About the Author

Thomas Ray Floyd was born in 1953 in Simpson County, Mississippi, the son of Roy Thomas Floyd and Lina Sue Shows Floyd. Thomas Ray's mother was a member of a Primitive Baptist church, and he cut his teeth on the doctrines of distinguishing grace.

When he was a small boy, his father was converted to Christ and became a member of a Missionary Baptist Church. Thomas Ray joined the church of his father when he was 13 years old, and thought of himself as a Christian. The doctrines of grace that he had heard as a child continued to be precious to him and when he became an adult, he joined a Primitive Baptist Church. When he was 27, Thomas Ray made his first effort to preach the gospel in public and was ordained to the full functions of the ministry in 1985. In 1986 he was convinced under the preaching of Rolfe Barnard (by tapes from Mt. Olive Tape Library), the written sermons of Spurgeon, and the ministry of Elder Zack Guess that he had been a false professor and cried out in agony of soul to the Lord Jesus Christ to have mercy and truly save him. And He did! Floyd then began to preach the gospel as he had been taught of the Lord.

Floyd has pastored churches in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee and until recently was pastor of a church plant known as "Particular Baptist Fellowship." He and his wife Brenda presently attend Zion Baptist Church at Polkville, Mississippi, pastored by Elder Glen Hopkins. The pulpit ministry of Zion Baptist Church can be heard at Sermonaudio.com.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

The Inspiration of Scripture

(Article for publication week of 9-25-2009 AD)

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (II Timothy 3:16-17).

When we see and understand that the Bible is the Word of God, then we will believe it and yield ourselves to it. The Holy Scriptures are the only writings in the world that are written by God. Inspiration means that God Himself is the Author of the Bible.

The inspiration of scripture is far different from the writing of a hymn, poem or sermon. Sometimes people speak of a poet or hymn writer as having “inspiration”. Poets and hymn writers may indeed have their thoughts influenced by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, but the inspiration of scripture is far different from that.

The word “inspiration” means, “God breathed”. This is a very interesting, enlightening and powerful word. The same word that is translated “breath” and “wind” in the New Testament is the same word that is translated “spirit”, and especially for the Holy Spirit. So you see the scriptures are “breathed out “ by God Himself. The Holy Spirit, Who is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, Who is coequal with the Father and the Son, “breathed” upon men to write the Word of God.

II Peter 1:21 tells us “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” The various writers of the Books of the Bible such as Moses, David, the prophets and the apostles wrote what God would have them to write. The Holy Ghost influenced their minds in a miraculous way so every word they wrote was exactly what God would have them write. Every word in the Bible is therefore the word of God.

The Psalmist David, one of the inspired writers of scripture said “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His word was in my tongue.” ( II Samuel 23:2). When David took pen in hand to write the Psalms, the Holy Spirit, Who is God, told David what to write. David did not write what he thought, but what God inspired. And thus it is with all the sixty-six books of the Bible, The Holy Spirit is the True author.

When we read the Bible we must be aware that what we are reading is not a human production. We are reading the words of God. When people are convinced that the Bible is inspired of God, they approach the scriptures in a different way than those who doubt their inspiration. When we read the Bible with faith in God and His word, we will be instructed, corrected, reproved and rebuked so that we may indeed be perfect. As you read your Bible this week, think to yourself, ”this is God’s word I am reading; I am holding in my hand the production of the Holy Spirit.”

Thank God for His inspired Word.

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