Today I received a very brief question:
Thank you for your amazing discussions! Would you please discuss how we know that the Bible is inerrant, and why it is so important that it is inerrant?
I will answer those in reverse order.
First, why is it so important that the Bible is inerrant (without error)?
If the Bible has errors in it, then it is not the Word of God, for God cannot lie (Titus 1:2; see also 2 Sam 7:28; Ps 119:105; John 17:17; Rom 3:4; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20-21; Rev 22:6).
If the Bible has errors in it, then we cannot know what in the Bible is true and what is false.
If the Bible has errors in it, then assurance of everlasting life (like assurance of everything else the Bible talks about) would not be possible—at least not by studying the Bible.
If the Bible has errors in it, then we need to look elsewhere for the Word of God because Jesus said, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). We can abandon a Bible filled with errors because such a book is not God’s Word.
If the Bible has errors in it, then Christianity collapses.
Earlier today I happened to go on the Grace Evangelical Society You Tube channel. I noticed a message on inerrancy that I gave in 2015. I watched the first 8 minutes and was encouraged by what I saw. Sometimes when I speak, I feel a special sense in which God is empowering and enabling me as I speak. I think that may have been the case that day. You can see that message here. It gives you many more details on the importance of inerrancy. It is a 50-minute message, but if you just listen to the first ten minutes, you will get some good content, IMO.
Second, how do we know that the Bible is error-free?
The Bible itself claims to be without errors.
The Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles affirmed that the Bible is error-free.
The Lord and His apostles died for what they knew to be true, not for something which they knew was somewhat true and somewhat false.
There have been millions of people who have sought to prove that there are errors in the Bible, and they have not succeeded.
The continuation of the earth and the universe and the Jewish people proves the Bible is without error. If the Bible had errors in it, then the universe would already have fallen apart, the earth already destroyed, and the Jewish people already eradicated (along with everyone else). But God promises in the Bible that those things cannot happen.
People who think that man is on the verge of destroying the earth by carbon emissions do not believe that the Bible is inerrant.
Hitler’s crazy belief that he could destroy God’s chosen people showed that he and his henchmen did not believe the Bible is without error. In fact, God promised to curse those who curse Israel. Hitler and his men found that to be true when they reaped what they sowed.
God holds society together because the Word of God and the Spirit of God restrain sin. The more people move away from God’s Word—and the rejection of inerrancy is a move away from the Word of God—the more sin will rise, and judgment will come upon us.
On the other hand, the more people embrace inerrancy, the more righteousness, justice, and peace will rise, and blessings will come upon us.
(Note: I do not believe that we are ushering in the kingdom or even transforming our society. But the Bible does teach that the Church and the preaching of God’s Word changes many lives and restrains sin. While most do not come to faith in Christ, and many believers do not attain to spiritual maturity, even immature believers and unbelievers are impacted by the Church and the clear teaching of God’s Word. The Lord promised in 2 Pet 3:9 that Christ will not rapture the church and initiate the seven years of Tribulation judgments until the sins of the world are filled up.)
I love God. Therefore, I also love His inspired, inerrant Word. I hope you do as well.
