The Scriptures are God’s "Perfect Word"
The name Perfect Word Ministries is a tribute to the fundamental and overarching belief that Scripture* is Adonai’s flawless, perfect Word encoded in the stuff of written, human language. The Scriptures—in their original autographs, and in every substantial respect of subsequent copies—are absolutely true, totally reliable, completely objective, and solely authoritative for all faith and practice for the follower of Yeshua. This belief, stated as non-negotiable fact, is nevertheless a matter of faith, requiring spiritual revelation, personal experience, and the internal testimony of Scripture to establish it. If, however, we can accept that the Scriptures are the very Word of God transcribed into something we can grasp, then we can fully accept everything it says with complete confidence and conviction.
We can trust it, for example, when it says that life itself comes from the Word of God (Matthew 4:1-4), and that it is a light and a lamp (Psalm 119:105) to the feet of those who follow in its way. We can believe that the Word is the Torah of Adonai (Isaiah 2:3)—the instructions and teachings for Israel—and the sayings of the Prophets who spoke by inspiration, moved by the Spirit of God (Acts 28:25). The Word is the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), separating spirit and soul, joint and marrow, discerning the thoughts of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). The Word is Truth (Psalm 119:160, John 17:17) and it is alive (Hebrews 4:12)—it is straight and upright (Psalm 33:4), never crooked in its ways. The Word is the very seed (Luke 8:11) of the Good News of the Messiah Yeshua; and more than that, it is the Messiah Himself—the Son, the Only Begotten One (John 1:1ff). This unbreakable Word—dictated by the mouth of God, inscribed by human hands—is preserved for us in the Scriptures (John 10:35) of our faith.
Additionally, the Master Yeshua Himself establishes the Scriptures as the written revelation of Truth by pointing to their combined testimony of Him. Following His resurrection, Yeshua said to His disciples, “‘…it [was] necessary for all the things that are written about Me in the Torah of Mosheh, and the Prophets, and the Psalms to be fulfilled.’ Then He opened up their understanding to understand the Scriptures…” (Luke 24:44-45) Had the Master strayed from “all the things that are written” about Him in the Scriptures, or failed to fulfill them, His messianic calling and claim would have been nullified. Only by the authority of the written Word of God could Yeshua accomplish His work as Messiah.
The Spirit has been sent to us to “teach [us] all things” (John 14:26). Nevertheless, everything must be measured and verified (especially because of the subjective nature of spiritual insights and experiences) by the objective standard of Scripture (which is, itself, spiritual, Romans 7:14). As disciples of Messiah, everything we believe in and rely upon rests solely on whether or not the Scriptures are true. It should follow, then, that if we determine the Scriptures are indeed true, then we are obliged to honor and obey them—not merely with the intentions of our hearts or the words of our lips, but with the very way we live.
Our only hope for achieving unity as a Body, and the agreement necessary for fundamental, covenantal fellowship, and for our own effectiveness as disciples of Messiah, begins with the place of the Word of God in our lives. If the Word does not establish our priorities for us, if the Word is a mere consultant with no authority, if the Word is not considered absolute truth—and the sole source of it, at that—we will experience powerlessness, dissatisfaction, confusion and disunity as we try to make our way through life on our own. For the Messiah to be truly effectual in our lives, we must not merely make room for the Word—we must fully receive and accept its authority and power to change us… by hearing and doing what it says.
“Every Scripture is God-breathed, and profitable for teaching, for rebuke, for setting aright, for instruction that is in righteousness, that the man of God may be [fully] equipped—having been completed for every good work.” 2Timothy 3:16-17
What do you think? Weigh in with your comments below.
*Scripture, consisting of the Hebrew Scriptures—the so-called “Old Testament”—and the Scriptures written in Greek—the so-called “New Testament,” cf. De.18:18, 1Co.2:10, 2Pe.3:16.
This article was adapted in part from my book, “Being a Disciple of Messiah”.
I loved this article! I’ve been contemplating this very thing often lately. It IS our life. Good work. G-d bless. R.Neely
We CAN live by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of El Elyon! By it our heads are lifted up, our hearts take hope and courage, our minds are transformed, all defilement of soul washed away, all infirmity of body healed. All alert, warning, insight, discipling, wise Word is for our good, and so that we may know HIM Who is True (Emet); and so that we may be truly HIS. Blessed is HE Who speaks!
thank you for these thought. good for meditation
I judge every word spoken to meby the scriptures,if they are not the same, I throw it out.God’s word is a sure thing.
It’ wonderful to be able to read God’s word in peace and not to be persecuted for it in places where there is freedom. People have died for to bring us God’s wordto us. I strongly believe it is life for us. God speaks to us through His word and I accept it. Sometimes it is like shew bread that the priests had in the old testament bitter to taste but sweet for the stomach. As we read His word first, God then also uses others ways to communicate to us. His word is life for me. Thank you Kevin for your comments.
Psa 119:103 How sweet to my tongue is your promise, truly sweeter than honey in my mouth!
Your words are so true and hit me in my heart. Thank-you
I often think of what you have said whenever I get slack in reading my Bible.
I’m so glad that God uses you in my life to confirm so many things!! I was just mulling over 2 Timothy 3 this week and I think verses 14 and 15 are just as important in this context…”But as for you, continue to hold to the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you learned [them], and how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus.” We all too often neglect that His plan from the very beginning was to secure our faith in Messiah! If we don’t have an understanding of the Scriptures, the gospel becomes very muddy! Thanks Kevin!!
This is so true. The Word must be our source, the only thing we can rely on. Thank you for your insight.
Adonai’s Word is all we need to see us through this life. Praise Him for loving us so much and sharing the truth of His Torah.
Shalom B’Shem Yeshua
I am new here, and I gotta say, ummm, good stuff brother, good stuff!
I also have been thinking on this very topic.
Make us Yours Lord! Wholely and completely Yours! Help us to let go and then do away with everything that comes between us! Open the eyes of understanding for ALL who are truly seeking You! All who are willing to change EVERYTHING for YOU!!! May we be a peculiar, set apart and HOLY people for the world to see Your Glory in!! May “we” completely disolve and may You be the SOLID for all to see! By Your Spirit, and in the Holy, Glorious, and Powerful name of Yeshua
Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God
I cannot do anything without Jesus (Yeshua). This is my first post because I am new to Perfect Word eNews. The words you shared Kevin keeps my faith in correct perspective.
Thank you Kevin, I’m new to “Perfect Word”
And found that most of the scriptures you taught here have been highlighted in my Bible from my experiences with the Apostolic Pentecostal Church, bringing back to my remembrance. This is so cool. I praise YHWH for leading me to your website.
Shalom Kevin, I am living in WY, and there is no Messianic Synagogue here. I struggle with having like minded people to worship with. I am so thankful for your ministry Kevin, so very thankful. I believe in divine intervention, and Yeshua knows when we need one another, and then, He brought you to me and right when I was hurting for communication on a level I need. Adonai bless you Kevin, and keep me in your prayers please. I am an international prayer intercessor and need your prayers. I too will be lifting you in prayer. In Messiah, Pamela
i too am in a similar situation as you. although i live in a suburb of boston and there is a messianic synagogue there, it is hard for me to get to. there is absolutely no one else for me to share with that truely knows who Messiah really is. only christians who do not understand that the n.t. isn’t a change of the torah at all and could be called the renewed n.t. they believe jesus did away with the law, and don’t understand it is the TORAH. i have been truly blessed by Yeshua as He has led me to all i want in His word and led me to study torah and to His flock, my people-His people. thank you also kevin and may Adonai bless and prosper your site. it is terribly needed by the children of our Lord that aren’t able to be fed His word and truth and learn in what seems too be an isolated position as far as actually physically being with our brothers and sisters in the Lord.the family of Yeshua .
For many years was completely committed to the Jewish life. I raised my children Jewish. Then one day two Messianic Jewish women came by my house. I sent them away, but they kept coming back. I decided that the only way to get rid of them was to invite them in and to tell them to show me in my Scriptures, what they were wanting me to know. I didn’t trust their Bible. They showed me the Truth and later I accepted Yeshua into my life. It was hard for me and my children. For a long time I have felt like I had two of me, clashing against the other. It helped to go back to the Scriptures and see the Truth revealed……..I’m thankful to those like yourself who understand and are there for those like me. You give us courage to face the ones we love with the news of Yeshua.