How is it that the word of God is established

How is it that the word of God is established? First of all one must understand that the scriptures and the word of God are two separate things. They aren't two different things, but they are two separate things. The word of God is "what the Spirit saith" unto God's people who are listening (Rev. 2:7). The scriptures on the other hand are a written record ABOUT the word of God, and they are HOW the word of God is established. Read the new testament scriptures and you will find that almost all of the new testament writings are either direct quotes from, or references to the old testament scriptures. The actual word of God comes from the mouth of God and must "come to" a person; and the scriptures are the only way to confirm and establish that the word of God HAS come to anyone (Prov. 8:8; Zech. 7:1). The entire new testament scriptures are a usage of the old testament scriptures to confirm the word of the Lord that came to the apostles, particularly Paul who wrote most of the books of the new testament. That is the measurement of whether or not someone is indeed teaching what has come from God, or whether they are only teaching traditions of men or opinions of their own mind. Make no mistake, it's not a few scriptures thrown in to make a nice showing that does the job. It has to be a consistency of scriptural evidence that fits together to show that something is indeed the truth of God. Everyone uses scriptures to an extent, very much including the devil; but someone who is skilled in God's truth can use the scriptures to manifest the error when that is being done (Lk. 4:9-12). That is why Jesus and the apostles preached by the constant use of quoting scriptures, because that is what the Spirit of God uses to confirm the word that has been given to someone. Someone will say that signs and wonders confirm the word of God, and that in fact is the purpose of miracles and spiritual gifts (Mk. 16:20). But someone can have the faith to operate in spiritual gifts and still be teaching or preaching something erroneous. It happens all the time, especially in this modern time of such vast error and confusion in the body of Christ. That doesn't mean that there is anything bad about someone in that case, but it does mean that what they are preaching can be reproved by someone who understands the Spirit of truth better than they do.

Miracles and the operation of spiritual gifts are needed to empower the establishment of the word of God, but it does need to be the word of God that we're establishing; and not modern Christian tradition. I've even seen cases where there were prolific signs and wonders in ministries, and those in error said that those signs confirmed their particular 'message.' That is where the error of that nature becomes dangerous, not only for those who are teaching erroneously, but also for those who are hearing them. In any event, if a truth has been revealed to us by God, then we ARE going to be able to explain it and establish it by consistent evidence of the scriptures confirming it. It will also make a great deal of good sense and total rationale. God's word is not against sound, honest reason, but rather it is in agreement with it. That sound reason and rationale however has to come from the mind of Christ, possessed by those who are in Christ, and have learned how to be consistently led and taught by the Spirit (I Cor. 2:16; Rom. 8:1,13,14; Gal. 5:16; I Jn. 2:27). The scriptures is what Paul said was the confirmation of showing that Jesus is the Christ: "But now [Christ] is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith" (Rom. 16:26). Peter said the same, and a bunch of folks were filled with the holy Ghost upon his preaching of these words: "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43... 46). Yes my friend, the holy scriptures are still the measuring stick of whether or not someone is indeed preaching by God's Spirit of truth. That is why the apostle Paul said to Timothy; "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (II Tim. 3:15). "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you" (Tit. 2:7,8). When God's love, and power, and godly sincerity accompany that preaching, sometimes you will even win the opposition to believe what is true and real (II Tim. 2:24-26). Amen.