All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (2Timothy 3:16)
The Inerrancy Summit, which Peter & I attended recently, was a conference that affirmed and defended the absolute truth and sufficiency of the whole of Scripture. This may sound rather mundane and ho - hum but it was brought to our attention how subtle attacks on this generally accepted fundamental, were coming thick and fast from within the church itself. Hence the need for shepherds of the flock (as it was for Timothy) “to guard the deposit [God’s Word] entrusted to you.” (1Tim. 6:20).
Pete & I discussed this whole issue from numerous angles. One of the many challenging conclusion we came to was this. Like NCC, many churches would have written in their doctrinal statement words like - “We believe the Scriptures, namely the Old Testament and New Testament, to be the inspired Word of God, without error….." or words to that effect.
The question before us is, “do we really believe and hold to this statement of faith as the bible as being God’s breathed out word, to the very last letter?” The reason for this question is, that sadly its possible to claim ownership of this truth and yet deny its absolute sovereign ownership & authority over us? This is the practical challenge of the inerrancy of Scripture. Because we believe in the bible’s infallibility (no error), in that every word comes from God who is truth, surely it demands of us to live and submit ourselves to all that it teaches?
In other words we are not only to be hearers of the Word who delude themselves, but doers of the Word (James 1:22).