Scriptures and the Power of God

“Jesus replied, ‘Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?'” (Mark 12:24).

The word of God is indispensable for the follower of Christ.

Jesus tells us there are two reasons why people are in error:

• First, you do not know the Scriptures
• Second, because you do not know the power of God

When you do not know the Scriptures, you do not know God. There is no other way to know who God is apart from the word of God. Knowing God is not about who I think God is, it is about who the Scriptures declare who God is. Knowing God is not about how I feel about God. Knowing God has nothing to do with how I feel about him. It has everything to do with who God reveals who is through his word.

The word of God is indispensable to the follower of Christ because God’s word reveals who he is, what his character is like. The more we know about how God has interacted with his people through the word, the more we are able to recognize God at work in our lives today. God will not act in a way that is contrary to the way God is described in his word.

Knowing God’s word is knowing God.

Second, the reason why we are in error is because we do not know the power of God. If we only knew how much God loves us we would fully trust God. Unlike all other religions that tell us how we ought to live, the God of scripture teaches us about a God who showed up in the flesh to submit to the very laws of God we are subject to so that God himself can show us how to live.

The power of God is expressed in sending his Son to live for us, die for us, and rise for us. The more we understand the power of God’s love for sinners the more we trust God.

The key to living a life of purpose and to live life the way it was meant to be lived is to measure our life to the rule of Christ.

“Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?”

This is another fantastic verse to memorize.

“Ignorance of the Bible is the root of all error. Knowledge of the Bible is the best antidote against all heresies” (J. C. Ryle).