Don Stewart :: Why Is It Important to Consider the Claims of the Bible?

Why Is It Important to Consider the Claims of the Bible?

Why the Bible Is So Special – Question 2

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, written about 950 B.C., the writer made a comment on the number of books which have been composed. He put it this way:

There is no end to the making of many books. (Ecclesiastes 12:12)

He complained about the number of books that had been written.

As we move through history, we find this repeated.

There was a first century Roman writer who complained that it would take him an entire lifetime; not to go through all the books that were available, but rather just to get through all the catalogs of books!

Indeed there is no end to the making of books.

So Why This One Book?

With so many books written in the history of humanity, why should we pay attention to this one Book, the Bible?

Here’s why. The Bible is not humanity’s thoughts about God; it is God revealing His truth to humanity. Because it claims to be the sole revelation of God to the human race, and because the consequences for rejecting the message are so great, it is crucial that people consider the claims that the Bible makes.

The Need for the Bible Illustrated

Human beings have come to conclusions on so many topics, but not on whether or not God exists! In fact, they cannot and do not come to any conclusion on divine truth. We can illustrate by simply examining the following belief systems:

Agnostics Don’t Know If God or Gods Exist

Agnostics do not know whether or not God exists. They are “without knowledge” when it comes to knowing if a God or gods exist. Agnostics just don’t know. Many people fall into this category.

Atheists Claim They Do Know: God Does Not Exist

Contrary to agnostics, atheists claim to know whether or not God exists; they insist He does not. Sophisticated atheists understand they really cannot make this claim as a statement of fact. Why? It is the fallacy of categorical denial. No human being has the knowledge to make such a comprehensive statement. Indeed, for one to be in a position to make such a statement they would have to have all knowledge; and this would make them God!

Rather, the atheist will claim there is not sufficient evidence to believe that a God or gods exists.

Theists Also Claim to Know: God Does Exist

Contrary to the agnostics, theists do know whether or not a God or gods exist. And contrary to the atheists, theists believe that God or gods do exist.

With these different beliefs that humans hold, we need something to tell us whether or not God exists. We have it; the Bible. It is God’s revelation to us; not our ideas about whether or not He exists.

There Are Many Reasons Why We Should Consider the Claims of the Bible

There are a number of reasons as to why it is important to consider the claims of Holy Scripture. We will note fifteen of them. They include the following:

Reason 1: the Bible Claims to Be God’s Word to Humanity: It Is His Book

The Bible is often called the “Good Book.” However, it is more than a “good book,” for it claims to be “God’s Book.” The Bible claims to be the very Word of God, that is, His supernatural communication to the human race. Indeed, over five thousand times in the Old Testament alone we find such phrases as, “Thus says the Lord” or “God said.”

For example, the beginning verses from the Book of Jeremiah make it clear that it is more than a mere human work. It reads:

The following is a record of what Jeremiah son of Hilkiah prophesied and did. He was one of the priests who lived at Anathoth in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. The LORD began to speak to him in the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon ruled over Judah. (Jeremiah 1:1-2)

Notice these first two verses inform us that God “began” to speak to Jeremiah. The remainder of the Book of Jeremiah claims to record God “continuing” to speak to the prophet.

Other biblical books make similar claims; God has spoken and His Words are recorded in a particular book. Isaiah the prophet wrote:

I am Isaiah, the son of Amoz. And this is the message that I was given about Judah and Jerusalem when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were the kings of Judah: The LORD has said. (Isaiah 1:1-2)

Isaiah claimed that God spoke to him and that he recorded God’s message.

Hosea made a similar claim:

I am Hosea son of Beeri. When Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were the kings of Judah, and when Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel, the LORD spoke this message to me. (Hosea 1:1)

Notice what he said, “The Lord spoke this message to me.” God spoke; humans recorded His words and deeds.

It Is God’s Only Revelation of Himself

There is more. Scripture claims to be God’s unique revelation to humanity. Indeed, the Bible is the only sacred book where the One True God has revealed Himself. This one Book alone is God’s written Word to the human race. There are no other written sources of divine truth apart from the Bible. None.

All other so-called sacred books are mere pretenders. No other religious book gives us God’s divine truth; this includes the Qur’an, the Book of Mormon, the Hindu Scriptures or so-called later revelation to Christians. No other book, no human being can add or subtract to what God has revealed.

Therefore, out of all of the countless millions of books that have ever been written, the Bible is the only one which has God’s authority behind it. This is not our claim; it is the Bible’s. We don’t say it; the Bible does!

The Warning from the Bible Not to Add or Subtract

Indeed, Scripture gives a warning not to add to it or subtract from it. In the Book of Deuteronomy, God commanded:

Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you. (Deuteronomy 4:2)

The people were warned not to tamper with God’s Word.

The New Testament says something similar. We read the following stern warning in the Book of Revelation:

And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)

Strong words, but they are His words! These are God’s claims; not ours. We are merely His ambassadors, His messengers, as the Apostle Paul noted when he wrote:

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

We are faithfully passing along His claims. We did not invent them.

Reason 2: All Christian Doctrine, or Teaching, Is Based Solely upon the Scripture

Not only is the Bible God’s only Book He has given to humanity, each and every doctrine that Christians believe is based solely upon the teaching of Scripture. It is the only source to where we can find authoritative answers to our spiritual questions.

Appeal must be made to the Bible alone to determine our belief system; for without the Bible there is no Christian belief system. Christian teaching, or Christian doctrine, therefore, stands or falls on the authority of the Bible. Consequently, what the Bible says is of the utmost importance.

Therefore, it is only from Scripture that we discover the unique teachings of the Christian faith. There is no other source. Indeed, neither popes, nor church councils, nor church tradition, can give us authoritative Christian doctrine.

We Are to Know What We Believe

We also find that the Bible commands us to know what we believe about God and why we believe it. We read:

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15)

How are we going to know what we believe? We can only know this by studying the Bible; our only source for Christian belief.

We Are to Weigh and Evaluate Things

The Bible also commands us to “test” the things which are taught to us. Paul wrote to the Corinthians about this necessity:

Test yourselves and find out if you really are true to your faith. (2 Corinthians 13:5)

How do we test things? It is through carefully examining the Bible.

In another letter, he stated it this way:

Put everything to the test. Accept what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

Everything should be tested; everything.

The Apostle John wrote something similar:

Dear friends, don’t believe everyone who claims to have the Spirit of God. Test them all to find out if they really do come from God. Many false prophets have already gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)

Again, what is the standard we test all things by? It is the Word of God alone.

Reason 3: the Bible Gives the Final Answers to Life’s Most Important Questions

Because the Bible is the sole revelation from God to the human race, it is not only where all Christian teaching comes from, it also gives us the final answers to our deepest questions.

Indeed, for centuries people have turned to the Bible for the final answers to the basic questions of life: Where did we human beings come from? Why are we here on Planet Earth? What will happen to us when we die?

The Bible answers these questions.

The World Was Created Perfect

The Bible alone explains our present world. Scripture tells us that a personal, infinite God originally created a perfect world. After describing the six days of creation we read:

God saw all that he had made—and it was very good! (Genesis 1:31)

Everything was created perfect in the beginning. There is a double superlative here; it was “very good.”

Genesis 3: the Fall of Humanity

However, the world became imperfect by the sin of Adam and Eve (recorded in Genesis 3). This explains that the world we now live in is abnormal; it is not the perfect world God created.

There Is a New World Coming

The Scripture gives us good news; a new world is coming! This will be a perfect world which will be free from evil, suffering and death! The Book of Romans explains it this way:

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. (Romans 8:19-23)

Notice what this passage tells us. All of God’s creation is waiting for that future time when the curse of sin will be removed. That day is coming! Until it occurs, the human race, as well as all creation, is longing for that that time.

The Book of Revelation also makes this prediction about the wonderful days ahead for those who believe:

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:3-5)

This is the future for those of us who believe; no more sorrow, crying or pain. Yet, we only know about these fabulous truths from the Bible.

Therefore, the Bible is important in that it gives us the final answer on all topics it deals with!

Why This Is Necessary

As human beings, we all have a limited perspective. None of us are in a position to give final, definitive answers about anything. Any ultimate answer must come from outside of this world! The good news is that we have these answers from the living God Himself.

Therefore, a third reason as to why the Bible is important; it alone gives us final answers!

Reason 4: Only the Scripture Tells Us What God Is Like

Here’s one of the questions in which we need a final answer: who is God? What is He like?

Only the Bible tells us what the living God is like. This is not something that we can discover on our own. In fact, without God’s divine revelation, we would know next to nothing about Him.

This is illustrated in the Book of Job. We find that Job and his three friends attempted to understand why Job was suffering. Their attempts were without the benefit of God’s viewpoint on the matter. When God finally responded to their words, we discover Him saying the following about their efforts:

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.” (Job 38:1-4)

The Lord called their conclusions “words without knowledge.” They were trying to understand Job’s problem without the benefit of God’s view. Their conclusions were worthless as are all others who do not have God’s perspective.

Basically, God asked them, “Where were you when I created everything?” If they were not there, and have no knowledge about how He created the material universe, then how can they tell God how He should operate the moral side of the universe? Simply put, they cannot.

This is another indication of our need for an authoritative Scripture. We cannot understand what God has done, or what He is like, unless He reveals it to us. It is only in the Bible that we can find infallible answers to these questions.

There Is Only One God Who Exists

There is another thing that we learn. According to the Bible there is only “one” God which exists. Isaiah the prophet recorded God saying:

My people, you are my witnesses and my chosen servant. I want you to know me, to trust me, and understand that I alone am God. I have always been God; there can be no others. (Isaiah 43:10)

Notice He says, “There are no others.”

In another place, the prophet recorded the Lord saying:

I am the LORD All-Powerful, the first and the last, the one and only God. (Isaiah 44:6)

There are no other gods who exist. None. This is the claim of Scripture.

God Is Spirit

The one God who exists is a spirit. Jesus said:

God is Spirit... (John 4:24)

A spirit does not have any physical form. Jesus made this clear to His disciples when He appeared to them in a resurrected body:

While Jesus’ disciples were talking about what had happened, Jesus appeared and greeted them. They were frightened and terrified because they thought they were seeing a ghost. But Jesus said, “Why are you so frightened? Why do you doubt? Look at my hands and my feet and see who I am! Touch me and find out for yourselves. Ghosts don’t have flesh and bones as you see I have.” (Luke 24:36-39)

A “spirit” or a “ghost” does not have any physical form as Jesus had in His resurrected body. God, by nature, is an invisible eternal spirit.

We Are Not to Make Images of Him

Because God does not have any physical form, we are not to make idols or images of Him. We read the following in the Ten Commandments:

You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. (Exodus 20:4-5)

God is very clear on this subject; we are not to make images of Him!

Humans Have Made God in Our Image

Unfortunately, we human beings often make God in our image. In other words, we mold and shape Him in the way we think He should be.

For example, people often say “I think God is like...” and then they fill in the blank. When humans do this, they are assuming that they can know what God is like. However, as we have seen, humans come to no consensus or agreement on the matter. None.

Back to what the Lord said to Job and his friends. When people do this sort of thing they are uttering “words without knowledge.” Indeed, God alone must tell us what He is like. Our opinions are worthless.

Reason 5: the Bible Tells Us What God Expects from Us: Believe in Him Through Jesus Christ

Scripture also informs us what God expects from humanity. The message of the Scripture is clear in this respect. There is only one God who exists and there is only one way to have a personal relationship with Him. It is only through Jesus Christ that an individual can experience the one true God. Jesus said:

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6 NKJV)

The Bible was written for the purpose of creating belief in God through the Person of Jesus Christ. The Apostle John explained the purpose of his gospel in the following statement:

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31 TNIV)

John wrote his gospel so that people would believe in Jesus. He made his purpose clear.

The Bible says that salvation is in Christ alone. The Apostle Peter said the following to a group of religious leaders who challenged his preaching about Christ:

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12 ESV)

The Apostle John emphasized that a person must believe in God the Son, Jesus Christ, to have a relationship with God the Father. He wrote:

No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. (1 John 2:23 TNIV)

The consistent message of the New Testament is that it is only through the Person of Jesus Christ that an individual can experience the one true God. All other ways are false.

Paul wrote the following to the church at Rome about the necessity of believing in Jesus. He said:

For “Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Yet faith comes from listening to this message of good news-- the Good News about Christ. (Romans 10:13-17 NLT)

There are a number of important points that we can discover from this passage. First, one must call upon the name of Christ, or believe in Him, to be saved. A person must believe He is who He claimed to be. To do this, one must first hear about Him. Someone must tell them. They must hear a preacher or read some message about Jesus. Without hearing about Jesus, they cannot believe.

Paul also wrote:

For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message that God gave to the world at the proper time. (1 Timothy 2:5-6 NLT)

There is only one God and only one way to reach the one God; through Jesus Christ. This is the clear message of the New Testament.

Illustration: Nobody Can Swim from California to Hawaii

Here’s a way to illustrate this truth. It is about 2,500 miles from the west coast of the United States to Honolulu, Hawaii. Let’s say you and two friends decide to swim from the coast of California to Hawaii.

The first swimmer swims about 250 feet and then stops and starts treading water. The next swimmer swims about 500 feet, twice as far as the first swimmer. However, after 500 feet, the second swimmer also stops and starts treading water. Finally, you begin your swim and you get about 5,000 feet from the shore before you start treading water.

You look back with pride that you have gone twenty times farther than the first swimmer and ten times as far as the second. You may have done better than each of them, but you are still 2,500 miles short of the mark! The three of you are going to drown! This illustrates a biblical truth. No matter how good we may be, we are not good enough to please God!

The Bible makes this clear. It says:

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

All of us have fallen short. None of us are perfect. How does sin pay off? Death! The Bible says:

For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

While sin pays off in death, God gives the gift of eternal life to those who believe in Jesus. We don’t have to try to swim to Hawaii to make it on our own. He Himself takes us where we need to go.

Reason 6: Scripture Provides a Basis for a Scientific Understanding of the Universe

Though this may surprise some, the Bible has served as a basis for modern scientific pursuits. In fact, modern science was born in the seventeenth century because of a belief in an unchanging God of order, purpose and consistency—the God that is portrayed in the Bible.

It was from this basis that scientists could study the form and function of the universe as it now exists. Therefore, modern science has the Bible to thank for its origins.

The Bible itself emphasizes that the universe is a testimony to God’s existence and power. The psalmist wrote about this when he said the following:

The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. (Psalm 19:1-4)

The visible creation is a constant testimony to the power and majesty of God. Therefore, humans are without excuse. The Apostle Paul makes this clear:

For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)

The testimony to the creative power of God is everywhere. Humans, therefore, know that there is a God who exists.

What Do We Really Know about Anything?

But who is this God? Science certainly cannot give us the answers to this ultimate question about God’s identity. Or for that matter, there are so many things to which science can give us no real answer.

This is illustrated in a statement made by Dr. Edward Teller, the father of the hydrogen bomb. He described the progress of science from the Second World War until the year 1970 in the following way:

Practically everything that for years we believed to be true has been proven false or incorrect by subsequent discovery. In fact there is only one statement that I would now dare to make positively: There is absolutely nothing faster than the speed of light?maybe. (Readers Digest, September 1970, p. 20)

This certainly does not give us much confidence in science!

This statement echoes the famous words God spoke to Job and his three friends. We find these words recorded in Job 38:

Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Prepare to defend yourself; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.” (Job 38:1-4)

Words without knowledge! The point is clear; we humans cannot know what happened at the beginning, who the Creator is, what He did, how we humans came about, etc., unless God tells us. No human being was there to observe it and thus no human being knows what really happened.

Science, therefore, cannot provide any answers to these questions because the beginning of the universe was a “one-off” event. There is no chance of repeating or reproducing it.

However, the One who was there, God Himself, does provide us this information. Where? It is found in the Bible! This is where we discover these truths.

Jesus, God the Son, made a similar statement to the one we find in Job. In a private conversation He had with the religious leader Nicodemus, Jesus said the following:

If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? (John 3:12)

If we cannot understand things pertaining to the earth; how it was formed, how human life came about, etc., then how are we going to understand eternal things? How are we going to know who God is, what He is like, etc.? The simple answer is that we cannot know any of these things on a purely human level. We simply do not have that capability.

However, we can know the answer to these and other monumental questions because God has given us the answers; in the Bible.

Are We Here by Chance or Design?

Indeed, Scripture tells us over and over again that we are not a product of blind chance. Indeed, we have been made for a purpose. The Book of Revelation says:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, since you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created!” (Revelation 4:11)

The universe and everything in it was formed by the will of the Lord. We know this because the Bible tells us so. John wrote about Jesus’ part in the creation of the universe:

All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. (John 1:3)

God the Son was the Creator; the One who became a human being in the Person of Jesus Christ.

The Consequences If We Are Here by Blind Chance Rather than Design

Lest we think that this truth is not important, or somehow irrelevant to our daily lives, we should consider the results of accepting the idea that we are not here by God’s direct design, but rather are a product of blind chance.

If the theory of atheistic evolution is correct, which means that everything is here as a result of blind chance, then it has far-reaching consequences for the Christian faith as well as for all of humanity.

The following are some of the logical results of accepting the modern atheistic theory of evolution.

• Consequence 1: There Is No God

  To begin with, the God of the Bible does not exist if everything in the universe is merely a result of a series of fortunate circumstances in the past history of the earth. Indeed, no God is necessary if everything exists because of blind chance.

• Consequence 2: the Bible Is Wrong

  The Bible repeatedly says we are here as a result of the direct creation by God. If we are not, then the Bible is wrong about this issue. If it is wrong on this, then it may be wrong on everything else which it teaches. Simply put, we could not trust it concerning anything that it says.

• Consequence 3: Life Arose by Chance

  Life as we know it would be a result of blind chance rather than God’s direct design if the biblical account of creation is not true. We would then worship the “god of chance” rather than the God of the Bible since our existence would be attributed to chance alone. Thus, life has no real meaning; we are simply a product of lucky circumstances if the Bible is wrong about God creating everything “in the beginning.”

• Consequence 4: There Is No Need for a Savior

  Obviously, if life is a result of blind chance, or good luck, then there would be no need for a Savior since there would be no such thing as sin or evil. The death of Jesus Christ would be meaningless since there is no sin to be forgiven. Jesus’ coming to the earth would have no significance whatsoever if the Bible has this wrong.

• Consequence 5: There Is No Basis of Right or Wrong

  We humans would have no real basis of right and wrong if the Bible is incorrect about God creating the universe. Indeed, if everything is a result of blind chance, then this leaves us without any moral standard; nobody to tell us good from evil or right from wrong. This is another of the consequences of accepting the idea that we are here by blind chance.

• Consequence 6: Humankind Has No Genuine Hope for the Future

  Finally, we would be without any genuine hope for the future if the biblical account of creation is incorrect. Indeed, we would have no purpose for living our lives or looking forward to what takes place after this life is over. In other words, we are living without hope! We are born, we live and then we die. That’s it. Life is ultimately meaningless.

The above would be some of the logical results if the Bible was wrong with respect as to how the world came into being. Consequently, our motto would be something like, “Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may die.” Life would be reduced to something like this if everything we see and experience is merely a result of blind, unguided chance. Truly, this is a depressing thought.

The Good News

The good news, however, is that the Bible is right! We are not here by blind chance, but rather by God’s direct design. Life is not merely a meaningless exercise. Life has a meaning; a purpose.

Yet, we only know about the meaning and purpose of life from the Bible. It is only from the pages of Scripture that we can find the answers. This is a further reason as to why it is so important to consider the claims of the Bible.

Reason 7: the Story of the Bible Encompasses All of Human History from God’s Perspective

There is more. Scripture does not merely tell us how we got here, the beginning of human history, it also informs us about the end of human history on this earth.

The Bible speaks of the infinite personal God creating the heavens and the earth in the beginning (Genesis 1 and 2) and also records the creation of a new heaven and a new earth after the destruction of this present earth (Revelation 21, 22).

The Scripture informs us what will happen. We read the following in the Book of Revelation:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist, and the sea existed no more. And I saw the holy city—the new Jerusalem—descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:1-2)

The entire history of the human race: past, present and future, is thus chronicled for us in the pages of Scripture.

The Bible Tells Us How God Sees History

While the Bible records the sweep of human history, it is important that we understand that the history recorded in the Bible is from God’s perspective. In other words, we discover what is important to God when we study the pages of the Bible.

We find this truth illustrated in the first two verses in the third chapter of Luke’s gospel. It reads as follows:

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. (Luke 3:1-2)

Notice what we find here. There are seven historical figures mentioned including Caesar, Pontius Pilate the governor of Judea, Herod and various rulers and the names of the high priests.

Yet, we discover that the only purpose for them being mentioned was to inform us about the time when the word of the Lord came to a man named John who was living in the wilderness.

This is highly instructive. From God’s viewpoint it is not the ruler of the known world, the governor of a province or the various rulers or priests who are important. No, it is the man of God, John, through whom the Word of God came. He is one who is highlighted from God’s perspective; not these other individuals who were so important at that time. God’s viewpoint is certainly not the same as the viewpoint the secular world has.

The Life of King Saul Is Seen from Two Perspectives

Another example of this can be seen in the life of the first king of Israel, Saul. The Old Testament books of First and Second Samuel basically give us the secular view of history. In other words, they would relate history from the vantage point of someone living at the time. However, the Book of Chronicles looks at the same events, but it does so from God’s perspective; the divine view.

When we look at the amount of space devoted to Saul, the first king of Israel, we can see the difference between God’s perspective and the human perspective.

The People Demanded a King

We are told that the people of Israel came to the prophet Samuel and demanded a king; they wanted to be just like all the other nations. The Bible explains what took place when Samuel brought their request before the Lord:

But this request displeased Samuel, for they said, “Give us a king to lead us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. The Lord said to Samuel, “Do everything the people request of you. For it is not you that they have rejected, but it is me that they have rejected as their king.” (1 Samuel 8:6-7)

Notice that the prophet Samuel, displeased with their request, brought it before the Lord. The Lord told him that the people had not rejected Samuel but actually had rejected Him by requesting a king. Therefore, we find that their choice, Saul, was not God’s man for the job.

Saul is then introduced to us in the next chapter. His rule is recorded throughout the rest of the book of First Samuel. The last chapter records his death.

Therefore, in the secular view of history, there are some twenty-three chapters devoted to Saul; the choice of the people to be their king. He is one of the main subjects throughout this book.

God’s View of Saul

Now let’s contrast this with God’s view of history as found in First Chronicles. Instead of twenty-three chapters, we find only one short chapter of fourteen verses dedicated to Saul! His epitaph at the end of the chapter reads as follows:

So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord and did not obey the Lord’s instructions; he even tried to conjure up underworld spirits. He did not seek the Lord’s guidance, so the Lord killed him and transferred the kingdom to David son of Jesse. (1 Chronicles 10:13-14)

The contrast could not be greater! Saul is the main character throughout the Book of First Samuel; the secular view of events. Yet in God’s view there is only one short chapter about the man.

Furthermore, the only reason he is even mentioned at all is to get to David; the man whom God had chosen. Otherwise we would have never heard about Saul.

This is a great lesson for all of us! God’s view of things is not the same as the secular view. Let us never forget this.

Reason 8: the Bible Provides a Purpose for History

The Bible not only gives us God’s view of history, it also gives a purpose for history. From Scripture, we find that history is not merely a series of random unrelated events. As the Bible records it, history has meaning—it is going somewhere.

Indeed, the Bible shows a progression of history to a definite end. It promises that the world in which we now live with all its corruption will one day be made into a perfect new world without sin. We read the following in the Book of Revelation:

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making all things new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:3-5)

Scripture speaks of a glorious future for those who believe in the Lord. There will be a new heaven and new earth where all our tears will be wiped away; all things will be made new! These are the promises He has made to us and those promises are recorded in His Word.

Because history has a purpose, it also means that each of us has a purpose. In fact, it is from the Bible alone that we can know our identity, our purpose and our destiny.

We Have an Identity: Who Am I?

The Bible informs us as to who we are as human beings. Indeed, we have a genuine identity as the only part of God’s creation which has been made in His image. Scripture explains what took place at the end of the sixth creative day:

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27)

This truth revealed in Scripture provides us with an identity. We are not a mistake, nor merely here as a product of blind chance. Instead, we find that we have been made in His image.

We Have a Purpose: Why Am I Here?

We have not only been created in God’s image and have an identity; we also discover from the Bible that we have a purpose for being on the earth.

Indeed, we know from Scripture that this life has genuine meaning. Once we believe in Jesus, we become the salt of the earth, the light of the world. Jesus said:

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world?like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:13-16)

Believers are salt and light to this lost world.

The Bible also says that we are His ambassadors, His representatives. Paul emphasized this to the Corinthians:

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Thus, we have a purpose for living; to glorify the God of the Bible and carry out His commandments.

We Have a Destiny: Where Am I Going after I Die?

Finally, there is a destiny for each and every one of us. This life is not all that there is. Long ago, a man named Job posed the question that, sooner or later, we all ask:

If a man dies, will he live again? (Job 14:14)

Is there life after death? The Bible answers in the affirmative. This life is certainly not all that there is! Indeed, we have been made for eternity.

Therefore, another important reason to consider the claims of the Bible is that it reveals purpose; a purpose for our planet as well as purpose for us as individuals.

Reason 9: the Bible Tells Us There Is Heaven for Those Who Do Believe in Jesus

The destiny question leads us to our next reason as to why it is crucial to examine what the Bible says; there is a heaven which awaits those who believe in the God of Scripture.

Heaven Is Where Jesus Is

While the Bible reveals a number of truths about what heaven will be like, the main thing that we should realize is that heaven is where Jesus is! In fact, that is what makes it heaven. Jesus Himself promised to come back for believers:

Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. (John 14:1-3)

He is presently preparing a place for us. Someday Jesus will return and gather us together so that we can be with Him.

Indeed, the Apostle Paul emphasized this same truth. He wrote about what will happen when the Lord returns to take to Himself those who are His own. The result will be that each of us will be forever in His presence:

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

There is, therefore, hope for those who have died “in Christ” as well as those who are alive when the Lord comes to take His church, the true believers, out of this world. This is also called the “blessed hope.” The Apostle Paul wrote elsewhere:

While we wait for the blessed hope?the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:13)

It is truly a “blessed hope” that we have; looking forward to Christ coming for us.

In addition, we find that the Apostle Paul wrote about a personal experience he had when he was allowed to enter the presence of God. He explained it in this manner:

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven. And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred to be put into words, things that a person is not permitted to speak. (2 Corinthians 12:2-4)

Note that he could not even express in human terms how wonderful it was! It is above and beyond anything we could even imagine. This is our future!

Reason 10: the Bible Tells Us There Is Judgment for Those Who Do Not Believe in Jesus

There is something else. For those who reject the salvation from sin offered by Jesus Christ, there is only judgment waiting. John the Apostle wrote about this. He said the following:

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36 ESV)

The Apostle Paul also testified to the future judgment of the Lord against those who have rejected Him. He wrote the following to the Thessalonians. He said:

And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. (2 Thessalonians 1:7- 9 NLT)

Everyone will eventually acknowledge Jesus Christ is Lord. The Apostle Paul wrote the following about the past humiliation and the ultimate exaltation of Jesus. He said:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, But made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11 ESV)

The Message puts it this way:

Think of yourself the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status: no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human. Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling experience. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless obedient death—and the worse kind of death at that: a crucifixion. Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth- even those long ago dead and buried-will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11 MsgB)

The claim of Scripture is that the eternal destiny of every human being is based upon how they respond to the message of forgiveness through the Person of Jesus Christ. Those who reject Christ have the judgment of God waiting for them. It is only from the Scripture that we know of these claims. They are revealed nowhere else.

Reason 11: Scripture Provides a Standard of Right and Wrong

Where do we as humans get the concept of what is right and what is wrong? Who determines this? Is it the government that is in control at the time? Is it fifty-one percent of the population? Whoever has the biggest army? Who makes the call?

Many people do not realize that much of our modern concepts of law and order are actually based upon the Bible. Indeed, God’s Law has been the basis of many of the secular concepts of right and wrong.

The Bible Gives Us God’s Standards

The Bible says that God has set standards of right and wrong behavior that human beings are to follow. He expects us to obey His commands.

After God delivered the nation of Israel from the bondage of Egypt, He gave certain commandments that were to be obeyed. Scripture records it in this manner:

Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, “Thus you will tell the house of Jacob, and declare to the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt and how I lifted you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. And now, if you will diligently listen to me and keep my covenant, then you will be my special possession out of all the nations, for all the earth is mine, and you will be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you will speak to the Israelites.” So Moses came and summoned the elders of Israel. He set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him, and all the people answered together, “All that the Lord has commanded we will do!” So Moses brought the words of the people back to the Lord. (Exodus 19:3-8)

We find that God reminded the people of how He had miraculously delivered them from Egypt. The Lord then instructed them as to what would happen next. He would bless them as a nation if they kept His commandments. In fact, they would be a special people; different than all of the other nations of the earth. The people of Israel agreed with what the Lord had offered them. They would obey His commandments.

This same truth runs throughout Scripture. The Lord promises to bless His people as long as we listen to His Word and obey it.

Later, we find the Lord emphasizing this particular truth. He said:

For I will honor those who honor me. (1 Samuel 2:30)

If we honor Him and His Word, He will honor us. This is His promise.

His Word Guides Our Behavior

This standard, which God has revealed to us, should guide our behavior. In fact, reading, or hearing, the Word of God motivates people to change their behavior.

We find a prime example of this in the Old Testament. When the Jews returned from captivity in Babylon, the Scripture was read out loud and explained to them. We read the following in the Book of Nehemiah about what then happened:

So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. (Nehemiah 8:8-9)

Notice that hearing the Word of God caused these people to be sorry for their past behavior, and hence, to change the way in which they were living. It was the Scripture which told them how to govern their behavior. When these people heard what God required of them, they responded.

His Commandments Are Not Difficult

We are also told in Scripture that the commandments which He has given are not difficult for us to follow. John wrote:

For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments do not weigh us down. (1 John 5:3)

The commandments of God should not weigh us down. God gives us His commandments to protect us and to provide for us. They are ultimately for our benefit.

Therefore, instead of rejecting what the Lord commands, we need to realize that they are given to us for the purpose of looking after us.

All Areas of Human Conduct Are Covered by Scripture

We also discover that the Bible gives commandments which cover all areas of human conduct. This includes relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, employers and employees and friends and enemies.

Therefore, God has provided for us the blueprint on how we are to conduct ourselves in the world. The blueprint is the Bible!

This is so important. Indeed, without God’s standard of right and wrong, each of us would be left to our own imaginations about what to do, what not to do, how we should behave and how we should not behave. There could be no agreement, no consensus of opinion. Everyone would go their own way.

In fact, this is what the Bible says about each and every one of us; lost, or unbelieving humanity does not seek after God:

There is no one righteous, not even one, there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, together they have become worthless. (Romans 3:10-12)

Each of us wants to find our own way. We are not looking for Him. No, He is looking for us! We do not “find God.” He is not lost; we are! He finds us!

An Important Lesson from History

In fact, this is what happened in the history of the nation Israel. During the time when Judges ruled in Israel, the people continued to fall away from the Lord. The last verse in the book sums up the entire period:

In those days Israel had no king. Each man did what he considered to be right. (Judges 21:25)

This statement basically sums up life without God. Everyone does that which seems right in their eyes. This is what takes place when people have no ultimate standard or ignore the standard they know is right.

The good news is that the Lord has not left us in the dark when it comes to what is right and what is wrong. No, He has placed in the pages of Scripture the standard for our morality. This is our guidebook; our way to a successful life. We must listen to it and obey it.

Reason 12: the Bible Tells Us What Should Motivate Our Behavior in Serving God

Christians are people who have a relationship with the true and living God through the Person of Jesus Christ. Once we believe in Christ, we then should desire to be more Christlike. The Apostle Paul said that it is the will of God that we be more like Christ:

God’s will is for you to be holy. (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

The meaning behind this verse is that our behavior should conform to that of the Lord Jesus. Being “holy” has the idea to be set apart for God and for His service. This is what the will of God is for all who believe in Jesus.

John wrote something similar:

Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. (1 John 2:6)

We are to live like Jesus. However, we certainly cannot do this in our own strength. This is why the Bible commands us to be filled, or controlled by, the Holy Spirit.

Paul wrote to the Ephesians about this necessity. He contrasted being filled with the Spirit to being drunk with wine:

And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)

We can only please the Lord when we allow His Holy Spirit to control or fill us. In other words, we cannot please Him if we are in control of our lives. Indeed, He is the One who must control and guide us.

The Uniqueness of the Ethics and Morals of Scripture

While the Bible sets down a standard of morals and ethics, it must be noted that these ethics and morals of the Bible are unique - they are always related to a person?s belief in the existence of the God of Scripture and our relationship with Him.

Consequently, it is the motives that are judged rather than any outward obedience. The Bible makes this abundantly clear. The prophet Samuel declared:

The LORD doesn’t make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions. (1 Samuel 16:7)

God looks at our attitudes; not merely on our outward behavior. In fact, we often find the people denounced for merely going through the motions in their service to God without any heartfelt desire. Jesus said:

These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. (Matthew 15:8)

This is exactly what the living God does not want from us! Our outward behavior should match what is in our heart. He does not merely care what we say; He cares how we behave and why we behave the way in which we do!

Thus, the Bible gives the rules on how to behave so that we can live successfully. Yet, it also tells us the proper attitude we should have when obeying the rules.

Consequently, the Scripture not only provides the standard for right and wrong, it tells us how we should go about following that standard.

As a result, it is not merely the outward obedience that the Lord is looking for. Instead, He is looking for people who will obey Him from the heart. We read about this in the Book of Chronicles. It says:

Certainly the Lord watches the whole earth carefully and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

This should motivate us to live godly lives. Indeed, God is looking for people to bless; those who are devoted to Him.

Reason 13: the Words of the Bible Meet the Daily Spiritual Needs of Believers

Millions of Christians in the past have depended on the Bible’s promises to meet their daily spiritual needs. This is still true today. Indeed, millions continue to depend upon these promises to guide their daily lives. We find that His promises are in fact true; He does meet our needs!

He Has Provided Everything Necessary

The Scripture testifies that God has revealed everything that is necessary for us to live a godly life. Peter wrote to the believers about what Jesus Christ has provided. He said:

As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! (2 Peter 1:3)

Notice it emphasizes that He has given us everything that we need. Everything certainly means everything!

The Apostle Paul wrote:

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

Notice God said that He would meet all our “needs,” not all of our “greeds.” He provides everything that we need.

The Lord Gives Us the Strength to Do This

Paul also wrote to the Philippians about the strength that Jesus Christ provides to those who believe in Him. He put it this way:

For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. (Philippians 4:13)

The truth of the Bible gives people spiritual strength to meet the challenges of each new day. This is a promise of God.

Therefore, what we find in Scripture is that God has provided the needed help for us to get through the day. His Word is there to guide us. The psalmist wrote:

Your word is a lamp to walk by, and a light to illumine my path. (Psalm 119:105)

It is His Word which lights our way.

Reason 14: Scripture Promises a Blessing for Those Who Read and Obey It

There are also benefits for reading the Scripture and obeying what is contained therein. Indeed, in the Book of Revelation, we read of a “special” blessing to those who hear and obey God’s Word. John wrote:

Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it, because the time is near. (Revelation 1:3)

It is important that we pay close attention to this promise. The blessing is not merely for those who hear and study God’s Word; the blessing is for those who hear and obey! Obedience is the key.

God Promises Success for Those Who Obey the Scriptures

For those who study, meditate upon and obey its contents, God has promised to bless them. The first Psalm promises the following:

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)

Those who delight in God’s law will be blessed. This includes meditating or thinking about it day and night.

However, it is also assumed that those who meditate on God’s Word will also obey it. Indeed, to the Hebrew mindset they did not make the distinction between studying something and obeying it! It was the same thing. Thus, the idea is that one who studies God’s Word will obey it.

The Results of Relying on His Word

Then the writer tells us what will be the outcome if we delight ourselves in the Lord and in His law. The Psalmist expressed it this way:

He is like a tree planted by flowing streams; It yields its fruit at the proper time, and its leaves never fall off. He succeeds in everything he attempts. (Psalm 1:3)

What a beautiful picture! If we obey the Lord, we will become like a fruitful tree planted next to a flowing stream. We will have a constant supply of water to allow us to bear mature fruit. Our lives will be prosperous; spiritually prosperous. We will be successful; that is, successful in God’s eyes.

We Ought to Continually Study and Obey

God elsewhere commands believers to study His written Word and obey it. The Lord told Joshua the necessity of doing this. He said:

This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. (Joshua 1:8)

Notice that as one studies God’s Word they are to act in accordance with it. Consequently, studying and understanding what we are studying is not enough; one must put into practice what the Word of God teaches.

We Live Our Lives by God’s Word

This corresponds with what Jesus said. He made it clear that we are to live by God’s Word. In one of His temptations with the Devil, Jesus responded as follows:

But he [Jesus] answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)

We cannot exist on physical food alone. To truly live in this world in the way we were meant to live, we also must live on spiritual food. Physical food will keep us alive physically, but spiritual food is necessary for us to live spiritually.

In fact, the Book of Deuteronomy says that God’s words are “the words of life.” Moses wrote the following to the children of Israel:

For it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life. And by this word you will prolong your days in the land, which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess. (Deuteronomy 32:4)

The words of God are the words of life! Therefore, it is essential that we put into practice the things which God has commanded us.

God Delights in Those Who Tremble at His Word

The Bible also says God delights in those who humbly tremble at His Word. The Lord said the following to the prophet Isaiah:

My hands have made both heaven and earth, and they are mine. I, the LORD, have spoken! I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word. (Isaiah 66:2)

To have God delight in us we must have a humble heart when approaching Him and His Word.

He Rejoices Over Us with Singing!

Interestingly, we are told that God takes great delight over us by actually singing! The prophet Zephaniah wrote about the future attitude of the Lord toward the nation Israel when they humbly return to Him in faith:

The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

Truly this is a humbling thought! The living God will rejoice over us with singing when we trust and obey Him.

In the same manner, Moses wrote to the children of Israel about the importance of following the commands of the Lord with all their heart:

The Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers, when you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 30:9-10)

Thus, it is of utmost importance that we have a proper attitude toward the Bible. It is not merely a record of the history of Israel, or the New Testament church—it is God’s divinely inspired communication with the human race. We are to read it, study it and obey it.

Furthermore, it is crucial that we have the right attitude when we obey what is written in the Scripture. It is not enough merely to go through the motions of obeying what is commanded. The Bible says that God is looking at our attitude. This is something that we should never forget.

Reason 15: the Bible Has Influenced Humanity like No Other Book in History

After having looked at the previous fourteen reasons as to why it is important to consider the claims of the Bible, the last point we will look at should not be a surprise to us. Indeed, if the Bible is what it claims to be, then we should expect that it would have had an influence like no other book in history.

And this is exactly the case. Among other reasons, it is important that we should know and understand the contents of the Bible because of the influence which it has had on the world.

While the Bible is one of the oldest books which is still being published, it remains the world?s best-seller. No other book even comes close. In fact, over one hundred million copies of the Bible, or parts of it, are printed each year. The Scriptures have been translated into over one thousand languages and dialects!

The Bible Has Had a One-Of-A-Kind Influence

No other writing, ancient or modern, has had near the influence on the human race as has the Bible. Indeed, every day the message of the Bible continues to change lives in all parts of the world and at every level of society. The Bible is truly one-of-a-kind; it has no equal.

There is certainly a reason for this. It is not because of any hype or slick marketing program. No, the Bible remains the world’s best-seller because it contains the “words of eternal life.”

When Jesus was speaking to the multitudes, there were many who walked away from him. Jesus asked His disciples if they were going to leave also. Simon Peter answered for them:

After this many of his disciples quit following him and did not accompany him any longer. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:66-68)

Their answer was clear; there is nowhere else to go! Only Jesus has the words of eternal life. These words are contained in His Word, the Bible.

It Is the Only Book That Has Answers

Again we want to stress that it is the Bible, and the Bible alone, that contains the answers to our deepest questions. Furthermore, it informs us of the way we should live our lives, as well as how we can have our deepest needs met.

Conclusion: It Is Important That We Read and Study the Bible

A book that has the credentials such as these should be examined by all serious people. The Bible claims to be God’s communication to humanity; it is His way of talking to us.

Therefore it is crucial that we understand the Bible as a personal correspondence between the Creator and His creation. In the Bible, God communicated the fact that He wants to establish a relationship between Himself and each individual. This is the main message of Scripture.

Summary – Question 2
Why Is It Important to Consider the Claims of the Bible?

The Bible is the most important book that has ever been written—it claims to be the very Word of God. Indeed, all Christian doctrine, or teaching, is based upon what the Bible says. It speaks with final authority on all matters. The Bible offers answers to life’s basic questions.

These include the existence and nature of God, the identity and purpose of humankind, the story of human history, the meaning of history and scientific questions about the nature of the universe. It was specifically written to cause people to believe in Jesus Christ.

In addition, it predicts judgment for those who do not believe in Jesus. The Bible also provides a basis of right and wrong, a standard for how to live successfully as well as a practical guide for daily needs. In short, it is the most important Book that has ever been, or ever will be, written.

This is why the Bible continues to be the world’s best-seller. It wields its influence every day to all parts of the globe. Therefore, it is of crucial importance that people take time to read and study the Scriptures.