Is our Christian life reflecting that the Bible is God’s Word? Our mental and verbal assent alone are not accepted by God. Our life must reflect that God’s Word is of utmost importance to us who are believers. There are three tests to prove whether we truly believe the Bible as the Word of God and not of man:

(1)  First Test – Life of Suffering (Rev 1:9)

By obeying the Bible and preaching the Word of God, Apostle John was exiled to an island and therefore no longer a free man. This is how he suffered for Christ. What about us? Are we willing to testify of God’s work in our lives, especially for the success He gives us? Are we willing to publicly confess Him before all? God will put tests along our way, hoping for us to pass them, standing up for Him despite possible ‘bad’ consequences. Remember Daniel’s three friends who remained faithful to God by refusing to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s statue (Dan 3)?

(2) Second Test – Conviction of the Inner Man (Rev 1:10)

God’s Word laid the greatest impact on Apostle John in his inner man (spirit). That is why he was willing to suffer for Christ’s sake. When a believer reads God’s Word, it is God’s speaking to the inner man. If the Word requires him to repent, he will do so immediately. He will strive to obey God’s Word. He will be convicted by God’s Word. This is a good personal and experiential test on whether we truly believe the Bible is God’s Word.

(3) Third Test – Diligent Study of God’s Written Word (Rev 1:11)

God has given His Word to us in the written form. He is the ‘Alpha and Omega’ – this means all the words written down from the beginning to the end in the Bible are His Word. His Word stands forever, unlike man’s word. The Bible is written in the original languages, namely Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. However, most if not all, are unable to read these biblical languages. Nevertheless, we have a faithful and accurate English translation in the King James Bible that when we read it, it is as if we are reading the original words of the Bible. Not only we must read it regularly and daily, but we must also study it diligently. Our attitude in studying it shows forth whether we put our priority in God’s Word. It is important to begin our day with God’s Word, go through the day with God’s Word and end the day with God’s Word.

We are reminded by Abraham who told the rich man that God’s Word is sufficient to convict a sinner of his sin (Luke 16). May our heart be truly convicted, and let our life be transformed for Jesus’ sake, and prove that it is truly God’s Word, and not man’s word. Amen.