The Book From Heaven

(Bulawayo, Zimbabwe)

1. There are so many terms applied to the Biblical record that affirm its divine origin: Isaiah 34:16 - The Book of the Lord, Romans 1:1 - The Gospel of God, Romans 3:2 – The Oracles of God, Hebrews 6:5 - The Word of God, Colossians 3:16 - The Word of Christ.

2. There is much evidence from the scriptures that the Bible is an inspired book: (a) its marvellous unity (b) its superhuman range of teaching (c) its perpetual freshness and universal appeal (d) its transforming power upon the individual (e) the fulfilment of its prophecies, and (f) its indestructibility. The Bible’s unity of doctrine is remarkable from its beginning to the end. There is one system of doctrine, one rule of faith, running from Genesis to Revelation. There is one dominant theme - redemption through the cross of Jesus Christ. The unity and plan exhibited on every page of the Bible is clear testimony to an activity more than human guiding the pens of the writers. It is quite clear how human wisdom is eclipsed by the teachings of the Bible. “Where is the wise ? Where is the scribe ? Where is the disputer of this world ? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world ?” (1 Cor 1:20).

3. The scriptures offer a clear solution to all the problems of life. They treat upon God and man, the meaning of sin and suffering and death, of origin and destiny, in a manner understandable to the simplest, and yet inexhaustible in its profundity. Scriptural words exhibit a coherence and a sense of proportion not found elsewhere in any book.

The Bible is a book from God who is in heaven which ought to be our food and drink so that we can feel its perpetual spiritual freshness. The oftener we read it, the more we enjoy it and the more it builds us up. The deeper the mine is dug, the broader grows the vein, and the richer the ore: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16) and "Holy men of God spoke they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). Let us not be moved or cheated by any new preachers of new teachings based upon so-called bibles like the Koran or the Book of Mormon.

Bro. Ambrose Tanyepana