Inspiration

Inspiration, in short, is the motivation of a person’s heart and desires and is usually the catalyst for or the fuel behind the accomplishment of a goal, task, or other endeavor. In the case of the Bible, though written by human authors over multiple generations, the inspiration came from God.

 God had a goal, and thus a motivation to speak to and through some of His devoted believers so that the rest of His creation throughout time could hear, read, and study His way and truth and thus gain eternal life. Inspired literally means God-breathed, or from God's Spirit.God was completely involved. God guided them regarding what to say, write and include.

The Bible is God’s Word. It is His voice recorded on paper and manifested in our lives through our understanding of and obedience to it. The primary reason God inspired the writing of Scripture was to provide direction to the human race. Thus, the Bible is a passageway into the love and saving grace of God. This passageway shares the truth of the human story; walking us through our history, our fall from our Creator and His amazing way of redeeming us back to Himself through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. In fact, scripture describes Jesus as being in the plan of God from the beginning. Knowing about God can and should inspire us to be better people than we otherwise would be.

 We read in 2 Peter chapter 1 and verses 20- 21 that God's inspired Word was given by the power of His Holy Spirit. The Apostle Peter expresses it this way:

 "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 Spirit”.

 Peter explains that God selected holy or God-fearing men to whom He made known His will. These men then wrote the message that they received from God. These combined writings have become the book we know as the Bible.

 You may be asking yourself why was the Bible written? This question is answered this way by the Apostle Paul and can be found in 2 Timothy chapter 3 verses 16 & 17;

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" 

It is not just the parts of the Bible that deal with religious doctrines that are inspired, but each and every word from Genesis to Revelation. Because it is inspired by God, the Scriptures are therefore authoritative when it comes to establishing doctrine and sufficient for teaching man how he can be in a right relationship with God.

The accurate fulfilment of the prophecies of the Bible confirms that God exists and that the Bible is His inspired Word  as we read in Isaiah chapter 46 verses 9 & 10 –

“Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’”

Because the Scriptures are the inspired Word of God, we can conclude that they are   authoritative. A correct view of God will lead us to a correct view of His Word. Because God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and completely perfect, His Word will by its very nature have the same characteristics.  Without a doubt the Bible is what it claims to be—the undeniable, authoritative, Word of God to mankind.

Is there a Personal Message in the Bible for Us? Yes, there is. God offers men and women the hope of sharing life in the Kingdom on earth with the Lord Jesus Christ when he returns. This message of hope is called the gospel, which means the good news or glad tidings of the coming Kingdom of God, and salvation from sin and death through the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the message that Christ and his disciples preached as we read in Mark chapter 16 verses 15 & 16:

 “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned”.