Ten Reasons Why I Believe The Bible Is The Word Of God

I was brought up to believe that the Bible was the Word of God. In early life I accepted it as such upon the authority of my parents, and never gave the question any serious thought. But later in life my faith in the Bible was utterly shattered through the influence of the writings of a very celebrated, scholarly and brilliant sceptic. I found myself face to face with the question, Why do you believe the Bible is the Word of God? I had no satisfactory answer. I determined to go to the bottom of this question. If satisfactory proof could not be found that the Bible was God's Word I would give the whole thing up, cost what it might. If satisfactory proof could be found that the Bible was God's Word I would take my stand upon it, cost what it might. I doubtless had many friends who could have answered the question satisfactorily, but I was unwilling to confide to them the struggle that was going on in my own heart; so I sought help from God and from books, and after much painful study and thought came out of the darkness of scepticism into the broad daylight of faith and certainty that the Bible from beginning to end is God's Word. The following pages are largely the outcome of that experience of conflict and final victory. I will give Ten Reasons why I believe the Bible is the Word of God.

THE most important question in religious thought is, "Is the Bible the Word of God?" If the Bible is the Word of God, an absolutely trustworthy revelation from God Himself of Himself, His purposes and His will, of man's duty and destiny of spiritual and eternal realities, then we have a starting-point from which we can proceed to the conquest of the whole domain of religious truth. But if the Bible is not the Word of God, if it is the mere product of man's thinking, speculating, and guessing, not altogether trustworthy in regard to religious and eternal truth, then we are all at sea, not knowing whither we are drifting, but we may be sure that we are not drifting toward any safe port.I did not always believe the Bible to be the Word of God. I sincerely doubted that the Bible was the Word of God. I doubted that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. I doubted whether there was a personal God. I was not an infidel--I was a skeptic. I did not deny--I questioned. I was not an atheist--I was an agnostic. I did not know, but I determined to find out. If there was a God, I determined to find that out, and act accordingly. If there was not a God, I determined to find that out, and act accordingly. If Jesus Christ was the Son of God, I determined to find that out, and act accordingly. If Jesus Christ was not the Son of God, I determined to find that out, and act accordingly. If the Bible was the Word of God, I determined to find that out, and act accordingly; and if the Bible was not the Word of God, I determined to find that out, and act accordingly. I found out. I found out beyond a peradventure that there is a God, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that the Bible is the Word of God. To-day it is with me not a matter of mere probability, nor even of mere belief, but of absolute certainty.

Dr. Leach answers these pertinent questions: Is the Bible really true? Where did the Bible come from? Has our Bible suffered change through the years? When were the books of the New Testament collected? Did Christ use our Old Testament? Dr. Leach first discusses the New Testament, then the Old, and finally traces the history of our English Bible. Dr. R.A. Torrey concludes with ten reasons given to prove that the Bible is the Word of God.

THE most important question in religious thought is, "Is the Bible the Word of God?" If the Bible is the Word of God, an absolutely trustworthy revelation from God Himself of Himself, His purposes and His will, of man's duty and destiny of spiritual and eternal realities, then we have a starting-point from which we can proceed to the conquest of the whole domain of religious truth. But if the Bible is not the Word of God, if it is the mere product of man's thinking, speculating, and guessing, not altogether trustworthy in regard to religious and eternal truth, then we are all at sea, not knowing whither we are drifting, but we may be sure that we are not drifting toward any safe port.I did not always believe the Bible to be the Word of God. I sincerely doubted that the Bible was the Word of God. I doubted that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. I doubted whether there was a personal God. I was not an infidel-I was a skeptic. I did not deny-I questioned. I was not an atheist-I was an agnostic. I did not know, but I determined to find out. If there was a God, I determined to find that out, and act accordingly. If there was not a God, I determined to find that out, and act accordingly. If Jesus Christ was the Son of God, I determined to find that out, and act accordingly. If Jesus Christ was not the Son of God, I determined to find that out, and act accordingly. If the Bible was the Word of God, I determined to find that out, and act accordingly; and if the Bible was not the Word of God, I determined to find that out, and act accordingly. I found out. I found out beyond a peradventure that there is a God, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that the Bible is the Word of God. To-day it is with me not a matter of mere probability, nor even of mere belief, but of absolute certainty.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work is to present the many evidences demonstrating that the Bible must be the Word of God, that more might come to saving faith in Christ. THE UNAWARE: Drawing from personal experience, the author is convinced that more would believe, if only they were made aware of the many evidences solidly supporting the Christian faith. 100 Reasons to Believe is written specifically for these unaware individuals, and, indeed, for all sincere seekers of truth who long for evidence to back up their faith. But we live in an increasingly noisy and distracted world. Some readers will remain unaware, if our product is merely black words on a white page. More could be reached by simply sprucing up our product with a calculated use of visuals. AWARENESS-RAISING DISTINCTIVE: The great distinguishing characteristic of this work is its use of eye-pleasing, attention-grabbing/retaining visuals. Each of the 100 Reasons is presented in a self-contained, two-page storyboard, with an image always leading off the even-numbered (left) page. Shaded/boxed theme statements are added, along with scannable text and the calculated use of white space. The result is an easier and more enjoyable reading experience. Higher reader retention rates will naturally follow, leading to an overall raised awareness of the many evidences solidly supporting the Christian faith. CHAPTER CONTENTS: Witnesses are brought in to testify from numerous fields of study: (1) A Creation/Flood Model is Superior to an Evolutionary Explanation of Origins, (2) Manuscripts/Archaeology Support the Historical Reliability of Scripture, (3) The Structure and Style of Scripture Suggests a Supernatural Author, (4) Jesus' Fulfillment of Messianic Prophecy Confirmed by Hostile Witnesses, (5) Fulfilled Prophecy in History Confirmed by Extra-Biblical Witnesses, (6) Scripture Anticipates Numerous Scientific Advances, and (7) Closing Witnesses to the Truth of Scripture. APPLICATION: Lost in self and sin, the world has little interest in what the Bible has to say with regard to God's Salvation. But once convinced that the Bible is indeed the Word of God, it is only natural to ask: "According to the Bible, what must I do to be saved?" The Appendix provides a Biblical answer to this most important of all questions. Coming full circle, with God's added blessing, the stated purpose of this work will have been achieved with all that respond in faith.

What beliefs are core to the Christian faith? This book is here to help you understand the reason for your hope as a Christian so that you can see it with fresh sight and invite others into the conversation. A lot of Christians take their story—the narratives that give rise to their beliefs—for granted. They pray, go to church, perhaps even read their Bible. But they might be stuck if a stranger asked them to explain what they believe and why they believe it. Author, pastor, and theologian Mike Horton unpacks the essential and basic beliefs that all Christians share in a way that is easy to understand and applicable to our lives today. And in a way that will make you excited to be a Christian! Core Christianity covers topics like: Jesus as both fully God and fully man. The doctrine of the Trinity. The goodness of God despite a broken world. The ways God speaks. The meaning of salvation. What is the Christian calling? Includes discussion questions for individual or group use. This introduction to the basic doctrines of Christianity is perfect for those who are new to the faith, as well as those who have an interest in deepening their understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.