Day 36: Inerrancy and Truthfulness, Truth Has a Name

Scripture
“The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.” Psalm 12:6 ESV

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17 ESV

Confessional Summary
Here’s the hinge. Who is speaking?

The Westminster Confession of Faith goes straight to the source. God is truth itself, so His Word is not up for revision. Scripture’s authority “depends not upon the testimony of any man, or church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof” (WCF 1.4). Receive it because it is the Word of God.

The Belgic Confession connects God’s character to the church’s posture. Believers receive the canonical books and believe without any doubt all things contained in them, because the Holy Spirit witnesses in our hearts that they are from God (Belgic Confession, Article 5). The Spirit does not create truth. He testifies to it. The point is not blind faith. It is the right response to God speaking.

The French Confession of Faith states it plainly. The Word contained in these books has proceeded from God and receives its authority from Him alone, and not from men (French Confession, Article 5). Scripture is not true because it is ancient or impressive. It is true because it comes from God.

The Heidelberg Catechism shows what true faith looks like when it meets a God who speaks. True faith is a sure knowledge by which I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in His Word (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 21). Faith does not sit in judgment of the Word. Faith yields to it.

The Reformed confessions teach that Scripture is trustworthy because God is trustworthy. God does not misspeak. What God says is true, is true.

Reflection
Psalm 12 does not say God’s words are mostly clean with a few rough spots. It says they are flawless, like refined silver. The image matters because it exposes what we often want. We want a Bible that is true when it comforts us, but is debatable when it confronts us. We want an escape hatch. Psalm 12 shuts the door.

Jesus does the same thing in John 17, but with a pastoral aim. He prays for sanctification, real growth and real holiness. He does not ground that change in inner impressions or spiritual intensity. He grounds it in truth. Then He tells you where that truth is found. “Your word is truth.”

Jesus goes further than “Scripture is true.” He says it is truth. That means Scripture is the standard by which everything else is measured. When Scripture names sin, it is not overstating the case. When it warns, it is not being dramatic. When it promises mercy in Christ, it is not giving wishful thinking. The Word tells the truth about God, the world, and you.

This is why inerrancy matters in ordinary life. A wavering Bible produces a wavering conscience. You start editing commands, trimming warnings, and softening hard texts until obedience becomes optional. But a true Word creates a stable life. It corrects you when you are wrong. It steadies you when you are afraid. It sanctifies you because it is true.

A Bible that is merely helpful can be consulted. A Bible that is true must be obeyed.

Application
Pay attention today to your first impulse when Scripture confronts you. Do you explain it away? Delay it? Negotiate?

Read John 17:17 again. Then write one sentence that begins, “Because your word is truth, I will…” and then depend upon the Holy Spirit to follow through with it.

Prayer
Father of truth, You do not lie, and You do not misspeak. Forgive me for editing what You have said. Give me a conscience shaped by Your Word, courage to obey when it costs me, and humility to receive correction without excuse. Sanctify me by Your truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.