The BIBLE is a unique book ever written because it came from the infinite to the finite
The Bible
is clearly the most influential book the world has ever known. Abraham Lincoln
called it "the best gift God has given to man." Patrick Henry said,
"It is worth all other books which were ever printed." Noted British
statesman William Gladstone wrote that "an immeasurable distance separates
it from all competitors" while the famous philosopher Immanuel Kant
declared, "The Bible is the greatest benefit which the human race has ever
experienced." A. M. Sullivan observed, "The cynic who ignores,
ridicules, or denies the Bible, spurning its spiritual rewards and aesthetic
excitement, contributes to his own moral anemia." “There is no other book so various as the Bible
or one so full of concentrated wisdom. Whether it be of law, business, morals,
etc…. He who seeks for guidance may look inside its covers and find
illumination.” (Herbert Hoover)W. E.
Gladstone said “I have known ninety-five of the world’s great men in my time
and of these eighty-seven were followers of the Bible.” A
great Philosopher and a genius commanding religious leader, Swami
Vivekananda said about the Lord Jesus Christ “Had I lived in Palestine, in the days of Jesus of
Nazareth, I would have washed his feet, not with my tears, but with my heart's
blood!”(CWSN 1: 189)
Let us look at few
Bible Quotes from world renowned leaders. What Bible
means to them……
President
George Washington, First President of the United States
When he was sworn into office as the first
elected President of the United States on April 30, 1789, he added these words
to his own oath he had just taken: "So help me, God." He then
reverently stooped down and kissed the Bible used in the oath. He recognized
the value and importance of the Bible in national life and said “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without
God and Bible.”
Napoleon, Emperor
of the French (1804-1814), 1769-1821
“The gospel is not a book; it is a living being, with an action,
a power, which invades everything that opposes its extension, behold! It is
upon this table: This book, surpassing all others. I never omit to read
it, and every day with some pleasure.”
Isaac Newton, English
mathematician and scientist, 1642-1727
“We account the scriptures of God to be the most sublime
philosophy. I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any
profane history whatsoever.” “I have a
fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by men who were
inspired. I study the Bible daily
Patrick Henry, American Revolutionary leader and orator, 1736-1799
“There is a book worth all other books which were ever
printed.”
President Ronald
Reagan, 40th President of the United States
“Of the many influences that have shaped the United
States into a distinctive nation and people, none may be said to be more
fundamental and enduring than the Bible.”
Immanuel Kant, German
idealist philosopher, 1724-1804
“I believe that the existence of the Bible is the
greatest benefit to the human race. Any attempt to belittle it, I believe,
is a crime against humanity.”
Abraham Lincoln, 16th
President of the United States, 1809-1865
“I am busily engaged in the study of the Bible. I
believe it is God’s word because it finds me where I am.”
“I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given
to man. All the good of the Savior of the world is communicated to us through
the Book.”
Woodrow Wilson, 28th
President of the United States, 1856-1924
“When you have read the Bible, you know it is the word of
God, because it is the key to your heart, your own happiness, and your own
duty.”
Theodore Roosevelt, 26th
President of the United States, 1858-1919
“A thorough understanding of the Bible is better than a
college education.”
Dr. Robert Milikan, former President of the California Inst. Of Tech. And
Nobel PeacePrize winner
“I consider an intimate knowledge of the Bible an
indispensable quality of a well educated man.”
Victor Hugo, French
writer, 1802-1885
“England has two books; the Bible and
Shakespeare. England made Shakespeare, but the Bible made England.”
Time Magazine
Reputable scholars now believe that the New Testament
account is reliable history.”
What Jesus Christ means to them……
Mr. K.R. Narayanan (former
President of India)
What is most prominent to me and most
important to this world is Jesus’ message of compassion and love. Jesus was
actually for the whole world, not just for Christianity, and for all races, and
for all people and His message went to the hearts of peoples everywhere. And
particularly, He was a revolutionary in His ideas in His time—and His ideas
still remain revolutionary.
Mr. Vijay Amritraj (World Class Tennis
Player)
“We’re talking about someone who had the
greatest impact and the greatest influence on humanity for 2000 years. And when
time is measured by his birth, you’re talking about someone who has had more of
an impact on our entire planet than anyone before or after Him.”
Mr. Larry King (Talk Show
Host)
“I think Jesus Christ was the greatest
single individual of both millenniums and He had more profound effect on
mankind than any individual ever born. If there’s one person in history I would
like to interview, it would be Jesus.”
Mr. Jimmy Carter (Former
President of the United States of America)
“Jesus Christ is the most important factor
in my personal life. Jesus has been and will always be a vivid champion of
peace and human rights in their most exalted stages.”
Mr. Michael Chang (World
Class Tennis Player)
“I thank one of the greatest joys in life
is that Jesus gives you hope and peace and love amidst all the circumstances of
your life, be it good or bad.”
Mr. I.K. Gujaral (Former Prime Minister of Inidia)
“No society in the world has remained
uninfluenced by Christ’s thoughts. In my country particularly whenever I think
of Gandhi, I think of Christ also. The concept of non-violence itself, the
concept of serving the poor, the concept of standing with those who are
underprivileged this era, this thought, began with the Christ and it is also a
part of Indian heritage now.”
Mr. Ronaldo (Rated # 1 Soccer Player in the world)
“I am considered the best food ball
player in the world—the “number One”. But the greatest man that ever lived in
this world is Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. He is the real Number
One.”
Mahatma
Gandhi stated:
“The gentle figure of
Christ, so patient, so kind, so loving, so full of forgiveness that he
taught his followers not to retaliate when abused or struck but to
turn the other cheek – it was a beautiful example, I thought, of the perfect
man.”
Throughout human
history virtually all people have searched for God at some point in their
lives, because apart from God they intuitively sensed that their lives lacked
ultimate meaning. Yet the Bible claims to be the revealed Word of God to man
(John 1:12,13; 3:16; 17:3; 1 John 5:9-15). Further, it tells us how we may come
to know God personally. If the Bible is true, then in its pages we can find
ultimate meaning for our lives and the God we have searched for. We can read of
His mighty and gracious acts among people and nations in the Old Testament, and
we can especially see His love and compassion in the New Testament. For it is
undeniably true that if we want to know who God really is, and what He is
really like, we only look at Jesus Christ (John 14:6-11; 12:44,45). To know
that the Bible is reliable is to know that all of what it teaches is reliable.
And what it teaches is that the one true God sent His only Son to die for our
sins so that we could inherit eternal life as a free gift (John 3:16; Rom.
3:22-26). Such a claim is phenomenal in its uniqueness and profundity. If the
Bible is truly God’s Word to us, and if we reject its message of salvation,
then no other personal decision they make will be more consequential. Therefore
no one can fail to ignore the issue of the reliability of the Bible—not merely
its historical reliability but its spiritual reliability as well.
The Inspiration, Inerrancy, and Authority of the Bible
During a question and answer session at a youth
conference, a young boy asked me, “How do you know that the Bible is really the
inspired word of God?” What is so special, so unique about the Bible that
Christians believe it is literally the inspired word of God?
This article is written
so that all who search for truth will be encouraged in their faith and all
others will be challenged to investigate the Bible further—to read it, ponder
it, and ultimately to know, understand, apply and practice it for what it is. my
desire for the reader is expressed in the gratefulness of the apostle Paul to
the Thessalonians: " we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of
God, which you heard from us, you
accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which
is indeed at work in you who believe." (1 Thess. 2:13).
Are you
seeking spiritual guidance and direction in your life? Do you have serious
questions such as Does God really exist? What is the purpose and meaning of
life? What is the origin of the human race? Can we receive eternal life after
death? How can we be forgiven of our sins and receive the favor and blessings
of God? We urge you to investigate the only book that is the Bible the real
source of spiritual guidance and direction.
The Bible is not just one single book. Bible is
actually a collection of 66 books, which is called the canon of
scriptures. These 66 books were written over a period of 1600 years by 40
different authors and they came from a variety of backgrounds and most of these
authors never knew one another personally. In the Bible we have books
that were written in the ancient languages of Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic; and
these 66 books were written on 3 different continents: Africa, Asia, and
Europe. This is a reflection of the historical and cultural circumstances
in which each of these books were written. What’s more, this collection of
books shares a common storyline- the creation, fall, and redemption of God’s
people; a common theme- God’s universal love for all of humanity; and a common
message- salvation is available to all who repent of their sins and commit to
following God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength. In addition to
sharing these commonalities, these 66 books contain no historical errors or
contradictions. Taken together, the Bible presents
a single, unified message of actions and attitudes by which man can live. This
is an unprecedented feat. To have sixty six books written by about forty
authors, from kings and nobles to fishermen and soldiers, in three languages
and on three continents, be of the same mind is just not humanly possible.
The entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, bears the mark of Divine
inspiration.
When we speak of the Bible being inspired we refer
to the fact that God divinely influenced the human authors is such a way that
they write the Word of God.
Inspiration does not
extend to just the thoughts or oral pronouncements of prophets but to their
very "words." Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had
said.", (Exodus.24:4) and David confessed, "“The Spirit of the Lord spoke
through me; his word was on my tongue". (2 Sam. 23:2) Jeremiah was told
"“This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard of
the Lord’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who
come to worship in the house of the Lord. Tell them everything I
command you; do not omit a word.". (Jer.26:2) Repeatedly, the
prophets prefaced their declarations with the authoritative phrase, "“This
is what the Lord, the God says:"; (as in Judges 6 v.8; 2 Sam. 7 v.5;
Isa. 7 v.7; Hag. 1 v.5; Zech. 1 v.3). Jesus defined Old Testament revelation saying
“It is written: ‘Man shall
not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God"
(Matt. 4:4). Paul testified that he spoke words taught by the Spirit “This is what we speak, not in words taught
us by human wisdom but in words
taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words
“(1 Cor. 2:13).2 Tim. 3:16 refers to the supernatural guidance of the writers
of Scripture by the Spirit of God, so that what they wrote was the divine Word
of God, transcribed accurately, reliably, and without error in the original
manuscripts ("autographs"). The word inspiration itself pictures God
breathing out His Word to men.
All the wisdom of God which is necessary for salvation
is contained within His Word. This word is able, of itself, to effect
salvation if man will allow it work within his/her life. The Apostle Paul
writing to Timothy in his second Epistle says “But as for you, continue in what you have
learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you
learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy
Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through
faith in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim 3:14-15)
The salvation of men and their eternal destiny in
heaven or hell rests on question as to whether the Bible is the inspired,
preserved and accurate word of God or not. There are three key ministries of the Holy Spirit
and three critical concepts to understand in relationship to
Scripture that is Revelation, Inspiration & Illumination. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness, (2 Tim 3:16)
As
special revelation is God’s communication to man of the truth he must know in
order to be properly related to God, so inspiration deals with the preservation
of that revelation so that what was received from God was accurately
transmitted to others beyond the original recipient. In revelation we have the vertical reception of God’s truth while in inspiration we
have the horizontal
communication of that
revelation accurately to others. The question is how can we be sure the Bible
is God’s revelation to man and not merely the product of human ingenuity or
merely human opinion? If what God revealed has not been accurately recorded,
then that record is subject to question. The doctrine of inspiration answers
that question and guarantees the accuracy of the Bible as God’s special
revelation.
What is Revelation: From God
to man (man hears what God wants written) Gods’ manifestation of
Himself to particular persons at definite times and places, enabling those
persons to enter into a redemptive relationship with Him. Revelation is
a supernatural communication of divine truth presented to men of that which
they otherwise would not know.
Deuteronomy 29:29 “The
secret things belong to the Lord our
God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we
may observe all the words of this law.”
What is Inspiration: From
man to paper (man writes that which God wants written) God
superintended the human authors of the Bible so that they composed and recorded
without error His message to mankind in the words of their original writings. Inspiration is
the term used to describe how the Scriptures were given by God, men
supernaturally guided to express exactly what God intended (verbal-plenary),
therefore that word spoken in old time by holy men of God is infallible, and
preserved for us today.
2 Peter 1:19-21 “So we have the
prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to
pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day
dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know
this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of
one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever
made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness:
What is Illumination: From paper to heart (man receives that which God has
written) the work of God’s Spirit as He aids us in appropriating
the truth of the Scriptures which God has revealed. In other words
Illumination refers to the Spirit enlightening the understanding of man
whereby the meaning of Scripture is understood by the believer.
1 Corinthians 2:10-13 “For to us God
revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all
things, even the depths of God. For who among men
knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man
which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows
except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the
world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely
given to us by God, which things we also
speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the
Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.”
2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is
the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
Ephesians 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you
will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches
of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
John 16:13 “ But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide
you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but
whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”
Without revelation of truth, there can be no
communicating of truth and so inspiration cannot exist without
revelation. Without inspiration of revelation, there can be no composition
without error of God’s revealed truth, no scripture. Without Scriptures
to read, there can be no appropriating of the truth God revealed in them, and
so no illumination. Without any one of these, man can not truly
know what God has revealed in the past, so how would we know what He wants for
us or from us? Without God, these are all meaningless terms. Only with God are
these possible. Man is prone to mistakes. We tend to think about something and
decide that if it makes sense, given the information we know then it must be
true. We fool ourselves that our knowledge is complete. Only God has all
knowledge. Only God knows what is actually true. Only He can reveal it to man
in such a way so as to ensure we do not confuse it with our own musings. Once
God has chosen to reveal it, only God can communicate it without error, be it
verbally or in writing. And once communicated; only God can ensure the truth is
understood without error.
The Revelation of the
Existence of God
The message of the Bible,
or the gospel, is always equated with truth and it is presented as the opposite
of error. Further, the Bible teaches us that man can know the truth and that
God holds man responsible to know it. God plainly holds men responsible for not
receiving and believing the truth (Rom. 1:18; 2:8; 2 Thess 2:10-12). Such verses would be meaningless
unless there was some kind of clear and objective evidence by which men could
come to a knowledge and conviction of the truth. If such were not the case, God
would not hold man responsible for there would be no way to tell truth from
error. So what is the evidence for the
existence of God? The evidence falls into two categories: (1) General or
naturalistic evidence—reasonable evidence from the world around us, and (2) special
or revealed evidence—the evidence from the Bible. Though the evidence for the
supernatural character of the Bible is a subject that comes under the doctrine
of bibliology (the study of the Bible), there is tremendous evidence that the
Bible is truly unique and the inerrant and infallible Word of God. It is not a
book that man would write if he could or could write if he would. General
revelation includes all that God has revealed in the world around us, including
man, while special revelation includes various means He used to communicate His
message in what was codified in the Bible. General revelation is sometimes
called natural theology and special revelation is called revealed theology.
But, of course, what is revealed in nature is also revealed in theology.
However, both general and special revelations are (a) from God and (b) about
God. God’s ultimate and final revelation to us is through His Son, Jesus
Christ.
God has made the human mind in such a way that it is
natural for man to want to organize acquired information. This organizing
instinct within man provides a necessity for a systematic study of
theology. System and order are characteristics of God and His works. God
always works in an orderly way. One can observe system and order everywhere throughout
nature from the structure of atoms to the movements of stars. God's work of
creation, recorded in the first chapter of Genesis, reveals the progressive
realization of a definite plan and program. God instructed Noah to build the
ark in an orderly manner according to specific dimensions. The construction of
the tabernacle was according to a definite divine blueprint. The unfolding of
God's plan of salvation has been progressive, orderly, and systematic. A
systematic study of theology, therefore, finds its basis and necessity, not
only in man's organizing instinct, but also in God's nature and work. Paul
exhorted: "Let all things be done decently and in order" (I Cor.
14:40).
The first four words of the Bible
describe not only the origin of this planet, but also the starting point of
Systematic Theology --" In the beginning God." To begin with God, is
to begin with the Ultimate. To start one's journey into the light with Him is
to begin with the Fountainhead of truth. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning
of knowledge" (Prov. 1:7). Belief in God and the study of revealed facts
concerning Him are the first requirements of Christian theology. God created man with an inborn ability to recognize His
existence. It is normal for man to believe in God; it is abnormal for him to be
an atheist.
Classical
Arguments for God's Existence
There are three classical arguments for the
existence of God. These arguments, derived from man's observation of nature and
his reasoning concerning God, have been used by religious thinkers since
ancient time. They are the Cosmological argument, the Teleological argument,
and the Anthropological argument.
The Cosmological argument reveals God as the eternal, self-existent First Cause. The Teleological argument reveals that this great First Cause possesses intelligence and will. The Anthropological argument leads one another step further. It reveals this personal, intelligent First Cause as one who possesses holiness, justice, and truth.
1. The Cosmological Argument. Existence of creatures requires the existence of a Creator. Every effect must have an adequate cause. The universe has not always existed. There was a time when the universe did not exist. The universe must have had an origin. The Originator, the Source, the First Cause of all existence is God. Of all existence, God alone is uncaused, without a beginning. Before God created the universe, He existed alone. God is the First Cause of the universe.
The writer of Hebrews stated this argument when he said, "Every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God" (Heb. 3:4).
2. The Teleological Argument. God has left His fingerprints on everything He has made. Everywhere one looks in nature he can see the fingerprints of God. Order and design everywhere in nature identify the universe as the handiwork of God.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork" (Psalm 19:1). "The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead" (Rom. 1:20). "He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?" (Psalm 94:9). "O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches" (Psalm 104:24). "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him?" (Psalm 8:3, 4).
3. The Anthropological Argument. The first two arguments consider proofs derived from the universe as a whole. The Anthropological argument considers indications of God's existence as derived from man himself. Conscience in man testifies that a Moral Governor, Lawgiver, and Judge exists. Apart from God's existence, man's conscience cannot be explained.
The Cosmological argument reveals God as the eternal, self-existent First Cause. The Teleological argument reveals that this great First Cause possesses intelligence and will. The Anthropological argument leads one another step further. It reveals this personal, intelligent First Cause as one who possesses holiness, justice, and truth.
1. The Cosmological Argument. Existence of creatures requires the existence of a Creator. Every effect must have an adequate cause. The universe has not always existed. There was a time when the universe did not exist. The universe must have had an origin. The Originator, the Source, the First Cause of all existence is God. Of all existence, God alone is uncaused, without a beginning. Before God created the universe, He existed alone. God is the First Cause of the universe.
The writer of Hebrews stated this argument when he said, "Every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God" (Heb. 3:4).
2. The Teleological Argument. God has left His fingerprints on everything He has made. Everywhere one looks in nature he can see the fingerprints of God. Order and design everywhere in nature identify the universe as the handiwork of God.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork" (Psalm 19:1). "The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead" (Rom. 1:20). "He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?" (Psalm 94:9). "O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches" (Psalm 104:24). "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him?" (Psalm 8:3, 4).
3. The Anthropological Argument. The first two arguments consider proofs derived from the universe as a whole. The Anthropological argument considers indications of God's existence as derived from man himself. Conscience in man testifies that a Moral Governor, Lawgiver, and Judge exists. Apart from God's existence, man's conscience cannot be explained.
God reveals Himself in His Word, the Bible.
The Bible is a book about God and His relationship
with human beings. The Scriptures contain a long history of God's revelation of
Himself to man—from the first man Adam to the prophet and lawgiver Moses down
through the apostles of Jesus Christ and the early Church.
The Bible communicates a true picture of God. This
remarkable book reveals what He is like, what He has done and what He expects
of us. It tells us why we are here and reveals His little-understood plan for
His creation. This handbook of basic knowledge is fundamentally different from
any other source of information. It is genuinely unique because it contains, in
many ways, the very signature of the Almighty.The Creator tells us in His Word,
"I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me,
declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are
not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand . . .'" (Isaiah 46:9-10) Inspired by God Himself, the
Bible gives us the master key to knowing Him: "Scripture speaks of 'things
beyond our seeing, things beyond our hearing, things beyond our imagining, all
prepared by God for those who love him'; and these are what God has revealed to
us through the Spirit. For the Spirit explores everything, even the depths
of God's own nature"
The BIBLE REVEALS GOD as the only Infinite and Eternal Being, having no beginning and no ending. The first verse of Genesis begins with the greatest observable fact known to man: the existence of the universe, the heavens and the earth, (Genesis 1:1); and it links to that the greatest fact made known by revelation: the existence of a God who creates. There is thus brought together in this simple verse at the beginning of the Bible the recognition of the two great sources of human knowledge: nature, which is discoverable by the five senses of our physical life; and revelation, which is discoverable only by a mind and heart illuminated and taught by the Spirit of God. These things "are spiritually discerned," says the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 2:14).
Both of these sources of knowledge are from God, and
each of them is a means of knowing something about God. The scientist who
studies nature is searching ultimately for God. One great Christian Scientist
declared, "I am thinking the thoughts of God after him." That is an
excellent way to describe what science basically is doing. Also, those who seek
to understand the Bible, to grasp its great themes and to understand the depths
that are revealed there, are likewise in search of God. Nature is designed to
teach us certain facts about God, but revelation is designed to lead us to the
God about whom nature speaks. So the two are complementary and they are not
contradictory in any sense, but complete one another.
God
is Creator and Sustainer of all things. HE is the Supreme Personal
Intelligence, and Righteous Ruler of HIS universe. HE is life, and therefore,
the only source of life (John 5:26).Man is natural and cannot know GOD by
wisdom. ““Can
you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?" (Job 11:7 ). GOD
is a person and be known only by revelation. In the Old Testament HE revealed
HIMSELF to and through HIS prophets? In the New Testament HE reveals HIMSELF
through HIS Son JESUS CHRIST (Hebrews 1:1-3).
Hebrews 11:6 The BIBLE nowhere attempts to prove or argue the
existence of GOD. "For he who comes to GOD must believe that HE is."
The existence of GOD is a fact taken for granted by the writers of both the Old
and the New Testaments. "In the beginning GOD" (Gen. 1:1). The BIBLE
opens by announcing the sublime fact of GOD and HIS existence. There are
arguments for the existence of GOD; they are not conclusive, but are food for
thought:
Universal belief in GOD comes from within man. It is
innate in man and comes from rational intuition. The argument from "cause
and effect." Everything that began owes its existence to a cause. We have
a watch; we must have a watchmaker. We have a building; we must have a builder.
We have creation; then we must have a CREATOR. This creation could not have
come into existence without an intelligent, personal creator anymore than the
alphabet could produce a book itself without an author. The argument from Anthropology,
Man's moral and intellectual nature argues for a moral and intellectual CREATOR.
The BIBLE and the CHRIST that it reveals, HIS virgin birth, HIS sinless life,
HIS vicarious death, and HIS bodily resurrection… all of this and much, much
more argue for the existence of GOD.
BIBLE REVEALS THE PERSONALITY OF GOD
1 Thessalonians 1:9. The BIBLE reveals GOD as a personality. HE is
called " … a living and true GOD." One Possessing self consciousness
and self determination. HIS personality is shown in what HE does, such as: GOD
loves. "GOD so loved the world" (John 3:16) GOD hates. "There
are six things which the LORD hates" (Prov. 6:16) GOD cares. "HE
cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7) GOD grieves: "HE is grieved in HIS
heart" (Gen. 6:6).Only a personality can love, hate, care, and grieve;
therefore GOD must be a living, eternal and personal being.
THE NATURE OF GOD
1 John 4:8 There are four definitions of GOD in the BIBLE. Since
GOD cannot be defined, they are incomplete. However, they do throw light upon
the nature of GOD. They are:
"GOD is love" (1 John 4:8) This is the nature of in HIS
divine compassion.
"GOD is light" (1 John 1:5) This is the nature of of GOD
in HIS divine character; in HIM there is no darkness.
"GOD is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29) This is the
nature of GOD in HIS divine holiness.
"GOD is spirit" (John 4:24) This is the nature of GOD in
HIS divine essence.
The attributes of GOD reveal HIS nature. Do not think of HIS
attributes as abstract, but as vital mediums through which HIS holy nature is
unveiled… attributes ascribed to HIM, such as:
Life is ascribed to GOD (John 5:26)
All knowledge is ascribed to GOD (Psalms 147:5)
All power is ascribed to GOD (Rev. 19:6)
Filling the universe with HIS presence is ascribed to GOD (Psalms
139:1)
GOD is everywhere present, but HE is not in everything. If GOD
were in everything, man could worship any object and he would be worshiping
GOD. GOD is a spirit being. "And those that worship HIM must worship in
spirit and in truth."
THE GRACE OF GOD
For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it
is the gift of God(Ephesians 2:8) Grace is the love and mercy of GOD in
action. Mercy is negative, and love is positive; both together mean grace. To
show mercy in love is grace. GOD showed mercy in love when HE sent HIS Son to
bear our sins in HIS own body on the cross (John 3:16).
The grace of GOD saves forever (Rom. 8:38,39).
The grace of GOD is unconditional; that is, we are not saved on
the condition that we "hold out unto the end" or that we "fail
not" or that we "do our best." We are saved by the grace of GOD,
apart from works.
The grace of GOD is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9).
The grace of GOD makes no discrimination (Rev. 22:17).
The grace of GOD justifies (Rom. 3:23,24).
The grace of GOD makes every believer an heir (Titus 3:7).
The grace of GOD teaches the believer how to live (Titus 2:11,12).
The grace of GOD is nothing less than the unlimited love of GOD
expressed in the gift of HIS Son, our Savior. It is the undeserved love of GOD
toward sinners.
THE TRINITY OF GOD
By the Trinity of GOD we mean HIS tri-personal existence as
Father, Son and Holy Spirit… three distinct Persons in one GOD.
The Father is recognized as GOD (1 Peter 1:2) and is all the fullness
of the GODHEAD invisible (John 1:18)
The Son is recognized as GOD (Heb. 1:6) and is all the fullness of
the GODHEAD manifested in the flesh (John 1:14).
The Holy Spirit is recognized as GOD (Acts 3:4,5) and is all the fullness
of the GODHEAD acting upon man, convicting him of sin (John 16:7-11) and
guiding the believer into all truth (John 16:12-15).
The doctrine of the Trinity is not explicit in the Old Testament,
but rather is implied, "Then GOD said, Let US make man…" (Gen. 1:26).
The doctrine of the Trinity is revealed in the New Testament. In
Matthew 3:16 we have CHRIST being baptized in water, the Father speaking from
heaven, and the Holy Spirit descends as a dove. We are to baptized in the
"name (not names) of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit." (Matt. 28:19).
Even creation implies the doctrine of the Trinity. In creation, we
have space, matter, and time in one creation. In space, we have length, breadth
and height in one space. In matter, we have energy, motion and phenomenon in
one substance. In time, we have past, present and future in one time. In man,
we have body, soul and spirit in one man (1 Thess. 5:23).
In the Holy Trinity, we have Father, Son and Holy Spirit in one
GOD
.
THE
NEED FOR REVELATION FROM GOD
With the existence of God established, it becomes
reasonable to think that such a Creator-God would wish to communicate with His
creation. Mankind shows evidence of high intelligence, kindness, goodness,
justice, and many other unique characteristics. Since it is inconceivable that
the Creator could be inferior to His creation in any fashion, and since the
effect never is greater than the cause, it is inevitable that God would exhibit
infinite intelligence, kindness, goodness, justice, etc. Therefore, some form
of personal communication between the intelligent Creator and His intelligent
creature would be expected. Else, how could mankind ever come to know, or
appreciate, certain aspects of the Creator, or understand what the Creator
might possibly require of the beings He had created? Furthermore, some form of
revelation from the Creator would be needed in order to instruct mankind in
certain areas, such as the following.
The Character of God. While something of God’s
essence, power, and wisdom can be gleaned vaguely from the vastness and
marvelous intricacies of the creation itself, a more concrete communication is
needed to establish the exact nature of His character.
The Origin of Evil. As mankind found itself adrift
in a sea of evil, pain, and suffering, the question eventually would arise:
Why? Man thus needed to be educated concerning the exact reason(s) for his
predicament.
Mankind’s Origin. Without revelation to the
contrary, men might come to the conclusion that they owe their ultimate origin
to “accidental forces of nature,” rather than to the omnipotence of a Divine
Creator. The confusion of modern-day evolutionary theories is evidence aplenty
of this.
Mankind’s Purpose. Man—left to his own devices—never
could understand completely the ultimate purpose for his creation at the hand
of an Almighty God. With no adequately defined role, and no immediate or future
goals, he would wander aimlessly, from cradle to grave, in a sea of
uncertainty.
Mankind’s Destiny. In the absence of divine
revelation, man never would know with certainty anything about the existence of
life beyond this one. He therefore might conclude incorrectly—as many have in
every generation—that this life is all there is. The urgency of mankind having
access to this knowledge is evinced by the general despair of those who reject
the concept of supernatural revelation.
A revelation from God might take almost any form.
God could choose to communicate with His creation directly via word-of-mouth,
through messengers (e.g., angels), or through dreams and visions. For that
matter, He could choose any means that suited the occasion. Seemingly, however,
the most appropriate medium for long-term results would be one that ensured
permanence. That is to say, it would withstand the test of time and could be
passed faithfully from generation to generation throughout human history. One
possible way to accomplish such a goal would be to produce the revelation in a
written form that could be duplicated and distributed as needed, thus
benefiting the whole of mankind across the ages.
The question then becomes: Is there any evidence
that mankind possesses such a revelation? And the answer to that question is:
Yes, evidence does exist to establish the claim that God has given mankind His
revelation in the written form known as the Bible. B.C. Goodpasture, the
distinguished editor of the Gospel Advocate for almost forty years
(1939-1977), wrote:
The nature and contents of the Bible are such that
the rank and file of its readers in all generations have recognized God as its
author. Man would not have written such a book, if he could; and could not, if
he would. It moves on a superhuman plane in design, in nature, and in teaching.
It caters not to worldly desire and ambition. It condemns much which men in the
flesh highly prize, and commends much which they despise. Its thought are not
the thoughts of men (1970, p. 54).
Harold Lindsell, former editor of Christianity
Today, remarked:Had God chosen not to reveal Himself, man could
never have known Him. And man can never know more about God than God chooses to
disclose.... Whatever knowledge of God is available exists solely because God
has chosen to make it known. This is His self-revelation (1976, p. 28).
God’s written revelation makes it clear that in the
past He provided that “self-revelation” in a variety of ways. The Maker of the
Universe manifested His presence in the works of His creative genius (Psalm
19:1; Romans 1:20-21). He spoke to various men and women in a direct,
word-of-mouth fashion (Genesis 3:9-16; Numbers 12:8). He revealed Himself
through visions and dreams (Genesis 20:3; Numbers 12:6; Isaiah 29:10-11;
Ezekiel 1:3-4; Daniel 2:19; Amos 1:1). He addressed His creation through angels
(Genesis 16:10-12; 18:13-14; 22:11ff.; 32:1-2; Acts 7:38). On unique occasions,
He even made known His presence through such media as “a still, small voice” (1
Kings 19:12), the mouth of a donkey (Numbers 22:28), and a bright cloud
(Matthew 17:5). God’s greatest revelation of Himself, however, was in the
person of His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16; 14:9; Colossians 2:9).
Lacking adequate revelation from God, we would have
no accurate way of understanding what we needed to know regarding God, His Son,
our place in the creation, and many other topics of ultimate importance to
humanity. We would have no objective standard upon which to base ethics and
morals. We would know little of the ministry and message of Jesus of Nazareth.
We would have no information regarding the theological purpose of His
crucifixion and resurrection—namely, that they were essential ingredients in
God’s plan to offer ruined man a way of escape from the devastating
consequences of his sin (Matthew 20:28; 26:28). We would know nothing of how to
enter that sacred body of saved souls, the church (Ephesians 5:23; 1
Corinthians 12:13), or how, once we had entered, to worship God correctly.
Without God’s revelation, we would know utterly nothing about these important
spiritual matters that impact our eternal destiny. Truly, we should be grateful
to God for providing us with a revelation that could be retained in a permanent
form, studied faithfully, and used profitably by all of mankind.
GENERAL
REVELATION AND SPECIAL REVELATION
General revelation and special revelation are
the two ways God has chosen to reveal Himself to humanity. General revelation
refers to the general truths that can be known about God through nature.
Special revelation refers to the more specific truths that can be known about
God through the supernatural.
In regard to general revelation Psalm
19:1-4 says “The
heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day
after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal
knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard
from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their
words to the ends of the world.” According to this passage, God’s
existence and power can be clearly seen through observing the universe. The
order, intricacy, and wonder of creation speak to the existence of a powerful
and glorious Creator.
General revelation is also taught in
Romans 1:20; “For since the creation of the world God's invisible
qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being
understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” It teaches
that God’s eternal power and divine nature are “clearly seen” and “understood”
from what has been made, and that there is no excuse for denying these facts.
With these Scriptures in mind, perhaps a working definition of general
revelation would be “the revelation of God to all people, at all times, and in
all places that proves that God exists and that He is intelligent, powerful,
and transcendent.”
General revelation is
the knowledge of God, as well as the knowledge of right and wrong, that can be
obtained through nature. This general revelation of God’s existence and
basic morality is known by everyone.
General revelation does not provide sufficient
information for the gospel message. The gospel, which is the death,
burial, and resurrection of Jesus, is found in the Bible. So, where
general revelation deals with the existence of God and generic morality,
special revelation, the Bible, and the person of Christ, give specifics
regarding sin, salvation, heaven, hell, the nature of God, the Trinity, the
incarnation, death, the Fall, redemption, etc.
Special revelation is the revelation of God
that is mainly known as the Bible, which is the inspired word. But,
special revelation is not limited to the Bible alone Special
Revelation
is how God has chosen to reveal Himself through miraculous means. Special
revelation includes physical appearances of God, dreams, and visions, the
written Word of God, and most importantly—Jesus Christ. The Bible records God
appearing in physical form many times. This includes direct verbal communication such as Adam and Eve
enjoyed before the fall, God spoke through
the prophets, law of God through Moses and God becoming man through
Jesus Christ. In other words, what we learn about God is contained in The
Bible. The Bible tells us much about God that natural revelation does not - who
He is, what He has done and how He interacts with humans. While we may know of
God’s existence through natural revelation, we can only be saved by what we
learn through special revelation.
The ultimate form of special revelation
is the Person of Jesus Christ. God became a human being summarizes it best, in Hebrews
1:1-3 “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. The Son is the
radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his
being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”
Jeremiah 1:9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the
LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. “The original writings of both Old and New Testaments
were breathed out by God to prophets, apostles, and apostolic associates by
means of the Spirit, who chose the words employed (that is, in the original
documents) according to the personality and background of the human author, and
that these writings were without error and are of supreme and final authority
in the lives of believers in any age.”
Bible is the single most important book ever written. It contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of
salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines
are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions
are immutable. 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 its 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 judgment, and be
remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the
greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred
contents. So Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to
be holy
The Bible is also an eyewitness account of historical events of such magnitude that they have literally
shaped the world in which we live. Without this book the world would be
completely different today than if the events of this book had never occurred.
It is not too much to say that the events recorded in this book are claimed by
a significant percentage of people who have ever lived on this earth to be the
most important events ever recorded in the history of the world. This book is
foundational to just about everything mankind will ever know or accomplish. It
has directly led to massive undertakings of good will and charity. Because of
this book, great projects have been undertaken, schools, colleges, universities
and hospitals have been built, multitudes fed and clothed and orphanages
founded and above all millions of people transformed by the power of God’s
word.
Good number of people around the world read portions of this book
every day. It is one of the most published and printed books in the history of
the world. It has been printed in just about every known language and each
year, since it was first written, it has been the world's greatest bestseller
year after year. As time marches on it is continually printed in yet more
languages. Collectors of rare books treasure it in every form.
The Bible was the first book ever put to the
printing press. The man who first printed it, Johannes Gutenberg, was recently
voted the most important man to have ever lived within the past 1000 years! A
good number of museums exist today which are dedicated solely to this very book
and the events contained therein.
The Bible is available in every corner of the
globe, even where it is illegal to own or read this book. It is available in
electronic format and on CD as well. You can find it on the internet for free.
Famous actors and personages regularly quote it. It was quoted by William
Shakespeare many times in his writings.
Worldwide organizations and associations have
been formed because of this book and its message, many of them existing for
centuries. Together they represent multiple hundreds of millions of members.
People have died torturous deaths simply to gain access to
this book. This book has been
praised, cursed, restricted, banned, desecrated, burned and fought over. People
swear on it and at it. Some have tried to eliminate it. All who have tried have
failed. People have suffered exquisite tortures and loss of freedom and even
their lives for printing it. This has occurred recently and over many centuries
past, as well. It is, in fact, a regular occurrence in this world. This book is
simultaneously hated and loved. Once read it would be impossible to be
indifferent to it; for its claims are monumental and beyond exaggerating. It
provokes a strong response in either a positive or negative direction; you will
either love it or hate it. It was meant to be so by design. It is so
controversial that wars have been fought over its interpretation. Governments
have toppled on account of it and kings have been deposed because of it. Most
importantly, lives have been dramatically changed for good because of this
book.
The Bible is the most copied book of antiquity. Written over a time period of some 1,600
years, it was completed approximately 2,000 years ago. Yet, in all the
centuries that have passed, none of its contents have ever been found
inaccurate. The Bible was not written as a work of science nor was its purpose
to describe the workings of the physical world. It was written to explain
spiritual principles - the nature of mankind, the nature of God, and how
people can have a personal relationship with God. However, when the Bible describes the physical
world, it is accurate.
It has been translated into its present form directly from
the original languages from a vast supply of ancient manuscripts sifted by the
best minds and most competent scholars of our day and of many prior
generations. It has been translated into every known existing language.
It is surpassingly accurate to the smallest
details. Its contents, as translated, are as close to the original words of the
authors as humanly possible. New discoveries of previously unknown ancient
manuscripts continue to provide ever greater accuracy to the contents of this
book.
It has been sifted, studied, commentated upon
and dissected more than any book in history. Volumes of books have been written
about it and if they were stacked on top of one another they would reach to the
sky. Where this book can be verified by external events such as archeology,
geography, custom, politics, culture, known world history and writings in other
ancient texts it has been so verified as to be accurate in all respects. New
discoveries always support it, never vice versa. It has never once been proven
faulty on single detail or fact, although many have mightily tried and failed.
Science and the Bible
The Bible is not a science book, yet it is scientifically
accurate. We are not aware of any scientific evidence that
contradicts the Bible. When studying the science of the ancient world, one
is more apt to be impressed with its ignorance than to admire its accuracy.
However, the Bible offers a definite exception to this rule. The scriptures are
abounding with statements suggesting scientific knowledge which predates the
corresponding discoveries of secular science. Given that Bible writers were not
scientists, and given that the scientific information at their disposal was
generally misleading, the accuracy of the Bible can only be attributed to the
inspiration of God. In fact, Isaac Newton, in his famous scientific work, Principia,
stated, "The most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could
only proceed from the counsel and dominion on an intelligent and powerful
Being."
Although the Bible is not primarily a book of
science, it does contain numerous scientific facts. We laugh at the scientific
knowledge of just a hundred years ago. If man alone were the author of the
Bible, we would expect to find many such humorous errors contained in it.
However, if we examine the scientific data of the Bible and find it to be
accurate to present-day knowledge, then we have powerful evidence for divine
authorship.
Following
are the Few Scientific Facts in the Bible
1. Only in recent years has science discovered that
everything we see is composed of invisible atoms. Here, Scripture tells us that
the "things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."
2. Medical science has only recently discovered that
blood-clotting in a newborn reaches its peak on the eighth day, then drops. The
Bible consistently says that a baby must be circumcised on the eighth day.
3. At a time when it was believed that the earth sat
on a large animal or a giant (1500 B.C.), the Bible spoke of the earth’s free
float in space: "He...hangs the earth upon nothing" (Job 26:7).
4. The prophet Isaiah also tells us that the earth
is round: "It is he that sits upon the circle of the earth" (Isaiah
40:22). This is not a reference to a flat disk, as some skeptic maintain, but
to a sphere. Secular man discovered this 2,400 years later. At a time when
science believed that the earth was flat, is was the Scriptures that inspired
Christopher Columbus to sail around the world (see Proverbs 3:6 footnote).
5. God told Job in 1500 B.C.: "Can you send
lightnings, that they may go, and say to you, Here we are?" (Job 38:35).
The Bible here is making what appears to be a scientifically ludicrous
statement—that light can be sent, and then manifest itself in speech. But did
you know that radio waves travel at the speed of light? This is why you can have
instantaneous wireless communication with someone on the other side of the
earth. Science didn’t discover this until 1864 when "British scientist
James Clerk Maxwell suggested that electricity and light waves were two forms
of the same thing" (Modern Century Illustrated Encyclopedia).
6. Job 38:19 asks, "Where is the way where
light dwells?" Modern man has only recently discovered that light
(electromagnetic radiation) has a "way," traveling at 186,000 miles
per second.
7. Science has discovered that stars emit radio
waves, which are received on earth as a high pitch. God mentioned this in Job
38:7: "When the morning stars sang together..."
8. "Most cosmologists (scientists who study the
structures and evolution of the universe) agree that the Genesis account of
creation, in imagining an initial void, may be uncannily close to the
truth" (Time, Dec. 1976).
9. Solomon described a "cycle" of air
currents two thousand years before scientists "discovered" them.
"The wind goes toward the south, and turns about unto the north; it whirls
about continually, and the wind returns again according to his circuits"
(Ecclesiastes 1:6).
10. Science expresses the universe in five terms:
time, space, matter, power, and motion. Genesis 1:1,2 revealed such truths to
the Hebrews in 1450 B.C.: "In the beginning [time] God created [power] the
heaven [space] and the earth [matter] . . . And the Spirit of God moved
[motion] upon the face of the waters." The first thing God tells man is that
He controls of all aspects of the universe.
11. The great biological truth concerning the
importance of blood in our body’s mechanism has been fully comprehended only in
recent years. Up until 120 years ago, sick people were "bled," and
many died because of the practice. If you lose your blood, you lose your life.
Yet Leviticus 17:11, written 3,000 years ago, declared that blood is the source
of life: "For the life of the flesh is in the blood."
12. All things were made by Him (see John 1:3),
including dinosaurs. Why then did the dinosaur disappear? The answer may be in
Job 40:15–24. In this passage, God speaks about a great creature called
"behemoth." Some commentators think this was a hippopotamus. However,
the hippo’s tail isn’t like a large tree, but a small twig. Following are the
characteristics of this huge animal: It was the largest of all the creatures
God made; was plant-eating (herbivorous); had its strength in its hips and a
tail like a large tree. It had very strong bones, lived among the trees, drank
massive amounts of water, and was not disturbed by a raging river. He appears
impervious to attack because his nose could pierce through snares, but
Scripture says, "He that made him can make his sword to approach unto
him." In other words, God caused this, the largest of all the creatures He
had made, to become extinct.
13. Encyclopedia Britannica documents that in 1845,
a young doctor in Vienna named Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis was horrified at the
terrible death rate of women who gave birth in hospitals. As many as 30 percent
died after giving birth. Semmelweis noted that doctors would examine the bodies
of patients who died, then, without washing their hands, go straight to the
next ward and examine expectant mothers. This was their normal practice,
because the presence of microscopic diseases was unknown. Semmelweis insisted
that doctors wash their hands before examinations, and the death rate
immediately dropped to 2 percent. Look at the specific instructions God gave
His people for when they encounter disease: "And when he that has an issue
is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself even days for his
cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and
shall be clean" (Leviticus 15:13). Until recent years, doctors washed their
hands in a bowl of water, leaving invisible germs on their hands. However, the
Bible says specifically to wash hands under "running water."
14. Luke 17:34–36 says the Second Coming of Jesus
Christ will occur while some are asleep at night and others are working at
daytime activities in the field. This is a clear indication of a revolving
earth, with day and night at the same time.
The Prophecy and the bible
One of the strongest arguments for the accuracy of
the Bible is its 100% accuracy in predicting the future. These future
predictions are called “prophecies.” The Old Testament was written between
approximately 1450 BC and 430 BC. During that time, many predictions of the
future were recorded in the Bible by God’s prophets. Of the events that were to
have taken place by now, everyone happened just the way they predicted it
would. No other “sacred writing” has such perfectly accurate predictions of the
future. Unique among all books ever written, the
Bible accurately foretells specific events-in detail-many years, sometimes
centuries, before they occur. Approximately 2500 prophecies appear in the pages
of the Bible, about 2000 of which already have been fulfilled to the letter—no
errors. (The remaining 500 or so reach into the future and may be seen unfolding
as days go by
The Messianic Prophecies
Of these prophecies, the most striking examples
are the predictions about an “anointed one” (“Messiah” in Hebrew) who was to
arrive in the future. About 4 BC, a miraculous event occurred—a boy named Jesus
was born to a virgin named Mary. You
can read His story in the book of Luke. Starting at age 30, Jesus fulfilled
more and more of these prophecies written about the Messiah. His fulfillment of
these prophecies was very spectacular: Jesus gave sight to the blind, made the
lame walk, and cured those who had leprosy, gave the deaf hearing, and raised
people from the dead! These miracles and others were done many times
in front of thousands of witnesses for three years. About 30 AD, Jesus was
crucified (a prophecy) and died (a prophecy). Three days later he rose from the
dead (another prophecy), after which He was seen by over 500 witnesses. Since these prophecies were written down at least 400 years
before they happened, there is no doubt that the Bible’s writers were inspired
supernaturally—by God.
The
Unity of the Bible
The Bible exhibits a unity that—on purely human
terms—is utterly inexplicable. In order to appreciate that unity, one first
must come to terms with how The Book was put together. The Bible was written by
more than forty different men from practically every walk of life. Nehemiah was
a royal cupbearer. Peter was a fisherman. Luke was a physician. Matthew was a
tax collector. Solomon was a king. Moses was a shepherd. Paul was a tentmaker.
Furthermore, these men wrote from almost every conceivable human condition.
David wrote from heights of joy on the rolling, grassy hills of Judea. Paul
wrote from pits of despair caused by Roman incarceration. They wrote in three
languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), from at least two continents (Europe
and Asia), over a period of time that spanned sixteen centuries (approximately
1500 B.C. to approximately A.D. 100). And they covered
topics as diverse as eschatology, soteriology, theology, psychology, geography,
history, medicine, and many others.
All this being true, one might expect that so
diverse a group of men, writing on so varied a group of subjects, over such a
lengthy span of time, would have produced a book that would be a tangled
mishmash of subjects more often than not marred by inconsistencies, errors, and
incongruities. Yet this hardly is the case. In fact, quite the opposite is
true. The Bible exhibits such astounding harmony, such consistent flow, and
such unparalleled unity that it defies any purely naturalistic explanation. It
is as if the Bible were a magnificent symphony orchestrated by a single
Conductor. The “musicians” each may have played a different instrument, in a
different place, at a different time. But when the talented Maestro combined
the individual efforts, the end-result was a striking masterpiece.
Consider this analogy. Suppose you assembled forty
contemporary scholars with the highest academic training possible in a single
field of study (e.g., forty academicians with terminal Ph.D. degrees in world
history). Suppose, further, that you placed them in a room, and asked them to
write a twenty-page paper on a single topic—the causes of World War II. What
kind of consensus would be exhibited when all of their treatises were
completed? Likely, the forty scholars would be unable to agree on all but a few
points; their compositions would be recognized more for the disagreements
they contained than for the agreements. The Bible writers, by contrast,
generally were not contemporaries. They worked independently, and the majority
never even met another biblical writer. Most were not highly trained, and what
training they did have certainly was not in the same field of study. Nor were
they allowed to write on a single topic in which they already had an interest.
Yet they produced a book that is unified from beginning to end. The books of 1
and 2 Chronicles and 1 and 2 Kings corroborate one another in numerous
historical events. Joshua 1 verifies Deuteronomy 34. Judges 1:1 verifies Joshua
24:27-33. Jeremiah 52:31-34 verifies 2 Kings 25:25,27-30. Ezra 1 verifies 2
Chronicles 36:22-23. Daniel refers to Jeremiah (Daniel 9:2), and Ezekiel refers
to Daniel (Ezekiel 28:3). And so on. This kind of unity, which is in evidence
throughout the Sacred Volume, attests to the fact that there was a
Superintending Intelligence behind it. So many writers, over so many years,
covering so many themes, simply could not have been so harmonious by mere
coincidence.
Each book of the Bible complements the others in a
single unified theme. From Genesis to Revelation there is a marvelous
unfolding of the general theme of man’s fall from his holy estate, God’s plan
for his redemption (as carefully worked out across the centuries), the sinless
life and atoning death of Jesus Christ, and the ultimate victory of the
Christian system. In essence, the Bible is the story of one problem—sin—with
one solution, Jesus Christ. In commenting on the Bible’s remarkable unity of
theme, Wayne Jackson has noted:
The redemptive thread that runs through the
Scriptures is wonderfully illustrated by a comparison between Genesis and
Revelation, the first and last books of the holy canon. In Genesis the origin
of the heavens and Earth is revealed (1:1), while in Revelation the
consummation of earthly affairs is effected, and the old order is replaced by a
“new heaven and earth” (i.e., heaven itself), spiritual in nature.... Man, who
was originally perfect, but who fell into sin (Genesis 3:6), is, by virtue of
his obedience, granted the opportunity to become perfect again (Revelation
7:14; 22:14). All of this is made possible, of course, by the seed of woman
(Genesis 3:15), the offspring of David (Revelation 22:16), who, as a
consequence of his sacrifice (Genesis 4:4), became an enthroned Lamb
(Revelation 21:4). Thus, the sorrow of Eden (Genesis 3:16) will be transformed
into the joy of heaven (Revelation 21:4), and that tree of life, from which our
early parents were separated (Genesis 3:22-24), will be our glad possession
once more (Revelation 22:14) [1991, 11:1].
Each book of the Bible complements the others in a
single, unified plan. In Genesis, there is the record of humanity’s
pristine origin and covenant relationship with God, followed by its tragic fall
into a sinful state. But, a specific family line (the Hebrew nation) was
selected to provide a remedy for this disaster (Genesis 12:1ff.; 22:18). Man
needed to learn precisely what sin is, thus the books of Exodus through
Deuteronomy document the giving of the law of God to Moses. Via a set of
ordinances, sin would be defined and humanity would be illuminated regarding
the price of rebellion against God (Romans 7:7,13; Galatians 3:19). The
historical books of the Old Testament revealed mankind’s inability to keep
perfectly God’s law system (Galatians 3:10), and therefore underscored the need
for a Justifier—Someone to do for man what he could not do for himself. The
prophets of the Old Testament heralded the arrival of that Savior (Luke 24:44);
more than 300 prophecies focus on the promised Messiah.
After four silent centuries (the “inter-biblical
era”), four Gospel writers described in great detail the arrival, and
life’s-work, of the Justifier—Jesus of Nazareth. The books of Matthew, Mark,
Luke, and John are carefully crafted accounts of the birth, life, death, and
ultimate resurrection of the Son of God (John 20:30-31). Each emphasized
different parts of Christ’s ministry in order to relate the “good news” to Jews
or Gentiles. Matthew directed his record primarily to the Jewish nation. Mark
stressed the works of Jesus. Luke, being the only Gentile writer of a Bible
book (except possibly the author of Job), wrote to Gentiles. John’s primary
purpose in writing was to produce faith.
The book of Acts was written to convey the means by
which mankind was to appropriate God’s saving grace. It is a historical record
that instructs a person on how to become a Christian. It also teaches about how
the church of Christ was established in Jerusalem, and how that same church
flourished throughout the Roman Empire of the first century. The various
epistles that follow the book of Acts in the English Bible were directions to
individuals and churches on how to obtain, and maintain, spiritual maturity.
Finally, the book of Revelation predicted (in symbolic fashion) the ultimate triumph
of good over evil—acknowledging that Christians would win, and Satan would
lose. To the careful reader, the unity of both theme and plan in the Bible are
apparent.
THE BIBLE IS A BOOK OF HARMONY
2 PETER 1:21
“For no prophecy was ever
made by an act of human will, but men moved by the HOLY SPIRIT spoke from
GOD."
The oneness, or unity, of the BIBLE is a miracle. The Bible
consists of a collection of sixty-six separate books written by over 40
different authors, in a period of approximately 1,600 years. These books were
chosen, after a bit of haggling, by the Catholic Council of Carthage in 397
A.D.—more than three hundred years after the time of Jesus. This collection is
broken into two major sections: The Old Testament,
which consists of thirty-nine books, and The New Testament, which consists of
twenty-seven books. Now there are Bibles that have more books than
that. If you have a Catholic version, it has additional books that are not in
the original versions. Those additional twelve books are called the
Apocrypha, The word apocrypha means
"hidden." The Apocrypha denotes a set of books not considered
authoritative, or divinely inspired, in Judaism or in Protestant Christian
churches, and therefore, not accepted into the canon of Scripture. They
are largely made up of books, which even Catholic scholars early in the
Christian centuries rejected as not being at the same level of scriptural truth
and presentation as the ones we have in our original Bibles. For the most part
they consist of legends and somewhat mythical accounts, and a couple of them
are good history but not regarded as inspired.
The Bible has power to liberate man from all oppression by
its clear teachings.
It raises the dignity and
rights of every human being ever born. It is truly an amazing and remarkable
piece of writing. It contains clear teaching on the value and worth of every
individual. It will astonish and surprise you and likely move you to tears. It
has freed minds and hearts throughout history. The events recorded in this book
have generated more great works of art than any other subject matter in the
history of the world. All the museums in the world, added together, could not
possibly contain all of the artwork inspired by the events of this book. This
book itself represents true freedom. It has never been in the custody and
control of a single group of people, unlike other important books. It belongs
to everyone and it has been possessed by everyone, every culture and every
tribe and race of people. Reading it will strike you directly in your heart. It
has the "ring of truth" to all who love the same.
This book contains a message at its very core.
It is a message to all people everywhere, in every time period, relevant to
their everyday lives. It claims to be the very words of God... an audacious
claim, for sure. It is for you to decide whether to believe the message of this
book and apply it to your own life.
If you now know nothing about God, you will know
a great deal about God after reading this book. If you believe you know much
about God, you will know even more about him after you read this book. You may
even decide to re-evaluate your knowledge of God after reading it.
The
Bible is a mirror of the soul to transform the mind.
The mirror is where
we look each morning so that we can make ourselves presentable to the world.
The Bible is a mirror we need to look into each day in order to make ourselves
presentable to God. The Word of God teaches that the Bible
is A MIRROR of the soul. James 1:23-25 is an amazing passage of
Scripture . . . “Anyone
who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks
at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and
immediately forgets what he looks like.” The same is true of the Bible. When we look into the Divine
mirror we can see our moral flaws. But we must look into it often so we can see
ourselves as we really are and seek to make changes. James tells us that it gives a
perfect reflection and can show us our strengths and our weaknesses. The only
problem is, for the mirror to work, we have to get close to it! Hebrews
4:12 supports this teaching,
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul
and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the
heart.” The Bible is a mirror of the soul, revealing the thoughts and
intents of our heart. Psalm 119:105 refers to the Bible as a “Lamp” unto our
feet. Beware of anyone who attempts to guide you in spiritual matters without
providing Scriptural support.
The Bible is well thought-out the
most important book in the world. When you read the Bible, you read a message
from God Himself. When the Bible speaks, God speaks. Because the Bible is God's
Word, it does more than just pass on information. It makes a promise, a promise
of life. Everyone who receives the Bible's message in faith, is promised the
rich gift of eternal life in the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son. The Bible came
from God Himself. God chose several people to write down what He wanted them
to. Through God's inspiration the Bible was written down by people who did not
make up these words themselves. The Holy Spirit drove them to speak on behalf
of God. We need the Bible because no one can live fully without knowing God's
true Word. True life consists of obeying God's every command. We can trust the
Bible, because God's Word is true and all promises will certainly be fulfilled.
The Bible is not too ancient to carry meaning for us today. It is a living book
that speaks to people's hearts in every time and place. God's word is full of
strength and life. It is sharper than the sharpest sword; it penetrates
immediately to our deepest thoughts and desires and shows us clearly who and
what we truly are.
The Bible is unutterably useful in your daily life, because it teaches you how to lead a life full of use and sense that is pleasing to God. The bible teaches you the truth and demonstrates any lack in your life and faith. It brings order to your life and shows you what is right and good. The greatest joy you will receive thanks to reading the Bible is that it leads you to the Lord Jesus Christ. It shows you how you can be saved, namely through faith in Jesus Christ through whom you may receive eternal life. " THE BIBLE IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER MIRROR, because it can actually change us! “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.(2 Corinthians 3:18)
The Bible is unutterably useful in your daily life, because it teaches you how to lead a life full of use and sense that is pleasing to God. The bible teaches you the truth and demonstrates any lack in your life and faith. It brings order to your life and shows you what is right and good. The greatest joy you will receive thanks to reading the Bible is that it leads you to the Lord Jesus Christ. It shows you how you can be saved, namely through faith in Jesus Christ through whom you may receive eternal life. " THE BIBLE IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER MIRROR, because it can actually change us! “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.(2 Corinthians 3:18)
The Bible is like a mirror, it reflects our true
self, which is living inside of us. On the surface, it looks nice so polished
and clean but it reflects what’s in the heart and would see every little blemish,
every spot and each sinful mark. Bible says “For our knowledge is imperfect and
our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass
away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I
reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we
see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall
understand fully, even as I have been fully understood." (1Corinthians
13:9-12 )
Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of GOD is living and
active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the
division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the
thoughts and intentions of the heart." The BIBLE claims dividing power as
a sword. The BIBLE will separate man from sin (Psalms 119:11), or sin will
separate man from the BIBLE (Isaiah 59:2).The BIBLE claims reflecting power as
a mirror (James 1:22-25). In the BIBLE we see ourselves as GOD sees us…. As
sinners (Romans 3:23).
The BIBLE claims cleansing power as water (Ephesians
5:26). David prayed that GOD would wash him from iniquity and cleanse him from
sin (Psalms 51:2).
The BIBLE claims reproductive power as seed (1 Peter
1:23). We are children of GOD because we have been born into the family of GOD
by the imperishable seed of GOD. This is the new birth (John 3:1-7).
The BIBLE claims nourishing power as food (1 Peter
2:2). The BIBLE is spiritual food for the soul. No CHRISTIAN can remain strong
in the LORD and not study the WORD of GOD
1 Corinthians 2:14 "But the natural man does not accept the
things of the SPIRIT of GOD; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot
understand them, because they are spiritually appraised."The BIBLE is a
unique book ever written because it came from the infinite to the finite… from
the unlimited, all-powerful GOD, to limited man. Therefore, you cannot
understand the BIBLE as you would understand the writings of Plato or Socrates.
You can study the great philosophers with the natural mind, and by diligent
application, grasp their profound meanings. If natural man could understand the
BIBLE, it would be a natural book and could not be the WORD of GOD. Since the
BIBLE is from GOD, and therefore spiritual, before you can receive its
teachings, you must be born of the SPIRIT (John 3:6) and filled with the SPIRIT
(Ephesians 5:18). Always approach the BIBLE praying that the SPIRIT will be
your Teacher and will guide you to a better understanding of HIS HOLY WORD, or
it will remain a difficult book (John 16:12-15).
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came
about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in
the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy
Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20-21.
Keep in mind that the BIBLE is not a book of philosophy, although
it is philosophical. Do not go to the BIBLE for a scientific treatise. However,
there is no discrepancy between ascertained facts of science and the BIBLE. The
BIBLE is not a book of history, but is found to be accurate when recording
history. The BIBLE was given to man from GOD revealing JESUS CHRIST as the SON
of GOD, and GOD the SON, the only Savior (John 14:6). HE is the center and the
circumference. It is CHRIST from Genesis to Revelation (John 5:39).
2 Timothy 3:16,17 "All Scripture is inspired by GOD and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in
righteousness; that the man of GOD may be adequate, equipped for every good
work.""All Scripture is inspired by GOD…." simply means
that the HOLY SPIRIT exerted HIS supernatural influence upon the writers of the
BIBLE. Therefore, the Scriptures are inspired word for word. By this we mean that
every word, in the original, is fully and equally inspired in all of its
teachings. The BIBLE does not just contain the WORD OF GOD; it is the WORD OF
GOD. The writers of the BIBLE did not write by natural inspiration, or by an
act of the human will. "Men moved by the HOLY SPIRIT spoke from GOD."
(2 Peter 1:21). David said, "The SPIRIT of the LORD spoke by me, and HIS
word was on my tongue" (2 Samuel 23:2).The HOLY SPIRIT is the Author of
the BIBLE. (2 Peter 1:21) Man is the instrument used by the HOLY SPIRIT to
write the BIBLE.
.
THE AUTHENTICITY
OF THE BIBLE
The Bible authors come from a cross section of humanity; educated
and uneducated; including kings, fishermen, public officials, farmers,
teachers, and physicians. Some were kings, like David and Solomon and others
were very common people. Some of the prophets were just ordinary men. The Old
Testament prophet, Amos, said he was just a gatherer of sycamore fruit – that’s
all he did for a living. Others are better known men like Moses, who was highly
educated in the schools of Egypt, and Paul who also was a highly educated man.
Some were common fishermen, like Peter and John. Not much training, but taught
by the Lord himself, and by the Holy Spirit. So they come from a variety of
walks of life and addressed the various subjects like religion, history, law,
science, poetry, drama, biography, and prophecy. Yet its various parts are as
harmoniously united as the parts that make up the human body. The books are
gathered together into two divisions, the Old and New Testaments. The canon of
Old Testament scripture was completed in about the fourth century BC and there
are thirty-nine books in the Old Testament and twenty-seven books in the New
Testament, that were written between
A.D. 55- 90.The Gospels recount the story of Jesus Christ, the promised
Messiah. Each book gives us a unique perspective on his life.
For 40 authors, with such varied backgrounds, to write on so many
subjects over a period of approximately 1,600 years in absolute harmony is a
mathematical impossibility. It could not happen! Then how do we account for the
BIBLE? The only adequate explanation is… "….. Men moved by the HOLY
SPIRIT spoke from GOD" (2 Peter 1:21).
The Old Testament falls into three major
divisions. The Hebrews referred to them as The Law, the Prophets, and the
Writings. There are twenty-four in the Hebrew Old Testament. That is because
the Jews combine certain books and count them as one. Ezra-Nehemiah, for
instance, is one book in the Hebrew Bible. I and II Kings, I and II Chronicles,
I and II Samuel are one book. That is why they come out with a different number
of books.
The Law consists of the five books of Moses:
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These are the books
ascribed to Moses as the writer. They constitute for the Jewish people the very
heart of revelation. Everything gathers around the five books of the Torah. It
is also called the Pentateuch, which comes from the Greek meaning five books.
Then there were the prophets, and these would
include all the ones we know, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the twelve
Minor Prophets beginning with Hosea through Malachi. The prophet Daniel is an
exception, and is classified in the Old Testament with the Writings. The
Writings would include books like Ruth, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of
Solomon, etc.
The Jews of course believed that Moses gave them
the first five books, and that he received them and the teaching of them from
God himself. Included in that were the Ten Commandments, which Moses received
from the hand of God, written by the finger of God and given to Moses on Mt.
Sinai.
Along with that came another revelation, which
Moses was told to write down. God didn’t write it for him, as he did the Ten
Commandments. Moses came down from the mountain with a description of the
tabernacle, for instance. It’s important to note that not only was the Ten
Commandments, the Law, given from Mt. Sinai, but also, at the very same time,
the tabernacle. The reason that is important is that the law is that part of
the revelation of God’s own character and nature that condemns us, and all
through the Bible you will see that the law serves to make us feel guilty. We
all know as we read the Ten Commandments that we have broken them; therefore,
the effect of the law is to make us feel guilty. If all we had from God were
the Ten Commandments, we would know what God wanted, but we would all be very
disappointed in ourselves, feeling guilty and becoming very angry and
rebellious because we would know we had not kept them.
So what the tabernacle did was provide a remedy.
The tabernacle is the Old Testament way of teaching about Jesus. You see the
ritual of the tabernacle, even the curtains and the divisions, etc., are a
picture of Jesus. It is also pictures of man.There are three divisions in the
tabernacle, the tent of meeting of the Old Testament. There is the outer court
to which Gentiles were admitted. There is the holy place to which only the high
priests could go. And there is the holy of holies, a division of the holy
place. The tabernacle proper was divided into two sections, the holy place and
the holy of holies. Into the holy of holies only the high priest could go, and
he only once a year and then only under the most rigid conditions. He had to
bring a basin of blood with him and offer it before the mercy seat. If he did
not meticulously fulfill the requirement, he would be struck dead. This is a
picture of the rigidity of the law, but the tabernacle was provided as the
means of redemption, of covering over the sins of individuals so God could
dwell with his people. That of course is what Jesus does for us. So the
tabernacle is a beautiful picture of Jesus.
Tabernacle is also a picture of man because man
is also in three divisions. We have the body which is the outward part of our
being which the world can touch, feel and see, etc. Then we have a hidden part,
the soul, which is our inner life, our personality, conscious existence,
thought life, volition, imagination, etc. We are the only ones who know that in
any intimate detail. Then there is the spirit within, which is still so
mysterious we hardly understand what it is, but that is the center of our
being. You see that corresponds to the holy of holies. The death of Jesus
gained access to the spirit of man, and that is why the tabernacle is such a
marvelous study of man. The study of the tabernacle in the books of Leviticus
and Numbers is probably the most thoroughgoing psychological treatise on man
that we have on this planet. so read them carefully, as those books that seem
to be so dull are really filled with tremendously significant meaning for us.
The Prophets were written by various men as they
came along. Jeremiah’s prophecies consist largely of sermons delivered in
various places, gathered up and put in book form. Isaiah does likewise. Isaiah,
Jeremiah and Ezekiel are the Major Prophets. Then come the “minor” prophets,
not because they are unimportant but because they are relatively short: Hosea,
Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai,
Zechariah, and Malachi. These are wonderful books and treat in detail what God
wanted his people to know, and they are valuable for us today.
The most common statement of the divine
authorship of scripture are the words, “the word of the Lord came to me.”. “How
did that happen?” In what way did the word of the Lord come to these men
alone?” We’re not sure exactly how. The Old Testament tells that God sometimes
spoke through visions. Perhaps the man would be wide-awake, sitting in his
chair, and he would begin to see visions in the inner mind. Sometimes God spoke
by dreams, and sometimes with a still small voice within. It’s a mystery how
the word of God was actually spoken to men. But universally, through both the
Old and New Testaments, these men claim that they spoke by the authority of
God. God had taught them what to say. That is one of the major ways by which it
was determined which was an authentic book and which was not.
These prophets not only spoke the mind of God to
people, gave them God’s viewpoint of life, forth-telling what God wanted to say,
but they also, along with that, predicted the future. The reason was to
establish their validity as a prophet. Every prophet had to predict some event
that would take place in the course of his own life, so that people could check
on him. Those prophets who predicted something that didn’t happen were to be
stoned, because they were false prophets.
One of the great proofs that these books are
from the hand of God, and a partial answer to the question of how the books
were chosen, is the fact that the Bible does not contradict itself. Bible is
without error and it blends together, that you can take a book like Genesis and
read it through, then turn to the last book of the Bible, the book of
Revelation written sixteen hundred years later, and find the two books clearly
tied together by trains of thought. Then you can find that some of the
prophets, such as Daniel, tie in strongly with the book of Revelation. The book
of Leviticus ties in very closely with the book of Hebrews. There could be no
possible collusion between the writers of these books; nevertheless they agree
and blend together. One is based upon another, sometimes deliberately,
sometimes indirectly. But it is very evident that another mind is behind it
all. It is that quality of scripture that makes you aware that you are dealing
with a product that man could not produce. He could not make it fit that way,
and that marks it as God’s book.
Take for instance the book of Hebrews. The
writer is thoroughly acquainted with the Old Testament, yet what he is writing
about is Jesus. He is therefore writing about someone whom the Jews, the
writers of the Old Testament, did not know at all, yet he proves in a most
remarkable way that Jesus fulfills all these things. He is therefore dealing
with history. Now he can’t make up history; it is too well known by others and
can be checked on. The fact that his historic account of the life, teachings
and works of Jesus agrees with an Old Testament book written hundreds of years
before is far beyond the ability of someone to imaginatively create. Everyone
who works with the Old Testament agrees that this collusion is something that
can’t be produced by some artifice.
Beginning in the New Testament we move from the
realm of shadow, type, and prophecy, into the full sunshine of the presentation
of the Son of God. The Old Testament speaks of him on every page, but speaks in
shadows, in types, in symbols, and in prophecies -- all looking forward to the
coming of someone. You cannot read the Old Testament without being aware of
that constant promise running through every page -- Someone is coming! Someone
is coming!
Now, when we open the Gospels, that someone
steps forth in the fullness of his glory. As John says, "We have beheld
his glory...as of the only Son from the Father," (John 1:14 (People often
wonder why we have four Gospels. There is a very good reason for this. It is
interesting to note that each of these Gospels is a development of an
exclamatory statement that is found in the Old Testament. Four different times
-- and only four times -- in the Old Testament there was an exclamatory
statement made concerning the Messiah, introduced always by the word behold. In
one of the prophets we read, "Behold thy king, O Israel!" In another
place we read, "Behold the man!" In a third place we read,
"Behold my servant!" In still a fourth place we read, "Behold
thy God!" These four statements are amplified and developed in the four
Gospels -- Matthew, the Gospel of the King; Mark, the Gospel of the Servant;
Luke, the Gospel of the Son of man; and John, the Gospel of God, the
presentation of the Son of God.
THE BIBLE TRANSFORMED THE
WORLD.
There can be no doubt
that the Bible has done more to change the face of the world than any other
book. A mere two hundred years after it was created, it brought about the
conversion of the entire Roman Empire from paganism to Christianity. Since
then, Christianity has become the largest single religion in the world (with
2.1 billion adherents). The world as we see it today is a battlefield at every level—political,
moral, mental and spiritual. The arch enemy of our souls is no “push-over.” the
nature and intensity of the war has become more apparent than ever. Yet, there
can be no doubt that for the impregnable strongholds to fall, we must follow God’s
word as the ultimate weapon given to us by our Lord and God.
This book made me think the most and changed the way I see the
world. The Bible is the only book in the world that offers objective evidence
to be the Word of God and gives real proof of its divine inspiration. The Bible
is the only religious Scripture in the world that logically can be considered
inerrant in the autographs and documented scientific and medical prevision. No
Other ancient book is ever carefully analyzed along scientific
lines, but many books have
been written on the theme of the Bible and modern science and it
is the only major ancient religious Scripture whose complete textual
preservation is established as virtually autographic
The Bible is the only religious Scripture that offers
eternal salvation as a free gift entirely
By God’s grace and mercy and contains the greatest moral standards
of any book. Bible begins with the creation of the universe by divine fiat and
contains a continuous, if often brief and interspersed, historical record of
mankind from the first man, Adam, to the end of history.
It would be impossible to claim to be an educated person in today's world without
having at least some familiarity with the events contained in this book.
Actually, all of the events contained in this book should be known by everyone.
The Bible is worth all other books which have
ever been printed.
Indeed it is the most important book in the world. It is certainly
the only book of that is as comprehensive, as accessible and as potent in
opportunity for discovery. I can't even call it 'Religious ' although it fits
that category...I can't call it a 'History' although it contains many
Histories. I can't put any name or definition on it at all. So here we have a
book that is truly relevant to each and every living being. Here we have a book
that is alive, that we can crawl inside and find ourselves everywhere. This
book is a living thing and opens us to the Living Possibility of Discovery in
Every Moment. Remarkable, refreshing and it
opens to the freshness of discovery, to the inescapable Truth of Life contained
in and yet not bound by circumstance. “For the word of God is
alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it
penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the
thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”(Hebrew4:12)
The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will
keep you from the Bible. Within the covers of the Bible are the answers
for all the problems men face. The Bible is the only credible guide either
as to the real relationship between man and the earth and the great Creator of
both or concerning the purpose of the creation of both.
IT CONTAINS A
LIFE-CHANGING MESSAGE OF FREEDOM
The Bible has liberated many from oppression by its
clear teachings. It raises the dignity and rights of every human being ever
born. It is truly an amazing and remarkable piece of writing. It contains clear
teaching on the value and worth of every individual. It will astonish and
surprise you and likely move you to tears.
Bible contains detailed prophecies about the coming Savior
of the world and whose prophecies have proven true in history. Only the Bible
has the most realistic view of human nature, the power to convict people of
their sin and the ability to change human nature.
Only the Bible has unique theological content including
theology proper (God’s attributes); soteriology (depravity, imputation, grace,
propitiation/atonement, reconciliation, regeneration, union with Christ,
justification, adoption, sanctification, eternal security, election and so on);
Christology (the incarnation; hypostatic union) pneumatology (the Person and
work of the Holy Spirit); eschatology (detailed predictions of the end of
history); ecclesiology (the nature of the church as Christ’s bride and its
organic union with Him); and more. Only the Bible offers a realistic and
permanent solution to the problem of human sin and evil. Only the Bible
has its accuracy confirmed in history by archeology and other sciences.
The internal and historical characteristics of the Bible are unique in
its unity and internal consistency despite production over a 1,500-year period
by 40-plus authors in three languages on three continents discussing scores of
controversial subjects yet having agreement on all issues. The Bible is the
most translated, purchased, memorized and persecuted book in history.
Only the Bible is fully one-quarter prophetic, containing a total of some
400 complete pages of predictions. Only the Bible has withstood 2,000 years of
intense scrutiny by critics, not only surviving the attacks but prospering and
having its credibility strengthened by such criticism.(Voltaire, and not a few
cult leaders, predicted that the Bible would be extinct within 100 years;
within 50 years Voltaire was extinct and his house was a warehouse of the
Geneva Bible Society.) The Bible has molded the history of Western
civilization more than any other book. The Bible has had more influence in the
world than any other book. Only the Bible has a Person-specific (Christ
centered) nature for each of its 66 books, detailing the Person’s life in
prophecy, type, anti-type and so on 400-1,500 years before the Person was born.
Only the Bible proclaims a resurrection of its central figure that is
proven in history. Only the Bible provides historic proof that the one
true God loves mankind. Only the Bible gives real proof of its divine
inspiration..
The following are few examples of remarkable statements found in
the Holy Bible, now verified by science. Science expresses the universe in five
terms: time, space, matter, power and motion. So does Bible "In the
beginning (time) God created (power) the Heaven (space) and the Earth
(matter)... And the Spirit of God moved (motion) upon the face of the
waters." [Genesis 1:1, 3 … written some 3500 years ago].The prophet Isaiah
who lived almost 3,000 years ago stated "It is He that . . .
stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent to dwell
in." [40:22]Scientists are beginning to understand that the universe is expanding,
or stretching out. Scripture clearly tells us At least seven times that
God stretches out the heavens like a curtain.
What Holds the Earth Up? In ancient times it was variously
believed that the earth sat on a large animal or a giant or even that a
mythical Atlas supported the pillars that held heaven and earth apart, and/or
carried the earth around on his shoulders (Where he stood while doing so
presents an interesting conundrum). However in what is probably the oldest book
of the Bible, Job, living in an ancient culture that knew nothing about space
or planets, asserted that God hung the earth on nothing (1500 B.C.) or, in
other words, the earth free floats in space."He stretches out the
north over empty space; he hangs the earth on nothing [Job 26:7]
what a remarkable, yet simple statement of fact. The earth is suspended in
space—held up by nothing. How did Job know this scientific fact? The Old
Testament prophets wrote as they were moved by the spirit of God. (2 Peter
1:21)
Flat versus Round Earth: For thousands of years people believed
the earth was flat. If one went too far, he would fall over the edge. In the
1500s, the first ship sailed around the world, thus proving the earth was
round. But the knowledge that the earth was round was recorded in the Bible
about 3000 years ago. The prophet Isaiah (40:22) spoke of the “circle of the
earth.” Solomon wrote, that God “set a compass [circle] upon the face of the
deep.” (Proverbs 8:27) Indeed, the Bible declared this fact by inspiration of
God.
It is difficult to wrap our minds around the concept of infinite
space and one Supreme Being who created all things. Well has the Psalmist said,
in consideration of the immensity and the minutiae of God’s providence
over all his works—“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me: it is high, I
cannot attain unto it.” (Psalm 139:6) No, we cannot; but Oh, what a thrilling
sense of mingled reverence, love and adoration fills the heart, when thus we
catch a glimpse of the intellectual and moral glory and majesty of our God!
Men have always been seeking to understand the mysteries of the
universe, but most have never looked beyond their own pride or superstition.
Indeed, the “For the wisdom of this world is
foolishness in God’s sight.” (1 Corinthians 3:19) When men become
humble before their God, when they see their own littleness, only then will
they begin to realize that their benevolent Creator has prepared the Heavens
and the Earth for them, and that He has also planned for mankind’s ultimate
blessing throughout eternity. In God’s due time, the mysteries of His vast
universe will be open to explore and understand. “The
heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day
after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They
speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet
their message has gone throughout the earth and their words to the entire
world.” Psalms 19:1-4
Why Bible? The Bible says “All Scripture is God-breathed and is
useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”
(2 Timothy 3:16). In other words, The Bible is the absolute word of God. All
scripture is God's very words to us and all scripture is inspired by God and is
useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our
lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
Paul presents that the Scriptures is the solution of all kinds of evils of the
world. All Scripture is God-breathed. God is the author of the Bible. In Genesis
2:7, God breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life and man became a
living being. In the same way all Scripture is God-breathed. All Scripture is
inspired by God and God used inspired people to reveal his plan of salvation to
all men. In the New Testament, the phrase “the word of God” appears over 300
times. 2 Peter 1:21 says, “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of
man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
This means that the Bible is divine and there is no fault.
Bible CONNECTS us TO
THE MOST UNIQUE PERSON EVER LIVED IN HISTORY
The Bible unfold the mystery of the most unique
person ever lived in history ‘Jesus of Nazareth” also called the "Christ"
(i.e."Anointed One"). You may even think you know him. But if you
have not read the account offered firsthand throughout this book, you will, in
effect, know nothing definite about him. The entire Old Testament points to his
coming, and the entire New Testament testifies to his teachings and actions.
Each year, over a billion people celebrate his birth, his death and his bodily
resurrection from the dead. Jesus is the only religious leader ever to make the
claim that he has risen from the dead. All others are dead and buried and
remain dead; Only Jesus claims to be alive. His name has been used to
bless people and it has been used as a curse word by those who despise him.
People have been healed and set free in his name. One thing is for sure: when
you meet Jesus in the pages of this book and understand who he claims to be it
is impossible for you to remain indifferent to him. You decide. If you think
you know about God already, consider the source of that "knowledge"
and examine if this book may, in fact, be a better source for true knowledge
about the one true Creator God that made you and everything else, both known an
unknown in this Universe.
People are free to reject this book and what it
says. God made us "free moral agents" to choose as we desire. Yet,
people violate the teachings and wisdom of this book at their own peril.
Because of the main person in this book, Jesus
of Nazareth, time has been split into two main epochs (B.C. "before
Christ" and A.D. "anno Domini" for "year of our Lord".
When it comes to the big picture of the Bible,
the following anonymous quotation sums up what the Bible is all about: “In the
Old Testament we have Jesus predicted. In the Gospels we have Jesus revealed.
In Acts we have Jesus preached. In the Epistles we have Jesus explained. In the
Revelation we have Jesus expected.”
From “In the beginning …” on, every word in the Bible points to
the fulfillment of God's promise and plan to bring salvation to all humankind
through His Son, Jesus Christ. So as you learn to study the Bible for yourself,
keep in mind that every word you read — every promise, challenge, and story —
between its covers is about Jesus and what he means to you.
JESUS CHRIST the Son of GOD
Christianity differs from all religions, because it is not a
religion. The world is full of religions and they all have one thing in common.
They all have a life style, regimen or set of rules whereby finite man can earn
or attain a place in heaven with an infinite GOD. Christianity is the result of
an infinite GOD reaching down to finite man and giving him salvation as a gift…
it is the life of the Son of GOD made living in man. CHRIST is Christianity and
Christianity is CHRIST. HE is the supreme subject of each book of the New
Testament, and fulfills all the promises of GOD in the Old Testament, from HIS
incarnation to HIS Second coming as "LORD of lords and King of kings"
(Rev. 17:14). HE is the GOD-man CHRIST JESUS in glory, exalted above all
creatures. JESUS said, "All authority has been given to ME in heaven and
on earth" (Matt. 28:18).
During HIS earthly ministry, HE claimed to be GOD incarnate (in
human flesh). HE is all that HE claimed to be, or HE is less than the least
(Rev. 1:8). Before HIS claim can be denied there are some things that must be
accounted for: His virgin birth: His holy, sinless life; His many miracles; his
vicarious death and HIS bodily resurrection.
THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST
John 1:1"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
GOD and the Word was GOD."
The deity of JESUS CHRIST, or HIS GOD nature, is well established
in the New Testament. Some of the facts are: HE is called GOD by the Apostle
John (John1:1).HE is called GOD by the Apostle Thomas (John 20:28).HE is called
GOD by GOD the Father (Hebrews 1:8).He claimed to be GOD in that HE was with
the Father before creation (John 17:5).HE claimed to be GOD in that HE was
before Abraham. "Abraham rejoiced to see my day…" (John 8:51-59).HE
received worship, and only GOD is to be worshiped (Matthew 14:33). Angels
refused worship (Rev. 22:8,9). Man refused worship (Acts 10:25,26).
HE forgives sin (Mark 2:5-11).HE is creator and maker of all
things (Col. 1:16).He is sustainer of all things (Hebrews 1:3). Only GOD can
control the universe.He claimed to have "all authority… in heaven and
earth" (Matthew 28:18). GOD has all authority.
HE walked upon the waters of Galilee. The winds and the waves
obeyed HIS command. HE healed the sick and raised the dead. HE gave sight to
the blind and hearing to the deaf. HE cast out demons and made the lame to
walk. HE turned water into wine, and fed the five thousand with the lunch of a
lad.
THE HUMANITY OF JESUS CHRIST
Romans 1:3,4 "concerning HIS Son, who was born of a
descendent of David according to the flesh"
The humanity of JESUS CHRIST is seen in HIS human parentage (Matt.
2:11).He developed as a normal human being (Luke 2:52).He was subject to all
the sinless infirmities of the human nature: HE was hungry (Matt. 4:2).HE was
thirsty (John 19:28).HE was weary (John 4:6).HE wept (John 11:35).HE was
tempted (Heb. 4:15).
JESUS is man, and yet HE is more than man. He is not GOD and man,
but the GOD-man. HE is GOD in human flesh. HIS two natures are bound together
in such a way that the two become one, having a single consciousness and will.
But that is far above our ability to reason and understand. We will look at
this more when we get to the death of JESUS CHRIST.
THE MIRCLE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST
Luke 1:26-35 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent
from God to a city in Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man
whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was
Mary. And coming in, he said to her, "Hail, favored one! The Lord {is}
with you." But she was greatly troubled at {this} statement, and kept
pondering what kind of salutation this might be. And the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. "And
behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him
Jesus. "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and
the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign
over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end. " And
Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" And
the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and
the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy
offspring shall be called the Son of GOD.
The virgin birth of JESUS CHRIST is without parallel in human
history. It was by the virgin birth that GOD became man, one perfect person but
two natures. One nature being that of Almighty GOD, the other being that of
man… man without sin (Hebrews 4:15). The union of the two natures became the
GOD-man CHRIST JESUS.
The first hint of the virgin birth is found in Genesis 3:15. The
one to defeat Satan was to born of the "seed" of woman. This is a
biological miracle; there is no "seed" of the woman. From this, we
are to understand that ONE was to be born of a woman without a human father
(verses 34 and 35).
Isaiah prophesied that a "virgin will be with child and bear
a son, and she will call HIS name Immanuel (GOD with us)." (Isaiah 7:14)
Again Isaiah prophesied saying, "a child will be born to us,
a son will be given to us" (Isaiah 9:6,7). This means that GOD gave HIS
only begotten Son who was with HIM from eternity, and the Child JESUS was born
of a virgin. GOD gave HIS Son "to us."
According to prophecy, HE was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
Joseph with Mary went up to Bethlehem to be taxed, and to fulfill prophecy
(Luke 2:1-7).
THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST
Philippians 2:8 "And being found in appearance as a man, HE
humbled HIMSELF by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a
cross."
The death of JESUS CHRIST is mentioned more than 120 times in the
New Testament and is spoken of many times by the prophets in the Old Testament.
The death of JESUS CHRIST was vicarious (Matt. 20:28). HE was
GOD’s substitute for sinners (2 Cor. 5:21). On the cross, CHRIST was made sin
for the sinner. By faith in HIM, the sinner is made righteous with the
righteousness of GOD.
The death of JESUS CHRIST was natural (John 19:31-37). By a
natural death we mean that HIS spirit and soul were separated from HIS body.
The death of JESUS CHRIST was unnatural (Rom. 6:23). By an
unnatural death, we mean that since HE was sinless, in that HE "committed
no sin" (1 Peter 2:22) "had no sin" (1 John 3:5) "knew no
sin" (2 Cor. 5:21) before HE could die, HE had to be "made sin on our
behalf." Therefore, HIS death was unnatural.
The death of JESUS CHRIST was preternatural (Rev. 13:8). By this,
we mean that the death of JESUS CHRIST was not an afterthought with GOD… it was
a forethought of GOD.
The death of JESUS CHRIST was supernatural (John 10:17,18). Jesus
said, "No one has taken it away form ME." Then HE said, "I lay
down on MY own initiative (supernaturally)." "I have authority to
take it up again (supernaturally)." This HE did on the cross, and three
days and three nights later, HE took life up again when HE arose from the dead.
Only GOD in the form of man could die a vicarious, natural, unnatural,
preternatural, and supernatural death.
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
Matthew 28:1-20 "Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn
toward the first {day} of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to
look at the grave. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel
of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat
upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his garment as white as
snow; and the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. And the
angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that
you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. "He is not here, for He
has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. "And
go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold,
He is going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have
told you." And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy
and ran to report it to His disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and greeted
them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus
*said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave
for Galilee, and there they shall see Me."
Now while they were on their way, behold, some of the guard came
into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.
And when they had assembled with the elders and counseled
together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and said, "You
are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were
asleep.' "And if this should come to the governor's ears, we will win him
over and keep you out of trouble." And they took the money and did as they
had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, {and is}
to this day.
But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain,
which Jesus had designated. And when they saw Him, they worshiped {Him}; but
some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All
authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and
make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;
and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. "
JESUS said, "I am the resurrection and the life" (John
11:25). The resurrection of JESUS CHRIST was the doctrine of every disciple,
the faith of every true believer, the courage of every martyr, the theme of
every sermon, and the power of every evangelist. It is the single most
important event in the history of the world and what you believe about it is
the single most important thing you will ever decide.
Luke tells that we have "many convincing proofs"
according to eyewitnesses: After HIS resurrection HE appeared first to Mary
Magdalene (John 20:11-18). He appeared to the women returning from the grave
(Matt. 28:5-10).Then HE appeared to Peter (Luke 24:34). He appeared to the
Emmaus disciples (Luke 24:13-31). The apostles, Thomas was not present (Luke
24:36-43). Again to the apostles, Thomas was present (John 20:24-29).To the
seven by the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1-23) and over 500 brethren (1 Cor.
15:6).
HE was seen of James (1 Cor. 15:7). HE was seen again by the
eleven apostles (Matt. 28:16-20 and Acts 1:3-12).HE was seen of Stephen, the
first martyr (Acts 7:55).HE was seen of Paul on his way to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6
also 1 Cor. 15:8).Many of these eyewitnesses died martyrs’ because they preached
the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST. They were glad to die for a living CHRIST.
They had the "convincing proofs."
When JESUS was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, all of HIS
disciples "left HIM and fled" (Matt. 26:56). From this time until
after HIS resurrection, the disciples lived in fear. They did not believe that
HE would rise form the dead (John 20:9). Had JESUS not come from the dead, the
cross would have been the end of Christianity. After the death of JESUS, we see
HIS disciples dejected, discouraged, and defeated. The death of JESUS meant but
one thing to them: the end. How do we account for the great change that came
into their lives three days and three nights later? The only logical
explanation is they had the "convincing proofs" HE had risen from the
dead, and was alive forevermore. They saw HIM, talked with HIM, touched HIM and
ate with HIM.
Now look at some "convincing proofs" according to
circumstantial evidence: The change that came into the lives of the disciples
after the resurrection… from fear to unlimited courage. They rejoiced in
persecution (Acts 5:40-42). They chose death, with faith in the resurrected
CHRIST, rather than to deny that faith and be released (Heb. 11:35).
The early church began to worship on the first day of the week,
the day of the resurrection. It was not a law… it was spontaneous (Acts 20:7).
For almost two thousand years, the church has worshiped on the first day. For
the Christian, every Sunday is Easter.
The early Christians went everywhere with the word of the
resurrection (Acts 8:1-4).
The empty tomb… for if JESUS is not alive, what happened to HIS
body? The Roman guards were paid to say, "HIS disciples came by night and
stole HIM away while we were asleep" but the verses we have just read show
that HIS disciples lacked the courage. Had the disciples stolen HIS body, then
how do you account for the fact that they all suffered and most of them died
martyrs’ deaths? In the face of death one of them would have disclosed the
location of the "stolen body" to save his own life. Second, no one
was ever arrested or tried for stealing the body of JESUS. It is evident that
the governing officials did not believe the story of the guards. Third, the
guards would have been put to death for falling asleep while at watch on their
posts. Fourth, if they were asleep, how could they have known that it was the
disciples that stole the body? Fifth, if the enemies of CHRIST could have
produced the body of JESUS they could have brought a sudden and swift end to
Christianity and they would have.
The linen wrappings found in the empty tomb are proof of the
resurrection (John 20:1-10). Had friend or foe stolen the body, they would not
have removed the line wrapping; since HE had been dead three days and nights.
When John saw the linen wrapping and recognized that they were folded the same
as when they were wrapped about the body, he knew that a miracle had taken
place. JESUS came out of the wrappings, and they collapsed without disturbing
the folds. They were left in the empty tomb as "convincing proof" and
when John saw and understood, he believed that JESUS had come from the dead.
THE ASCENSION AND SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST
Acts 1:9-11 "and after HE had said these things, HE was
lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received HIM out of their
sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while HE was departing,
behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them; and they also said,
"Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This JESUS who has
been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have
watched HIM go into heaven."
After forty days of instructing HIS disciples, the risen CHRIST
ascended up on high and is seated at the right hand of the Father (Heb. 10:12).
Two men brought the message of HIS second coming to the apostles: "This
JESUS, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same
way…" The message of the second coming of JESUS is so important, that it
is mentioned over three hundred times in the New Testament.
HE is coming to take HIS church to be with HIM (1 Thes. 4:16,17
also John 14:1-6).
HE is coming to judge the nations (Matt. 25:31-46).
HE is coming to save Israel (Rom. 11:25,26).
HE is coming to sit upon the throne of David (Luke 1:31-33 also
Isaiah 9:6,7).
HE is coming to bring righteous government to this earth (Heb.
1:8).
JESUS CHRIST is coming back to this earth again. Maranatha LORD…
"Come, LORD JESUS"
People are free to reject this book and what it says. God made us
"free moral agents" to choose as we desire. Yet, people violate the
teachings and wisdom of this book at their own peril.
Because of the main person in this book, Jesus of Nazareth, time
has been split into two main epochs (B.C. "before Christ" and A.D.
"anno Domini" for "year of our Lord"). Jesus is the
only religious leader ever to make the claim that he has risen from the dead.
All others are dead and buried. Only Jesus claims to be alive. Each year,
over a billion people celebrate his birth, his death and his bodily resurrection
from the dead.
THE BIBLE IS THE DAIL BREAD FOR BELIEVER
Jesus said, “It is written, ‘MAN shall not live on bread
alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4.2 TIMOTHY 2:15- "Be diligent to present yourself approved to
GOD as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word
of truth."
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to GOD" is a
command. As you study the BIBLE, you will discover that it does not just
contain the WORD of GOD… it is the WORD of GOD.The most important spiritual
discipline is the importance of reading, studying, memorizing, knowing, and
meditating upon God's written Word. But too many people don’t attempt it
because it’s what preachers and pastors do or seems too hard. The biggest
reason why people don’t do personal bible study is that they don’t know the
vital importance or how to do it. In my walk I have found that having a
bible study discipline has aided me beyond human comprehension and enabled me
to come to biblically sound life and conclusions.
Why we need to study the Bible? One of the most
dominant themes in the Bible — God told Joshua, the man charged with the
responsibility of leading the Jewish people into the Promised Land, “Be careful
to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning
either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything
you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night
so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you
prosper and succeed in all you do” (Joshua 1:7–8).
As you learn to study the Bible for yourself,
you will find that just making the effort can be quite challenging. But as you
figure out, you will realize that reading the Bible is not just challenging,
but also changing your life forever and find it enjoyable and enlightening. So
as you read this book, allow yourself to learn to read and study the Bible! As
you do, you'll find out that it is in every way a great book — the greatest!
What is the function of the Scripture? It is to make us have
the right relationship with God. The Scripture has power to change any kinds of
person through the functions of teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training.
When the word of God came to Abraham, he believed. When the word of God came to
David, he repented his sins. No one can change or correct others but the word
of God can correct us when we make mistakes. Peter said in 1 Peter 1:23, “You
have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the
living and enduring word of God.” The word of God enabled us to be born again.
The word of God is sufficient to equip us to do every good work. We have to go
back to the Scripture to do the work of God. The Bible is unique among
so-called "holy" books in that it does not merely give moral teaching
and say, "Trust me." Rather, we have the ability to test it by
checking the hundreds of detailed prophecies that it makes, by checking the historical
accounts it records, and by checking the scientific facts it relates. Bible is
totally reliable and without error.
What Bible says about? We are living in the most
revolutionary period of the world history. The world has witnessed agricultural
revolution, industrial revolution, Information revolution and we are now into
economic driven revolution and ecological awareness, in mobilizing nations. In
spite of all the great revolutions, still the world is going through great
turmoil, confusion and chaos. Every morning one is confronted by “Breaking
News”, which pains and grips our heart with terror. Ethnic and communal
violence, insurgency, terrorism, scams, and other news like drug menace, AIDS,
cancer, rapes, child abuse, kidnapping, ecological imbalance, economical
instability, political warfare, corruption, discrimination in the name of
caste, color and creed, exploitation and poverty etc. add to our misery.
Although there seems to be no readymade answers and permanent solutions to the
miseries and for all such human predicaments, the Question remains, “Where can
one find true and lasting Peace, freedom and salvation?” “Has God done anything
for me in this life, in preparation for my Destination? There are so many
questions that philosophers have asked that God answers for us in Scripture.
What is the purpose to life? Where did I come from? Is there life after death?
How do I get to heaven? Why is the world full of evil?
While mankind as a whole continues to seek love
and satisfaction in all of the wrong places, God—our good and gracious
Creator—tells us what will bring us lasting joy. His revealed Word, the Bible,
is so important that Jesus said of it, "Man does not live on bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). In
other words, if we want to live life to the fullest, as God intended, we must
listen to and heed God's written Word.
Keep turning the pages of this remarkable book. Read it with an open mind and open heart. It contains pure truth about God, about life, the nature of mankind and our own hearts as human beings. The Gospel of John is a wonderful place to start, but read the whole thing — Old and New Testaments. You'll be amazed what you discover about God, and about yourself.
If this God is indeed your judge, before whom you will someday
give an account of your life, it truly behooves you to be aware of who he is
and the simple thing he asks of us before that solemn time comes. In essence,
this book will help you to deal with that very event for which we are all
destined. Be warned: you will not be the same after you read this book.
Benefits and
Blessings of the Bible .
The Bible gives us the measuring stick by which
we can distinguish truth from error. It tells us what God is like. To have a
wrong impression of God is to worship an idol or false god. The Bible tells us
how one truly gets to heaven, (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:1-10; Isaiah 53:6; Romans
3:10-18, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-13). Along this line, God's Word shows us just how
much God loves us (Romans 5:6-8; John 3:16). And it is in learning this that we
are drawn to love Him in return (1 John4:19).
The Bible equips us to serve God (2 Timothy 3:17; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). It helps us know how to be saved from our sin and its ultimate consequence (2 Timothy 3:15). Meditating on God’s Word and obeying its teachings will bring success in life (Joshua 1:8; James 1:25). God’s Word helps us see sin in our lives and helps us get rid of it (Psalm 119:9, 11). It gives us guidance in life, making us wiser than our teachers (Psalm 32:8, 119:99; Proverbs 1:6). The Bible keeps us from wasting years of our lives on that which does not matter and will not last (Matthew 7:24-27).
Studying the Bible helps us see beyond the sinful temptations, so that we can learn from others' mistakes rather than making them ourselves. Experience is a great teacher, but when it comes to learning from sin, it is a terribly hard teacher. It is so much better to learn from others' mistakes. There are so many Bible characters to learn from, some of whom can serve as both positive and negative role models at different times in their lives. For example, David, in his defeat of Goliath, teaches us that God is greater than anything He asks us to face (1 Samuel 17), while his giving in to the temptation to commit adultery with Bathsheba reveals just how long-lasting and terrible the consequences of a moment's sinful pleasure can be (2 Samuel 11).
The Bible is a book that is not merely for reading. It is a book for studying so that it can be applied. Otherwise, it is like swallowing food without chewing and then spitting it back out again—no nutritional value is gained by it. The Bible is God's Word. As such, it is as binding as the laws of nature. We can ignore it, but we do so to our own detriment, just as we would if we ignored the law of gravity. It cannot be emphasized strongly enough just how important the Bible is to our lives. Studying the Bible can be compared to mining for gold. If we make little effort and merely "sift through the pebbles in a stream," we will only find a little gold dust. But the more we make an effort to really dig into it, the more reward we will gain for our effort.
The Bible equips us to serve God (2 Timothy 3:17; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). It helps us know how to be saved from our sin and its ultimate consequence (2 Timothy 3:15). Meditating on God’s Word and obeying its teachings will bring success in life (Joshua 1:8; James 1:25). God’s Word helps us see sin in our lives and helps us get rid of it (Psalm 119:9, 11). It gives us guidance in life, making us wiser than our teachers (Psalm 32:8, 119:99; Proverbs 1:6). The Bible keeps us from wasting years of our lives on that which does not matter and will not last (Matthew 7:24-27).
Studying the Bible helps us see beyond the sinful temptations, so that we can learn from others' mistakes rather than making them ourselves. Experience is a great teacher, but when it comes to learning from sin, it is a terribly hard teacher. It is so much better to learn from others' mistakes. There are so many Bible characters to learn from, some of whom can serve as both positive and negative role models at different times in their lives. For example, David, in his defeat of Goliath, teaches us that God is greater than anything He asks us to face (1 Samuel 17), while his giving in to the temptation to commit adultery with Bathsheba reveals just how long-lasting and terrible the consequences of a moment's sinful pleasure can be (2 Samuel 11).
The Bible is a book that is not merely for reading. It is a book for studying so that it can be applied. Otherwise, it is like swallowing food without chewing and then spitting it back out again—no nutritional value is gained by it. The Bible is God's Word. As such, it is as binding as the laws of nature. We can ignore it, but we do so to our own detriment, just as we would if we ignored the law of gravity. It cannot be emphasized strongly enough just how important the Bible is to our lives. Studying the Bible can be compared to mining for gold. If we make little effort and merely "sift through the pebbles in a stream," we will only find a little gold dust. But the more we make an effort to really dig into it, the more reward we will gain for our effort.
The Bible is a compass, by which we must direct our course;
The Holy Spirit and the holy Bible is the great pilot, who steers
us in this course. We have no eyes to see the Word--until the Spirit enlightens
them. We have no ears to hear the Word--until the Spirit opens them. We have no
hearts to obey the Word--until the Spirit bows and incline them. Bible
is the Word of God—by it we know the mind of God; and by the efficacy of
the Spirit--we feel the power of the Word. The Word of God shows us the way;
and the Spirit of God leads us in that way which the Word points out. The
Spirit of God is able to expound the Word of God, and to make it plain to our
understanding. The Holy Spirit is the interpreter; He gives the Scriptures, and
He alone can reveal unto us the sense and meaning of the Scriptures. The Word
is God's counsel--to reveal the path in which we are to walk. The Spirit is
God's Counselor--who teaches us to walk in that path. If God had not put His
Spirit into our hearts, as well as His Word into our heads--we would never have
arrived at the fair haven of peace. The Scriptures reveal the very heart of
God. God Almighty has, in the sacred Scriptures, as it were, manifested
Himself, unfolded all His counsel to the creatures, as far as is necessary to
be known for their direction and guidance to everlasting life.
Some people guided by false rules, some guided by popular
opinions, some guided by worldly customs, Some guided by providence, Some
guided by conscience, Some guided by their own reason, Some guided by other
men's examples, Some guided by their own covetousness. But, Bible says when the
spirit of Truth comes He will guide you into all truth. Thus keep close to the
Word and Spirit of God. The Scripture is a rule outside of us--to show as where
we must go; the Spirit is a guide inside of us--to enable us to walk according
to the direction of that Word.
Bible offers the right and correct world view about purpose and
meaning of life?
All people
everywhere at some time in their lives recognize that they need guidance and direction to find the purpose of Life. Many
learned men do not even attempt to provide answers for the meaning and purpose
of life and other serious spiritual questions. If they do try, they cannot
prove their answers are right or wrong, and they often contradict one another.
A “worldview” refers to a
comprehensive conception of the world from a specific standpoint. A “Bible
worldview,” then, is a comprehensive conception of the world from a Biblical
standpoint. An individual’s worldview is his “big picture,” a harmony of all
his beliefs about the world. It is his way of understanding reality. One’s
worldview is the basis for making daily decisions and is therefore extremely
important.
The Holy Spirit is called "the spirit of Truth”. He always
speaks truth. He is the author of the Bible. He doesn't like lies. He loves to
bless people of truth and honesty. "But when He, the Spirit of
truth, comes--He will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13) If we allow
ourselves to be guided by Him, He will indeed show us what the truths from the
Bible we need to understand. Being the author of the Bible, He is best
qualified to interpret it to us. He will show us many things both directly from
the Word but also through other means. What He shows cannot be the mere product
of logic and reason, although it is not illogical. We must realize that the
Holy Spirit never guides us in any way contrary to the Holy Scriptures. We must
not believe every spirit claiming to be from God, but test the spirits
according to the standard of the Holy Scriptures.
An apple sitting on a table is seen by several
people. A botanist looking at the apple classifies it. An artist sees a
still-life and draws it. A grocer sees an asset and inventories it. A child
sees lunch and eats it. How we look at any situation is influenced by how we
look at the world at large. Every worldview, deals with some important
questions of: origin? Identity,
purpose, relevance, Meaning, potential, moral rights, sin, salvation, destiny,
God, Man, Truth, Evil.etc
Life is often defined by the questions we ask.
The questions we are asking often reveal what we are thinking – or the
direction we are going. Questions are the building blocks of life. The answers
to the questions that you ask are what build your world view. It is important to remember that a worldview is
comprehensive. It affects every area of life, from money to morality, from
politics to art. True Biblical life is more than a set of ideas to use at
church. Spirituality as taught in the Bible is itself a worldview. The Bible
never distinguishes between a “religious” and a “secular” life; the Everlasting
life is the only life there is. Jesus proclaimed Himself “the way, the truth,
and the life” (John 14:6) and, in doing so, became our worldview. Jeremiah
10:23 - The way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct
his own steps. The Bible teaches the true answers to these questions. Psalms
119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. John 17:17 -
Your word is truth. Ecclesiastes 2:1-11; 12:13,14 – king Solomon experienced
the pinnacle of enjoyment in every aspect of life: wealth, pleasure, and
wisdom. Did it satisfy? No, It was all "vanity and vexation of
spirit" (2:11). Then he learned the real purpose of life: "Fear God
and keep His commands" (12:13). Matthew 6:19-24,33 - The priority of life
is to seek God's kingdom and be right before Him.
A prevalent worldview today
is naturalism, which answers the three questions like this: 1) we are the
product of random acts of nature with no real purpose. 2) We do not respect
nature as we should. 3) We can save the world through ecology and conservation.
A naturalistic worldview generates many related philosophies such as moral
relativism, existentialism, pragmatism, and utopianism.
A Biblical worldview, on the other hand, answers the three questions biblically: 1) We are God’s creation, designed to govern the world and fellowship with Him (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:15). 2) We sinned against God and subjected the whole world to a curse (Genesis 3). 3) God Himself has redeemed the world through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ (Genesis 3:15; Luke 19:10), and will one day restore creation to its former perfect state (Isaiah 65:17-25). A Christian worldview leads us to believe in moral absolutes, miracles, human dignity, and the possibility of redemption.
A Biblical worldview, on the other hand, answers the three questions biblically: 1) We are God’s creation, designed to govern the world and fellowship with Him (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:15). 2) We sinned against God and subjected the whole world to a curse (Genesis 3). 3) God Himself has redeemed the world through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ (Genesis 3:15; Luke 19:10), and will one day restore creation to its former perfect state (Isaiah 65:17-25). A Christian worldview leads us to believe in moral absolutes, miracles, human dignity, and the possibility of redemption.
The Bible Tells Your Origin.
Most people wonder about the origin of the earth and
mankind. But often they are confused because they have been told we evolved
from "lower animals," which came from simpler organisms, all the way
back to some original life form. Evolution Cannot Answer Basic Questions of
Where Did the First Life Come From? Evolution requires that non-living matter
produced the first life form by chance where there was no life before. But what
we see around us is that life comes only from life. This is called the
"Law of Biogenesis."
Where Did All the Different Kinds of Living Things Come
From?
Evolution says that all life forms evolved from the first life.
But human experience and the fossil record both confirm that living things
reproduce "after their own kind." The offspring of a fish is another
fish, not a snake, bird, or man. The "missing links" - fossils of
organisms halfway between the kinds of plants or animals we have now - are all
still missing!
Why Is Man So Unique From the Animals We Are Supposed to Have
Evolved From?
Why do we appreciate beauty in art, music, and poetry? Why do we
have a conscience and a sense of morals? Why do we possess rational thought so
superior to animals?
The Bible Answers Simply that Life Was Created by God. Acts
17:24,25,28 - God made the world and everything in it. Life came from the
living God. Genesis 1:11, 12, 21-28 - The different kinds of life exist because
God created them with the power to reproduce after their own kind (cf. Ex.
20:11; Heb. 4:4). Genesis 1:26,27 - Man is different from the animals because
we did not evolve from animals. We were made with unique characteristics that
God possesses.
Bible reveals that God loves us.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.(John
3:16)
When people think no one
cares, they may become discouraged or even think life is not worth living.
Consider what the Bible says about God's care for us. Matthew 10:29-31 - God
cares for even the least animal, so that He knows everything that happens to
it. If so, think how much He must care about what happens to us. He knows even
how many hairs you have.
Matthew 6:25-33 - God values us more than He does birds and
flowers, yet He feeds and clothes them. Surely He will care for us, if we will
serve Him. James 1:17 - Every good and perfect gift is from the Father. Every
blessing we receive shows that God cares about us.
Hebrews 13:5,6 - God will not fail nor forsake us. Men may
fail, mistreat, or disappoint us. Not God. He always remains faithful to us,
provided that we remain faithful to Him. The Bible clearly affirms that God
loves every human being (John 3:16). Surely you need to understand what the
Bible says about God's care for you.
Bible reveals
that you can become a Member of God's Family
But as many
as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
(John1:12)
Most people would think it a great honor to be a child of
some important person in history. Consider then how great a blessing it would
be if you were a child of God Himself.
1 Timothy 3:15 - The house (family) of God is the church.
[Ephesians 2:19]
1 John 3:1,2 - God is willing to make us His children. This
indicates His love for us.
Matthew 12:47-50 - Whosoever does the will of the Father is Jesus'
brother, sister, etc.
1 Peter 1:22,23 - We are born again (into God's family) by obeying
the truth, the word of God.
Galatians 3:26,27 - To become children of God we must
believe in Jesus enough to obey in baptism (cf. John 1:12; 3:3,5; Rom. 6:4).
The Bible is the
Book of Divine instruction for our Guidance.
Most Christians have been programmed with some
religious teachings; but they are woefully ignorant of the truth of God's Word.
Those who abide in the Word will have grief and a burden over lost souls (Psalm
126:5-6; John 15:5). Those believers who view them self in
the MIRROR of the Word will hesitate from gossiping, condemning and
putting others down. Those believers who draw near unto God (James 4:8) will
care, for God cares (1st Peter 5:7). Caring is the hallmark quality of being a Christian
who loves the Lord. The world is dying for Christians who are real, who walk
with God in the Scriptures, who refuse to gossip in self-righteousness and
genuinely care about others and the souls of unbelievers
"But when He,
the Spirit of truth, comes--He will guide you into all truth." John
16:13
some people walk by false rules:
1. some walk by popular opinions.
2. Some walk by worldly customs.
3. Some walk by providence.
4. Some walk by conscience.
5. Some walk by their own reason.
6. Some walk by other men's examples.
7. Some walk by their own lusts.
But, dear friends, let me plead you to walk by none of these false rules--but keep close to the Word and Spirit of God.
The Scripture is a rule outside of us--to show as where we must go; the Spirit is a guide inside of us--to enable us to walk according to the direction of that Word.
The Bible is a compass, by which we must direct our course; the Spirit is the great pilot, who steers us in this course.
We have no eyes to see the Word--until the Spirit enlightens them.
We have no ears to hear the Word--until the Spirit opens them.
We have no hearts to obey the Word--until the Spirit bows and incline them.
some people walk by false rules:
1. some walk by popular opinions.
2. Some walk by worldly customs.
3. Some walk by providence.
4. Some walk by conscience.
5. Some walk by their own reason.
6. Some walk by other men's examples.
7. Some walk by their own lusts.
But, dear friends, let me plead you to walk by none of these false rules--but keep close to the Word and Spirit of God.
The Scripture is a rule outside of us--to show as where we must go; the Spirit is a guide inside of us--to enable us to walk according to the direction of that Word.
The Bible is a compass, by which we must direct our course; the Spirit is the great pilot, who steers us in this course.
We have no eyes to see the Word--until the Spirit enlightens them.
We have no ears to hear the Word--until the Spirit opens them.
We have no hearts to obey the Word--until the Spirit bows and incline them.
May
the MIRROR of God's Word discern the thoughts and intents of our heart and
cause us to become Christ like, Christ love about soul-winning, willing to
forgive instead of being self-righteous, concerned about the blatant crimes
being committed by our nation's leaders and to become what God wants us to be!
Bible is the Word of God—by it we know the mind of God; and by the efficacy of the Spirit--we feel the power of the Word. The Word of God shows us the way; and the Spirit of God leads us in that way which the Word points out. The Spirit of God is able to expound the Word of God, and to make it plain to our understanding. The Holy Spirit is the interpreter; He gives the Scriptures, and He alone can reveal unto us the sense and meaning of the Scriptures. The Word is God's counsel--to reveal the path in which we are to walk.
Bible is the Word of God—by it we know the mind of God; and by the efficacy of the Spirit--we feel the power of the Word. The Word of God shows us the way; and the Spirit of God leads us in that way which the Word points out. The Spirit of God is able to expound the Word of God, and to make it plain to our understanding. The Holy Spirit is the interpreter; He gives the Scriptures, and He alone can reveal unto us the sense and meaning of the Scriptures. The Word is God's counsel--to reveal the path in which we are to walk.
The Spirit is God's Counselor--who teaches us to walk in that path. If God had not put His Spirit into our hearts, as well as His Word into our heads--we would never have arrived at the fair haven of peace. The Scriptures reveal the very heart of God. God Almighty has, in the sacred Scriptures, as it were, manifested Himself, unfolded all His counsel to the creatures, as far as is necessary to be known for their direction and guidance to everlasting life.
Romans 3:23 - God is also concerned about the wrongs we do.
In His eyes, we have all sinned (Rom. 3:23; 1 John 1:8, 10). For our sins, we
deserve to be punished (Rom. 6:23).
Luke 19:10 - God cares about us so much that He sent His own Son
to earth to seek and save lost men. Jesus Died in Our Place.
Romans 5:6-9 - Sinful men deserved to be punished, but
because He loves us, God sent His Son to suffer so we could escape punishment.
Jesus paid this price for all men (1 Tim. 2:6; Heb. 2:9; John 3:16).
Every one of us needs our burden of guilt removed, but there
is no way to accomplish that except through Jesus (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). And
the Bible is the only book that can tell us how to receive God's forgiveness.
Surely this book deserves our attention.
The Bible
Has the Answer for all human predicament.
The
Bible is the only book in the world that offers objective evidence to be the
Word of God. Only the Bible gives real proof of its divine inspiration and the
only religious Scripture in the world that is inerrant. The Bible is the only
ancient book with documented scientific and medical prevision. No other ancient
book is ever carefully analyzed along scientific lines, but many modern books
have been written on the theme of the Bible and modern science and the only
religious writing that offers eternal salvation as a free gift entirely by
God’s grace and mercy. The Bible is the only major ancient religious writing
whose complete textual preservation is established as virtually autographic.
The Bible contains the greatest moral
standards of any book. It begins with the creation of the universe by divine
fiat and contains a continuous, if often brief and interspersed, historical
record of mankind from the first man, Adam, to the end of history and contains
detailed prophecies about the coming Savior of the world, prophecies which have
proven true in history. Bible has a totally realistic view of human nature, the
power to convict people of their sin, and the ability to change human nature.
Only the Bible has unique theological content, including its theology proper
(the trinity; God’s attributes); soteriology (depravity, imputation, grace,
propitiation atonement, reconciliation, regeneration, union with Christ,
justification, adoption, sanctification, eternal security, election, etc.);
Christology (the incarnation, hypostatic union); pneumatology (the Person and
work of the Holy Spirit); eschatology (detailed predictions of the end of
history); ecclesiology (the nature of the church as Christ’s bride and in a
spiritually organic union with Him); Only the Bible has its accuracy confirmed
in history by archeology, science, etc.
Only the Bible offers a realistic and
permanent solution to the problem of human sin and evil. The internal and
historical characteristics of the Bible are unique in its unity and internal consistency
despite production over a 1600-year period by 40-plus authors in three
languages on three continents discussing scores of controversial subjects, yet
having agreement on all issues. The Bible is the most translated, purchased,
memorized, and persecuted book in history. For example, it has been translated
into some 1700 languages. Only the Bible is fully one-quarter prophetic,
containing a total of some 400 complete pages of predictions. Only the Bible
has withstood 2000 years of intense scrutiny by critics and not only survived
the attacks but prospered and had its credibility strengthened by such
criticism. (Voltaire predicted that the Bible would be extinct within 100
years, but within 50 years Voltaire was extinct and his house was a warehouse for
the Bibles of the Geneva Bible Society.). Only the Bible has molded the history
of Western civilization more than any other book. The Bible has had more
influence in the world than any other book.. Only the Bible has a
Person-specific (Christ-centered) nature for each of its 66 books, detailing
the Person’s life in prophecy, type, antitype, etc., 400 to 1500 years before
that Person was ever born. Only the Bible proclaims a resurrection of its
central figure that can be proven in history and provides historic proof that
the one true God loves mankind.
“For God so loved the
world that He gave his only son (Jesus), that whoever believes in Him should
not perish but have eternal life.”(John.3: 16). For your salvation, there is
one God and one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus who gave himself as
a ransom for all men. (1Tim. 2:5-6). Jesus said, “You will know the
TRUTH, and the TRUTH will make you FREE.” He also said, “I am the WAY, the
TRUTH and the LIFE.” knowing the Lord Jesus is freedom and Everlasting life.
Salvation is God’s gift to man. But, no one can receive God’s forgiveness and
salvation unless and until one personally receives this forgiveness through
repentance and faith in Jesus. If one refuses to accept the gift of God’s
Salvation, it is painful, for God, and the person who refuses the Eternal Gift
will be condemned.” Except you repent, you ill all likewise perish (Luke.
13:3,5).
THE ORIGIN OF SIN
"And the angels who did not keep their own domain, but
abandoned their proper abode, HE has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for
the judgment of the great days." Jude 1:6
The origin of sin is one of the mysteries of the BIBLE. "The
secret things belong to the LORD our GOD" (Duet. 29:29). Its origin is one
of the "secret things" that will remain wrapped in obscurity. Sin was
first noted in the heart of Satan. He was created a perfect being, "…
Until unrighteousness was found in you" (Ezek. 28:11-19). Satan fell from
perfection when he exerted his will above the will of GOD. Five times he said,
"I will" (Is. 14:12-17). It was his will over GOD's will, this is
sin. It is believed by some great thinkers, that Satan, when first created, was
the ruler of this earth (Gen. 1:1), and that he fell through self-will; and at
his fall, the earth became "formless and void" (Gen. 1:2). They would
submit that GOD did not create it a chaos. Isaiah tells us that GOD created the
earth "and did not create it a waste place" (Is. 45:18). They would
argue that the earth was perfect at its creation in Genesis 1:1 but that
something happened between Gen. 1:1 and 1:2 that caused a chatastrophe and the earth
became "formless and void" (Gen. 1:2), but it was, they will say,
created thus. They would argue that some of the angels, along with Satan,
sinned by leaving their first estate. They would submit therefore that sin was
in the heart of Satan before GOD created man. This is simply an argument of man
and is not something that is proven by Scripture. Man is now and has always
been in an endless quest to explain GOD so HE lines up with our logic and our
thoughts. So we must conclude that the origin of sin is not something that GOD
cares if we understand or figure out. HIS ways are not our ways and our ways
are not HIS ways.
WHAT IS SIN? "… and sin is lawlessness." 1 John 3:4
It is impossible to deny the existence of sin, when the whole
world is in conflict between good and evil. If sin were not a fact, there would
be no crime; we would not need jails or prisons. We would need no locks on our
doors, or vaults for our valuables. To some, sin is being indiscreet; or it is
a weakness of the flesh. To others, it is the absence from good. To the
so-called scholar, sin is ignorance; and to the evolutionist, it is the nature
of the beast. The latest theory is that sin is a disease to be treated by
science, because man is not sinner… he is only sick. To others, sin is a form
of selfishness, but GOD declares that:
Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4)
Sin is falling short to the glory of GOD (Rom. 3:23)
Sin is revolting against GOD (Is. 1:2)
Sin is unbelief; it makes GOD a liar (1 John 5:10)
Sin is going your own way, planning your life according to your
own will, without seeking the will of GOD (Is. 53:6)
All unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17)
Sin is a folly to deceive you, a force to destroy you, and a fact
to condemn you. Sin is a volitional act of disobedience against the revealed
will of GOD.
HOW SIN ENTERED THE WORLD.
"Therefore, just as through one man entered sin into the
world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all
sinned…" Rom. 5:12 "… through one man sin entered into the
world" (the above verse). The fall of man is found in Genesis 3:1-24. When
Adam sinned, his seed became perishable (1 Peter 1:23). Therefore, we are
sinners, because we are born in sin (Ps. 51:5). You do not have to teach
children to be bad, but you do have to teach them to be good. You do not have
to teach them to lie, but you do have to teach them to tell the truth. "So
then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men"
(Rom. 5:18). According to the Word of GOD, all men are judged sinners; all are
condemned already (John 3:18). "All have sinned" (Rom. 3:23). Sin
entered the world through our first parents in the Garden of Eden, and
"all have sinned" because all are sinners.
Man sin by choice, because he is a sinner by nature. Therefore,
the dominion sin has over you is according to the delight you have in it.
THE RESULTS OF SIN.
"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins," Eph.
2:1 "… the wages of sin is death." As a result of man's sin, there
are three deaths. Keep in mind that death does not annihilate; it only
separates. In the Garden of Eden, it separated man from GOD spiritually; this
spiritual death. In natural death, it separates the spirit and the soul from
the body; this physical death. In final death, it separates man from the mercy
of GOD forever; this is eternal death.
The wages of sin is spiritual death. Just as sin separated man
from GOD spiritually and drove him from the presence of GOD out of the Garden,
so sin will separate you from GOD (Is. 59:1,2). The only way back to GOD is to
confess your sins to HIM (1 John 1:9) and forsake your sins (Is. 55:7), that
you may be restored to fellowship with GOD.
The wages of sin is physical death. Physical death is a result of
sin. Death had no claim on man until man sinned. Now all die, because all are
in sin. Death is universal, and since we have a universal effect, we must have
a universal cause, and that cause is universal sin. All men die, the good and
the bad, the young and the old, and man will continue to die until death is
destroyed by the LORD JESUS CHRIST (1Cor. 15:26) and is swallowed up in victory
(1 Cor. 15:54-57).
The wages of sin is eternal death. "The person who sins will
die" (Ezek. 18:20). This is eternal separation from the love of GOD (Rev.
20:14). Once the soul passes beyond the portals of Hades he is lost and lost
forever. He will continue to exist, but without hope. He is damned and damned
to all eternity. Eternal death is eternal separation from GOD (Luke 16:19-31)
GOD'S REMEDY FOR SIN.
"HE made HIM who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we
might become the righteousness of GOD in HIM." 2 Cor. 5:21 Man, not
willing to accept GOD's remedy for his ruin, strives to bring about his own
salvation by human means. He strives for self-righteousness, when he needs to
be made the "righteousness of GOD" (the above verse also Is. 64:6).
He strives to reform, when he needs to be regenerated (Titus 3:5).
He strives to turn over a new leaf, when he needs a new life (John
10:10).He strives to be justified by the Law when he needs to be justified by
faith in the LORD JESUS CHRIST (Gal. 2:16).He strives to clean up the old man,
when he needs to be made a new man in CHRIST (Eph. 4:24).He strives to be saved
by good works, when he needs salvation by the grace of GOD (Eph. 2:8,9).The only
remedy for the ruin of man is the SON of GOD, being made sin for us on the
cross. The only way to receive this remedy is by faith in HIM as personal
Savior (John 20:30,31)
The Scarlet Thread of Redemption"
The Bible is a book of redemption. It is that or nothing at all.
It is not a book of history, or of science, or of anthropology, or of
cosmogony. It is a book of salvation and deliverance for lost mankind. The idea
in the word "redemption" is twofold: it refers to a deliverance; and
it refers to the price paid for the deliverance, a ransom. We are redeemed from
the penalty of sin, from the power of Satan and evil, by the price Jesus paid
on the cross for us; and we are redeemed to a new a freedom from sin, a new
relationship to God, and a new life of love by the appropriation of the
atonement for our sins. The entire Bible, looks to the mighty, redemptive
atonement of Christ. His blood sacrifice is the ransom paid for our
deliverance. He took our sinful nature upon Himself in order that He might
satisfy the demands of the law. His sacrifice is accepted as the payment for
the debt the sinner man owes to God and His death is accepted as the full
payment for man's deliverance. Our Lord's redemptive work for us is three fold.
One, it is closely associated with forgiveness through the redemptive price of
Christ's death. Two, it involves justification since the deliverance
establishes us in a restored position of favor before God. Three, it promises
final deliverance from the power of sin at the coming of the Lord.
"The Scarlet Thread"
I. The Creation and the Fall
II. From the Seventh Day in Eden to the Call of Abraham
III. From the Call of Abraham Through the Times of the Judges
IV. From the First of the Prophets to the Founding of the Kingdom
V. David and the Kingdom of Isreal and Judah
VI. From the Prophets to the Christ to the Preaching of Paul
VII. The Apocalypse and the Consummation of the Age
I. The Creation and the Fall
When God made the heavens and the earth, they must have been
beautiful, perfect, and pure.
In the Garden of Eden, however, through a denial of the Word of
God and through a deception of the woman, our first parents fell. Eve was
deceived, but Adam chose to die by the side of the woman whom God had created
and placed in his arms.
When the Lord came to visit the man and his wife in the cool of
the day, He could not find them. They were afraid and hid themselves from the
Lord because they were naked and ashamed. To hide their guilt, they made for
themselves loin coverings of fig leaves, but when God looked upon the covering,
He said, "This will not do".
Covering for sin (atonement for sin) cannot be woven by human
hands. Therefore, somewhere in the Garden of Eden, the Lord took an innocent
animal, and before the eyes of Eve and Adam, God slew that innocent animal as
the ground drank up its blood. This is the beginning of "The Scarlet
Thread of Redemption". Through the slaughter of an innocent victim, God
took coats of skin and covered over the shame and the nakedness of the man and
his wife. This is the first sacrifice, and it was offered by the hand of
Almighty God.
I have often thought that when Adam saw the gasping, spent life of
that innocent creature, and when he saw the crimson stain which soiled the
ground, it was his first experience to know what it meant to die because of
sin.
So, the story of atonement and sacrifice begins and unfolds
throughout the Word of God until finally in glory we shall see great throngs of
the saints who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the
Lamb.
This is "The Scarlet Thread of Redemption".
From the Seventh Day in Eden to the Call of Abraham
In the Garden of Eden, as the Lord covered over the nakedness of
the man and the woman, He turned to Satan and said, "The seed of this
woman, whom you have deceived and through whom you have destroyed the human
race, will crush your head."
For centuries the old rabbis pored over that word of Jehovah God
to Satan. "The seed of the woman." Seed is masculine; seed belongs to
the man. A woman does not have seed. The old Rabbis pored over that word and
the promise of God that the seed of the woman shall bruise Satan's head.
We now know that the promise is related to the long conflict and
struggle between the hatred of Lucifer and the love of God in Christ Jesus. It
speaks of Jesus at Calvary. Jesus suffered. His heel was bruised. But in that
bruising, He defeated once and for all the power of that old serpent, the
devil. He bruised his head.
As the man Adam and his wife Eve made their first home in an earth
cursed for their sakes, in the passing of time there were born to them two
sons. One was named Cain and the other Abel. In jealousy and insane fury, the
older brother murdered the younger brother. But the seed of God must be
preserved. The Lord, therefore, gave to Eve another son named Seth. Seth was a
man of faith as Cain was a man of the world. When the children of Seth, the
godly remnant, intermarried with the children of Cain, the seed of the world,
the result was a fallen progeny that filled the earth with violence.
Finally, God said: "It is enough. One hundred twenty years
from now I am going to destroy this world by a flood." But a member of the
line of Seth found grace in the sight of the Lord. His name was Noah. To
preserve the righteous seed, God told Noah to build an ark; and into that ark
of safety, salvation, and hope Noah brought his family. After the passing of
the awesome judgment of the flood, the earth once again began its story of
redemption through the life of this one man and his three sons.
It was not long, however, until the ravages of sin began to waste
the select family of God. Instead of carrying out the great commission of the
Lord for mankind to inhabit the whole earth, the people drew together into one
plain and announced their purpose to build a tower around which they were to
center their civilization and their collective, communal unity.
When God looked down and saw the pride of men in their hearts, He
confused their speech and caused them to "babble". From this "Tower
of Bable", therefore, the different component parts of the human race,
being unable to understand each other, scattered in different directions and so
fathered the nations of the earth that grew up from those three great family
lines of Noah.
From the Call of Abraham Through the times of the Judges
We begin the story of Abraham in a dark, dark day. The whole world
has been plunged into abysmal idolatry, but God calls out this man to leave his
home, his place, his country, and his family to go into another country which
he should afterward receive for an inheritance.
In obedience, Abraham left the Mesopotamian valley and came as a
pilgrim, a stranger, and a sojourner into the promised land of Canaan. There he
dwelt and there God gave him two sons. But the Lord God said to Abraham that
Ishmael, the child of the flesh and the son of a slave woman, would not be the
promised seed. When Abraham was one hundred years old and when Sarah was ninety
years old, God miraculously placed into the arms of the parents the child and
seed of promise whom they named Isaac. Isaac was the father of two sons, Esau
and Jacob. The Lord, refusing Esau, chose Jacob whom He renamed, after a deep
conversion experience, "the Prince of God", even "Israel".
Because of a severe famine in Canaan and because of the presence
of the son of Israel, Joseph, in Egypt, the entire household of Jacob went down
to live in the land of the Nile. In the passing of the years, there arose a
Pharaoh who did not know Joseph. The chosen family became slaves to the new
ruler of Egypt, and their heavy groaning mounted up to the ears of the Lord God
in heaven. The Lord, therefore, raised up a mighty prophet by the name of Moses
to deliver his people form the bondage and slavery of the Egyptians. God
wrought this deliverance by a marvelous miracle called the Passover. For the
Lord said, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you and will spare you
and your home". This way of salvation through the blood is once again,
"The Scarlet Thread of Redemption".
After the Lord God delivered the chosen family out of Egypt, He
brought them by the hand of Moses through the parting of the Red Sea into the
Sinaitic Peninsula to the base of Mount Horeb. There for forty days and forty
nights Moses was with God, and there the Lord gave to Moses the pattern of the
Tabernacle, the ritual instructions of holy worship, and all of the other
marvelous things in the book of Leviticus that portray and prophesy the
sacrifice of the Son of God.
After the death of Moses, Joshua went over Jordan and completed
the wars of conquest. In the first confrontation at Jericho an incident
happened which gave rise to the title of this summary.
The scouts sent out by Joshua to spy out Jericho were saved by the
faith and the kindness of Rehab. The men of Israel promised her life and
safety, both for her and her father's house, if she would bind a scarlet thread
in her window. This she faithfully did, and, when Jericho was delivered into
the hands of Joshua by the mighty intervention of God, Rehab and her family
were spared because of that scarlet line. "The Scarlet Thread of
Redemption".
After the conquest of Canaan, through the military prowess and
genius of Joshua we have the story of Judges. The difference between a judge
and a king is this: a king gives to his son in succession his throne, but a
judge is raised up according to a crisis and endowed with special gifts from
God for that one period of time. The days of the Judges end with the birth of
Samuel.
From the Call of Abraham Through the Times of the Judges
During the time of Samuel, the people began to cry for a king. It
was the purpose of God in the beginning for the children of Israel to have a
king (Deut. 17:14-20 OT), but it hurt the heart of the Lord that the request
should come is so vain and rebellious a way as the presented it to Samuel. But
according to the the word and instructions of God, Samuel anointed Saul to be
king over Israel.
In his beginning ministry, Saul was a mighty man and carried out
the mandates of heaven, but he soon fell away from the instruction of Samuel
and fell into gross disobedience to the will of God. The Word of the Lord,
therefore, came to Samuel that he anoint a man after God's own heart.
That anointing was directed toward a lad from the shepherd field,
a son of Jesse by the name of David.
David and the Kingdom of
Israel and Judah
The first part of David's life as king of Israel was magnificent.
Then, in the very prime of his life, at the very height of his glory, he turned
aside from the will of God and became soft and indulgent and lustful like other
Oriental kings. This brought to David an infinite tragedy, one of which the
name of God was blasphemed and has been injured ever since. Nevertheless, God
forgave the sin of David and chose him to be the father of that marvelous Son
who would sit upon His throne as King forever. A type of the glorious son of
David, called Jesus the Christ, was the immediate son of David, called Solomon.
Solomon also began his reign gloriously and triumphantly, but like his father,
Solomon also fell into tragic decline. Upon his death, the kingdom was torn
apart.
Thereafter, the people of God are divided into two kingdoms; that
of the north is called the kingdom of Israel, and that of the south is called
the kingdom of Judah. The northern kingdom of Israel was taken away into
captivity by the cruel and ruthless Assyrians in 722 BC. The southern kingdom
was carried away into Babylonian captivity in 587 BC. In the days of the
Babylonian captivity, Jeremiah prophesied in Jerusalem while Daniel, the
prophet-statesman and Ezekiel, the holy watchman, comforted and strengthened
the people of God in Mesopotamia.
Out of the Babylonian captivity came three great establishments by
which God has blessed our world. First, the Jews were never idolatrous again.
Second, the synagogue was born, and from the synagogue came the Church. The
services of the synagogue are the same type of services we have today. Third,
of the captivity came the canon of the Holy Scriptures.
Out of tears and suffering comes our greatest blessing: "The
Scarlet Thread of Redemption".
From the Prophets to the
Christ to the Preaching of Paul
Out of the agonies of the days of the kingdom of Israel and of
Judah came the depiction of the prophets of a more glorious Savior and King
whom God would send to His people. When we read a passage like the
twenty-second Psalm or the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, we seem to be
standing by the very cross of the Son of God. More and more as the days went
by, the great spiritual leaders of Israel and of Judah began to outline and to
depict the coming of a Redeemer who would save the people from their sins and
bring to them the everlasting hope and righteousness of God in a promised
Messiah. This Messianic hope became stronger and more gloriously received as
the centuries passed.
Out of the Babylonian captivity, in 536 BC, Cyrus the Persian gave
the people the right to return to their homeland in Judah and to build their
holy Temple in Jerusalem. Thus the remnant of the captivity returned under
Zerubbabel the political leader, and under Joshua the priestly leader, and
under Ezra the scribe, and under Nehemiah the prime minister in the court of
Shushan. This holy remnant, thus seeking to restore the worship of the true God
in Jerusalem, and to recreate the political life of Judah, were encouraged by
God's messengers Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.
Of the three great restoration prophets, Zechariah is far and away
the greatest. Zechariah spoke much about Israel, about the end of time, and
about the conversion of the people of the Lord. The last prophet, of course, is
Malachi. He delivered his message from about 450 BC to about 425 BC.
The four hundred year period between the Old Testament and the New
Testament marks the rise of the Hellenistic Empire, God used Alexander the
Great to spread throughout the civilized world one culture and one language
which made possible the preaching of Christ to all men everywhere.
In that inter-biblical period also arose the might of the Roman
Empire. When Augustus Caesar was the Roman emperor, and when Rome had the
entire world in her hand, the great prophecy of Isaiah, and the great prophecy
of Micah, and the great prophecy of Nathan to David, and the great prophecy of
Jacob to his son Judah, and the great promise of God Almighty to Eve in the
Garden of Eden, came to pass. In the seed of the woman and through the seed of
Abraham all the families of the earth are to be blessed -- and our Savior is
thus born into the world. "The Scarlet Thread of Redemption" has led
us to the birth of Him who has come to redeem the human race from their fallen
estate.
In His ministry, Jesus early began to teach His disciples that He
would suffer and die. When He was transfigured, there appeared Moses and Elijah
talking to Him about His death which He should accomplish in Jerusalem. When He
was anointed by Mary of Bethany, He said it was for His burial. When the Greeks
came to see Him from afar He said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the
earth, will draw all men to Myself" (John 12:32). At the last supper He
said, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of
Me." And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying,
"This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood".
Before He went to the cross, He gave Himself in Gethsemane in travail of soul
for our redemption (Is. 53:11). And when He bowed His head and died He said,
"It is finished" (John 19:30).
When we preach the blood, when we preach the sacrificial death of
Christ, we are preaching the meaning of His coming into the world. The
sacrifice of Christ consummated the great redemptive plan and purpose of God in
the earth. This is "The Scarlet Thread of Redemption".
After the resurrection of our Lord, after the giving of the Great
Commission to the apostle, and after the ascension of our Savior into Heaven,
the Lord poured out His Holy Spirit upon His Church in Jerusalem upon the day
of Pentecost. Thereafter, the disciples of Jesus and the preachers of the
redemptive message of Christ began to make known throughout the earth the Good
News of our hope and salvation.
The epistles of Paul are divided into four distinct groups:
The first group he wrote on his second missionary journey from
Athens and Corinth. They are First and Second Thessalonians. The second group
of letters were born in his third missionary journey. While he was is Ephesus,
he wrote First Corinthians. In Macedonia, somewhere between Ephesus and
Corinth, he wrote Second Corinthians.
Then, either in Antioch or on his way to Antioch, he wrote
Galatians and Romans. First and Second Corinthians, Galatians, and Romans,
therefore, center around the city of Ephesus.
The third group or epistles Paul wrote from the prison in Rome,
during his first Roman imprisonment. They are Philippians, Philemon,
Colossians, and Ephesians.
The fourth and last group of his epistles, which were written
after his first Roman imprisonment, were First Timothy, Titus, and Second
Timothy, called the pastoral epistles.
In all Paul's letters there is the constant theme of redemptive
love. It is a part of "The Scarlet Thread of Redemption".
The Apocalypse and the Consummation of the Age
We come now to the conclusion of the Bible.
On the Isle of Patmos, a rocky little point in the sea several
miles southwest from Ephesus, John is exiled to die of exposure and starvation.
But even there does the Lord appear to John in an incomparable and glorious
vision. The vision is called the Revelation, that is, the unveiling. The
Apocalypse, the uncovering of Jesus Christ in His Glory, in His majesty, and in
His kingdom, is the reward that God gave to Jesus for saving us, AdamÕs fallen
children, from our sins.
After the vision of the exalted and glorified Christ in Revelation
chapter one and after the prophetic words concerning the church age in chapters
two and three, we have the rapture of John through an open door into heaven.
While John, translated in the Spirit, is with the Savior in heaven, there is
poured out upon the earth the judgments of Almighty God called The Great
Tribulation. They are depicted in the opening of the seven seals, the seven
trumpets, and the seven bowls. In those dark days John sees a vision in
Revelation chapter seven, concerning the blood washed, blood-bought, redeemed
of the Lord in glory. Announcement is made to him through one of the elders
that these are they who have come out of The Great Tribulation and have washed
their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. This is " The
Scarlet Thread of Redemption" that began with the blood of covering in the
Garden of Eden and finds its ultimate and final consummation in the
blood-washed throng before the throne of God in glory.
After the seven seals and their judgments, the seven bowls and
their judgments, and the seven personages and their judgments, we come to the
final great Judgment Day of Almighty God. The antichrist who professes to be
the leader of the nations of the world, is gathering the armies of the entire
world together. They are converging from the north in Russia, from the east in
China, from the south in Africa, and from the west in Europe and the islands of
the sea. They are converging for that great Day of the Lord. That is the Battle
of Armageddon, the last great war the whole world is going to fight. At
Megiddo, the armies of the earth by millions and millions will converge to face
that rendezvous with God. In the midst of unimaginable holocaust, Christ
intervenes in human history. He comes with His saints. He delivers His people,
shut up in the holy city, and takes Satan and binds him for a thousand years in
the bottomless pit.
After the binding of Satan for a thousand years, which is called
the glorious Millennium, Satan is released and thereafter goes out once again
to lead men into rebellion against God. This is the final conflict which ends
forever man's refusal to accept the will of God for their lives. At the end of
time in the final resurrection of the wicked dead and the Great White Throne
Judgment, the books are opened, and those whose names are not found written in
the Lamb's Book of Life are cast out and rewarded according to their deeds.
Into the abyss of hell are flung Satan and his way of life, plus death and the
grave -- all are hurled into the fiery flames where the Beast and the False
Prophet have already been for a thousand years.
After the purging of the earth of Satan and his minions, and after
the judgment upon those who reject Christ and His grace, and after cleansing
the earth of the heartache and tears of sickness, sin, death, and the grave,
will come the renovation of this earth and this heaven. It is a new creation
with a new heaven and a new earth, remade according to the fullness of the
glory and wonder of God. In it is the new and holy city, the heavenly
Jerusalem, and in it is the presence of the dwelling place of God Himself.
Tears, death, sorrow, pain and crying are all passed away. There are no graves
on the hillsides of glory and no funeral wreaths on the doors of those mansions
in the sky.
The Book closes with the incomparable message of the hope,
salvation, and redemption we have in the personal coming and presence of the
Lord Christ Himself.
Creation, Revelation
and Inspiration
The God, who formed all things by his creative utterances and governs all things by His Word of decree, made mankind in His own image for a life of communion with Himself, on the model of the eternal fellowship of loving communication within the Godhead. As God's image-bearer, man was to hear God's Word addressed to him and to respond in the joy of adoring obedience. Over and above God's self-disclosure in the created order and the sequence of events within it, human beings from Adam on have received verbal messages from Him, either directly, as stated in Scripture, or indirectly in the form of part or all of Scripture itself.
When Adam fell, the Creator did not abandon mankind to final judgment, but promised salvation and began to reveal Himself as Redeemer in a sequence of historical events centering on Abraham's family and culminating in the life, death, resurrection, present heavenly ministry and promised return of Jesus Christ. Within this frame God has from time to time spoken specific words of judgment and mercy, promise and command, to sinful human beings, so drawing them into a covenant relation of mutual commitment between Him and them in which He blesses them with gifts of grace and they bless Him in responsive adoration. Moses, whom God used as mediator to carry his words to His people at the time of the exodus, stands at the head of a long line of prophets in whose mouths and writings God put His words for delivery to Israel. God's purpose in this succession of messages was to maintain His covenant by causing His people to know His name--that is, His nature--and His will both of precept and purpose in the present and for the future. This line of prophetic spokesmen from God came to completion in Jesus Christ, God's incarnate Word, who was Himself a prophet--more that a prophet, but not less--and in the apostles and prophets of the first Christian generation. When God's final and climactic message, His word to the world concerning Jesus Christ, had been spoken and elucidated by those in the apostolic circle, the sequence of revealed messages ceased. Henceforth the Church was to live and know God by what He had already said, and said for all time.
At Sinai God wrote the terms of His covenant on tablets of stone as His enduring witness and for lasting accessibility, and throughout the period of prophetic and apostolic revelation He prompted men to write the messages given to and through them, along with celebratory records of His dealings with His people, plus moral reflections on covenant life and forms of praise and prayer for covenant mercy. The theological reality of inspiration in the producing of Biblical documents corresponds to that of spoken prophecies: Although the human writers' personalities were expressed in what they wrote, the words were divinely constituted. Thus what Scripture says, God says; its authority is His authority, for He is its ultimate Author, having given it through the minds and words of chosen and prepared men who in freedom and faithfulness "spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (I Pet 1:21). Holy Scripture must be acknowledged as the Word of God by virtue of its divine origin.
THE JUDGMENT OF THE BELIEVER'S SINS
"Truly, truly I say to you, he who hears MY word, and
believes HIM who sent ME, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment,
but has passed out of death into life." John 5:24
In this verse, our LORD tells us that the believer "does not
come into judgment." Our sins were judged in CHRIST on Calvary and every
believer "has passed out of death into life." This is present salvation.
CHRIST paid for out sins. HE was judged in the believer's stead. The believer
will not come into judgment because:
JESUS CHRIST paid the penalty, and on the grounds of HIS
substitutional death, the believer is separated from his sins forever (Ps. 103:12).The
sins of the believer have been wiped out and GOD has promised that HE
"will not remember your sins" (Is. 43:25).Our LORD suffered for our
sins, "the just for the unjust," that we might be saved and never
come into judgment as sinners (1 Peter 3:18).
The believer will never be condemned with the world, because
CHRIST was condemned in his place. "HE made HIM... to be sin on our
behalf" (2 Cor. 5:21). CHRIST was made a curse for us on the cross, and on
our behalf redeemed us from the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13). "HE has been
manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of HIMSELF" (Heb. 9:26). The
believer will not come into judgment because his sins have been purified (Heb.
1:3).
THE JUDGMENT OF THE BELIEVER'S SELF
"But if we judged ourselves rightly, we should not be
judged" 1 Corinthians 11:31
The judgment of the believer's self is more than judging things in
the believer's life. When the believer judges self, the good and the bad in his
life come to light; and he will confess the bad (1 John 1:9) and forsake it
(Is. 55:7). However, it is not enough just to judge sin in the believer; he
must judge self.
To judge self is to practice self-abnegation (ab-ni-gay-shun, to
deny to oneself; renounce), for when the believer sees self as GOD sees him, he
will renounce self. It is replacing the self-life with the CHRIST-life (Col.
3:4). CHRIST is the believer's life.
To judge self is to deny self. This is more than self-denial.
Self-denial is denying one's self of the gratifications of the flesh. If we
practice self-denial only, it is treating the symptom and not the cause. But
when we deny self, we are attacking the cause, for in self (that is, in flesh)
"nothing good dwells" (Rom. 7:18). To deny self is to take up our
cross and follow CHRIST (Gal. 2:20).
To judge self is to lose the self-life, and find the CHRIST-life
(Gal. 2:20).
To judge self is to no longer be self-conscious, but become
CHRIST-conscious (Matt. 28:20).
To judge self is to no longer be self-controlled, but to become
CHRIST-controlled (Acts 9:6).
To judge self is to no longer practice self-esteem, but to esteem
others better than self (Phil. 2:3). To judge self is to become selfless.
THE JUDGMENT OF THE BELIEVER'S WORKS
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of CHRIST,
that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what
he has done, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:10
The believer's works will be judged at the "judgment seat of
CHRIST," which is referred to many times in the BIBLE. A careful reading
of 2 Cor. 5:10 with the context reveals that only believers will appear at the
"judgment seat of CHRIST." Their works will be judged, not their
sins, for we have already seen that all sins of the believer have been judged
in CHRIST on Calvary, and "There is now no condemnation for those who are
in CHRIST JESUS" (Rom. 8:1).
This judgment will take place "in the air," following
the first resurrection. "The dead in CHRIST shall rise first" (1
Thess. 4:14-18). There will be a thousand years between the saved and the
unsaved (Rev. 20:4,5), and there will be a thousand years between the
""judgment seat of CHRIST" where only the saved will appear and
the "great white throne judgment" where only the unsaved will appear.
At the judgment sear of CHRIST, the believer will give account of
himself to GOD. Therefore, we should look to our own works, and not judge the
works of others (Rom. 14:10-13). (Motivation)
It is a most humbling thought to know that some day the believer
will face all of his works... "good or bad." Some will be ashamed (1
John 2:28) and some "suffer loss" -not the loss of salvation, but the
loss of rewards (1 Cor. 3:11-15). So whatever you do, do it to the glory of GOD
(Col. 3:17).
THE JUDGEMENT OF THE NATIONS
"But when the SON of Man comes in HIS glory, and all the
angels with HIM, then HE will sit on HIS glorious throne. And all the nations
will be gathered before HIM; and HE will separate them form one another, as the
shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." Matthew 25:31,32
This judgment is not the judgment of the great white throne (Rev.
20:11-15). A careful comparison of the two judgments will establish the
following facts:
The judgment of the nations will take place "When the SON of
MAN comes in HIS glory... then HE will sit on HIS glorious throne." The
great white throne is never called "the Throne of HIS Glory" (Rev.
20:11-15).
At this judgment, HE will judge the living nations (Joel 3:11-16).
At the white throne judgment, HE will judge the wicked dead.
At this judgment, there will be no resurrection of the dead. At
the great white throne all the wicked dead are raised: "The sea gave up
the dead which were in it, and death and Hades (the grave) gave up the dead
which were in them..."(Rev. 20:13).
At this judgment, the judge is GOD "the King" judging
the living nations in HIS earthly kingdom. At the great white throne, the judge
is GOD, judging only the wicked dead.
At this judgment, there are no books opened. At the great white
throne, the "books were opened."
At this judgment, there are three classes judged: "sheep...
the saved (Rev: 7:9_17); the "goats" the unsaved (2 Thess. 1:7-10);
"tribes" the elect of Israel (Rev. 7:1-8; also Rom. 11:25-28). At the
great white throne, there is only one class: "the dead."
At this judgment, the King gives the kingdom to those who have
eternal life. At the great white throne, there are no saved and kingdom; they
are all "thrown into the lake of fire."
THE JUDGMENT OF THE WICKED
"And I saw a great white throne and HIM who sat upon it, from
whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for
them." Revelation 20:11
The great whit throne judgment will follow the thousand-year reign
of CHRIST. This is the final judgment, and only the wicked dead are to be
judged. According to Revelation 20:5, the believers were resurrected a thousand
years before this judgment, and their works were judged at the "judgment
seat of CHRIST" (2 Cor. 5:10).
At this judgment, the wicked dead will seek a hiding place from
the face of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the judge. But there is no hiding place.
At this judgment, the "dead, the great and the small"
will stand before GOD. But the greatness of the great will be of no value.
"There is none whose does good, there is not even one" (Rom. 3:12).
At this judgment, the "book of life" will be opened. Why
the "book of life" if there are no saved at this judgment? The wicked
will be shown that GOD in HIS mercy provided space for them in the "book
of life," so that they are without excuse (Rom. 1:18-20).
At this judgment, the dead will be judged "according to their
deeds." GOD is a just GOD; and since there are degrees of punishment in
hell, some will be punished more than others will (Luke 12:42,48).
At this judgment, there will be no acquittal, no higher court to
which the lost may appeal. It is lost, and lost forever; it is damned to all
eternity, and that without hope. There is a Hades (Luke 16:19-31), and in
Hades, there is no hope, no sympathy, no love; even the love of GOD does not
extend beyond the portals of Hades.
Avoiding JudgmentWe can avoid being judged by God and we can avoid being disqualified for the Lord's work--if we judge ourselves regularly. The Apostle Paul suggests he was all too aware of the possibility he might fail to finish the task he was called to--that he might be disqualified. He says, "But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." (1 Cor. 9:27) He also says, "For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged." (1 Cor. 11:31) and further adds that every follower of Christ can expect corrective discipline from God. "But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world." (1 Cor. 11:32) The discipline of God for the believer is not punitive but corrective. This is discussed in Hebrews 12:1-17.
Christ is
the One who provides the eternal life--His life. Having the gift of eternal
life means that we are indwelt by Christ; the spiritual death we've had since
birth is immediately replaced by spiritual life--His life. With the gift of
Christ’s eternal life, we live for eternity in heaven instead of hell after our
physical death. However, to have eternal life means more than to live
forever--the emphasis is on the newness and quality of life rather than the
duration.
“For
the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
The Bible
is quite clear. We all sin and therefore we all die. Death, the Bible teaches,
is a punishment. It is literal. It is very real. The dead are unconscious (see
Ecclesiastes 9:5). A very bleak and to the point picture is painted. Mankind is
doomed. He cannot save himself and he cannot save his fellows.
John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that
he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the
world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Jesus came to save us from our sins--
"... and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he
shall save his people FROM their sins." (Matt 1:21).
Jesus did not die so that you could keep on sinning
and then go to heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ came to save you from both the penalty
(GUILT) and POWER of sin. The Lord Jesus Christ was manifested TO DESTROY the
works of the devil (I John 3:8)--THE LORD JESUS CHRIST CAME TO REDEEM and CHANGE
YOU AND TO MAKE YOU HOLY. When you are unsaved, sin has dominion over you. Sin
is your boss and you cannot do anything BUT sin. You are justly under the wrath
of a holy and just God. Murderers, thieves, fornicators, witches, sodomites,
whores, liars, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, rebels, and all
other spiritual lepers will not inherit the kingdom of God. We have to be born
again into the kingdom of God. When we REPENT and BELIEVE in Jesus, we are born
again and all things become new. A new life emerges and things change. We start
reading the Bible and obeying it and the Lord Jesus helps us obey it more and
more. Our life changes for ever. Our desires change.
The blood of Jesus is the propitiation for our sins.
The blood of Jesus took away the guilt of the sins which we have committed AND
it has ushered us into a Father Child relationship with the Lord God.
Through the blood of Jesus, we are to serve sin no more, rather we serve
righteousness. If you get saved and sin, you confess your sin and the Lord will
forgive you, but you no longer walk in the sin lifestyle--The love of God for
you was demonstrated on that cross 2,000 years ago when the Lord Jesus
was crucified for you. God is not hateful, he loves and good to us.
God gave us his only begotten even though we were dead in trespasses and sins.
God quickens (makes alive) the dead. He is still quickening men, women, boys,
and girls across the face of this whole earth who put their trust in Jesus—
The
most important prayer you can ever pray
Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner and I want to
be saved. I repent of my sins, I don't want to do sin anymore; I want to do
righteousness through the grace of Jesus. Lord, please forgive me of my sins
against you. I want a new life in the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to be
everything that You created me to be. I believe that Jesus died for me so that
I could be saved from my sins. I believe that He rose from the dead on the
third day. I want to be your child and follow you. Thank you for being merciful
to me, a sinner. Thank you for saving my soul from sin. Please fill me with
your precious, Holy Spirit so that I can live a righteous, self-denying life
for you. I'm giving you myself. Please show me what you want me to do. Please
help me to understand your word and to walk in your word. Please guide me in
the path of righteousness. In the precious Name of Jesus’ I pray, Amen."
