I would like to ask the group here why do you believe the Bible? What gives you unwavering confidence and faith that it is what it claims?
The reason i ask is because i often wonder why i believe it. Is it because that is what ive been taught through the WT? I want to be able to fully convince myself and so I am very much interested in your reasons.
I guess I'll use a scripture to help me prove that scripture is real.:shocked:
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.
There is no way for me to prove that God exists, let alone that the Bible is inspired by Him. But I believe it. It's blind faith. And I love it.
All I can do is follow what the bible has taught me. Eventually Holy Spirit starts manifesting itself, sometimes very quietly, in my life and when I notice it, I try to snatch it up and go with it. That is my proof. Noone else has to believe I have it, but I know when it's there. Then, for me, it makes my faith in what the Bible says stronger.
Greetings Yannis
This scripture comes to mind.....to help put faith in God's word (that describes His purpose)...
Romans 1:18...
" For God’s wrath is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who are suppressing the truth in an unrighteous way, because what may be known about God is manifest among them, for God made it manifest to them. For his invisible [qualities] are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they are inexcusable; because, although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God nor did they thank him, but they became empty-headed in their reasonings and their unintelligent heart became darkened. Although asserting they were wise, they became foolish and turned the glory of the incorruptible God into something like the image of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed creatures and creeping things."
Christian love,
gogh
I have a New Living Translation with Jesus' words printed in red.
Everytime I read one of those gospel accounts where Jesus speaks...he speaks directly to me.
So, while I appreciate historical accuracy, etc...I have found that it's the wisdom of Jesus that testifies to me as to the Bible's accuracy. All of the great philosophers and mystics throughout the ages could not have said what Jesus said, especially in so few words. And, needless to say, none could have approached him in action. Amazing. Simply amazing.
gus
What convinces me is that, when I put Jesus' teachings into practice, even though some of the ideas go against what someone might think is best (love my enemy?!), I find that what he says is right. It works! So I know it must be from God.
That’s a very good question Yannis.
With me I guess it started with the basic things like mysteries like how did life start and what came before the big bang and such like questions. That convinced me that God existed. The more specific side of why is the bible true is its historical accuracy and evidence of a scientific understanding beyond what man had at the time through some of the Jewish laws such as circumcision on the 8th day.
The bible to me also gives the only convicing explanation of all the paranormal happenings that go on in the world in a way that makes sence and fits the facts.
Recently though I think also it was evidence provided by the Holy Spirit and a realisation that it had been guiding me for as long as I can remember in ways beyond science. This is partly what led me to know the Lord Jesus Christ in the way the bible presents him.
I found the scripture below relevant and true particularly with regard to convincing evidence.
Joh 16:7 Nevertheless, I am telling YOU the truth, It is for YOUR benefit I am going away. For if I do not go away, the helper will by no means come to YOU; but if I do go my way, I will send him to YOU.
Joh 16:8 And when that one arrives he will give the world convincing evidence concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment:
Joh 16:9 in the first place, concerning sin, because they are not exercising faith in me;
Joh 16:10 then concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and YOU will behold me no longer;
Joh 16:11 then concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
Hi Yannis :hibye: and everyone :love:
there has never been a time for me when I Didn't believe. I have always just Known--when I was 6 and had just learned to read I was reading a book of nursery rhymes one evening and looked out my bedroom window which my little desk was facing just as I had read the words ''I see the moon and the moon sees me, God made the moon and God made me.'' My heart moved within me as I felt so connected to this beautiful full moon knowing we had the same creator--or--Father. I remember thinking that night that the moon was my sister :redface: (you do things like that when you are 6) but it was a real moment for me and been a part of me ever since so for me I really have to say I am a born believer and always known there are things that are sacred. I traveled through many different religions as I was growing up looking for that ''something.'' It has taken me awhile to understand the huge difference between being religious and being spiritual and practicing religion opposed to worshipping even tho the answer for me really was reflected in the full moon a long time ago-- :heartbeat: :grouphug: I will say also that love of the Bible and faith it is the inspired word of God has followed this for me--I have always treasured the Bible and felt it was one of the sacred things in life even tho I also say I ''found'' God before I even had a Bible.....:heartbeat:
This is in my opinion the most important question we can ask ourselves as Christians.
Here are some of my reasons for believing the bible is God's word & that God has overseen the translation & canonisation of its books.
1
The bible is crammed full of historic & topographic data, so the bible has a very large margin for error in this regard,
however, most historians now view the bible as a reliable & valuable source of historic information, in recent years, archaeology too, has caught up with the bible.
Compare this with other "holy books" such as The Book Of Mormon or the majority of the apocrypha.
2
The bible is accurate when touching on matters of science, here are just two striking examples:
"He stretches the north wind out on nothing, and on nothing He has hung the earth."
Job 26:7
"Why, it’s He who set the curve of the earth, and those who live on it are like locusts. It was He who established the skies like a vault, and stretched them as a tent where [people] can dwell."
Isaiah 40:22
3
Although the bible cannon was determined in part by the Church, its interesting that they chose not to include books that advanced catholic dogma like; the immortality of the soul, hellfire, veneration of Mary as "the mother of God" etc, they could have chosen any of the following books;
Apocalypse Of Peter
Infancy Gospel Of James
Acts Of Peter
But guess what?
The church choose not to include any of these books into the New Testament cannon, odd huh? :thinking:
4
As a person begins to get a good idea of the bible as a whole, we begin to see how harmoniously the whole thing hangs together, remarkable when you consider how many varied individuals were involved in the writing & compiling of the scriptures over a period of thousands of years.
Those are just some of my own personal reasons for believing that the bible is what it says it is, this is not blind faith, but rather is a tangible foundation for belief in the bible as it has been handed down to us.
Just my :2cents: folks.
Agape Johnny :heartbeat:
John 1
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[a] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (NIV)
14The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish. (Message)
14 So the Word became human[a] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.[b] And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. (New Living Translation)
Hebrews 4
12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. (New Living Translation)
gus
For me it is Jesus' words as well. When I follow what he says, and put faith in him, my life gets better. Not only that, but it makes me a better person on the inside.
If the first century Christians just made up the story of Jesus Christ, they wouldn't have those brilliant words of his written down. The truth is, whoever said the things Jesus is quoted as saying was the most advanced human I have ever heard speak.
Biology 100. I distinctly remember starting to read the textbook chapter discussing evolution. I had determined in my heart that I was going to truly study evolution; I didn't have an understanding of it because in high school, I didn't study it because of religious reasons.
I read several pages dealing with an overview of the evolutionary epochs. Then, I got my Bible and compared Genesis with the epochs, and they matched.
Regardless of what a person believes with relation to who wrote Genesis and when, one must admit that it happened before the concept of evolution was presented.
I feel there is no way the writer of Genesis could accurately know what happened first, second, third, etc., except by inspiration.
Good day,
Justicia
The answer for me is very simple; it is so powerful and such a blessing if we live according to the Bible. It is more than good enough for me to believe it has to be God's book.:cheer:
hitomi
Hi Sis Wolfie,:love:
The moon is what made me first believe in God,wow, I never heard of that one!!!
''I see the moon and the moon sees me, God made the moon and God made me"!
:cheer:I would have loved that one when I was little! :heartbeat:
Before I ever knew of "God" as a little girl of 4, I used to talk to "whoever made the moon". I just knew there was a bigger force out there that would guide me, comfort me and answer all the questions I had about life. :cheekkiss: Mom never belived in God or the Bible, she's still an atheist.
When I finally was given a Bible it took years to get around to reading it and I did not understand most of it. Things did not all come together until I read what Jesus was teaching. It was all the answers to all the questions I was ever asking. Simple, precise and pure love.:heartbeat:
I learned (still work in progress:blush:) that living by what Jesus taught in my Bible made such a big difference in my life it was like night and day!
The knowlage that you find in the Bible is solid and when you practice it, it becomes wisdom. Nothing man has written has ever had such a profound impact in my life so for me hat I believe it HAS to be inspired by God, it answered all my prayers for answers, comfort and hope. Its not the words in themselves but the spirit alive within it that teaches...
"God's word is like a sharp, double edge sword. It cuts into a mans soul and spirit, as well as into his bones and marrow; it lays open to us our spiritual condition and exposes the thoughts and intentions of our hearts; it lets us see our own motives and then helps us change them." ~Hebrews 4:12
Thank you Jehovah:cheer:
Thank you Jesus:cheer:
Much LOVE,:heartbeat:
Sparrow
Hi Yannis,
My reply is similar to our sis Wolfie.
Before I could read, my mother gave me a book with pictures of Jesus - of him looking at a scene of war and its results ie dead bodies, of him dying on the cross, and of him walking with children and animals. You could say my heart contracted in that very moment I laid eyes on him.
I just 'knew' that this man was incredibily important, that in him was the life, the truth and his connection to the creator who I learned about a bit later.
If you ask what is the it that I 'knew' - I really am unable to explain. Perhaps it was that innocence of the child that I was. Now as an adult I still 'know' and that will not be moved no matter what.
The creation, the heavens, everything of God's hand speaks for itself and as a child these wonders I observed....spoke.
Tessa
For me the answer to this is the following.
Heb 12 states that we have a great cloud of witnesses that confirm what happened.
Almost every event in the Bible has at least two people confirming the event both good and bad. For example David's adultery is mentioned by three different people. Every person in the Bible is mentioned at least twice (with a few exceptions.)
It is this more than anything as there are no other religous books that I have found that have this.