We live in a time that tends to shrug its shoulders when confronted with the truth. Blah, Blah, Blah, that's dogmatic, it's just a conspiracy therapy, that sounds racist to me, you must be a fundamentalist, etc... The 21st-century postmodern says, “Nothing is true,” or perhaps, “There is truth, but we cannot know it.” “I have my truth, and you have your truth.” “There is no absolute truth; everything is relevant.” We’ve grown accustomed to being lied to, accused of being intolerant, and harassed to the point of abuse.
They either say, “There is no God,” or “We are all gods with a divine nature.” Many people seem comfortable with the false notion that the Bible can be interpreted by their own truth, whims, culture, and moral preferences.
Christians are confident in God the Holy Spirit, not our own good intentions, education, or intellect. The same Holy Spirit that lives in every born-again believer wrote the Bible, then we can rest assured that He can and will help us interpret the Scriptures.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and remind you of all that I said to you” (John 14:26).
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take from Mine and will disclose it to you” (John 16:13-14).
Now that we see that truth, especially Biblical truth is under attack by the ungodly and those who suppress the truth.
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them: (Romans 1:18-19).
Let's look at a specific example. Every principal doctrine of Christianity has faced attacks, and this trend will persist until the return of Jesus in power and glory to end it. The veracity within the initial six verses of Isaiah 53 is central to the gospel, hence its status as a target for continuous scrutiny.
"Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows
He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging, we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him" (Isaiah 53:1-6).
The onslaught of doubt occurs in three distinct phases or waves:
The First Wave is to Deny the Severity of Sin
“He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities (sins)” (Isaiah 53:5a).
The biblical doctrine of sin says there is something wrong with us. We have sinned. But that does not sit well in our world of affirmation. Some people say, “Doesn’t the Bible say God made everything good? Sure, none of us is perfect, but aren’t we are all essentially good?” This is exactly the opposite of what the Bibles teaches.
The Second Wave is to Deny the Reality of Judgment
“The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5b).
This points to the disturbing reality that there is a hell, as well as a heaven, and people who reject Jesus will go there. It is tempting to ignore what the Bible says about punishment and replace God’s judgment with God’s acceptance. You may have heard someone say, “The Bible says God is love. Surely, we all need some sorting out, but won’t God welcome us all into heaven in the end?”
The Third Wave is to Deny the Concept of Substitution
You may hear someone say, “The idea of Jesus as our substitute, bearing our sins, and paying our penalty is just a theory. And since it relates to sin and punishment, which we no longer believe, it is a theory we can discard.” But Isaiah says,
All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him" (Isaiah 53:1-6).
Isaiah spoke under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and he states it as a fact, not a theory.
Which of these assaults on the gospel are you most tempted to believe?
The Bible
The Christian faith is rooted in a sacred text—the Bible. It offers a set of fundamental truths found within Scripture that serve as our guideposts for proper interpretation, including the approach we take to understanding biblical prophecy. These should always be our starting points when we aim to accurately interpret God's Word.
Christianity is a faith founded on a book. For Christians throughout history, there has been one paramount and all-encompassing source of knowledge about God and humanity: the collection of writings known as "the Bible." Moreover, the Bible asserts itself as the final authority on all matters. When it addresses a subject, it does so with the ultimate authority of the Living God.
We rely solely on the Bible for our understanding of biblical teachings. We interpret the Scriptures plainly, without seeking hidden messages or dual meanings. It is crucial to ensure that we comprehend the passages in context as intended by the Lord. When faced with challenging texts, we ought to consider various interpretations to ascertain the most convincing perspective.
It's important to remember that the One who wrote the Bible through men, God the Holy Spirit, will help men to rightly interpret it.
" But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you" (John 14:26).
What We Need to Know About Interpreting the Bible Properly
We discover four foundational truths from Scripture that should be your starting points as you desire to rightly interpret the Bible.
Truth 1 - The Bible Contains Everything That We Need to Know About God
First, the Bible claims that God has revealed everything we need to know about Him and His plan for time and eternity.
"But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people" (Jude 3 NLT).
The faith has been “once and for all delivered” to God’s people. The Lord has told us everything that needs to be said. Nothing is missing. Everything is there. This should be our foundational point.
Truth 2 - The Bible Alone Has the Answers to Life’s Most Important Questions
Next, and along the same line, we stay with the Bible and it alone when interpreting God’s Word. In other words, we are not to go “beyond that which is written.”
"Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written (nothing beyond what is written) so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other. (1 Corinthians 4:6).
In essence, when interpreting Scripture, one should not regard human reasoning, traditions, or the teachings of a "Bible expert" as definitive. The answers to life's most profound questions can be found within the Bible itself, negating the need to seek elsewhere. Therefore, our focus should be on the Bible. This approach may require dedicated study to understand the full scope of Scripture on a topic, but it ensures that our conclusions are not reliant on external sources.
Truth 3 - We Are to Read and Study the Bible in Its Literal, Or Normal, Sense
Third, we are to read the Bible at face value. In other words, we do not have to read between the lines to find hidden messages that the Lord has inserted.
"Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand (2 Corinthians" 1:13 NLT).
"For we write you nothing other than what you read and understand [there is no double meaning in what we say]. And I hope you will [accurately] understand [divine things] until the end (2 Corinthians 1:13 Amplified Bible).
God has spoken plainly to us. As we often say, if the literal sense, makes good sense, then seek no other sense, lest you come up with nonsense.
Truth 4 - We Must Always Consider the Context When Interpreting the Bible
Context is paramount. Fourthly, when interpreting the Bible, one should transition from the general to the specific, not vice versa. This approach entails considering verses or passages within their broader context rather than isolating a specific verse to construct a doctrine from a series of verses that may not convey the intended message.
This happens when individuals try to establish a Bible doctrine based on a single challenging verse or passage, using it as the foundation for a specific teaching. However, this approach is not how we should interpret the Scriptures. We should consider the broader context of the passage and determine how the verse integrates with the book's overall message and the grand narrative of both the Old and New Testaments. Thus, we should not take a solitary verse in isolation to construct our belief system.
Additionally, it is crucial to consider all the evidence when interpreting challenging Bible passages. We should endeavor to examine all the evidence thoroughly before adopting a specific viewpoint, particularly when there are differing opinions among Bible scholars.
Truth 5 - The Bible is God Breathed
Jesus Christ is the great and consistent theme of the Bible. Its unity is because it has one Author—God Himself. The Bible is “God-breathed.” Therefore, it is critical that you interpret the Bible literally.
"All Scripture is inspired by God (God-breathed) and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).
The human authors wrote exactly what God wanted them to write, and the result was the perfect and Holy Word of God
"For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21).
10 Reasons Why You Can Trust the Bible!
Many claims are made by Scripture, prompting the question of their veracity and truth. Christians may wonder how they can be certain they are not misled in their beliefs, while non-Christians might question the trustworthiness of the Bible. The evidence presented here aims to justify why the claims of the Bible should be accepted. Ten distinct aspects will be examined that distinguish the Bible from any other literary work ever created.
Upon considering this evidence, it becomes evident that the Bible is a reliable text. Indeed, the facts will show that it is precisely what it purports to be—a divine revelation from the living God to humanity. Bearing this in mind, let us examine the "Ten Reasons to Trust the Bible."
Reason One: The Intelligent Faith the Bible Presents
1. Biblical Faith Is Intelligent Faith
Initially, it is important to recognize that the Bible consistently encourages individuals to place their faith in God. Regrettably, some equate faith with blind optimism or baseless hope. However, the type of faith the Bible advocates for is considered "intelligent" or "reasonable." It is not a matter of blindness or irrationality. Faith, as presented in the Bible, involves trusting in a being (God) deemed worthy of that trust. Embracing faith in the God of the Scriptures does not require abandoning one's intellect.
Certainly, the Christian faith rests on the firm foundation of God's actions in history. He has made Himself known to humanity, and this revelation is documented in the Scriptures. The Bible informs us of God's expectations and calls us to respond in faith. This response does not require us to cease thinking or to "assassinate our brains." Indeed, Jesus taught that approaching God engages not only the heart and soul but also the mind. When questioned about the most important commandment, His answer was as follows:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37).
Notice that Jesus said we are to love the Lord with all of our, “mind.” The Bible expects its readers to use their minds to evaluate the truth, to weigh the evidence of its message.
2. In Scripture, Intelligence Is Equated with Knowing God
In a dialogue with a teacher of Jewish law, Jesus associated intellegence or wisdom with the knowledge of God. The Bible records: "And seeing that he had answered wisely, Jesus said to him, '"
"You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions" (Mark 12:34).
A discerning response from a teacher of the law prompted Jesus to remark that the man was not far from the kingdom of God. This suggests that the Bible advocates for thoughtful consideration and the use of intellect when evaluating evidence.
3. Scripture Says That We Are to Test Everything
The Apostle Paul encouraged people to “test things” to see if they were true. Indeed, people were not merely to blindly believe. He wrote the following to the Thessalonians:
"But test them all; hold on to what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
These people were told to test “everything;” every claim that was made about God. Blind faith was not an option. The Apostle John wrote something similar.
"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).
Again, we find the emphasis on “testing things.” Christians are not told to believe everything that they read or hear. How do we do this? We are to test things by using our mind. It is clear that God does not want us to exercise “blind faith” when it comes to determining what is true and what is false
4. The Lord Issues a Challenge to Test Him
In the Old Testament, the Lord presents a challenge to those who believe in gods other than Himself, as stated in the Bible.
“Present your case,” says the LORD. “Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King. “Tell us, you idols, what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come, tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear” (Isaiah 41:21-23).
Observe that the living God of the Bible invites adherents of other deities to provide evidence of their existence. He talks about "presenting their case" and "producing arguments and evidence." Essentially, God is challenging them to present the facts that substantiate their assertions.
Obviously, they cannot do so since these so-called gods do not really exist. On the other hand, there is the confidence that the God of Scripture has provided sufficient evidence to meet the needs of those honestly desiring the truth. In contrast to these non-existent gods, the God of the Bible has given us overwhelming evidence to believe in Him.
5. People Were Encouraged to Examine the Evidence About Jesus
We also find that the New Testament writers challenged people to investigate the claims of the Christian faith. They could encourage this type of examination because they knew the events they recorded were true. In other words, the writers of Scripture were confident that they were not spreading myths or legends. In fact, Simon Peter showed that the New Testament writers were well aware of the difference between mythology and fact. He wrote:
"For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain" (2 Peter 1:16-18).
In this passage, we find that Peter emphasizes two important things. First, he knows what he is preaching and writing about Jesus is true. Why? It is because he was there! Peter was an eyewitness to these events. So, he knew what he was writing was accurate. Second, Peter tells us that he realizes that there is a difference between “clever stories” or “myths” and what he is writing about, the truth. This follower of Jesus makes it clear that his account of the life and ministry of Christ is based upon fact, not mythology. Again, he could make that claim because he saw the events in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ with his own eyes. Peter was there!
6. Jesus Gave Many Infallible Proofs to Prove His Identity
In the Book of Acts, there is another reference of Jesus providing sufficient evidence that He was the One whom He claimed to be. Luke wrote about His resurrection appearances:
"After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3).
Notice that Luke stresses the fact that the appearances of the resurrected Jesus were “convincing proofs” that Christ was indeed alive after His death on the cross. In fact, for forty days Jesus showed His disciples that He had truly risen from the dead. They received all the proof that was necessary to establish His resurrection. To sum up, the New Testament writers were either eyewitnesses to the events they wrote about, or they recorded eyewitness testimony. They knew what they wrote was true and welcomed an honest investigation of the facts. Blind faith was never encouraged. This is crucial to understand.
Thus, God does not expect people to act in faith toward Him unless that faith is an intelligent or reasonable faith. It must be built upon the solid foundation of what He has done in history, and what He has recorded in His Word.
7. The Evidence for the Christian Faith Is Sufficient for Those Honestly Examining the Evidence
In sum, we will discover that the evidence is more than sufficient for those who wish to know the truth. In fact, there have been many cases of people who have actually attempted to disprove the message of the Bible and have ended up becoming believers because of the impressive evidence.
The following men were skeptic and told their stories about how they tried to disprove the Bible only to be convinced of its truth: Frank Morrison, C.S. Lewis, Lee Stroble, Gilbert West, Lord Lyttleton, and William F. Albright. "Therefore, we have the testimony of these men who became convinced that the Christian faith was true after doing a detailed examination of the facts. Though they started as unbelievers the sheer weight of the evidence made them change their minds."
Confidently, we may conclude that twenty-first-century men and women can take the Bible, intelligently examine it, and find it completely satisfying. It truly is a wonder that this ancient book does meet the intellectual needs of modern humanity. What is the reason for this? It is because the Scripture is what it claims to be—the very Word of the living God.
Reason Two: The Bible’s Unique Design
The Bible has a “unique” design. Indeed, it is one of a kind - like no other book that has ever been written. There is nothing like it, and it has no equal. This can be seen in several ways.
1. It Was Fifteen Hundred Years in the Making
From the composition of the first biblical book until the last, a period of about fifteen hundred years elapsed. The Old Testament was written between 1400 and 400 B.C. The books of the New Testament were written from approximately A.D. 40 to A.D. 90. Thus, we have about fifteen hundred years from the writing of the first book to the composition of the last book.
2. The Bible Was Written by Many Authors from Various Occupations
Thousands of years ago, God chose certain men to receive His divine Words, and then record them for humanity. In total, over forty different human authors wrote the books of the Bible. These writers came from a variety of backgrounds and occupations. These people included shepherds, Hosea and Amos, fishermen Peter and John, a former tax collector, Matthew, a doctor, Luke, and a military general, Joshua. At least four of the writers lived in the royal household: the kings, David and Solomon, a prime minister, Daniel, and a cupbearer, Nehemiah. Only a few of them, such as Paul, Luke, Daniel and Moses, received the finest education of their time. In sum, each of these authors had unique experiences and each one of them was different in their character or makeup.
3. Scripture Was Written in Different Literary Forms with Different Writing Styles
The Bible consists of several different literary forms. Scripture is a collection of letters, sermons, laws, poetic descriptions, narratives of historical events, prayers, praise, practical sayings, and the warnings of the prophets. The sixty-six books also contain a wide array of writing styles that express the entire range of human emotions. Therefore, what we find in the Bible is a wide range of literary forms as well as different literary abilities on the part of the authors.
4. The Biblical Books Were Written Upon Three Continents
The books of the Bible were composed on three different continents - Africa, Asia, and Europe. For example, the writings of Ezekiel were composed in Babylon (Asia); Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible in the Sinai desert (Africa); and the Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the believers in Philippi while in Rome (Europe).
5. Scripture Was Composed in Different Physical Circumstances
There were a variety of circumstances in which the Biblical books were composed. Moses, for example, wrote while leading the children of Israel through the wilderness. Jeremiah penned his book while in a dungeon in Israel. Ezekiel composed his work while a captive in Babylon. The Apostle Paul wrote several of his letters while in a Roman prison. John the Evangelist wrote the Book of Revelation while banished to the island of Patmos. Obviously, there was not one particular place or circumstance in which all of the biblical books were composed. Though many other religions had a certain place where the “divine” word was revealed, this is not the case with the Bible. The God of the Bible was able to reveal Himself in many different places and over an extended period of time.
6. Three Different Ancient Languages Employed in the Writing of Scripture
The Bible was written in three different ancient languages. The Old Testament was written mostly in Hebrew with some parts composed in Aramaic—a language similar to Hebrew. The New Testament was originally written in Greek.
7. There Are Many Different Subjects Covered in the Bible
The Bible also covers a variety of diverse subjects. Some of these subjects were historical, what has happened in history, while some of the subjects were prophetical, what will happen in the future. These subjects include such things as the existence and nature of God, the creation of the universe, how human beings originated, the meaning of human existence, the purpose of our existence, and the final destiny of humankind, and the planet Earth.
8. They Wrote About the Unknown Future
Many of the biblical writers wrote about events that were to happen in the future. These events were unknown to humans but known to God. While not every biblical author addressed events in the future, many of them did. Therefore, the Bible is a book that contains many different predictions of future events from a variety of different writers.
9. The Biblical Writers Received Their Message in Different Ways
There is also the fact that the writers of Scripture received their messages in different ways. God directly told some writers what to say. Others were given their message in visions and dreams. Still others were given divine inspiration when they wrote. Finally, there were others whom God directed to record historical events as well as God’s interpretation of the events. The point is this: the writers of Scripture received God’s Word in several different ways. The writer of the Hebrews noted this when he wrote:
"In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe (Hebrews 1:1,2).
God spoke at different times, in different ways, and to different people.
10. Most Authors Did Not Know One Another
Because the Bible was written over fifteen hundred years, most of the writers did not personally know the other writers of Scripture. Neither were they familiar with their writings. For example, the Old Testament authors would have been unfamiliar with the New Testament writers and writings. Indeed, it was not composed until 400 years after the Old Testament was completed. Therefore, since most of the writers were separated from one another by both time and space and were not personally acquainted with each other, there is no chance that they could have conspired together.
Conclusion: We Would Expect Chaos To Result From These Diverse Circumstances
Hence, the Bible was written over a period of fifteen hundred years, by forty different human authors from various backgrounds who wrote in different languages, upon different continents, in different circumstances, upon different subjects, including the unknown future, and in different literary forms. These authors, for the most part, did not know each other. With all of these contrasts, one would expect something chaotic and disjointed when their writings were assembled into one book.
There Is One Unfolding Story
In Scripture Yet the Bible is a unity; one unfolding account from beginning to end in complete harmony and continuity. The Old Testament is incomplete without the New Testament, and yet the New Testament does not make sense without the Old Testament. Together the two testaments give a harmonious account of the dealings of God with humanity without any contradiction. Jesus made this clear when He said the following:
"...the Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35).
There is one system of teaching and one plan of salvation.
Reason Three: The Bible’s Survival
The fact that the complete written text of Scripture has survived throughout history is a powerful testimony to the preserving power of God. The Bible has survived through time, criticism, as well as through unrelenting persecution.
The Bible Has Survived Through Time
The first book of the Bible was written some three thousand five hundred years ago, while the last one was completed nearly two thousand years ago. The originals (autographs) of each biblical book were written on perishable surfaces and have long since disappeared. We are now dependent upon copies, and copies of copies to reconstruct the text. The texts are reconstructed through the science of textual criticism. When textual criticism is applied to the books of the Bible, we are assured that the text we have today is an accurate representation of the original. The text of the Bible not only has survived throughout the centuries, it has survived virtually unchanged
The Old Testament Reads the Same as When Originally Written
Concerning the Old Testament, it reads the same as when originally written. From the time of their composition, the Jews considered the books of the Old Testament holy. These written works were not ordinary literature or history; they were God’s Divine Word communicated to His people. Because these books were held in such high regard, the people took great care to preserve the texts precisely as they were originally written.
1. The Priests Preserved the Law of God
The Bible says the priests in Israel were responsible for the preservation of the Law. They were to store the sacred writings beside the Ark of the Covenant; the container, or chest, which held the Ten Commandments. The Old Testament records the command for the placement of the Law:
"Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God. There it will remain as a witness against you (Deuteronomy 31:26).
The Ark was placed in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle while the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness. When the temple eventually was built in Jerusalem, the Ark was placed in the Holy of Holies in the temple. The Scriptures were always with the people. The kings of Israel were required to have the Law as a guide in their administration. In fact, they were to make a copy of the Law of Moses for themselves.
We read the following in the Book of Deuteronomy:
"When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees (Deuteronomy 17:18,19).
Since these writings were considered holy, they were to be preserved and copied with the greatest of care. The historical evidence reveals that this preservation was consistent and precise.
A remarkable feature of the Bible is the fact of its survival. Although the various books were written from two thousand to three thousand five hundred years ago on perishable material, the books have survived. Not only have they survived, they have survived intact.
First, the text of the Old Testament has been transmitted with amazing accuracy. Indeed, today we can read the Old Testament with complete confidence that it is the same account of what was originally written. The message of the God of the Bible has not been changed or altered. God’s Word in the Hebrew Scriptures, or the Old Testament, has been accurately transmitted to us here in the twenty-first century.
The same can be said for the New Testament. What was originally written by the writers of the New Testament is exactly what we find today. The words of Jesus Christ, as well as His message of forgiveness of sin, have been transmitted to us intact. Therefore, humanity is held responsible for acting upon the claims of Jesus which are found in the New Testament.
The fact that the text of Scripture has survived in such a manner is a true wonder. Most ancient writings were never copied! Yet, the Scriptures have been copied and recopied over and over again. Why? It is because the individuals copying them believed they were copying more than mere history or the story of an ancient people. Indeed, they believed they were copying the very Word of God! The Bible has survived time, persecution, and criticism.
We must appreciate how important this is. First, the fact that the Bible has survived at all is a true wonder. When we realize that the books were written upon perishable material, thousands of years ago, we should not expect them to survive to this day. But they have. In addition, the Bible has been persecuted like no other book in history. It is recorded that one of the kings of Judah destroyed the entire text of the writings of the prophet Jeremiah. Yet the Lord told Jeremiah to write it again, and he did. The message was not destroyed! This type of persecution has been repeated over and over again in history. However, the Scriptures still exist. It has been impossible to get rid of them.
Finally, the Bible has been criticized like no other book ever written. Every line, every word, every syllable has been subject to the most intense criticism and evaluation. Why has this one book been hated by so many people? Why do we find these attempts to prove the Bible is not what it claims to be? According to the testimony of Scripture itself, it is because its words reveal the truth of God to sinful humanity. Truths that many people do not want to hear. While the Bible has been the most attacked and criticized book in history it stands today as strong as ever. Indeed, it is still changing the lives of millions of people who daily read it. The fact that it has survived such criticism is a true wonder. These factors make the Bible unique among all other books that have ever been written. It is indeed a one-of-a-kind book in the fact of its survival.
Reason 4: The Bible’s Historical Precision
The entire Bible centers around what God has done in history. We find many references to people, places, and events within the pages of Scripture. Thus, the question of whether the Bible is historically precise in describing these references is crucial. Were the people mentioned in Scripture real people? Did the places that are named actually exist? Did these events take place as the Bible says they did? What does the evidence say?
We will discover that the Bible is different from all other ancient literature in its historical precision. Indeed, the science of archaeology and the testimony of secular historical records confirm the precision of the references in the various biblical books. This minute attention to detail observed by the biblical writers is unparalleled in any other ancient literature. We can make the following observations.
The Old Testament
From the very beginning of the Old Testament, we find that God has intervened in the lives of His people. Furthermore, the Old Testament gives testimony to the importance of God acting in history. Indeed, the Lord often reminded His people that He had intervened in the past. In the Book of Exodus, we find that God claimed to be the One who rescued the people from slavery. The Bible says:
"And God spoke all these words: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” (Exodus 20:1,2).
The nation was continually urged to remember these mighty deeds of God. In addition, the events recorded were always treated as actual historical events.
"But the LORD, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices" (2 Kings 17:36).
Once more, the focus is placed on these historical events and the associated miracles. Such truths are frequently highlighted in the Old Testament.
"My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD" (Micah 6:5).
Note that the people were told to “remember.” Indeed, since God acted in history, His people were to remember these divine actions. In each and every case, these events were assumed to have literally happened.
The Old Testament Matches Up with Known History
The claim that God has acted in history is backed up by the evidence. The archaeologist, John Elder, who spent over thirty years working in the Middle East, offers a fitting summary of the issue of the Old Testament’s historical reliability. He wrote:
"It is not too much to say that it was the rise of the science of archeology that broke the deadlock between historians and the orthodox Christian. Little by little, one city after another, one civilization after another, one culture after another, whose memories were enshrined only in the Bible, were restored to their proper places in ancient history by the studies of archaeologists . . . The over-all result is indisputable. Forgotten cities have been found, the handiwork of vanished peoples has reappeared, contemporary records of Biblical events have been unearthed and the uniqueness of biblical revelation has been emphasized by contrast and comparison to the newly understood religions of ancient peoples. Nowhere has archeological discovery refuted the Bible as history (John Elder, Prophets, Idols, and Diggers, Bobbs-Merrill, Co. 1960, p. 18).
On so many occasions, the Old Testament has shown to be accurate when it speaks of historical events.
Reason Five: Jesus Trusted the Old Testament
By far the most important testimony to the trustworthiness of the Old Testament comes from Jesus Christ. When we examine the way Jesus viewed Scripture, we can see that He trusted it. He said the Word of God was true:
"Sanctify them (disciples) by the truth; your word is truth" (John 17:17).
Jesus also said the Old Testament Scriptures were a unity.
"Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35).
It is clear from Jesus’ statements that He believed the Bible to be historically accurate and without error.
Jesus Confirmed Some of the Most Controversial Stories Found in the Old Testament
In addition, Jesus confirmed some of the most ridiculed stories in the Old Testament. It is almost as though He went out of His way to put His stamp of approval on them. We can cite the following examples.
Example 1 Adam and Eve
Jesus believed in the Genesis account of creation - which includes the direct creation of Adam and Eve.
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? (Matthew 19:4-5).
He used Adam and Eve as an example of God’s purpose in marriage.
Example 2 Cain and Abel
The account of Cain killing Abel is rejected today in many circles, but Jesus believed it occurred. We read of this in Luke’s gospel:
"From the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible (Luke 11:51).
According to Jesus, this early story, recorded in the Book of Genesis, is historically accurate.
Example 3 The Flood
In Noah’s Day Was there really a Flood, in the days of Noah, which God sent to destroy the earth? Jesus assumed there was. He said:
"As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:37-39).
Jesus compared the circumstances surrounding Noah’s Flood as similar to those at His Second Coming.
Example 4 Jonah and the Great Sea Creature
Jesus also believed the story of Jonah and the great sea creature as having literally occurred. In fact, He used it as a sign of His resurrection: He answered,
“A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here” (Matthew 12:39-41).
Contrary to the view of many modern skeptics, Jonah actually existed. Jesus testified to this fact.
Example 5 Book of Daniel
Though the authorship of Daniel is often rejected today, Jesus believed that he was a true prophet. He said:
"So, when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand" (Matthew 24:15).
All of these disputed and ridiculed accounts of the Old Testament were confirmed by Jesus as actually occurring. Furthermore, He used certain of them to illustrate some of the most important events in His own ministry - including His resurrection and Second Coming. Since He demonstrated Himself to be God’s Son, His testimony settles the matter - these stories did occur.
Example 6 Jesus Spoke of Prophecy Being Fulfilled
Jesus also said that certain predictions, recorded in the Old Testament, were fulfilled in His life and ministry. We read the following in the Gospel of Luke:
"He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21).
Jesus spoke of John the Baptist as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
This is the one about whom it is written: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you” (Matthew 11:10).
Jesus also said that what was written about Him must be fulfilled. Mark records Jesus saying:
"Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him” (Mark 9:12,13).
In another example, when predicting judgment on the city of Jerusalem, Jesus said the following:
"For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written" (Luke 21:22).
Jesus considered the predictions of the Old Testament as being authoritative—He assumed they needed to be fulfilled. The Christian Church ultimately believes the Old Testament is historically reliable because of the testimony of Jesus Christ. Jesus claimed to be God in human flesh. These claims were later validated by His resurrection from the dead. By coming back from the dead, as He predicted He would, Jesus demonstrated that He spoke with final authority on all matters. Since Jesus taught that the Old Testament was the Word of God, totally accurate in all that it said, His testimony settles the issue. Indeed, there can be no stronger confirmation than the testimony of Jesus. Therefore, based on the evidence available to us, we can conclude that there is every reason to believe the Old Testament is historically accurate.
Jesus Showed What Was the Source of All Error: Ignorance of the Scripture & God’s Power
The main reason for the seeming conflict between the Bible and science was pointed out long ago by Jesus. He told the religious leaders they were ignorant of two basic things. He said:
Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).
A correct understanding of what the Scriptures truly say, and the power of the God of the Bible, would go a long way to solve the apparent conflicts between science and the Bible. When the relationship between the Bible and science is properly understood, there is no conflict. To sum up, for such an ancient book to earn scientific respectability is a true wonder.
Reason Six: The Bible’s Ability to Predict the Future
One major feature that separates the Bible from any other book that has ever been written is its ability to correctly predict the future. Indeed, Scripture contains a wealth of prophecies that were made years before they were accurately fulfilled.
Predictive Prophecy Shows That God Does Exist and Is in Control of All Things
Predictive prophecy demonstrates three central truths. First, it shows us that the God of the Bible exists. In fact, God Himself uses the evidence from predictive prophecy to demonstrate His existence. Second, God also knows what will take place in the future. He has “all knowledge.” Scripture says that everything that has happened in the past, is happening in the present, and will happen in the future is known to Him. In other words, nothing will ever take Him by surprise. Third, God not only knows what will happen, but He is also in control of all events. This includes events that have yet to take place. Thus, He controls the events; they do not control Him.
The Claim of the God of the Bible
Scripture records God Himself citing predicting prophecy as evidence of His existence and control over all things. We read Him saying the following:
"Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please’ (Isaiah 46:9,10).
In this passage, the Lord stresses the point that there is no being like Him. Why is this so? For one thing, He alone is able to predict future events. No other being is capable to do this. Nobody! Isaiah also records the Lord saying:
"I announced events beforehand, I issued the decrees and made the predictions; suddenly I acted and they came to pass . . . I announced them to you beforehand; before they happened, I predicted them so you could never say, ‘My image did these things, my idol, my cast image, decreed them.’ You have heard; now look at all the evidence! Will you not admit that what I say is true? (Isaiah 48:3, 5-6 New English Translation)
Notice that the Lord says that numerous times He warned the people about what would take place in the future. Furthermore, He says that the reason He did this is so they would not falsely credit their idols. However, despite accurately predicting future events the people still refused to believe! Then note well His challenge. They have heard His predictions now they were to examine the evidence. In doing so, the people would have to admit that what the Lord had said was indeed true.
To sum up, these two passages claim a number of things. First, the God of the Bible is the only God who exists. Furthermore, this God, who has all knowledge, has told us what is going to take place in the future. In addition, He alone is ultimately in control of all future events. These truths set Him apart from all other so-called gods.
God Knows Everything Past, Present, And Future
As noted, the Bible records many events that were accurately predicted in advance by God. These fulfilled prophecies are evidence of God’s knowledge of all things, for only God, who is outside of our time-space existence and of our limited knowledge, could accurately and consistently reveal the future. The New Testament also explains the importance of predictive prophecy:
"We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:18-21).
Ultimately, the ability to predict the future is limited to God alone. It does not derive from the human heart. Indeed, only God can do this sort of thing.
Reason Seven: The Historical Reliability of the New Testament
The claim of the New Testament is that God the Son became a human being in the Person of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, Jesus lived, died, and rose from the dead at a certain time in history. Therefore, it is essential that the New Testament be historically accurate if these claims are to be believed. When the New Testament addresses historical issues, we will find that it is accurate and reliable. Three important points need to be made.
1. The New Testament Books Are Primary Source Testimony
The Writers Were There. As we investigate the New Testament text, we observe that the writers of the various books claimed to be either eyewitnesses to the events they recorded, or they gathered eyewitness testimony. For example, John testified to things the believers saw, heard, and touched. He wrote:
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us" (1 John 1:1,2).
John knew what he was writing was true because he was there to witness the events. Luke, the writer of the third gospel, penned these words about his gospel:
"Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught"(Luke 1:1-4).
This statement of Luke tells us, at least, the following things.
1. Luke was not an eyewitness to the events he recorded.
2. But he, like those before him, made careful use of eyewitness accounts.
3. Luke had access to other narratives, written documents like his own.
4. Luke felt the need for a further account.
5. His account is orderly.
6. His ultimate aim is truth.
The fact that the New Testament writers claimed such objective, complete, and firsthand evidence concerning Jesus Christ is of the utmost importance. The evidence they provide is not hearsay or imaginary. Instead, it is direct and reliable, the testimony of witnesses.
2. They Saw the Resurrected Jesus
Time and time again we find the writers of the New Testament appealing to eyewitness testimony. On the Day of Pentecost, about fifty days after Jesus’ death, Peter told the crowd that had gathered that he and the other disciples had seen the risen Christ. He said:
"God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact" (Acts 2:32).
The disciples of Jesus were eyewitness of the resurrected Christ. This was their consistent claim. Peter would later write about his own eyewitness testimony. He put it this way:
"For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain" (2 Peter 1:16-18).
Notice the emphasis that Jesus’ disciples were “eyewitnesses” to the events which took place.
3. The New Testament Records Eyewitnesses Details
We also find the gospels filled with details that an eyewitness would remember. For example, we read in the Gospel of John:
The fact that the writer John mentioned vividly how the fragrance filled the house is an indication that he was there when this event took place. He remembered the scent. The New Testament is filled with many references such as these. The point is that those who reported these accounts which took place in the life of Jesus were there when the events happened. They were eyewitnesses!
4. The New Testament Was Written at an Early Date
The New Testament writers claim to be eyewitnesses to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. In addition, the facts lead us to believe that their writings were composed soon after the events took place. The exact year that Jesus died and rose again is in dispute. The most likely candidates are the years A.D. 30 and A.D. 33. There is strong evidence that the four gospels were composed before the year A.D. 70. Therefore, when all the evidence is considered, we find that the New Testament matches up with the known history of that time. The people were real people, the cities existed, the customs were exactly as stated, and the events actually occurred.
Reason Eight: The Bible’s Unique Teachings
One aspect of the Bible, that separates it from other religious books, is its unique teachings. The teachings of Scripture cannot be explained as a product of the religious environment of its authors, since many of its teachings were contrary to the religious beliefs at that time. When the teachings of Scripture are compared to other ancient religions, they are found to be one of a kind, having no like or equal.
The Bible Has Many Unique Teachings
The Bible contains a number of unique teachings. We will examine three of the many special teachings of Scripture that were contrary to the beliefs of all of the nation’s surrounding Israel: the belief in one God; the teaching that the one God is a loving Father and a realistic hope of life beyond the grave.
1. There Is Only One God Who Exists
Against a world that accepted the existence of many gods, the Bible consistently, from beginning to end, proclaims the existence of only one God. The nation Israel was surrounded by cultures that were polytheists (they believed in and worshiped more than one God). Yet, the Old Testament is filled with warnings against idolatry and with condemnation of idolaters. Isaiah the prophet emphasized that there is only one God. He wrote:
“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior” (Isaiah 43:10,11).
These claims are in contrast to all of the nations around them which worshiped and served many pagan gods. The New Testament continues in the proclamation that only one God exists. Paul emphasizes this in his letter to the Corinthians:
"So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one. “For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live" (1 Corinthians 8:4-6).
The unified message of Scripture is that there is only one God that exists, all others are only pretenders. This claim is in contrast to all the countries around Israel. Thus, their claim that only one God exists is unique.
2. Idol Worship Was Forbidden
There is something else that sets the God of the Bible apart from all others. Though idolatry was common in the ancient world, in contrast to the other nations, the Lord, the God of Israel, did not allow the making of images for the purpose of worship. We read in the Ten Commandments:
"You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me" (Exodus 20:4-5).
The God of Israel would not permit anyone to make a likeness of Him or anything else to worship. Israel in contrast to all its neighbors, worshiped only one God. In fact, they denied the existence of all other gods. Furthermore, the God of Israel would not allow idols to be made of Him, or any other thing, for the purpose of worship. This was a unique belief and practice in that part of the world.
3. The One God Is a Personal and Loving Father
Not only does the Bible emphasize that only one God exists, the attributes of the God of the Bible also are different from the concept of God, or gods, in other cultures with whom Israel had contact. The Bible reveals a living God who is a personal God;
"He is One who cares for human beings as a loving Father. We can make the following observations. He Is The Living God A person can be defined as someone who is rational, conscious of his own being. This is how the Bible portrays God. He is a person, not an impersonal force. The Bible speaks of Him as the living God. Jeremiah the prophet wrote: But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath" (Jeremiah 10:10).
The God of Scripture is alive! He is not like the idols that the other nations served. He Is A Loving God The Scriptures attribute characteristics to God that can be only those of a person. The Bible speaks of God having the capacity to love. Jeremiah recorded the following claim of the Lord: The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying:
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3).
The gods of the other nations did not have this attribute. Indeed, they were to be feared, not loved. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans about the love of God. He said:
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
God the Father has shown His love toward humanity by sending God the Son, Jesus Christ, to the world. This love that God has for the human race is in contrast to the gods of other nations. Nowhere do we find these gods having this same characteristic.
He Is a God of Mercy
The Scriptures teach that God has the ability to show mercy to humans. An example of this is found in the Book of Jonah. The Bible says:
"When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened" (Jonah 3:10).
When the people of Nineveh repented of their sin God had mercy on them and did not bring about the promised destruction. Though these people deserved the judgment of God their repentance led to God extending His mercy to them. This attribute was unique to the God of the Bible. The other so-called gods were not merciful.
The God of the Bible Is Different from Idols
The Bible also contrasts the personal living God to non-existent idols. These idols can neither hear nor can they speak. When the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, he brought out the distinction between the living God and non-living idols. He said:
"The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia--your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore, we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God" (1 Thessalonians 1:8,9).
Hence the Bible contrasts the living God who hears, sees, thinks, feels, and acts like a person with idols which are things, and not personal beings. The God of Scripture is obeyed and served because we love Him. This is in contrast to the gods of the pagan world who were to be obeyed and served out of fear rather than from loving respect. Jesus Christ reveals an idea of the fatherly attitude of the God of the Bible: He said:
"So, I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:9-13).
What a contrast between the God of Scripture and the gods of the other religions! The Bible tells believers to obey God out of their love for Him, Jesus said to His disciples:
"If you love me keep my commands" (John 14:15).
All of this demonstrates the personal nature of the God of the Bible. Again, this teaching is in complete contrast to the depiction of the gods of the ancient world. They were not personal, loving and forgiving gods. Only the God of Scripture has these characteristics. This is another unique feature which sets Him apart from all other so-called gods.
4. There Is Life Beyond the Grave
A final example of a unique teaching of the Bible is the evidence it provides for life beyond the grave. All of us have to face the fact that we eventually will die. What happens to a person after death? The writer of Ecclesiastes, like the rest of us, wondered about what happens to people when they die. He wrote: Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both:
"As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return" (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20).
Most religions deal with the question of life beyond the grave. To some, this life is all that there is while other religions teach that there is an afterlife. Is there life after death? We find that, a study of God’s Word, the Bible, reveals that death is not the end of existence; it is just the beginning of eternity. There is hope of eternal life for those who have died “in Christ.”
There Is a Realistic Hope for the Dead
From an observational point of view, we do not know what happens to a person after they die. We bury their body, and it returns to dust: Someone once observed that,
“A person can live forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air . . . but only about one second without hope.”
The thing that separates the Bible from other religious books is that it provides a realistic hope for those who have died.
Our Hope is Based Upon the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
The basis of this promise is the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter, speaking fifty days after Jesus’ death, declared the following to the crowd on the Day of Pentecost:
"Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because death couldn't keep its hold on him (Acts 2:22-24).
The unanimous testimony of the New Testament is that Jesus rose from the dead, and He appeared to many people after His death. These individuals provide eyewitness testimony to the fact of His resurrection.
The Dead in Christ Have Hope
The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica regarding the state of those who had died. He emphasized there is hope for the dead:
"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).
The Apostle Paul says it is proper for people to sorrow for those who have died. But we are not to sorrow as the unbelievers do; for we have a hope beyond the grave.
Believers Will Receive a New Body
The Bible promises a new body for those who have put their faith in Christ. Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
"For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands" (2 Corinthians 5:1).
This new body will be ours forever. In another place, Paul told the Corinthians they would receive an imperishable body:
"For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality" (1 Corinthians 15:53).
This is a wonderful promise that the Lord gives to His people.
People Can Prepare for Death
Because the Bible promises eternal life in God’s presence for those who trust Christ there are things people can do to prepare for death. The first step is obvious. Preparation for death and eternal life requires faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. The believer can then prepare for death by realizing that God has a purpose and a plan for his life. The psalmist trusted God to be with him through the experience of life as well as death. In the famous 23rd Psalm, we read David saying the following words:
"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).
The believer has no ultimate fear of death because the Lord is there for them.
Conclusion
The belief in one God, the idea of God as a personal, loving Father, and a genuine hope beyond the grave are three of many of the unique beliefs found in the Scripture. The Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, contains unique teachings, and they are wonderful in comparison to the best teachings offered in any other religious or non-religious writings. How can we explain these teachings? They certainly did not come from the common beliefs at that time. The best explanation is the one Scripture itself gives; the Bible is God’s written Word to the human race. Thus, these teachings about God set the Bible apart from all other books. The unique teachings of the Bible are indeed a true wonder, if not a literary miracle.
Reason 9: The Bible’s Life-Changing Message
The Bible’s Life-Changing Message
Unlike other religions and other religious books, the faith that the Bible calls for is backed up by facts; facts that can be put to the test. Indeed, the Bible is the only sacred book in the world that provides sufficient evidence to believe its claims. This is the verdict we come to after examining the evidence. No other religion has anything like what we find in the Bible.
We now arrive at the last of the ten reasons to trust the Bible. This particular reason personalizes the evidence we have looked at. If the Bible is indeed the Word of God, it should demonstrate an ability to transform the lives of people who trust its promises. We will discover that the message of Scripture does indeed change lives for the better. We can make several observations.
1. The Message of Scripture Answers Our Deepest Questions
The Bible claims that its message can fill the spiritual void that is within all of us. Jesus gave the following invitation to those who are in need of spiritual answers:
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
Jesus promised rest for weary souls. Once we put our trust in Him our spiritual journey, our search for truth, will be over. Indeed, we will find the rest we have been looking for. Therefore, Scripture invites us to believe and see for ourselves. The psalmist wrote:
"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him" (Psalm 34:8).
The Lord asks us to personally experience His love and forgiveness. This invitation is still being given to all those who desire to know “the truth.” We are to come to Him by faith and put His claims to the test.
2. We Can Become a New Creation in Christ
When a person believes in Jesus as their Savior, their outlook on life takes on a new perspective—they become a “new creation.” Paul wrote:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Our spiritual life begins the moment we trust Christ. The Bible also speaks about this as being “born again” or “born from above.” Jesus said:
"Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again" (John 3:3).
According to Jesus, this spiritual rebirth is absolutely necessary. We must be “born again.”
3. Belief In Christ Answers the Three Basic Questions About Life
Life takes on an entirely new meaning when a person becomes a Christian. Indeed, if the Christian faith is true, then it gives humanity the answers to the three basic questions about life, “Who am I? Why am I alive? What will happen to me when I die?”
We Now Have an Identity
We know who we are, Jesus Christ solves our identity problem. We no longer need to speculate about who we are. Indeed, we now understand that we have been created in the image of an all-powerful, personal God; we are not some evolutionary accidents. We read in the Book of Genesis about the creation of the first man and woman, Adam and Eve:
"So, God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:27).
God’s image means that we have certain things in common with Him. They include the ability to think, love and communicate. We have the chance to know the one true God because He has given us these abilities. We now know that human beings are special and that we are special to God. This gives us an explanation as to exactly who we are.
We Now Have a Purpose
We know why we are here along with identity comes a genuine purpose for living. Instead of living life without any real purpose, we can now know the reason we have been created. We have been created to love God and to be in His presence forever. Jesus Christ has provided the answer to what our purpose is here upon the earth. We not only know who we are, we know why we are here. Accordingly, as His disciples, we should tell others the good news about Jesus. In fact, Jesus commanded us to do this. He said the following:
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20).
Jesus Christ gives us a purpose for living. This is the message which we are to tell the world.
There Is a Destiny That Awaits Us
We know where we are going. Finally, Jesus provides us with an answer about our future, our destiny. We now understand that this life is not all there is. We are beings made for eternity, and belief in Jesus Christ allows us to spend eternity in the presence of God. Thus, the grave has no ultimate terror for us because we know there is a better existence beyond this life. Belief in Jesus gives us a destiny to which we can look forward. Jesus said:
"Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live" (John 14:19).
After this life is over those who have believed in Jesus will live again. In the letter of First John, John also wrote about life after death:
"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2).
We shall be given new bodies. They will be like the body of the resurrected Christ. Among other things, this means that our new bodies will never become sick, never wear out, will never grow old. There is genuine hope in Jesus Christ. As we can see, being a Christian makes a big difference. We now have an identity, a purpose, and a destiny.
4. There Are Consequences of Rejecting Jesus Christ
Many have the impression that Jesus only talked about the love of God and never talked about judgment. In no uncertain terms, however, His message included warnings of punishment for those who rejected His claims. Those who reject Christ will spend eternity separated from God. The toughest words of judgment that are recorded in the Bible actually come from the lips of Jesus. He had this to say to the hypocritical religious rulers:
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to" (Matthew 23:13).
Notice that Jesus said that these people were not going to go to heaven. Jesus also said these harsh words to the phony religious leaders:
"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" (Matthew 23:33).
Again we find that heaven is limited to the believers; not everyone will end up in God’s presence. Who Will Go To Hell? Jesus said that those who do not put their faith in Him will suffer the eternal consequences. We read the following: But he continued,
“You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins” (John 8:23,24).
Those who do not believe in Him will die in their sinful state. In other words, they will have no forgiveness from God and thus they will not be allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven. From these statements we see that Jesus talked about God’s punishment for those who do not accept Him as Savior. He said there is a place of judgment where unbelievers will be eternally separated from God. This is in contrast to those who do believe. They will be forever in God’s presence and enjoy God’s unending blessings. Therefore, every human being who has ever lived will spend eternity in one of two destinations: heaven or hell.
5. Has He Changed Your Life?
The good news is that the Lord has provided a way in which people can escape the judgment of hell. In addition, there is an exciting life that He offers believers right now. In fact, in the last two thousand years, millions of people have been transformed by the life-changing message of Scripture and encounter with the person of Jesus Christ the Savior. The wonderful life-changing message of the Bible is a fact. The question is, “Has it changed your life?”
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