The Bible not merely was inspired, but it is inspired. The Holy Spirit not only inspired the men as they wrote, but He is still connected with the Scripture. It was originally Spirit-breathed, but the Spirit is still breathing through it.
When the soul, thirsting after God, reads the words, “Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters . . . buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:11Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1)) - when the burdened heart reads the words, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)) - the words are breathed again by the Spirit. It seems as if the ink was not yet dry and as if the warm breath of eternal love was even now consoling the troubled soul.
The Spirit makes the Bible a living Word. The Spirit breathes here as in no other book. He makes the writing spirit and life, and man lives by it, because it is the Word proceeding out of the mouth of God.
He who has experienced this can have no doubt about the origin of Scripture, for in his measure he receives it from God Himself, as David, Isaiah, Paul and John received it.
It is to him the divine Word. He knows not merely that it is written, but that it is the living Word and voice of the Lord. In obeying it, he knows he acts in obedience to his heavenly Father and rests on the promises and assurances which he reads in the Bible. He knows he is trusting in the Lord, his God and his Redeemer.