信靠

之後，方醒又看到神的話說：「……當人開始養育下一代的時候，人便將自己前半生所有未能實現的願望都寄託在了下一代的身上，希望下一代能彌補自己前半生所有的不如意。……希望下一代能幫著實現自己的夢想，達成自己的心願，希望兒女能光宗耀祖，或者地位顯赫，或者能發大財，或者成為名人，總之，只要能飛黃騰達就好。人的計劃與想像倒是挺完美，豈不知人有多少子女、子女的長相、能耐等等都是父母不能說了算的，更何況子女的命運如何不更是父母不能掌控的嗎？人不能掌控自己的命運，卻希望自己能改變下一代的命運；人無力擺脫自己的命運，卻想一手操縱兒女的命運，這豈不是不自量力嗎？豈不是人的愚昧無知嗎？」（摘自《獨一無二的神自己　三》）https://reurl.cc/4Ml7D

看完神的話方醒才認識到，人一生所走的道路、前途命運如何，不取決於人的文化高低，也不是靠人的努力就能改變的，一切都由神說了算，都是神早已安排、命定好的。方醒這才明白，她在孩子學習的事上之所以苦惱，主要就是不認識神的主宰，不願把孩子交託給神，而是憑著錯謬的思想觀點活著，想通過努力學習知識來改變孩子的命運導致的。藉著看神的話語，方醒才看透撒但的詭計，頓悟道：「原來撒但就是藉著人追求知識給我們灌輸這些錯謬的思想觀點，把我們引到追名逐利的道路上，讓我們總想掙脫神的主宰，對抗神的安排，憑自己的野心去奮鬥，妄想改變命運，就這樣被它控制、愚弄，活在痛苦中不得自拔。」

方醒揣摩了一會兒，忽然又想到：「孩子的命運既然不在父母的手中掌握，那父母在孩子的人生中究竟扮演什麼角色呢？」之後，方醒又看到《獨一無二的神自己　三》這篇神的話中說：「父母在一個人一生中所擔負的責任除了生產與撫養之外，無非就是在形式上給一個人提供了成長的環境罷了，因為任何人的命運只與造物主的命定有關，一個人有怎樣的未來不是任何人能左右得了的，而是早已命定好的，包括人的父母也不能改變一個人的命運。」「無論一個人的能力有多大，都不可能影響更不可能擺佈、安排、左右與改變他人的命運，只有獨一無二的神自己才能主宰人的一切，因為只有獨一無二的神自己擁有主宰人類命運的獨一無二的權柄，所以只有造物主是人類獨一無二的主宰者。」

從神的話裡方醒明白了，父母在孩子身上該承擔的責任是生養，給孩子提供一個良好的成長環境，供應孩子的衣食起居，但是父母不能掌管孩子的命運。孩子的文化高低，將來找什麼工作，能走什麼樣的道路，以後是窮是富，等等這些父母說了不算，更改變不了，這一切都由神掌管安排，神早就命定好了。想到這裡，方醒釋懷了，她願意把孩子交託給神，不管孩子能不能考上理想的大學，都願意順服神的主宰安排。

很快，高考進入了最後的倒計時，兒子的精神狀態隨著距離高考時間的縮短變得愈來愈差，每次回到家都是愁眉不展、精神緊繃，臉上沒有一絲笑容。方醒看到兒子年紀輕輕就承受這麼大的壓力，她感到心酸難過，淚水盈濕了眼眶，她不停地責怪自己不應該把「萬般皆下品，唯有讀書高」「知識能改變命運」「出人頭地，光宗耀祖」等錯誤的生存法則強行灌輸給兒子，讓孩子也拼命地學習，承受這些痛苦。於是，方醒關切地開導兒子：「兒子，不管你能不能考上大學，一切都順其自然，不要給自己施加太大的壓力。」https://reurl.cc/4Ml7D

兒子聽後不可思議地看著方醒，停頓了幾秒，驚訝地說：「媽媽，沒想到你會說出這樣的話，你以前可不是這樣的啊，你怎麼變了呢？你不是一直都告訴我知識能改變命運，努力學習才有好前途嗎？」

方醒聽後平和地說：「感謝神！媽媽現在信神了，是神的話改變了我的看事觀點。以往，我總認為知識能改變命運，有高文憑才有好前途，所以整天為你的前途擔心，怕你考不上大學以後沒有出息。現在，我從神的話中看見這些觀點是錯誤的，撒但給我們灌輸這些思想觀點就是想讓我們努力追求知識來對抗神的主宰，與命運抗爭。可生活中，有的人名牌大學畢業卻找不到工作，一輩子碌碌無為；還有的人初中都沒畢業卻在社會上闖出一番事業。無數事實證明，知識根本改變不了命運，每個人的命運如何，將來有無成就都在神的手中掌握，就像很多有經歷的人總結出來的『人的命，天注定』『謀事在人，成事在天』『天命難違』等等，從這些話中更加證實了我們的命運在神的手中掌握。以往我不明白真理，不認識神的主宰，就憑著撒但的錯誤觀點活著，逼著你努力學習，也沒關心過你的感受，給你施加那麼大的壓力，導致你整天鬱鬱寡歡，失去了原本該有的快樂。現在我明白了，我們人的一切都由神安排，你將來能有什麼樣的命運也在神手中主宰，我不會再逼你學習了，你高考也不要有太大的心理壓力，只要盡自己全力，結果如何都順其自然吧！」

聽了方醒推心置腹的話，兒子很受感動，興奮地說：「媽媽，太好了！信神真好，只有神才能改變你！媽媽，你知道嗎，面對每天滿滿噹噹的課程，越來越大的升學壓力，還有你對我的期望，我感到精神都快要崩潰了，所以我開始有意躲避你、遠離你，我怕自己考不上好的大學辜負了你對我的期望，可我的壓力太大了，感覺活著太累了，如果這次再考不好的話我都活不下去了。媽媽，聽到你這樣說，我感覺自由了，我的壓力一下子減輕了。」

聽了兒子的真心話，方醒更加悔恨自己，同時也對兒子充滿了虧欠，她抬起頭，看著兒子稚嫩的臉上終於露出了久違的笑容，她喜極而泣，心中默默地感謝神。

高考的鐘聲敲響了，天空中沒有一片雲彩，所有的樹木都無精打采地站著，樹上的知了不停地叫著。考場外，家長們頂著烈日焦急地站著，談論著這次的考題難不難，自家孩子能考上哪所學校。方醒望向考場，心裡有些緊張：「這次的考試決定兒子的將來，不知道兒子發揮得怎麼樣？」方醒憂心忡忡，心也有點安靜不下來了。這時，方醒意識到自己又在為兒子的前途擔憂了，於是她趕快向神禱告：「神啊！現在我又開始擔心兒子的高考成績了，我知道一切都在你的手中主宰，我應該把兒子交在你手中，求你帶領引導我，使我順服你的主宰安排。」禱告後，方醒想到神的話說：「追求認識神的人能放下自己的慾望，願意順服神的主宰與安排，追求做順服神權柄的人，做滿足神心意的人，這樣的人是活在光中的人，是活在神祝福之下的人，必能得著神的稱許。」（摘自《獨一無二的神自己　三》）

從神的話中方醒明白了，認識神的主宰，順服神的擺佈安排，把一切都交給神，活得才輕鬆快樂，可自己識不破撒但的詭計，還認為高考定終身，不相信神的主宰，對神也沒有真實的順服，才活在黑暗中不得釋放。這時方醒心裡亮堂了，對神也有了信心，她願意將兒子的命運交給神讓神來擺佈安排，不再為兒子的前途後路打算、考慮，不管結果怎樣她都願意順服。這時，方醒長舒了一口氣，心裡平靜了一些。

考試結束後，兒子很高興地對方醒說：「媽，這次我覺得能考上一本大學。」看到兒子這麼自信，方醒心裡也跟著高興，她感受到順服神的擺佈安排自己和兒子都很釋放，並且她和兒子的關係也越來越親密。方醒從心裡感謝神的帶領，她輕鬆地回應道：「順其自然吧。」兒子也點點頭，兩人相視一笑。https://reurl.cc/4Ml7D

不久，兒子的高考分數出來了，方醒怎麼也沒想到兒子竟然考上了理想的大學。不過，這一次方醒的心境不一樣了，她沒有為兒子達到了她的要求標準而欣喜，而是藉著經歷兒子高考這件事，她從神的話中看透了撒但思想觀點的錯謬，對神的主宰有了一些真實的認識。方醒深深地體會到，當她學會順服神的安排，學會放手把兒子交在神手中時，她如釋重負，不再感到壓抑、痛苦，和兒子的心也貼得很近，這種心靈的安慰是任何東西都取代不了的。方醒體會到了順服神帶來的喜悅，放下了對兒子前途的擔憂，而且與兒子之間也能彼此交心了，這一切的變化都是神的話在她身上達到的果效，是神的話改善了他們母子之間的關係。方醒體嘗到了神話語的權柄與威力，從今以後她更要實行神的話，把神的話帶到現實生活中，這樣才能活得釋放、自由。（全篇完）

Dear brothers and sisters, may you find peace in the Lord! Thanks be to the grace of God that we have been brought together today, and the question we will be fellowshiping is: Is all Scripture given by inspiration of God? https://reurl.cc/DpDdQ

Is All Scripture Given by Inspiration of God?

When we talk about this issue, there are perhaps some brothers and sisters who will say, “Do you really need to ask this question? In 2 Timothy 3:16, it tells us clearly that ‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God.’ It is therefore clear that the Bible contains only the words of God, so what more could one wish to know?” Brothers and sisters, we conclude that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and that the Bible contains only the words of God only on the basis of this one statement from Paul, but is there a foundation in God’s words for this view? Did the Lord Jesus ever say such a thing? Did the Holy Spirit ever say such a thing? If there is no foundation in God’s words for this view, what will the consequences be if we continue to cling to it? The Lord Jesus said, “He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathers not with Me scatters abroad” (Matthew 12:30). As believers in God, we should always speak and act on the basis of God’s words and the facts of His works. If our views are at odds with God’s words and the facts of His works to the point where they run contrary to them, then in God’s eyes we become people who are opposed to Him, and we will certainly not earn His praise. Understanding the question, “Is all Scripture given by inspiration of God?” is therefore crucial to each and every one of us.

(Source: Depositphotos)

Brothers and sisters, if we do actually wish to understand this question, then we must first understand that the Bible is just a testimony to God, it is a record of God’s works and a historical book. Besides the words spoken by Jehovah, besides the words Jehovah directed the prophets to relay, the words of the Lord Jesus and the words in Revelation which God revealed to John, the rest of the words in the Bible are not the words of God, and most are actually the words of man, with some also being the words of Satan, the old serpent. Furthermore, most of the Four Gospels and the epistles of the other apostles were written by the disciples and apostles who followed the Lord Jesus, and they wrote them based on their own memories and from the accounts of other people. Although some of the words in these epistles arose from the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit and are of some benefit to people, they are still only the words of man and they cannot be said to be God’s words. This is because people are mere created beings, because we have been deeply corrupted by Satan, and because we do not possess the truth, much less are able to express the truth. God, on the other hand, is the Lord of creation, the source of all life, and His words are the expression of the truth, the way and the life. Consequently, God’s words will ever be God’s words and man’s words will ever be man’s words; Satan’s words will also only ever be Satan’s words, and they will only ever be fallacious, false and heretical. If we say that all the words of man and of Satan that are in the Bible are the words of God, and that they are given by inspiration of God, would we not be distorting the facts and confusing right with wrong? Would we not be defying and blaspheming God? It is therefore evident that the words spoken by Paul, that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God,” arose from his own conceptions and imaginings and are simply at odds with the words of God. Similarly, all of us brothers and sisters who today follow the Lord have been affected by Paul’s statement, and we believe that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and that the Bible contains only the words of God. This understanding does not accord with the facts, nor does it accord with the words of God. God’s words speak clearly on this matter, so let’s read them together. God says, “Today, people believe the Bible is God, and that God is the Bible. So, too, do they believe that all the words of the Bible were the only words God spoke, and that they were all said by God. Those who believe in God even think that although all of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament were written by people, they were all given by inspiration of God, and a record of the utterances of the Holy Spirit. This is the erroneous interpretation of people, and it does not completely accord with the facts. In fact, apart from the books of prophecy, most of the Old Testament is historical record. Some of the epistles of the New Testament come from people’s experiences, and some come from the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit; the Pauline epistles, for example, arose from the work of a man, they were all the result of the Holy Spirit’s enlightenment, and they were written for the churches, were words of exhortation and encouragement for the brothers and sisters of the churches. They were not words spoken by the Holy Spirit—Paul could not speak on behalf of the Holy Spirit, and neither was he a prophet, much less did he see visions that John beheld. His epistles were written for the churches of Ephesus, Philadelphia, Galatia, and other churches. And thus, the Pauline epistles of the New Testament are epistles that Paul wrote for the churches, and not inspirations from the Holy Spirit, nor are they the direct utterances of the Holy Spirit. They are merely words of exhortation, comfort, and encouragement that he wrote for the churches during the course of his work. So, too, are they a record of much of Paul’s work at the time. … All he said that was edifying and positive to people was right, but it did not represent the utterances of the Holy Spirit, and he could not represent God. It is an egregious understanding, and a tremendous blasphemy, for people to treat the records of a man’s experiences and a man’s epistles as the words spoken by the Holy Spirit to the churches!” (“Concerning the Bible (3)”).

We understand from God’s words that not all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and that the Bible contains both the words of man as well as the words of God—it explains this clearly within the Bible itself. If we wish to distinguish which words are man’s words and which are God’s words within Scripture, we have only to see whom the words are being spoken by in order to understand. The words spoken by God are certainly God’s words, and the words spoken by man are certainly man’s words, except for the words of God that are relayed by man, of course. And the words of Satan are certainly outright lies. By mastering this principle, we will be able to clearly distinguish which of the words within Scripture are God’s words.

Are There Really No Errors Within Scripture?

There may perhaps be some brothers and sisters who believe that there is no error to be found in all the content of the Bible that was written by over 40 different authors. They believe that this shows that the Bible’s true author is God and that all the words in Scripture come from the Holy Spirit and are but the words of God. But is this really the case? https://reurl.cc/DpDdQ

With regard to this issue, let’s first read two passages of God’s words: “The Gospel of Matthew of the New Testament documents Jesus’ genealogy. At the start, it says that Jesus was a descendant of Abraham, the son of David, and the son of Joseph; next it says that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of a virgin—which would mean He was not the son of Joseph or the descendant of Abraham, that He was not the son of David. The genealogy, though, insists on associating Jesus with Joseph. Next, the genealogy begins to record the process by which Jesus was born. It says Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, that He was born of a virgin, and not the son of Joseph. Yet in the genealogy it is clearly written that Jesus was the son of Joseph, and because the genealogy is written for Jesus, it records forty-two generations. When it goes to the generation of Joseph, it hurriedly says that Joseph was the husband of Mary, words which are in order to prove that Jesus was the descendant of Abraham. Is this not a contradiction? The genealogy clearly documents Joseph’s ancestry, it is obviously the genealogy of Joseph, but Matthew insists that it is the genealogy of Jesus. Does this not deny the fact of Jesus’ conception by the Holy Spirit? Thus, is the genealogy by Matthew not a human idea? It is ridiculous! In this way, you know that this book did not come entirely from the Holy Spirit” (“Concerning the Bible (3)”). “If the Four Gospels all came from the Holy Spirit, then why was it that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John each said something different about the work of Jesus? If you don’t believe this, then look at the accounts in the Bible of how Peter denied the Lord three times: They are all different, and they each have their own characteristics. … Carefully read the Four Gospels; read what they recorded about the things that Jesus did, and the words He spoke. Each account was quite simply different, and each had its own perspective. If what was written by the authors of these books all came from the Holy Spirit, then it should all be the same and consistent. Why then are there discrepancies? Is man not extremely foolish, to be unable to see this?” (“Concerning Appellations and Identity”).

God’s words speak very clearly: The words in the Bible do not come entirely from the Holy Spirit and are not all given by inspiration of God. Because the more than 40 different authors of the Bible were of widely varying education and possessed very different calibers, there are also differences in the events they recorded, and therefore the Bible necessarily contains some errors and adulterations brought about by the ideas of man. As God’s words reveal, for example, Matthew knew perfectly well that the Lord Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, but he still insisted on making a genealogy for the Lord Jesus, saying that He was the descendant of David and the son of Joseph. By doing this, is Matthew not directly denying the fact that the Lord Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit? Are Matthew’s words not self-contradictory? In John 8:58, it clearly states, “Truly, truly, I say to you, Before Abraham was, I am.” We can see from the Lord Jesus’ words that He was God Himself and that He bore no relation to Joseph. And yet Matthew insisted on forming a connection between them, and so it is clear that it was not the Holy Spirit who directed him to make this genealogy, but rather it was his own idea. Furthermore, although the matters recorded by verses in many places in Scripture record the same event, their meanings differ. Take Peter denying the Lord Jesus three times, for example. In Matthew’s record of this event, it is recorded as, “Before the cock crow, you shall deny Me thrice” (Matthew 26:75), whereas in Mark’s record, it is recorded as, “Before the cock crow twice, you shall deny Me thrice” (Mark 14:72). There is also Jehoiachin’s ascendance to the throne. In one verse he is recorded as having ascended to the throne when he was 18 years old and that he ruled as king for three months (see 2 Kings 24:8). In another verse, however, it records him as having ascended to the throne when he was eight years old and that he ruled for three months and 10 days (see 2 Chronicles 36:9). From these examples, we can see that there are some words within Scripture that come from the records of man and are not given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. If Scripture was all inspired by the Holy Spirit, then it should all be entirely accurate, without any error whatsoever. In Luke 1:1–2, it clearly states: “For as much as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them to us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word.” It can therefore be seen that some of the words in Scripture arose from the author’s own experiences, and that some were based on what was preached to the author, and were written after the author had investigated it himself; they were not given to the authors as direct inspiration from God, they did not entirely come from God and are not all God’s words. If we say that words which carry the adulterations of man’s own ideas are the words of God, then our understanding is skewed, and this is an even greater blasphemy to God.

Seeing as not all Scripture is inspired by God, nor are all the words in Scripture God’s words, who were its real authors? And how should we approach Scripture? https://reurl.cc/DpDdQ

(Source: Shutterstock)

Who Exactly Were the Real Authors of Scripture? How Can We Take the Correct Approach to the Bible?

God says, “In fact, it is merely a human record. It was not personally named by Jehovah, nor did Jehovah personally guide its creation. In other words, the author of this book is not God, but men. The Holy Bible is only the respectful title given to it by man. This title was not decided by Jehovah and Jesus after they had a discussion amongst each other; it is nothing more than a human idea. For this book was not written by Jehovah, much less by Jesus. Instead, it is the accounts of many ancient prophets, apostles, and seers, which were compiled by later generations into a book of ancient writings that, to people, seems especially holy, a book that they believe contains many unfathomable and profound mysteries that are waiting to be unlocked by future generations” (“Concerning the Bible (4)”). God’s words tell us clearly that the authors of Scripture were human beings, not God, and it is precisely because Scripture is a human record that there inevitably exist some errors and adulterations brought about by man’s own ideas.

Brothers and sisters, I trust that, through the above fellowship, we have come to have some true understanding and discernment of the statement made by Paul that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God,” and I trust that we now truly comprehend the inside story and essence of the Bible. What we must understand, however, is that our aim in fellowshiping these things is not to deny the Bible, much less deny the value of using the Bible, but rather it is to enable people to take the correct approach to the Bible, for the Bible is a record of God’s works and it is a great help to us in understanding God’s past work, and in understanding God’s will and requirements toward the people of those days. Just as God’s words say: “What I am teaching you is simply the substance and inside story of the Bible. I’m not asking that you don’t read the Bible, or that you go around proclaiming that it is totally devoid of value, but that you have the correct knowledge and view of the Bible. Don’t be too one-sided! Although the Bible is a history book that was written by men, it also documents many of the principles by which the ancient saints and prophets served God, as well as the recent apostles’ experiences in serving God—all of which were really seen and known by these people, and can serve as reference for the people of this age in pursuing the true way” (“Concerning the Bible (4)”). Brothers and sisters, now that we understand what kind of book the Bible is exactly, we should take the correct approach to it. We must not believe in it blindly, we must not foolishly think of it as being all given by inspiration of God and treat all the words within it as though they were the words of God, but neither must we deny the reference value of the Bible. When we encounter all the many different kinds of situations in our lives, or in respect to the important matter of welcoming the coming of the Lord, we should always contemplate and seek more within the words of God in the Bible, and we should practice in accordance with God’s words and in accordance with His will and requirements. Only in this way will we be able to obtain the enlightenment and illumination of the Holy Spirit, and only then will our actions accord with the will of God. https://reurl.cc/DpDdQ

Thanks be to the enlightenment and guidance of God, and may God be with us all. Amen!

Editor’s Note: Through the above fellowship, we now understand that the Bible is not all given by inspiration of God and that not all the words found within the Bible are the words of God. I would therefore like to recommend to you some wonderful movie clips about Scripture that can help you to take the correct approach to the Bible: “Disclose the Mystery About the Bible” (1) – Is There God’s Work and Word Outside the Bible? “Disclose the Mystery About the Bible” (4) – Inside Story of the Bible