We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 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)
The Bible is not a collection of the writings of mere men, as some suppose, but is the God-inspired testimony of the truth. Christianity is a religion of truth. According to the Lord Jesus, there can be no worship of the Father apart from the truth, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4: 23,24) The Word of God is the source of all spiritual truth, so it is absolutely necessary that the truthfulness and accuracy of the Bible be maintained as an essential doctrine.
According to the Scripture above, the Word of God as recorded in the Scripture is to be placed above all other forms of revelation. In the preceding verses, Peter assures his readers that the word of the apostles was not some clever religion they had invented, but that they had personally witnessed the majesty and glory of Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. Yet, they had an even more certain form of revelation of the truth of Christ - the Scriptures! If the Scriptures are to be placed above even the sight of Christ visibly glorified, where does that leave all the visions, feelings, experiences and theological surmisings of men and councils?
Moreover, Peter stresses the authority of the Bible with the words, "whereunto ye do well that ye take heed." The Word of God cannot be ignored with impunity. It was a denial of the accuracy of God's Word was the cause of our race's condemnation, and, to this day, the co-workers of the great Deceiver (false prophets and preachers) continue his work by casting doubt on the Word of God. From Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, the Bible is truthful and authoritative, binding upon each man's soul.
The Scriptures are called "a light that shines in a dark place." This dark place is the human mind. By nature, no man knows the things of God, for, "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor. 2:14) How blessed is a ray of light in a dark cave: how much more blessed is the light of the Scriptures in a darkened mind!
The source of the Scriptures is the Holy Spirit. When Peter says that no Scripture is of private interpretation, he is not saying that we cannot read the Scriptures ourselves and interpret them. Rather, he is teaching us of the origin of the Scriptures. The word translated "is' actually means, "exists." That is, no Scripture came into existence as the result of some individual person's idea of what the truth is. Rather, men set apart by God spoke as the Holy Spirit moved them, and their words were recorded for later generations. So the words of Scripture are not the words of men, but the words of God, Himself.
Accordingly, we at Grace Community Church hold the Scriptures in the highest regard: To us, they are the Word of God Most High. The Bible is our only rule of doctrine and conduct. We have no creed to which we bow or by which we identify ourselves other than the creed which God has given: the Holy Bible. Every message preached from the pulpit comes from the Bible. We do not concern ourselves with the issues of the day, but preach concerning the timeless issues of God's Word.
If you are interested in what God has said, we invite you to come worship with us with the prayer that the Word preached will be an honor to Him Who inspired it and a blessing to those who come to hear it.
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