Posted on 07/09/2003 6:53:32 PM PDT by NewLand
"The Bible"
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."
Psalm 119:105
The Bible is a series of 66 books written by approximately 40 authors, over a time period of about 1,500 years. In the Old Testament we find an account of the Lord working in and through a nation. In the New Testament, we see the Lord working in and through a Man: Jesus Christ, God in the flesh.
Abraham Lincoln said: "I believe that the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book."
George Washington said: "It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible."
Thomas Carlyle said: "The Bible is the truest utterance that ever came by alphabetic letters from the soul of man, through which, as through a window divinely opened, all men can look into the stillness of eternity and discern in glimpses their far-distant long-forgotten home."
Martin Luther said: "I study my Bible as I gather apples. First, I shake the whole tree that the ripest might fall. Then I shake each limb, and when I have shaken each limb, shake each branch and every twig. Then I look under every leaf"
Inspiration: God gave the message to the writers and prophets who received and recorded it. "to breathe upon or into something"
"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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
"No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:20-21).
Canonization: How the books were collected, recorded, accepted, authenticated, and handed down. How different books were found to be "inspired." Written by a prophet or apostle, confirmed by God & His people, reveal truths about God.
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, have seen with our eyes, looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life..." (1 John 1:1-2)
Transmission: How later generations handed the texts down. Copied, translated, recopied, retranslated assuring an accurate rendition.
Translation: Copying from one language to another. Literal translations, versions, paraphrases...
FIVE REASONS WE CAN TRUST THE BIBLE
1. Jesus taught that the Scriptures were the Word of God.
"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me... if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me... but if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"
(John 5:39 & 45-47)
2. The Bible supports its own claim of being the Word of God.
"Thus saith the Lord" over 2,000 times.
3. Undeniable and accurate prophesy.
"Thy Word is truth"
(John 17:17).
4. The Bible's miraculous preservation.
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away"
(Matthew 24:35).
5. Its ability to change lives.
"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God"
(Romans 10:17).
For further study:
Evidence That Demands A Verdict, by Josh McDowell
General Introduction To The Bible, by Geisler & Nix
Halley's Bible Handbook, by Henry Halley
Standing On The Rock, by James Montgomery Boice
The New Testament Documents, by F.F. Bruce
"Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts, I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God"
(Isaiah 44:6).
"The union of the three divine persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in one Godhead" (Webster's Dictionary).
The Bible teaches that there is only one God.
"Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!"
(Deuteronomy 6:4) .
Isaiah 44:6: "Thus says the Lord . . . I am the First and the Last; besides Me there is no God."
"For there is one God..."
(1 Timothy 2:5).
(See also: 2 Samuel 7:22; Psalm 86:10; Isaiah 45:18; Mark 12:29; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6)
The Bible teaches that there is a plurality of persons within God's nature.
Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth..."
Hebrew for God is Elohim, a plural noun yet singular in meaning.
"Then God said, "Let us make man in Our image..." (Genesis 1:26).
In Dueteronomy 6:4, the Hebrew word for "One" is echad, which means "to unify, to collect together." This literally means "a United One."
The Bible ascribes certain divine characteristics to God alone.
Ability to forgive sins eternally
Erasing, forgiving, forgetting transgressions.
Exodus 34:6-7; Isaiah 43:25; Psalm 51:4; Mark 2:5 7; Genesis 21:33; Deuteronomy 32:39 40; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 44:6
Omnipresent and Immutable
Present in all places at all times unchanging, unwavering
Jeremiah 23:23 24; Psalm 139:7 10; Malachi 3:6
Omniscient and Omnipotent
Infinite awareness, all-knowing, all-seeing unlimited authority
Psalm 139:1 4; 145:5; Hebrews 4:13; Jeremiah 32:17; Psalm 115:3; Luke 1:37
"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace"
(Isaiah 9:6).
"I am the Lord, that is My name: And My glory I will not give to another..."
(Isaiah 42:8).
The Bible ascribes these divine characteristics to three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are ALL referred to as "God" in the Bible. They are co-equal and work in unison:
Matthew 28:19; John 14:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2
The Bible teaches that Jesus is God.
Jesus is able to forgive sin:
Mark 2:5
Jesus is eternal:
Micah 5:2, John 1:1 2, 14; 8:58; Revelation 1:8, 11, 17 18
Jesus is immutable: Hebrews 13:8
Jesus is omnipresent: Matthew 18:20; 28:20
Jesus is omniscient: John 2:24 25; 16:30; Revelation 2:18,23
Jesus is omnipotent: Matthew 28:18; 1 Peter 3:22; Revelation 1:8
Jesus is the Coming Lord: Zechariah 14:3-5; Acts 1:9 11
Jesus receives worship: Matthew 2:11; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; Luke 24:52; John 9:38; 20:28; Hebrews 1:5 8
Jesus declared Himself to be God: John 8:58; 10:30 33; 14:9
The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is God
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son:
Matthew 28:19; John 14:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2
The Holy Spirit is eternal:
Hebrews 9:14
The Holy Spirit is omnipresent:
Psalm 139:7 10
The Holy Spirit is the ultimate source behind the books of the Bible:
2 Peter 1:20 21; 2 Timothy 3:16
The Holy Spirit is plainly declared to be God:
Acts 5:3 4
Since the Bible declares that there is only one God and since the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all called God, the inescapable conclusion is that these three persons are the one God. This is the doctrine of the Trinity.
"Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins"
(John 8:24).
"For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist"
(Colossians 1:16 17).
The Westminister Confession
"There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are all one God, the same in substance, equal in power and authority."
The Apostles' Creed
"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit."
The concept of faith is too complex for scientists to understand.
Beautiful.
Nothing can compare to the pure inspiration and majesty of God's Holy Word.
Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy.
It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.
It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.
Christ is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God it's end.
It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.
Read it slowly frequently and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgement, and be remembered forever.
It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.
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