This article speaks of the authority of the canonical books. It is clear when we read the Bible that God Himself is the Author, because such a wonderful book one can find nowhere else. We know that many people do not believe that the Bible is God's Word. There are others who say that God's Word is in the Bible, meaning that when you read the Bible and may receive a blessing for your soul, then it is God's Word; this is not true. We may have the Bible, which is God's Word from the beginning to the end, and we must pray the Lord that we may understand that which we read or hear.

There is not another book in the world which can be compared with the Bible. Even Heinrich Heine, who did not believe that it was God's Word, was filled with astonishment when he read the Bible, and said, "What a book; immeasurable as the universe". Is this not ashaming for many in our day who mock with God's Word? Calvin said that famous writers, orators or philosophers can charm us, but when we turn to God's Word, it will penetrate into the heart so strongly and deeply that we forget all writers, orators and philosophers. It makes it clear that it is God's Word, explaining the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

The Lord has also protected it against all the enemies who have tried to destroy that Word. Antiochus Epiphanus, king of Syria, commanded that all the Jewish holy books be burned; those who did not obey were to be killed. However, the Lord took care for His Word and gave certain priests the courage to keep their treasure. The Roman Ceasar Galerius tried the same thing. He was present when many Bibles were burned, and took pleasure in watching the fire. As he watched, a partially burned page was carried by the wind and fell at his feet. Picking it up, he read those words from Isaiah 40: "but the word of our God shall stand forever". It was not long before the Bible was translated into Greek and spread over all the world. Later many others have tried to do likewise, but man was not able to destroy the Word of God.

The Holy Scripture has the absolute authority in the church of Christ. Rome teaches that the truth is only in the Roman Catholic Church and that they are the only church which can save. The Lord did not bind Himself to a church, but to His Word. Where God's Word is purely preached, there the Lord will give His blessing. This we cannot say of Rome, because with all that takes place, it is and remains a false church.

Modernists say that God can reveal Himself in the heart of men without the Word, thus rejecting the authority of God's Word. We know that there is nothing too wonderful for the Lord, but it has pleased Him to bind Himself to the Word and to use it to our salvation. In the past the Reformed Churches have maintained the full authority of God's Word, but, alas, in our days this is also changing, and in some of these churches the absolute authority of the Word is more and more undermined. Certain parts of God's Word are rejected, whereas God has said, "And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book". How dangerous it is when we deny God's Word, for then He will also deny us.

We maintain the full authority of God's Word, but this does not mean that everything written in the Bible is a norm or standard for faith and life in all ages. For example, we think of the civil laws of Israel, which concerned only the civil and political life of the nation of Israel. They were a theocracy, which means that they were governed immediately by the Lord. This came to an end when Jerusalem was destroyed in the year 70. The ceremonial laws of Israel spoke of sacred persons, places, seasons and things, pointing to Christ Who was to come and to His work. It was a visible instruction for Israel, but because Christ has come, it is now past. This does not mean that we must not read these parts of God's Word since they have no longer any authority; oh no! there are still many instructions in them for us under the New Testament. But these ceremonies no longer have power in our days.

In God's Word there is also spoken about the sins of many saints. They are not written for us to follow them, but to warn us; it shows that there are so many dangers round about us that we must constantly ask, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil". Also in the Bible we find the lies of Satan and the evil deeds of the wicked, which are also warnings from which we can learn that Satan is always trying to deceive the church, and also that he uses men as instruments for this purpose. The Bible tells us that the Canaanites and hea­then nations must be destroyed from the earth; however, this is not our calling, for we must bring God's Word to the heathen. Thus we find many facts in the Bible which are historically true, but which are no longer a standard for the New Testament church.

Not only do we believe and teach that the Bible is God's Word, but also that it is a great miracle when the Lord gives testimony in our heart by the Holy Spirit that it is His Word. In this article two proofs are given that the Bible is the truth, namely (1) everything written in the Bible is according to the truth, also historically, and (2) the Lord gives this testimony in the heart of His people. I may believe that all of us believe in the Divine authority of the Bible. That is a great blessing, because the Lord has been pleased to use that Word for many people in the past to their eternal welfare. However, it is necessary that we personally have that testimony placed in our heart by the Holy Spirit; that is the main thing! I hope, young people, that this may also become your desire and that you may ask the Lord day and night for such a blessing. By nature we don't do this, but the Lord can incline our hearts to His service.

Never forget that God's Word is the answer to all questions. We discuss so many things, also in regard to daily life, but so seldom ask what God's Word teaches us. Others show very clearly that God's Word has not much authority for them. They don't listen to warnings which come to them and go their own way without the Lord.

We are all familiar with the parable of the wicked husband-men and the vineyard which was let out to them. When the Lord of the vineyard sent his servants for the fruit, they beat and killed them, and at the last slew also the son. This is what the Jews had done with the Lord Jesus. And when we do not listen to and obey the Word, we are doing just the same, stoning Him to death by our deeds. May the Lord open our eyes for this, and cause us to hear the message which is brought unto us from Sunday to Sunday, and also during the week or when we read God's Word. Then we will also learn by the instruction of the Holy Spirit that God's Word is the truth.

We have seen that not only the church believes and teaches that the Bible is God's Word, but, as is stated in this article, that the Lord Himself gives this testimony by the Holy Spirit in the heart of God's children. It reads: "but more especially because the Holy Ghost witnesseth in our hearts, that they are from God, whereof they carry the evidence in them­selves."

How important is this second proof, which is given by the Lord. We do all believe in the Divine Authority of God's Word, and it is our duty to defend this against the many unbelievers; however, this is not the same as a testimony in our heart. Paul said: "We have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." Under the administration of the Spirit we learn that the Bible is not a human word, but the Word which God has given us. Then we will embrace this Divine testimony as the Truth, and shall tremble at His Word.

Luther says of this: The Holy Spirit makes men free to believe, not because the minister says so, but because it is God's Word. Even if they must die a hundred times, they cannot deny the Word of God. This Divine testi­mony gave the courage to our fathers to sacrifice their goods and their blood for the Word. If this were found more often in our days, the churches would be different, and there would be no place for the superficial religions presently found in the majority of the churches.

So many are leaving the Truth, as they neither hear nor see that testimony of the Holy Spirit any more. They are satisfied with a good moral life of keeping the law externally. In this new-fashioned religion, everything is permissible. The word 'conversion' becomes more and more unknown; not historically, but experimentally, there is no longer any knowledge of this. And we must not look to other churches in the first place, because in our midst there is also so much which should be different. The god of fashion has more influence than the Word of God. Our ladies and girls listen more to this god of fashion than to the Word of God; our men and boys are more concerned about what the world says of their hair style than what the commandment of the Lord says. Our life style shows so very clearly that the testimony of the Holy Spirit is lacking in our hearts – otherwise it would be so different. Some say, "When it becomes sin for me, then I will change my style of life." In this way it is very well possible that our sins will never become a hindrance to us; however – in the keeping of God's law is great reward.

In this article there is written: "the Holy Ghost witnesseth in our hearts, that they are from God, whereof they carry the evidence in themselves." The same Spirit Who inspired and led the authors of God's Word testi­fies in the heart of God's child that the Word is the truth. This testimony is not outside of or against the Word, but out of and through His Word the Lord speaks to His children, giving this testimony and surety. Faith is born when we may hear the Word of God and it is applied by the Holy Ghost. The Word is also used for further instruction in getting more knowledge of the Lord and of ourselves. Often the enemies attack this stronghold by sowing unbelief, but with such a testimony in our heart we have a sure foundation.

What is that witness in our heart? It is not an audible voice which says that the Bible is the Truth. Many people speak of dreams and voices, but often there is much in these which is not of the Lord, but of our sinful imagination. When the Spirit witnesses, then our darkened mind is enlightened and we may see some of the mystery of the Kingdom of heaven and what is related to it. Likewise our will is inclined to believe and to confess that it is God's Word. In the way of experience we learn that everything which is written in God's Word is the truth, but then we also desire to live according to that Word – not only to keep one commandment, but the whole law.

When the Lord speaks (which does not happen so often), then it is with power – it is irresistible. I am not referring to the external calling, for of course the Lord then speaks every time that we hear His Word. I mean here the internal calling, accompanied by His Spirit. Such a message is fitting to our life circumstances; prior to this something has taken place so that we came in need or in trouble with something under the administration of the Holy Spirit. At God's time the problem is solved by a Divine answer. You can understand what a joy this leaves in the life of this person; he will glorify the Lord.

We must not think that God's Word and voice always have the same effect. Well known is the example of Samuel who thought that Eli was calling him when it was the Lord calling. He did not yet know the voice of the Lord. Young people, how is it with you? Did you learn in the days of your youth to listen to the Lord, or are you still listening to the world? Listening to the world is listening to Satan. He is trying to deceive us for eternity, just as he tries to trouble God's people by telling them that the Word of God is not true. Already in Paradise he started with this. Paul warns against him in 2 Corinthians 11:3, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." Why did he write this? It was to warn us that, when Satan comes with his deceitful words, we must not listen to him but search the Scriptures as to what the Lord says. God is not a man that He should lie. What He has spoken, He will fulfil at His time and in His way.

It is impossible that unlearned men, as most of the Bible writers were (based on worldly standards), could make up such a book and doctrine of free sovereign grace. It is only by Divine light that they may speak of these mysteries which are hidden from the world, but which are revealed to the children. We think only of the Trinity, the incarnation of Christ, and the reconciliation of the sinner with God; these can never be devised by man himself, but they must be of the Lord.

This Word has amazed the world, has destroyed the idolatry of the heathens, has turned over the kingdom of Satan, and it will overcome the world, meaning that the whole world will hear it, although it will not be to the salvation of the whole world.

The fifth article ends with the statement: For the very blind are able to perceive that the things foretold in them are fulfilling. This means that the prophecies of the Bible have been fulfilled and will be fulfilled at God's time, another proof that it is God's Word. There are many examples, but we will mention only a few.

Ahijah prophesied that Jeroboam would be the next king, and he received the ten tribes after the death of Solomon. The birth of King Josiah had been spoken of three hundred years before it took place, and he did that which was foretold of him – he burned the bones of the idolatrous priests. The exile of Judah was prophesied by several prophets, as it also came to pass. At the end of seventy years it came to an end, as was also foretold.

Not only the judgments, but also the promises will be fulfilled to the church of God. The Lord will remember His remnant, also in the dark days at the end of this world. There are books of other religions, such as the Talmud of the Jews, the Koran of the Moslims, etc., but in them we miss the testimony of the Holy Spirit. They are not of Divine authority, but are the work and imagination of men. With the Bible it is different. As with the sun, when we see it, we must acknowledge its existence and glory; likewise, when we read the Bible, we see, we feel and we taste the Divine authority and holiness of this Word.