Confidence in the Word

Experiencing the Bible's Power

Our Only Sure & Safe Foundation

Detail from 'House Built on Rock' by Ian Pollock

Jesus said:

Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse, because it is built on rock." (Matthew 7:24-25).

The Bible provides the only sure and safe foundation for the Christian life. By affirming your personal convictions about the Scriptures you will have taken another most important step towards developing complete Confidence in the Word.

(The above illustration is used by kind permission of the artist, Ian Pollock. To see the complete picture, also the full range of Ian Pollock's biblical illustrations, please proceed via our Links to Other Websites.)

What is a Personal Conviction?

Our definition (and it is far from being the only possible one) is this:

An idea or a concept that so grips you that you are willing to allow it to guide and direct your whole life - thoughts, feelings, and actions - no matter what changes it may involve, and no matter how irrational or impractical it may seem to our natural human way of thinking.

(If you have returned to this section from further down the page, click here to resume reading An Invitation & A Question)

How to Use This Page

We invite you to look up and transcribe the following groups of references (some of which we have already referred to on previous pages). Then try to state the conviction you form as a result in your own words. As with Getting Started we have done the first as an example, but you may also like to make your own attempt.

You may find it helpful to write down what each reference says to you individually before you attempt to summarise the conviction that develops from reflecting on the group as a whole. You may wish to download and/or print this page as a working sheet before you begin.

(Click on the first group of references below to see the passages in a number of other versions.)

Conviction 1: The Bible is God's Word Written

Jeremiah 36:1-2: During the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king in Judah, the Lord gave this message to Jeremiah. "Get a scroll, and write down all my messages against Israel, Judah, and the other nations. Begin with the first message back in the days of Josiah, and write down every message you have been given, right up to the present time."

Romans 15:3-4: For even Christ didn't please himself. As the Scriptures say, "Those who insult you are also insulting me." Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises.

1 Corinthians 10:11: All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close.

Revelation 14:13: And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from all their toils and trials; for their good deeds will follow them!"

My Personal Conviction: As result of reading and reflecting on these Scriptures I am convinced that the Bible is an accurate record of the all the words God has spoken to mankind, given so that all whom the Lord chooses and calls may receive warnings and encouragement, and be assured of eternal life.

Conviction 2: God's Word Speaks to us Today

My Personal Conviction:

Conviction 3: God's Word Contains Life

My Personal Conviction:

Conviction 4: God's Word is Eternal

My Personal Conviction:

Conviction 5: God's Word is Uniquely Inspired

Exodus 20:1

Matthew 4:10-11

Acts 1:15-16 and 1:20

2 Peter 1:20-21

My Personal Conviction:

Conviction 6: God's Word is Applied by the Holy Spirit

John 14:26

John 16:13

1 Corinthians 2:11-14

1 John 2:20-21 and 2:27

My Personal Conviction:

Conviction 7: God's Word is Food for the Soul

My Personal Conviction:

Conviction 8: God's Word is Light for our Way

My Personal Conviction:

Conviction 9: God's Word is our Source of Hope

My Personal Conviction:

Conviction 10: God's Word has a Divine Purpose

My Personal Conviction:

Conviction 11: God's Word is to be Written on our Hearts

My Personal Conviction:

Adapted by kind permission of CWR - Crusade for World Revival from the personal assignment The Scriptures: Our Only Sure and Safe Foundation included in the workbook for the Learning to Care video training course by Selwyn Hughes and Trevor J Partridge (CWR 1996).

(To visit the CWR website please proceed via our Links to Other Websites.)

An Invitation & A Question

We encourage you to allow God to imprint these eleven convictions on your heart and mind so that they become a part of you. As he does so, you will find your Confidence in the Word will increase. We hasten to add that this is not a form of brain-washing or auto-suggestion, but the result of the Holy Spirit applying the Word of God to your mind and heart, so that you become convinced of its truth and power.

Then, before you leave this page, take another look at our definition of a personal conviction. Is this becoming true of the things you have learnt from God's Word while working through this page? Finally, ask yourself: What foundation am I building my life upon? Is it the rock of God's truth, or the quicksand of human thinking?

By transcribing portions of Scripture and seeking to understand what they mean you will find that not only is your confidence in the Bible as the authentic Word of God greatly increased, but also your confidence in your own ability to interpret the Bible is enhanced.

We now turn to consider in greater depth what it means to allow God to write his Word on the human heart, through the process of Biblical Meditation.

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