"Can We Really Trust the Bible"

CAN WE REALLY TRUST THE BIBLE?

Every year archeological digs add evidence to the historical accuracy of the Bible. The Scriptures are not mere stories and myths handed down from generation to generation.

For example, the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls by a Bedouin boy herding his father’s goats at Qumran revealed the word for word accuracy of the Book of Isaiah and other scriptures.

Some believe that other caves along the Dead Sea will reveal other scrolls of the ancient Hebrews Scriptures. Time will tell.

IF THE BIBLE IS TRUE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO US TODAY?

The accuracy and reliability of the Scriptures is of profound importance to us today because the Bible is much more than a historical record. The Bible is God’s declaration of truth and life. Jesus claimed – “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” John 14:6

The Bible contains BAD NEWS and GOOD NEWS, and these truths are vitally important for each and every one of us to clearly understand and acknowledge.

The BAD NEWS is that all men have sinned and have fallen short of the perfect standard of God’s holiness. Romans 3:23 tells us – “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

The bad news gets even worse as we read in Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death . . . “ This death is not mere physical death but also spiritual death and eternal death if we enter eternity without a savior. God had warned Adam and Eve – “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

Adam and Eve disobeyed and died. They were suddenly separated from the God with whom they once enjoyed loving fellowship. Their children were born under the same consequence and curse of sin, and that curse prevails to this very day –

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned.” Romans 5:12

That is BAD NEWS and it has infected all of us. We are born under the curse of sin and death.

But there is GOOD NEWS as well! Romans 6:23 reveals both bad news and good news – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” A gift from God: that’s good news!

God can offer us the free gift of eternal salvation because Jesus Christ died as the supreme and ultimate sacrifice for all of our transgressions. Jesus was literally God in human form . . . the perfect and sinless God-man! The “wages of sin” were completely paid by His death upon the cross, and His resurrection is proof positive that He was victorious over sin, Satan and death.

Romans 5:8 tells us, “God demonstrated His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Suppose you were in a hospital dying of cancer and I came to you and said, “Let’s take all the cancer cells from your body and put them into my body.”

If that were possible, what would happen to me? What would happen to you?

I would die in your place. I would die instead of you.

You would live in my place.

The price for our sin has been paid in full because Jesus died in our place! You and I are offered eternal life as a free gift if we will just believe it and receive it by faith.

YOU CAN BE SAVED FROM YOUR SINS THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST!

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace (undeserved favor) you have been saved (delivered from sin’s penalty) through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Faith means to trust.

Question: What must you trust Christ for?

Answer: You must depend on Him alone to forgive you and to give you eternal life.

REAL FAITH:

Suppose I gave you a bungee chord that was strong enough to lift a car. Do you believe in bungee chords?

Real faith would be to take that bungee chord and jump off the Royal Gorge Bridge in dependence upon it to save you from crashing on the rocks below. That would take a lot of faith wouldn’t it!

That kind of faith is what it means to trust in Jesus Christ alone to save you from death. You trust Christ alone to save you just as you would trust the bungee chord! Then God will give you eternal life as a free gift.

Does that make sense to you?

Is there anything keeping you from trusting Christ right now?

            1. _______________________________

            2. _______________________________

            3. _______________________________

Consider this carefully. There is nothing more important than your need to trust Christ and be saved from the consequences of sin.

Would you like to tell God you are trusting Jesus Christ and Him alone as your Savior?

If you would, why not pray right now and tell God you are trusting His Son. It is not a prayer that saves you. It is trusting Jesus alone that saves you. Prayer is simply telling God what you are doing:

“Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. I know that my sin deserves to be punished. I believe that Jesus Christ died for me on the cross and that He rose again from the grave. I trust Jesus alone as my Savior. Thank you for forgiveness and everlasting life I now have. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.”

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?

The Bible tells us, “He who hears My word and believes in Him Who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” John 5:24

If you trusted Jesus as your Savior, you now have the gift of God which is eternal life! Isn’t that wonderful?

WHAT DO I DO NOW?

Having trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as you Savior from sins penalty, we want you to grow in faith.

ª     Read the Bible every day. Start in one of the books like the Gospel of John.

ª     Memorize the verse above, John 5:24.

ª     Worship with God’s people. Find a church that believes that the Bible is the Word of God and that       teaches that we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ.

ª     Tell others what you have done. You can email us   and we would rejoice in your new found faith in       Christ. We have a free Bible study that we would     gladly send to you to help you get started in   learning more about Christ and what has happened         to you. [email protected]

ª     Talk with the Lord every day through prayer. You     are now part of His eternal family and you have the       privilege of coming into His presence through prayer!

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