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The statement, "You can prove anything by the Bible", is usually
made because of one or two reasons. First, it may be because
one does not believe in God. If such a person claims to believe
in Him, his estimate of God is so carnal and fleshly that he
views his presence, wisdom and power lower than that of a man.
The belief that "You can prove anything by the Bible," which is
God's inspired word, is a faith which seeks to discredit God's
authority, holiness and divinity. No human would be held
reputable, upstanding, and without reproach if it were said of
him and his word, "You can prove just anything by that man's
word". Such a statement about the Bible seeks to ridicule it as
a worthless book; depicting it with no reliable proof to
substantiate truth concerning the body, life and soul. Such
disbelief is often formulated because of a lack of Bible study.
Secondly, this may be propagated by one who wants to misuse the
Bible as a liberal license to practice anything he desires both
physically and spiritually. This low view of the Bible would not
be held, nor liberal practice performed, if each passage of the
Bible were read, studied and examined within its own context
and setting.
When one asks, in all honesty and sincerity, "Can I really find
any proof from the Bible?" the answer is, "Yes". The word prove
means to show to be true by examination or testing. It also
means, to show to be capable and dependable. Therefore, when
the subjects of life and godliness are under consideration, it
is not a matter of can one prove just "anything", any way of
life, to be capable and dependable but rather, a matter or
proving, from the Bible, everything that pertains to life and
godliness. Peter by the Holy Spirit, stated in II Peter,
Chapter 1, verse 3, that God's " . . . divine power hath given
unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through
the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue".
There are two very challenging things in this passage of
scripture. The first is, "he hath given unto us all things",
not just anything, nor some things, but all things that pertain
to life and godliness. The second important thing is that all
these things come "through the knowledge of Him". This is why
Paul told Timothy in 11 Timothy, chapter 2. verse 15, to study
to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not
to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
Therefore, it is imperative to study and to find in the Bible, all the
things that God has given that pertain to life and godliness and then to
practice those things. One will then have a capable, dependable life.
Recorded in II Corinthians Chapter 13, verse 5 we see where the
apostle asked the church at Corinth to, "Examine, yourselves, whether
you be in the faith; prove your own selves . . .". The process of
examining and proving one's faith must be by the inspired word of God.
Why? Because faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
(Romans 10: 17).
What do you believe about salvation, baptism, the Lord's Supper, giving, the
kind of music in Christian worship, daily living and seeking the lost? Go to the
Bible and let it examine and prove or test your belief.
Before you begin your search from the Bible for all things that pertain
to life and godliness, for that which will give knowledge of God, and
prove your faith, you must rid yourself of the idea that "you can prove
anything by the Bible". The truth of God's book must be examined with
a good a honest heart rather than an attitude of prejudice and ridicule.
In II Timothy Chapter 3, verses 16 and 17, the apostle said, "all
scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man
of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works".
May you be that man of God, that thoroughly furnished person; may you be
a God blessed person by and through the word of God, the Bible!
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