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