I believe, proclaim, and teach that the Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God and is the written revelation of God to mankind.
The Bible consists of sixty-six books, written by numerous human authors across many generations, yet ultimately given by the inspiration of the one true God. Through these Scriptures, God has revealed His character, His heart, His standards, His purposes, His promises, and His will concerning mankind.
The Bible is not merely a collection of religious writings or the opinions of ancient men. It is God's revelation given through human instruments under the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit.
The Apostle Peter declares:
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
—2 Peter 1:20–21
And Paul declares:
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
—2 Timothy 3:16
Therefore, I believe that the Scriptures are God-breathed, trustworthy, authoritative, and sufficient to teach us what we are to believe and how we are to live.
The Scriptures reveal the heart and character of God.
Through the Bible we learn that God is holy, righteous, just, merciful, loving, faithful, patient, sovereign, and true. We discover His dealings with mankind, His purposes in creation, His response to sin, His covenant promises, His plan of redemption, and His ultimate purpose for His creation.
The Bible does not merely tell us about God's commands. It reveals the God who gave those commands.
It shows us God's holiness so that we understand His standard.
It reveals God's mercy so that we understand His grace.
It reveals mankind's sin so that we understand our need for redemption.
And it reveals Jesus Christ so that we may know the One through whom God has provided salvation.
The written Word ultimately points us to the living Word, Jesus Christ.
John begins his Gospel with one of the clearest declarations concerning the identity of Christ:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
—John 1:1
John continues:
“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
—John 1:3
And then:
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”
—John 1:14
Jesus Christ is therefore not merely a messenger from God. He is the eternal Word who was with God and was God, who became flesh and revealed God to mankind.
The Scriptures are the written Word of God, and they bear witness to the eternal Word, Jesus Christ.
Jesus Himself said:
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
—John 5:39
The purpose of Scripture is not merely to give us information. Scripture leads us to know God and to recognize His Son.
I believe that the Holy Spirit inspired the biblical writers so that what they wrote constitutes the Word of God.
This does not mean that God erased the personalities, writing styles, historical settings, or individual perspectives of the human authors. Rather, God worked through them so that His revelation was faithfully communicated.
Peter describes these men as speaking “as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
Paul declares that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God.”
Therefore, the ultimate Author of Scripture is God, while the individual books were written through human authors whom God used by His Spirit.
The Bible is simultaneously a divine revelation and a collection of writings communicated through human instruments.
I believe that the Holy Bible is the first and final authority in all matters of faith and practice.
Human tradition does not stand above Scripture.
Human philosophy does not stand above Scripture.
Personal experience does not stand above Scripture.
Cultural opinion does not stand above Scripture.
The authority of the church does not stand above Scripture.
Rather, every teaching, doctrine, practice, tradition, experience, and personal conviction must be tested by the Word of God.
The Bible establishes what we are to believe concerning God, salvation, sin, righteousness, the church, Christian living, and the future purposes of God.
Where Scripture speaks, we submit to Scripture.
Where Scripture corrects us, we receive correction.
Where Scripture commands us, we obey.
Where Scripture promises, we trust.
And where Scripture warns us, we take its warning seriously.
God did not give His Word merely to inform the mind. He gave it to transform the life.
Paul writes:
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
—2 Timothy 3:16
He then gives the purpose:
“That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
—2 Timothy 3:17
The Word teaches us what is true.
It exposes what is wrong.
It corrects what needs to be changed.
It trains us in righteous living.
And it equips us to do the work God has called us to do.
The Bible is therefore not simply a book we read. It is a book that reads us.
Hebrews declares:
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword.”
—Hebrews 4:12
The Word of God reaches beneath outward behavior and exposes the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
It reveals what we might prefer to hide.
It confronts our assumptions.
It corrects our thinking.
It exposes sin.
It strengthens faith.
It brings conviction.
It gives wisdom.
And it directs us toward Christ.
The Bible does not exist merely to confirm what we already believe. It has authority to challenge, correct, and transform what we believe.
Because the Bible is God's inspired revelation, I believe it is sufficient as the supreme standard for faith and Christian practice.
We do not need another revelation to replace Scripture.
We do not need human wisdom to improve upon God's Word.
We need the Holy Spirit to illuminate Scripture, give us understanding, and enable us to obey what God has revealed.
The question for the believer is therefore not simply:
“What do I think?”
The greater question is:
“What has God said?”
Our faith must be established upon His Word rather than upon changing human opinion.
The Scriptures reveal God's plan of redemption and lead us to faith in Jesus Christ.
They reveal the beginning of creation, the entrance of sin, God's covenant promises, the history of Israel, the coming of the Messiah, Christ's death and resurrection, the birth and mission of the church, and God's ultimate purpose for mankind and creation.
From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture unfolds the story of God's redemptive work.
The Bible therefore gives us both the revelation of God and the foundation upon which our faith rests.
It is God's Word.
It reveals God's will.
It establishes God's standard.
It points us to God's Son.
It teaches God's people.
It corrects God's people.
It equips God's people.
And it prepares God's people for every good work.
Therefore, I affirm:
The Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God, given by the Holy Spirit through holy men of God. The sixty-six books of Scripture constitute God's written revelation to mankind and are the first and final authority for all matters of faith and practice. We receive the Scriptures as God's truth, submit ourselves to their authority, and look to them to reveal God's heart, character, will, purposes, promises, and redemptive plan through Jesus Christ our Lord.