Thy Word Is Truth

On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus prayed to the Father that He would sanctify His followers in the truth, for “Thy Word is truth” (John 17:17)

In Psalm 119:160, David declared, “The sum of Your word is truth.”

Note the comprehensiveness of these statements. These simple, yet explicitly clear testimonies that the totality of God’s Word is truth ought to eliminate any doubt about the sufficiency of Scripture.

If God’s Word is perfect (Psalm 19:7), should we not expect that it is, in sum and in total, truth? When we seek to find truth through means beyond the Bible, we deny the Word’s ability to transform and sanctify us as children of the living God. Yet it is through the reading, preaching, and teaching of God’s Word that the Holy Spirit works within the believer to sanctify and set him apart from the world.

The holiness that is required of believers—not for salvation, but as demonstrative fruit of the saving work of God—is revealed through and nurtured by the Word. When we read the Word, we know that we are reading the inerrant, inspired, infallible, immutable Word of God. The Word convicts (Hebrews 4:12) and comforts (Ps 119:50). It condemns (John 12:48) and saves (Romans 1:16; 10:17).

These realities bring with them a responsibility to respond. Men respond to Scripture in one of two ways: (1) conviction of sin and faith in Jesus Christ, or (2) rejection of the clear and inarguable truths contained within its pages. Those who respond in faith will find that they desire to obey this Word that has been given to them by the One who saved them.

Dear reader, do not spurn this great Word of God. Within its pages is the message of the cross of Christ, that great gospel of a great work wrought by a great Savior. This truth alone has the power to save your soul!