Thursday, January 29, 2015

Finishing "Taking God at His Word"

I just finished reading Taking God at His Word by Kevin DeYoung.  After Isaac finished it, he made the comment that “it would be hypocritical to say ‘that was a good book’ and not proceed to then immerse oneself in the Bible.”  And it is true: This little book elevates the sufficiency, clarity, authority,and necessity of the Bible to such an extent that you cannot miss the point that the Bible is the Word of God and as such, we would do well to make reading it and studying it the ultimate priority in our lives!

DeYoung says, “Only in Scripture do we encounter the fullness of God’s self-disclosure.” (page 116)

Furthermore, “…Scripture carries all the weight of divine authority because it comes entirely from divine origination.  And this is true for all Scripture.  Every book, every chapter, every line, every word—all of it is breathed out by God.  Not just the obviously theological parts.  Not just the memorable stuff.  Not just the parts that resonate with us.  All of it—history, chronology, philosophy-every truth the Bible affirms ought to be taken as God’s truth.  Every word in the Bible is in there because God  wanted it there.  And therefore, we should listen to the Bible and stick with the Bible and submit ourselves to the teaching of the Bible because it is God’s Bible—both the sacred writing of the Old Testament, which Paul first of all had in mind, and the inspired writings for the new covenant church, which Paul understood himself to be issuing (1 Thess. 2:13) and Peter understood to be in the process of being written down (2 Pet. 3:16).”  (page 118)

As David says,
“Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.
Order my steps in thy word: and let  not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.  Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.
Rivers of water run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.”  
Psalm 119:129-136  

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