The Infallible Word of God
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
Titus 1:1-2 (CSB)
Like inerrancy, people use the term infallible when defining the nature and character of the Word of God. The term infallible indicates that the Word of God cannot affirm, declare, or speak in falsehood. Likewise, the infallible nature flows from the character and nature of the Lord. The Lord cannot lie because he is the very definition of truth. This truth is found in the Titus 1:1-2 passage and Hebrews 6:17-18.
Since infallibility means that God will never err and flows from the truth that God cannot lie, we hold that infallibility means that God’s Word will never fail. It is absolute truth yesterday, today, and tomorrow because God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
The infallible nature of the Word of God provides hope and certainty for our lives. It reveals the truth about the human condition, the truth about the only way to salvation, and the truth about the promises of the Lord. Therefore, we must hold firmly to the truth of God’s Word.
Notice how inerrancy, infallibility, and God’s revelation in Scripture all work together. Recently, we looked at God’s Word as His special revelation to us, which exists to lead us to salvation. We find this revelation true and needed because we recognize that it only affirms what is true and never fails in its promises. Likewise, we understand that because God’s Word is His revelation, which has been divinely inspired, we can hold firmly to the truth that it is inerrant and infallible.
The infallible nature of God’s Word serves as support for the hope we have in the Lord. We find encouragement in the promises found in the Word of the Lord. Thus, we recognize that the promises found in the Bible will come to pass and are true because the Word of God will never fail.
QUESTIONS
Why must we understand and hold that the Word of God is infallible?
How does the truth of infallibility of God’s Word encourage our hope in the Lord?
