Why is the Bible Different From Other Books?

Pastor Dick Brookes

Interim Senior Pastor

Coila Church

Of all the books ever written the Bible stands alone as a unique and indestructible book. Critiques have attacked it, scholars have sought to dismiss it, and skeptics have ridiculed it; yet this book consisting of 66 books written over a period of nearly 2000 years with over 40 different authors and multiple cultural, linguistic, and geographic differences retains a remarkably unified message, and thematic consistency that in itself sets it aside from any other book ever compiled. J.B. Phillips, a British Pastor, wrote a book in 1967 entitled: The Ring of Truth in which he developed the theme that as the title expressed, “As you read this book, it quite clearly has a ‘ring of truth.’”

Emile Cailliet, a professor of philosophy at Princeton, recalls in his book Journey Into Light; his intention to write a comprehensive book that as he put it “would understand me.” He drew from the breadth of his reading and study; but after he discovered a Bible that his wife was secretly hiding from him (because he had forbidden her to have anything to do with religion while they were living in Paris); his life was changed. Here are his words:

I read, and read, and read--now aloud with an indescribable warmth surging with...I could not find words to express my awe and wonder. And suddenly the realization dawned upon me:  This was the Book that would understand me! I continued to read deeply into the night, mostly from the Gospels.  And lo and behold, as I looked through them, the One of whom they spoke, the One who spoke and acted in them became alive to me. The providential circumstances amid which the Book had found me now made it clear that while it seemed absurd to speak of a book understanding a man, this could be said of the Bible because its pages were animated by the Presence of the Living God and the Power of His mighty acts.  To this God I prayed that night, and the God who answered was the same God of whom it was spoken in the Book."

The Bible itself says well over 1,000 times: “The Lord spoke saying…The Lord said…The Word of the Lord came to me saying…” There can be no doubt but that those who wrote the Bible believed that their message was a message from God.

The author of Hebrews distinguishes between the Old and New Testament with this affirmation:

¹ In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…

Note the affirmation that the Old Testament was a record of God speaking to us and that now during the New Testament era God would speak through his Son, Jesus Christ.

This is the primary difference between the Bible and all other books – including “religious or spiritual books.” The Bible is not people writing their ideas or thoughts about God. The Bible is God REVEALING HIMSELF through people whom he ENABLED (literally “inspired”) to write exactly what He desired them to write using their own styles and personalities.

The beloved Apostle, John, wrote his Gospel highlighting seven of Jesus’ miracles. At the end of this Gospel he comments about these miracles or “signs” and then states the REASON that he wrote about them. It is important to be confident that God authored the Bible, but it is even more important that you discover for yourself – as Emile Cailliet did WHY God wrote the Bible; and why He wrote it FOR YOU!!

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30!!

Pastor Jim French

St. Luke's Church

jim.french.137@gmail.com

Many religions have a book they consider sacred or a book set apart from other books. For

Christians, this sacred book is the Bible. We believe that each word was inspired by God to be written for our instruction, encouragement, and edification (Rom 15:4). Unlike other sacred books the Bible was God inspired, (not dictated) and as such contains not only God's promises but also the personalities of the writers. Even though it was written by men, the ultimate author was God Almighty. The Bible itself makes this claim: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16). “For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Pet 1:21).

No major religion outside of Christianity claims a sacred text to be God's Word. The teachings of Confucius, Buddha and Hinduism do not make a claim to be God’s Word. The Muslim Koran does not claim to be the word of allah. Rather they claim it is the writings of Mohammed dictated to him word for word by the angel Gabriel and Mohammed's record of history as well as his desire for the future.

What do we mean when we say we believe that the Bible is the actual Word of God? We believe that the Bible contains the actual promises of God to the human race. We believe that he speaks to us through the Bible and that when God gives us his Word, it is rock solid; he will never violate it. If a person gives you their Word, even though they may try as hard as they can to keep it, they may still not be able to. God ALWAYS keeps his Word.

Why is the Bible different than other sacred texts? The Bible itself contains convincing evidence as being God's Word.

1). Unity - Although this book was written by over 40 different human authors it contains unity in a central message: God's plan of redemption for fallen man through his Son Jesus Christ.

2). Prophesy – The Bible is filled with prophesy, many of which we can see fulfilled by verifiable historic events, (The fall of the Babylonian Empire (Daniel 5) is one example). The Old Testament itself has over 300 prophesies about the coming Messiah of which Jesus fulfilled every one!

3). Endurablility – The Bible is the most revered but also the most maligned book in the history of man, yet it survives. It is by far the best selling book of all time. It is estimated that sales of the Bible average between $425 and $650 million annually. No other book even comes close. Many have tried to discredit the Bible, but yet from generation to generation, it endures. No other book has had such a profound impact on the world. And no other book can have such a profound effect on your life.

Jesus said “The words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and life”, (John 6:63b) The words of the Bible contain life and the power of God resides in each and every word!

The best way to find out about the Bible is to read it! Start with the Gospel of John and continue with the other 3 Gospels. Ask God to show you his truth in his Word. I guarantee he will not disappoint you!

What Happens When We Die?

Pastor Dick Brookes
Coila Church: Cambridge, New York
dickbrookesusmc@gmail.com

King Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes as a kind of philosophy of life. He writes it from the perspective of “life under the sun” which means that he was writing from a human perspective. He chronicles how he pursued wealth, pleasure, and knowledge; and his conclusion after having achieved them all was: “all is vanity.” Or as a pastor friend of mine translates those words, “soap bubbles,  that’s what those pursuits amount to – soap bubbles.” He concludes this fascinating book with these words:

“13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. In other words – life from a human perspective makes no sense. The only true perspective that counts is the perspective of God.

These final words of Solomon are to be contrasted with these words from Ecclesiastes chapter 3:

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart.  A number of years ago I led a Seniors Bible Study at a church I was serving in Minnesota. Most of the people were in their 70’s and 80’s. One morning I asked this question: “How often do you think about dying?” The answer was immediate! – “Never! Why would we think about dying when there’s so much to live for?”

I found that response intriguing, and yet very honest and, in fact, true to my own thinking. There is something within me that finds death very odd. Whenever I have conducted a funeral and before the service stand alone beside an open casket, it has always seemed very strange that there is a body in this
box without life. I mean, I know the person has died; but the thought “someday that will be you” seems very unreal; and I believe it is “unreal” because of what Solomon said, “God has placed eternity in my 
heart.” There is something within me that “believes” that life will not end, but it will go on forever!! I believe this is what could be called a “racial memory.” It goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden when God promised our first parents that they would live forever IF they honored and obeyed him”. Of course, they did not do that, and as a result sin and the reality of death became a part of human history AND the entire universe. But deep within each of us is that “racial memory” – “death is NOT what you were designed for!”

But according to Solomon pursuing knowledge, pleasure, and wealth – all of which he achieved – is not what we were designed for either. So what were we designed for? What is it that we are pursuing throughout our lives? Are we like Ponce de Leon trying to find the “fountain of youth” and thereby find
immortality?

Paul writes in Colossians 3 – “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Note the phrase – “When Christ who IS YOUR LIFE…”
“What happens when you die?” The answer is: The one who conquered death and rose from the dead
has promised that those who have faith in him will, when they physically die, make an immediate
transition from this life – with all of its pain, frustration, and “soap bubbles” - into the true life, the
eternal life, which we were promised from the beginning. In Jesus, we receive this eternal life, and
when we die, we will discover that God’s intention for mankind was not only to put “eternity in the
hearts of mankind,” but to enable us to experience it!

Do you, like me, find that Solomon’s words ring true – “I have put eternity in your heart?” My hope
and prayer is that you have discovered that the reality of this inward desire is realized when you discover that life is found through faith in Jesus Christ.

Pastor Jim French
St. Luke's Cambridge
pastor.jim.137@gmail.com

We've all heard it: “Eat right. Exercise. Get enough sleep. Don't smoke.” Doctors everywhere agree that in order to live longer, healthier lives we need to take care of ourselves. We should all try to make these things a normal part of our lifestyle. But what about the afterlife? Is there something after this life or when we die do we simply cease to exist? Is there a heaven? Is there a hell? Who goes where?

No matter what we do in our lives, no matter how well we take care of ourselves, be it king or peasant, each of us has this one thing in common: we will all someday face death. Where we spend eternity is actually a choice each of us makes individually.

We are 3 part beings. Each of us has been created with a body, soul (the seat of thought and emotion)
and a spirit (1 Thess 5:23). Although our bodies die, everyone's spirit is eternal and will remain forever.

The Bible tells us that heaven and hell are real places. Heaven is given to those who have received Jesus and trusted in him as their Savior. It is a place where we will be in the presence of God forever. Hell, Jesus says is, “the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt 25:41) and the unbeliever will spend eternity there. This is a very sobering thought. We don't like to talk or even think about it, but God's judgment is very real.

The good news is that our eternal disposition is not based on what we have done in our earthly life, but on our relationship with Jesus Christ. None of us can do enough good to earn our way to heaven, but when we rely on the righteousness of Jesus Christ our eternal destiny is sealed in heaven because it is based on his perfect, sinless life.

To me an eternity separated from God is unthinkable. A life without Jesus would be meaningless. It would simply be a life spent acquiring as much stuff as possible so someone else can get it when I die.
Without the sure knowledge that when I close my eyes for the last time I will spend eternity with Jesus life would be meaningless. If I only exist for myself, what's the point? But if I exist to love and serve him life makes sense.

Do you have that surety? Do you know where you are going when you die? Give your life to Jesus Christ; turn away from your old life and make him your Lord and Savior; and you too will enjoy
eternity with God. That choice belongs to each of us.