The Whole Truth

The entirety of your word is truth,

each of your righteous judgments endures forever.

Psalm 119:160 CSB

Have you ever pulled out a Bible verse to use because it fits what you want it to say? Then later, as you studied that passage more in depth, you realized it didn’t fit at all?

Or, perhaps, you know someone who took a passage and taught it in a way that clearly contradicted another part of scripture? Maybe they wanted to make a personal point, or justify a questionable action. Maybe they just misinterpreted the passage.

This happens, for instance, if we only speak about grace but never talk about justice. God does love us just as we are, but He also calls us to obey His commands. This is part of sanctification that lasts throughout our lifetime as we reflect Christ more.

The writer of Psalm 119 understood that it takes ALL the Bible together to truly show us God’s truth. At one time I didn’t realized how every one of the 66 books in the Bible are connected. I read them as different subjects in 66 different books. And I much preferred the New to the Old Testament since it seemed so much more relevant to life.

The first time I read through scripture chronologically and saw the gospel throughout, I discovered that these 66 books are actually one story. God’s story. The more I read, the more connections I see and the deeper my faith is in God’s amazing work from creation till today. Now I love the Old Testament as much as the New!

Not only is ALL the Bible true, it endures forever. Isaiah 40:8 says: “The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.” Peter affirms this in 1 Peter 1:25 CSB, “…but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.”

Thank you, Lord, for giving us your eternal Word. May we walk in the whole of your truth.

Chris Adams