God Has Spoken – The Authority of Scripture

The God Who Speaks

From the opening lines of Genesis to the final amen of Revelation, the Bible resounds with one great reality: God speaks. He is not mute or passive. He is a God who reveals, who commands, who promises, and who warns. Hebrews 1:1–2 opens by affirming this very truth: “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son.”

This reality separates the God of the Bible from the false gods of man-made religion. Idols are silent (Ps. 115:5), but the living God is not. The Bible is not the record of man’s religious imagination; it is the record of divine revelation. God has spoken, and His Word stands above all other voices.

Scripture: The Voice of the Lord

Throughout Scripture, God’s speech is emphasized as the source of life, light, and truth. In Genesis 1, He speaks creation into existence—“Let there be light,” and there was light (Gen. 1:3). His Word carries power. It does not return empty but accomplishes what He intends (Isa. 55:11). The Ten Commandments were spoken directly by God to His people (Ex. 20:1). When the prophets declare, “Thus says the Lord,” they are not offering commentary—they are delivering the very voice of God.

The authority of Scripture, then, comes not from the church, tradition, or academic consensus. It comes from God Himself. The Bible is authoritative because it is the Word of the One who has all authority in heaven and on earth.

God’s Authority Cannot Be Delegated Away

Authority belongs to God alone. As the Creator, He is sovereign over all He has made. As the Redeemer, He speaks to His people with kingly prerogative. Jesus affirmed this divine authority when He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matt. 28:18). His words are not suggestions—they are commands.

Because the Bible is God’s Word, it carries God’s authority. To read the Bible is to hear the voice of God. To disobey the Bible is to disobey God. To reject the Bible’s teachings is to rebel against the King. The authority of Scripture is not something that fluctuates based on culture, consensus, or opinion. It is fixed and eternal.

The Authority of Scripture Is Not Man-Made

Some claim the Bible gets its authority from the church. But the church does not give authority to the Bible. Rather, the Bible gives birth to the church (1 Pet. 1:23; Eph. 2:20). Others argue that personal experience or inner conviction provides the ultimate standard for truth. But experience can be deceptive, and feelings are often misleading (Prov. 14:12; Jer. 17:9).

Still others point to tradition or scholarly consensus. But these are shifting sands. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for nullifying the Word of God by their tradition (Mark 7:13). Paul warned against being taken captive by philosophy and human tradition (Col. 2:8).

Only the Bible stands as the infallible, objective, and enduring authority because it alone comes from the mouth of God. Paul wrote, “All Scripture is breathed out by God” (2 Tim. 3:16). That word “breathed out” (Greek: theopneustos) emphasizes origin—Scripture proceeds directly from God.

Scripture’s Authority Is Comprehensive

God’s Word does not simply speak to "spiritual" matters in some vague, private realm. It speaks to every issue of life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). It teaches doctrine, reproves sin, corrects error, and trains in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16). Its scope includes creation, ethics, history, marriage, sexuality, leadership, worship, salvation, judgment, and eternity.

As Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). He didn’t say it contains truth. He said it is truth. Every word of God proves true (Prov. 30:5), and not one jot or tittle will pass away (Matt. 5:18). God’s Word is sufficient, not just for individual growth, but for the church’s ministry, mission, and endurance.

The Believer’s Posture Toward God’s Word

Since the Bible is God’s authoritative speech, the proper response is submission, not suspicion. We are not called to critique it, amend it, or sit in judgment over it. We are called to believe, obey, and proclaim it.

Isaiah 66:2 says, “This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” The right heart posture toward Scripture is one of reverent submission. We tremble because we know it is not man’s opinion, but God’s decree. We do not stand above the text—we kneel beneath it.

Scripture’s Authority Is Evidenced in Christ

Jesus Himself submitted to the authority of Scripture. In His temptation, He answered Satan with, “It is written” (Matt. 4:4, 7, 10). When questioned by religious leaders, He asked, “Have you not read…?” (Matt. 19:4). He affirmed the historicity, authorship, and inerrancy of the Old Testament. He never corrected or criticized it. Instead, He fulfilled it (Matt. 5:17) and declared it unbreakable (John 10:35).

Moreover, Jesus commissioned His apostles to carry His words to the world under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13). The New Testament writings were not afterthoughts—they were the continuation of divine revelation. Paul said his teaching was “the command of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:37), and Peter considered Paul’s letters Scripture (2 Pet. 3:16).

Objections to Scripture’s Authority Fall Short

Some reject the Bible’s authority because they reject the supernatural. Others dismiss it due to cultural discomfort with its teachings. Still others appeal to apparent contradictions or textual transmission issues. But these objections ultimately collapse under scrutiny. The consistency of Scripture’s witness, its prophetic fulfillment, the testimony of Christ, and the internal testimony of the Holy Spirit all confirm its divine origin and reliability.

Ultimately, rejection of the Bible’s authority is not an intellectual problem—it’s a moral one (Rom. 1:18). People suppress the truth because they do not want to submit to God. But their rejection does not diminish Scripture’s authority. It only reveals their rebellion.

Conclusion: Submit to the Voice of God

The Bible is not merely one source of wisdom among many. It is God’s authoritative, sufficient, and clear revelation. It speaks with the full weight of divine majesty. When Scripture speaks, God speaks. Therefore, let every other voice be silent before it.

God has spoken. His Word stands forever. And it demands our humble submission, not our casual approval. As the prophet declared, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isa. 40:8).