How much importance do we place on the written Word of God? How important was it to God to have His Word written? I typed the words ‘written’ and ‘write’ into my Bible program search feature, and was overwhelmed with the number of references to that which has been ‘written.’
Many times the Lord commands that His words be written for future generations.
Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. (Hab. 2:2)
Paul declared that his own writings were the Word of God.
If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. (1 Cor. 14:37)
The gospels were written so that we might believe in Jesus. There is no hint that they are untrustworthy or have an expiration date.
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (Jn. 20:30-31)
The Old Testament (which is referenced and quoted hundreds of times in the New) was written for our learning that we might have hope
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (Rom. 15:4)
These are just a few brief examples that only touch the surface of the importance of believing in and adhering to that which was written. If Jesus based His life and ministry upon that which was written, I believe that we can have the same confidence that we are not dealing with a fallible, man-made document, but with God’s living Word.
“…have you not read what was spoken to you by God?” (Mt. 22:31)