GOD’S WORD IS THE TRUTH

 

 John 17:17 says:

 

“Sanctify them through Your truth. Your Word is truth.”

 

In this regard, I wish to take the reader to what Wayne Grudem has to say in Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith. God’s words are the ultimate standard of truth. “This verse is interesting because Jesus does not use an adjective, alēthinos or alēthēs (“true”), which we might have expected, to say,” Your word is true.” Rather, he uses a noun, alētheia (“truth”), to say that God’s word is not simply “true”, but truth itself.

THE STANDARD OF TRUTH

 

The difference is significant, for this statement encourages us to think of the Bible not simply as being “true” in the sense that it conforms to some higher standard of truth, but rather to think of the Bible as itself the final standard of truth. The Bible is God’s Word, and God’s Word is the ultimate definition of what is true and what is not true: God’s Word is itself truth.”

 

THE BIBLE IS POWER

 

The Bible is so authoritative in its position as a beacon of truth and direction in this life that it does not need human affirmation or approval. It stands on its own power for it was the very source of power through which all of life came into existence. If the God who made us has revealed Himself to us as is written in the Bible, then whatever He has revealed in the Word which He communicated, can be believed and trusted as infallible truth. No one but Him needs to underwrite what has been written. If the code cannot be broken, then it surely can be accepted as absolute truth. Therefore, the compass is true and when followed the outcome and destination are guaranteed. In John 10:35 Jesus said that the Scripture cannot be broken. This means God’s Word is infallible, without error, and totally to be trusted and believed.

 

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

 

When I was a professional soldier in the Infantry part of our training involved the reading of topographical and tactical maps. We were taught how to interpret terrain drawn on a map by way of certain keys and symbols. We were also taught how to use a compass, how to determine whether or not it indicated true north and how to find geographical beacons within a designated area on the map and our immediate surroundings. If we stuck to the rules of interpretation and used the instruments correctly, we could be dropped off in an area indicated by the map in the dead of night anywhere and when there was enough light, we could plot our position and calculate very accurately the direction and distance we needed to travel to reach a specific rendezvous or meeting place. There were certain rules and principles of interpretation, however, that we could not tamper with. I was amazed at how in the beginning human error caused one to miss the mark but with experience one got exactly to the spot where you were supposed to be, there to find the provision and whatever else was needed to complete the mission. It was all based on scientific data that we have learnt to apply through the rules of geography and mathematics. In exactly the same way God has laid down within the Bible spiritual laws by which we need to find our position in terms of character and behavior in order to grow into the place and position He intended for us. Any deviation would lead to disorder and dysfunction.

 

THE BIBLE BRINGS US HOME

 

No matter how lost someone has become in their personality and thinking or how deviant and dysfunctional their behaviour has become, with the help of a Holy Spirit-endued guide, who has experience in mapping within the pages of the Bible, that poor lost individual can be brought home. Biblical counselors need to study the Bible and through its rules of interpretation, apply its principles to their own lives at first before they can hope to guide others along the ancient paths that lead to spiritual maturity and wholeness. For this reason, it is vitally important that as a spiritual discipline, we put our own house in order so that we do not become guilty of contaminating the Divine view with meaningless human philosophy. Such integration leads to confusion and adds to the lostness of those who may come seeking guidance through us. We must be uncompromising when pointing people to God’s viewpoint on matters such as addictive compulsive behaviour.

 

DR KRIGE AND HOUSE REGENERATION

 

This adapted content was extracted from If not Rehab…what then? by Dr Ado Krige, the Founding Director of House Regeneration, a South African drug rehabilitation centre offering a comprehensive discipleship training program. By applying principles of Biblical Therapy, using the Scriptures to teach, rebuke, correct, and train in righteousness, House Regeneration counsellors show anyone who has suffered from addiction how to fully understand why they do what they do and how to bring their belief systems in line with the Word of God.