The Bible and its Reliability as a Spiritual Weapon

SPIRITUAL DECEPTION

Because we're only human, we don't have the ability to withstand spiritual deception. For that reason God has provided us with an excellent weapon that is Satan-proof — His Word, the Bible. Provided we use it as our standard of truth, the Bible is able to expose and decimate all error and deception in the spiritual arena. For this reason the apostle Paul calls it the "Sword of the Spirit."

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.(Ephesians 6:11-17, KJV) (Author's italics)

OUR "SWORD OF THE SPIRIT"

God's Word is a written historical record of His dealings with mankind. In its pages He reveals Himself to us, tells us about His plans for us and teaches us about sin and righteousness, heaven and hell, salvation and eternal life. He explains our spiritual plight and supplies the remedy. Everything we need to know to bring us to a saving knowledge of Christ will be found within its pages. Furthermore, it is able to build us up spiritually by correcting, comforting and encouraging us. And it is more than adequate to protect us against the wiles of Satan.

THE WRITINGS IN THE BIBLE WERE INSPIRED BY GOD

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, KJV).

THE BIBLE IS OUR STANDARD OF TRUTH

The Bible is the perfect standard of truth by which we can judge or test all spiritual teaching. Jesus said, "Thy word is truth" (John 17:17). When Paul first preached Christ to the Jews at Berea, they tested everything he said against the scriptures. Because Christ's life and all that had happened to Him was exactly as had been prophesied by the Old Testament prophets, Paul's preaching passed the test, and many of those folk came to salvation. (Acts 17: 10-12).

THE BIBLE IS OUR GUIDE

When the Lord Jesus was in the wilderness, Satan tempted Him to take the route of fame and glory rather than the way of suffering that lay before Him. But He countered his spiritual attack with thrusts from the Sword of the Spirit, quoting from the written Word of God. This exposed Satan's temptation for what it was, and he was defeated (Matthew chapter 4). On the other hand, Eve allowed Satan to persuade her that what God had said wasn't quite true. Consequently, we now live in a fallen, suffering world. (Genesis chapter 3).

GOD'S WORD IS BOTH INFALLIBLE AND ETERNAL

Because truth stands the test of time and never changes, God's Word is eternally reliable and trustworthy. It will never fail us. It serves us just as well today as it did when it was first written, and will continue to do so in the future. The Psalmist said:

For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89, KJV).

The apostle Peter expressed it this way:

..... For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. 1 Peter 2:24, KJV)

THE BIBLE IS OUR SPIRITUAL LIGHT

The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (Psalm 119:130, NASB)

We live in a decadent culture, where the word "integrity" has very little meaning, and sexual perversion and promiscuity are accepted as the norm. But the Word of God throws its light on the true values in life and teaches us spiritual wisdom. It shows us the right way to live and keeps us from stumbling spiritually. As the Psalmist said:

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105, KJV)

GOD'S WORD HAS LIFE-GIVING POWER

The Bible pictures God's Word as imperishable seed that leads to eternal life. Peter wrote this to his fellow-Christians:

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1:23, KJV)

THE BIBLE EQUIPS US WITH FAITH

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17, KJV)

Although we're saved through faith in Christ, we can't generate that faith ourselves (c/f Ephesians 2:8-9). God gives us faith when our hearts and minds are open to His Word. However, if we're not prepared to accept that the Bible is His infallible truth, then saving faith in the biblical Jesus will remain out of our grasp. Remember the parable Jesus told about the seed of the Word of God that fell on hard and infertile soil?

THE BIBLE IS OUR SPIRITUAL MIRROR

When we look into the Bible, we see ourselves as God sees us. It shows us where our spiritual lives need attention. The apostle James warns us that we must always act on what the Bible reveals about ourselves. Otherwise we'll be like the person who sees his spiritual reflection in the mirror, but then as soon as he turns away from it, he forgets what a disgusting sight he'd looked (James 1:22-24).

THE WORD OF GOD EXPOSES HIDDEN MOTIVES AND AGENDAS

The Bible is like a spiritual scalpel in the hands of a divine surgeon. Powerful and probing, it cuts right through all our layers of spiritual blindness, misconceptions, prejudices, self-righteousness and self-justification. And it reveals the malignancy of sin and rebellion that is embedded deep down inside us.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12-13, KJV)

THE BIBLE HAS SPIRITUAL CLEANSING POWER

God's Word is like warm, soapy, spiritual water. Regular applications of its truths wash away the grubby marks of sin that tarnish our lives. Paul said:

..... Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27, KJV) (Writer's italics.)

THE BIBLE IS OUR SPIRITUAL FOOD

The Word of God is our source of spiritual nourishment. Jesus said:

..... Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4, KJV)

If we are to grow in our faith and become spiritually strong and healthy, we need a steady diet of God's Word.

THE WORD OF GOD IS SOMETHING TO TREASURE

The following verses were written by ordinary people like you and me. They tell us something of what the Bible has meant to them.

I have treasured Your Word in my heart that I may not sin against You. Your testimonies are my delight; they are my councilors. This is my comfort in my affliction; that Your Word has revived me. I have more insight than all my teachers because I meditate on Your testimonies. How sweet are Your words to my taste, yes sweeter than honey to my mouth. I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure. Your Words were found, and I ate them. They became for me a joy, and the delight of my heart. For I have been called by Your name, oh Lord God of Hosts. (Psalm 119:11,24,50,99,l03,162, Jeremiah 15:16.)

SAFEGUARDING OUR SPIRITUAL WEAPON

In the same way that we would never allow anyone to tamper with a weapon on which our physical safety depends, so we should never permit anyone to tamper with the effectiveness of our spiritual weapon, the Bible. But tragically, this is exactly what has happened in the case of the LDS church. In order to justify the fact that his "revelations" were unbiblical, the LDS prophet, Joseph Smith, maintained that God had told him that the Bible was unreliable as it had been incorrectly translated, that it was full of errors, and that evil people had removed large portions from it.

By convincing the LDS that the Bible could not be relied upon as a standard of truth, Joseph Smith single-handedly destroyed the likelihood of Mormons ever being able to withstand spiritual deception. This gave him the freedom to formulate an exclusive religion that fitted in with his own ideas and personal agenda.

Besides being unbiblical, Mormon teachings have changed over the years to the extent that they now contradict one another. The Book of Mormon contradicts both Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price, and they all contradict the Bible.

What is far worse is the fact that, because they had no standard of truth to cling to, the LDS has, at different times, worshipped three different Gods. (See the article, "The Mormon Gods, Past and Present.")

But this would not have happened if the LDS had used the Bible as their standard of truth.

Mormons need to seriously meditate on the fact that the essential characteristic of truth is its consistency in the face of upheaval and change all around. No matter what else changes, truth is eternally reliable and consistent. It always stands the test of time.

If you want proof of the accuracy of the Bible, follow this lead:

Corruption of the Bible is an LDS Smokescreen