church. But the
Lord placed the burden upon my soul. I labored for you earnestly. How much this cost both
my husband and myself, eternity will tell. Have I not a knowledge of the state of the
church, when the Lord has presented their case before me again and again for years?
Repeated warnings have been given, yet there has been no decided change. "
1 Selected Messages, 26-27
"Those who would in anyway lessen the force of the sharp reproofs
which God has given me to speak, must meet their work at the judgment." 5 Testimonies,
19.
"Brethren, I entreat you not to interpose between me and the
people, and turn away the light which God would have come to them. Do not by your
criticism take out all the force, all the point and power, from the testimonies. Do not
feel that you can dissect them to suit your own ideas, claiming that God has given you
ability to discern what is light from heaven and what is the expression of human wisdom
5 Testimonies, 691.
"What voice will you acknowledge as the voice of God? What power
has the Lord in reserve to correct our errors and show you your course as it is? What
power to work in the church? If you refuse to believe until every shadow of uncertainty
and every possibility of doubt is removed, you will never believe. The doubt that
demands perfect knowledge will never yield to faith. Faith rests upon evidence, not
demonstration. The Lord requires us to obey the voice of duty, when there are other
voices all around us urging us to pursue an opposite course. It requires earnest
attention from us to distinguish the voice which speaks from God. We must resist and
conquer inclination, and obey the voice of conscience without parleying or compromise,
lest its prompting cease, and will and impulse control." 1 Selected
Messages, 27-28
"Some express their views that the testimony of Sister White
cannot be reliable. This is all that many unconsecrated ones want. The testimonies of
reproof have checked their vanity and pride; but if they dared, they would go to almost
any length in fashion and pride. God will give all such an opportunity to prove themselves
and to develop their true character." 3 Testimonies, 313.
"But others will be greatly helped by the messages. Though not
personally addressed, they will be corrected, and will be led to shun the evils
specified.. The Spirit of the Lord will be in the instruction and doubts existing in many
minds will be swept away. The testimonies themselves will be the key that will explain
the messages given, as scripture is explained by scripture. Many will read with
eagerness the messages reproving wrong, that they may learn what they may do to be saved..
Light will dawn upon the understanding, and the Spirit will make an impression on minds,
as Bible truth is clearly and simply presented in the messages that since 1846 God has
been sending His people. These messages are to find their place in hearts, and
transformations will take place." 1 Selected Messages, 41-42
"Wrongs must be called wrongs. Grievous sins must be called by
their right name. All of Gods people should come nearer to Him. .Then will they see
sin in the true light and will realize how offensive it is in the sight of God."
3 Testimonies, 324.
"The plain, straight testimony must live in the church, or the
curse of God will rest upon His people as surely as it did upon ancient Israel."
3 Testimonies, 269.
"Others have called me a prophetess, but I have never assumed that
title. I have not felt that it was my duty thus to designate myself. Those who boldly
assume that they are prophets in this our day are often a reproach to the cause of
Christ."
"My work includes much more
than this name signifies. I regard myself as a messenger, entrusted by the Lord
with messages for His people." I Selected Messages, 36
"One has stood by my side and said: God has raised you up
and has given you words to speak to the people and to reach hearts as He has given to no
other one. He has shaped your testimonies to meet cases that are in need of
help." 2 Testimonies, 607-608.
"God has given you your testimony, to set before the backslider
and the sinner his true condition and the immense loss he is sustaining by continuing a
life of sin. God has impressed this upon you by opening it before your vision as He
has to no other one now living." 2 Testimonies, 608.
"I am now instructed that l am not to be hindered in my work by
those who engage in suppositions regarding its nature, whose minds are struggling with
so many intricate problems connected with the supposed work of a prophet. My commission
embraces the work of a prophet, but it does not end there. It embraces much more than
the minds of those who have been sowing the seeds of unbelief can comprehend."
1 Selected Messages, 36
Conclusion
"it is not those who openly reject the testimonies, or who cherish
doubt regarding them, that are on dangerous ground. To disregard light is to reject
it." 5 Testimonies, 680.
"Soon every possible effort will be made to discount and pervert
the truth of the testimonies of Gods Spirit. We must have in readiness the
clear, straight messages that since 1846 have been coming to Gods people."
"There will be those once
united with us in the faith who will search for new, strange doctrines, for something odd
and sensational to present to the people. They will bring in all conceivable fallacies,
and will present them as coming from Mrs. White, that they may beguile souls."
"Those who have treated the
light that the Lord has given as a common thing will not be benefitted by the instruction
presented."
"There are those who will misinterpret the messages that God has
given, in accordance with their spiritual blindness."
"Some will yield their
faith, and will deny the truth of the messages, pointing to them as falsehoods."
and will deny the truth of the messages, pointing to them as falsehoods."
"Some will hold them up to
ridicule,
"Some will hold them up to
ridicule,
"Some will hold them up to
ridicule, working against the light that God has been giving for years, and some who
are weak in the faith will thus be led astray."
"Abundant light has been
given to our people in these last days. Whether or not my life is spared, my writings
will constantly speak, and their work will go forward as long as time shall last. My
writings are kept on file in the office, and even though I should not live, these words
that have been given to me by the Lord will still have life and will speak to the people.
But my strength is yet spared, and I hope to continue to do much useful work. I may live
until the coming of the Lord; but if I should not, I trust it may be said of me,
Blessed are the deed which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit,
that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. (Revelation
14:13)." 1 Selected Messages, 55-56 "Those most closely connected
with God are the ones who know His voice when He speaks to them. Those who are spiritual
discern spiritual things. Such will feel grateful that the Lord has pointed out their
errors." 5 Testimonies, 134.
"If you lose confidence in the testimonies you will drift away
from Bible truth.. Should one be given crossing your track, correcting your errors,
would perfect liberty to acceptor reject part or the whole? That which you will be
least inclined to receive is the very part most needed." 5 Testimony, 98.
"They think the testimony of the Spirit of God in reproof is
uncalled for or that it does not mean them. Such are in the greatest need of the grace
of God and spiritual discernment, that they may discover their deficiency in spiritual
knowledge." 5 Testimonies, 674-675.
"Satan is constantly pressing in the spurious to lead away
from the truth. The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the
testimony of the Spirit of God. Where there is no vision, the people
perish (Proverbs 29:18). Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and
through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of Gods remnant people in the
true testimony. 1 Selected Messages, 48
"It is Satans plan to weaken the faith of Gods people
in the Testimonies. Next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our faith,
the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures, and then the downward
march to perdition. When the testimonies, which were once believed, are doubted and
given up, Satan knows the deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his
efforts till he launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends in
destruction." 4 Testimonies, 211.
"There will be a hatred kindled against the testimonies which
is satanic. The workings of Satan will be to unsettle the faith of the churches in
them, for this reason: Satan cannot have so clear a track to bring in his deceptions
and bind up souls in his delusions if the warnings and reproofs and counsels of the Spirit
of God are heeded." 1 Selected Messages, 48
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