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BIBLE

The Bible is the most popular book in the World. Each year it tops the "best sellers" list (even though they won't list it). It has been estimated that billions of Bibles have been produced in the past 375 years. Some say that the number of Bibles printed over time would provide one for each man, woman, and child that lives on the earth. What is the one characteristic about the Bible that makes it so popular? Simply answered, "It is the Word of God!"

The Bible is God's message to mankind. Some call it God's "loveletter" to the human race. Christians say it is infallible, without error in the original text. Its critics, of course, don't agree saying the Bible was written by men, that it has errors, and it is not completely true. But let me give you some thoughts on why I believe the Bible to be the "very words from the mouth of God."

I. There Must Be A Bible.

God has declared the that those who obey Him will go into Heaven, but those who choose not to obey will be thrown into Hell; therefore, there must be a Bible. Since God has declared that those who keep His righteous standard will be blessed, then He must provide man with the "Standard." Because God has a burning Hell for those who disobey, then He must provide the Book of the Law, declaring when man has wronged God. The Bible must exist because God holds man accountable.

II. The Bible Must Be Without Error.

Since God is responsible to provide man with the "perfect standard," by which to live, He must be sure it is without error. A standard that has errors in it is not a standard at all. Can you imagine trying to measure with a ruler that is less than or greater than 12 inches? If the Bible has errors then how is man supposed to know what God truly wants him to do? No, the expected standard from God must also be perfect in order to be effective.

III. The Bible Must Be Easy to Understand.

Can you imagine your boss giving you an order to carry out, but he tells you in Russian or Chinese? How could you be expected to obey him? It wouldn't make any difference if it was a 100% true statement; if you can't understand it, then it is meaningless as a directive. No, the Bible has to be readily understood in order for God to hold us accountable. Now this doesn't mean that we must understand every little detail about the Battle of Armageddon, or know the exact meaning of the number "666." But it does mean that in the areas essential to daily living and the fundamental truths of the Christian Faith, the Bible must be readily understood by all who seek truth in their hearts. There is only one interpretation of every passage of Scripture, but often times many applications.

A Bible that is open for various interpretations is no standard at all, and again God would not expect man to obey it. The Word of God is clearly written and simple to understand. I use one basic assumption whenever I read the Bible, "If the literal meaning of the verse makes sense, then stop right there." However, if the literal meaning does not appear to match up with what we can understand, then I assume God is using a "picture" of something else to make it more clear to me.

The greatest proof of the truth of the Bible in my life is the simple fact that "it works!" I remember back to the days before my salvation and realize that the new life I now live has been the direct result of reading the Bible and trying to do what it says to by God's strength. My life is completely changed and it has been transformed by the Living Word of God--The Bible.

Comments On This Page: Scripture Must Be Perfect? posted by Dustin D. Robinson on 11/07/2001 at 02:32:45 from IP# 199.237.175.47 "...must be perfect to be effective." I don't necessarily agree that in order for something to be effective for God that it must be perfect. Taking the Orally Translated approach to the creation of Scripture I am confused at how we must limit God's ability to the need of having something that is infallible in order for it to be effective and contain truth. While we know and accept we are “fallen” as Christians and as men and women in this earth, I don not believe that there is a need to have two “perfect standards” by which to live. You point to the Bible as being the “perfect standard”, I ask then, “Who is Jesus?” More importantly, “What was, is, and will always be Jesus?” Answer: He is the risen Lord, perfect in all ways. He is our Redeemer and His light enables us to be free from the darkness. We as humans do not attempt to live by the standards set by other men or women, no, we strive to replicate the life of He who came to die for us. While His life was perfect, and the Word foresees and reveals His life lived, what is necessary as a Christian that does not allow their to be inadequacies in Scripture? Cannot God us a crooked stick to draw a straight line? Cannot God use imperfect humans to create His Word that contains all the necessary truth of Him, His Son, and the Holy Spirit, yet is not “perfect”? Why must we have Scripture be infallible if we acknowledge God as perfect, and how and who He reveals Himself through are just methods of showing Himself to us? Where does prayer and discernment enter in? You said, “If the Bible has errors then how is man supposed to know what God truly wants him to do?” If the Bible is simply a written order of commands in order to follow Him then everything we do is black and white. We are either for or against God in every decision we make if Scripture is the only way in which God can and does reveal Himself. Furthermore, not every issue faced in society is addressed in the Bible, what is to be done about those realities? Nowhere in Scripture is the word “dating” found, yet there’s an abundance of resources found and created by Christians in and inspired from Scripture on the subject. Are we not then taking from the Bible what we need to fit our lives in our current position(s)? Is that not an example of someone taking God’s perfect Word and applying them to imperfect lifestyles lived by fallen humans? God can and does use imperfections in people and things to reveal to us His perfect-ness (e.g. free-will choices of sin-filled people effecting the lives of those attempting to live in God’s love). Praise be to God for taking us as sinners and using us as His soldiers to grow His kingdom and spread the truth of and contained within His Word.

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