“ Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:6)
If a non-believer asked, why do you believe the Bible is true, how would you respond? Please take a moment to think about that…
If you were to answer this question by saying something like “because the Bible says so,” that response may not be very convincing for a postmodernist, millennial who has been trained to think critically. Even though it is true that the Bible is God’s Word and says so, skeptics may accuse believers of using circular reasoning to justify this claim. They may even challenge this response by asking “can’t anyone from any religion make that claim about their sacred text?”
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear...” (1 Peter 3:15)
As our society becomes more critical of the Bible and Christianity, even the more, we Christians must always be ready to give a reasonable explanation of our faith. Every believer must understand what they believe and be able to articulate humbly, thoughtfully and gracefully that the Bible is truth! Here are 7 facts that will help you do that.
“As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.” (Psalms 18:30) God’s Word is perfect! PERFECT is the acronym to help you remember these 7 facts that explain why the Bible is true.
P -Prophecies fulfilled
There are many Old Testament Prophecies that have already been fulfilled. Let’s take a look at 3 examples.
1. Isaiah's Prophecy of the Babylonian Captivity (Isaiah 39:5-7) The prophecy was written sometime between 701 and 681 BC. Its was fulfilled 75-85 years later during Daniel’s life, around 606 BC.
“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes” (Daniel 1:1, 2, 3)
2. Isaiah’s Prophecy that Cyrus will restore Jerusalem and build the temple(Isaiah 45:26-28).
The prophecy was written between 701 and 681 BC. The book of Ezra records the fulfillment of this prophecy, in 539 BC, approximately 142 years later.
“Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.” (Ezra 1:2,3)
3. Micah’s Messianic prophecy that a “ruler in Israel” will come out of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) This prophecy is fulfilled in the gospel according to Matthew, approximately 700 years later.
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem” (Matthew 2:1)
The Bible is the only book that accurately predicts events that will take place, hundreds of years before they happen. Whatever the Lord says, will come to pass. We can be confident that all Biblical prophecies will be fulfilled in due time.
E -Eye witness accounts
“For we cannot but speak of the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)
The Gospels and Revelation are the eyewitness accounts of what the Apostles have actually “seen and heard.” Acts records the actions of the Apostles and the spreading of the gospel. The Epistles were written by the Apostles to encourage the church.
Adam had first hand knowledge of creation, then possibly passed it down to Methusalah (who was alive during Adam’s lifetime). From Methusalah to Shem, then from Shem to Jacob (who was alive during Shem’s lifetime). Then from Jacob (Israel) to his children and to Moses, who wrote the oral history of Genesis, passed down from Adam in a book.
Moses and many others witnessed the parting of the Red Sea. Moses details the exodus story and introduces the law in Exodus to Deuteronomy. The books from Joshua to Esther record the history of the children of Israel. Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Songs of Solomon contain poetry and wisdom books of the Israelites. Followed by the books of the prophets, who announced prophetic visions, warnings and condemnations that they received from God.
R -Real People
Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Hezekiah, Sennacherib, Nebuchannezer, Jesus and many of the Bible characters are real historical people. Even secular scholars and documents recognize that these people actually existed. There have been numerous scientific discoveries and archeological evidence that prove the existence of many Bible characters. One of the most recent discoveries is an ancient seal from King Hezekiah. It was found at the foot of the wall that surrounds Jerusalem’s Old City. The seal has Hebrew scripts imprinted on it, as well as a symbol of a two-winged sun. The Hebrew script reads, “Belonging to Hezekiah (son of) Ahaz king of Judah.”
F -Factual events
From a worldwide flood, to the downfall of Jerusalem, Babylon, rise of a Grecian King and Roman rule, are just a few of the historical events detailed in the Bible. There is no debate in the secular world about the rise and fall of these empires. Sadly, many scoffers doubt the occurrence of a worldwide flood, even though there is evidence of it all around us. For instance, the fact that most of the rock layers in the walls of the Grand Canyon (more than a mile above sea level) contain marine fossils and fossilized shellfish found in the Himalayas, both testify that the waters covered the whole earth.
“And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.” (Genesis 7:19-20).
E -Equates Jesus Christ with God
The Bible is the only sacred book which claims the truth of Jesus Christ being God in the flesh. Here are a few verses that illustrate this truth.
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”
1 Timothy 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
Phillipians 4:6-8 “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
This Biblical truth of God being manifested in the flesh through the Lord Jesus, to die for our sins, separates Christianty from other religions and cults. You cannot be a true Christian without acknowledging this great truth.
C -Consistent
As a child, have you ever played the game “telephone”? It is the game in which the first player comes up with a message, whispers it in the ear of the second person in line, the second player repeats the message to the third player, and so on. By the time the message gets to the last player and it is announced by that person. Oftentimes, the message differs significantly from that of the first player. The game is usually used to show how information passed from one person to another can easily become inconsistent or inaccurate in a short amount of time.
Even though the Bible has 40 different writers over a period of 3600 years, includes 66 books, it remains consistent and accurate. It consistently portrays man’s need for salvation and God’s master plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. Only God can preserve His Word throughout the generations.
“The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” (Psalms 12:6,7)
T -Transforms lives
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
God’s Word has made me more aware of how much of a sinner I really am, and my desperate need for a saviour. Without God Word’s we would all be lost. In all other religions, people rely on their own righteousness to save them from the penalty of sin. The Bible is the only book that explains that we cannot save ourselves from sin. Only faith in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, can save us from our sins. I am trusting in God’s Word for the redemption of my sins and to receive eternal life through Jesus Christ. Trusting and obeying God’s Word will bring you peace with Him and transform your life.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul...” (Psalm 19:7)
The Bible is true because it is PERFECT!
Prophecies fulfilled
Eye witness accounts
Real people
Factual events
Equates Jesus with God
Consistent
Transform lives.
If someone asks, why do you believe the Bible is true, remember these 7 facts (PERFECT) and you will be ready to give an answer for your hope in God’s Word.
