Life's greatest question is in wanting to know if there is an all knowing, all loving and all powerful God that controls and cares about the events of this world. The Bible is not vague as it answers this profound question. It must be first said that man, in and of himself, cannot find God without God choosing to reveal himself to man.
Paul declared that the world with all it’s wisdom could not know God, (1Corinthians 1:21) and that no man could know the things of God without the Spirit of God revealing it to him. (1Corinthians 2:11–16)1 The first way that God takes the initiative in revealing Himself to man is what Christians know as General Revelation.
This is God's revelation of Himself in the glory of nature, “The heavens declare the glory of God” says the psalmist. God's glory and His existence is revealed and displayed at the works of His hands. This display is so clear and manifest that no creature can possibly miss it.
It unveils God's power and deity (Romans 1: 18–23). It does not give us the information about God the Redeemer that we find in the Bible. But the God who is revealed in nature is the same God that is revealed in Scripture.2
God then gives to man the knowledge of His existence in what we call “Special Revelation”. This refers to those acts of God whereby He reveals Himself and His will to specific persons. Under “Special Revelation” we see God revealing Himself in the following ways:
1. The Revelation of God in Miracles – A supernatural intervention of God into the natural laws of nature. (Exodus 4–12, Exodus 7:12,22, Exodus 14–15; Joshua 4–5)
2. The Revelation of God in Prophecy – The miraculous foretelling of future events that were foretold hundreds of years before they came to pass. (Micah 5:2, Zechariah 9:9, Isaiah 53, Psalm 16, Psalm 110)
3. The Revelation of God in Christ – All revelation leading up to this, revealed God's attributes not His personhood. Jesus Christ is the sum total of all of God's previous revelation. To look at Christ is to look at God. (John 1:1,14, John 1:18, Colossians 1:15) Christ is the ultimate revelation of God because He is God.
1 The Foundations if Christian Doctrine (page 17) By: Kevin J, Conner
2 Truth Of The Christian Faith (Page 4) By: Dr. R.C. Sproul
4. The Revelation of God in Scripture – The revelation of God in Christ is also the revelation of the Living Word- the Word made flesh. God's Word inspired (breathed out of the mouth of God) gives us an infallible understanding of God's nature, will and plan for mankind. Whether that is found in miracles, prophecy or just in the words of Christ as He taught men and women the Bible is God’s special revelation of Himself to all nations.
We can know with great confidence that the Bible we have today is truly God's Word to Us. You might say how can we be sure? Let’s look at the reasons for why the Bible stands head and shoulders above all other religious writings and at its unique place among all literature.
1. Its prophetic accuracy and statistical probability– The Bible's remarkable predictions, which due to their specific nature cannot be logically explained apart from divine inspiration.
This even extends to the rising and falling of nations, hundreds of years before the actual events. Any of the prophetic utterances would present such an incomprehensible probability factor that these can only be seen as utterances not originating from man but from God Himself.
2. The testimony of Jesus– His complete endorsement of the Old Testament as the inerrant Word of God and His pre–authentication of the New Testament offer the strongest proof of biblical trustworthiness because of who Christ is. Because Jesus is God incarnate, as proven by His unparalleled life, spectacular miracles, and resurrection from the dead, He stands as an infallible authority and in that position He taught the Bible was the literal Word of God.1
3. The manuscript evidence- There are now more than 5,300 known Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. Add over 10,000 Latin Vulgate and at least 9,300 other early versions and we have more than 24,000 manuscript copies of portions of the New Testament in existence today. No other document of antiquity even begins to approach such numbers and attestation. In comparison, the Iliad by Homer is second with only 643 manuscripts that still survive. The first complete preserved text of Homer dates from the 13th century.2
4. The archaeological data– Over a century of detailed scientific excavations have failed to produce a single biblical statement false, while confirming as accurate thousands of historical, geographical and other details in the Bible.
5. Additional reasons- The Bible's unique claims, internal unity, recorded miracles, and historic preservation set it apart from all other books and require an explanation for its origin beyond the natural.
Indeed, the Bible's overall uniqueness, dramatic power to change lives, and the simple fact it can still rationally be claimed to be the Word of God and be logically defended as such– despite 2000 years of intense criticism by the best arguments of the world's leading skeptics– reveal what an amazing and reliable book it is.3
2 Timothy 3:16
John 10:35
John 17:17
Matthew 24:35
Proverbs 30:5
Psalm 12:6
1 Peter 1:23
Psalm 119:89
Matthew 5:18
1 The Facts On Why You Can Believe The Bible (page 11) By John Ankerberg & John Weldon
2 Evidence that Demands a Verdict (page 39) By Josh McDowell
3 The Facts On Why You Can Believe The Bible (page 12) By John Ankerberg & John Weldon
In an age where absolute truth is looked at as not existing and tolerance is looked at as the loving attitude to have, the Bible makes some very staggering statements that cut across the thoughts and attitudes that prevail today.
In Acts 4:12, Peter makes the statement that: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved”. This echo's the words of none other than The Lord Jesus Christ when He said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”.
1. Many today think that belief or faith in something or someone such as Buddha or Mohammed will bring them eternal life or at least a higher spiritual life. Many people assume there are many paths to God and that each religion represents an aspect of truth. Jesus didn't claim to be one of many equally legitimate paths to God, or the way to God for His day only.
He claimed to be the only way to God––then and forever. It is because of His virgin birth, His sinless life and His death and resurrection that men and women can receive forgiveness and inner cleansing from sin. That doesn't mean we're incapable of performing acts of human kindness. We might even be involved in various religious or humanitarian activities. But we're utterly incapable of understanding, loving, or pleasing God on our own.
1. The Bible says, “There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one”.
2. Without the free gift of salvation which is given to man by faith in Jesus Christ, man is hopelessly lost. All other religions in the world are based on man somehow working his way up to God through his own good works or good deeds. The salvation that both Jesus and Peter spoke about is a salvation in which the perfect sinless life of Christ is credited to your account by grace through faith. This is something you could never earn because “we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory (perfection) of God”.
3. It is because ALL men and women from the beginning are sinful that only one who never sinned can be a our Savior. Jesus met the righteous requirements of God, by living the perfect life in our place, and because only He could, salvation is found in none other than Jesus Christ.
In an age of inclusiveness the words of Scripture leave no doubt that the only way to eternal life is through the perfect sinless “Lamb of God” who gave His life on the cross as a substitute for you and me. Many today point to many ways to eternal life and a relationship with God but Jesus proclaimed that the road to eternal life was “narrow and only a few find it”
4. Who does the Bible say Jesus is? The living God, the Holy One, the Savior, the only valid object of saving faith, the sovereign Lord, and the righteous Judge. Who do you say Jesus is? That is the inescapable question. He alone can redeem you––free you from the power and penalty of sin. He alone can transform you, restore you to fellowship with God, and give your life eternal purpose. Will you repent and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?