How do I know if the Bible is true?

The Bible is God’s Word.  God reveals himself in many ways, but mainly He chose to reveal himself through his word.  It was written over 1500 years ago.  It was written by 40 different people, in 3 different languages and on 3 different continents.  It is 1 big story and 1 author, God.  There are 66 books in the Bible – 39 in Old Testament, 27 in the New Testament.  It has high standards of morality and is the best selling book in the world has ever known.  No book has ever been more analyzed or criticized.  Why is it attacked?  It’s the revelation of God whose message demands must be destroyed or obeyed.  Many times people have tried to destroy it.

The Bible is about:

How the universe and the human race started, how humans sinned and how the suffering started, and how the human rescue plan of God started - Gen 3:15 (the promise).

The Bible reveals:

God, his creation, his unlimited power and wisdom, his laws, a God of moral standards, history with God in control, Jesus as a God of compassion, God’s solution to sin, his special people in a special place, a special family, a special child:  John 3:16  (fulfillment of his promise)

It also reveals the future with a new heaven and a new earth without pain and cruelty.  Only the righteous will be there with the Lord.

75 % of the Bible is Old Testament.  Jesus came to fulfill the OT prophecy.  God tells how, why and when Jesus, the Messiah would come.  Proverbs 30:5-6 tells us His word is flawless.  Revelation 22:19 tells us not to add or take words away from it.  We should not sit around and argue about what it says.  It implies complete authority and we should not debate over it. 

Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living 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.”   So matter what your age, 10 – 110, it can speak to us.

When you read the word of God, do you believe it is God speaking to you or do you read it and then just go back to your regular life?  If God came in person and told you to stop stealing or cheating, or whatever, wouldn’t you say, “OK, I will”?  Why wouldn’t you do it if God’s word says to do the same thing - that is, if you believe it’s God’s word?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Peter 1:20-21– “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 “.

The purpose of the Bible is essential for:

            Salvation – it reveals God, ourselves, our Savior

            Teaching – foundation of what we believe

            Conviction – it’s the test of our action

            Training – the rod of discipline

Why do we believe it’s true?

            The Prophets – spoke for God.

            Jesus – the spirit will guide you into all truth.

            Paul – we speak in words taught by the Spirit.

            Peter – not clearly invented myths, but an eyewitness.

John – we proclaim what we’ve seen.

It speaks with authority.

Many gave their lives for it.

By listening and weighing the evidence.

I’ve always believed that the Bible is God’s word, but never really read it like I believed it.  I don’t know about you, but I will never just read scripture the same way again.  It is God speaking to me!

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