Back to Basics IF God wrote a book

Back to Basics

IF God wrote a book: It would be completely accurate- no mistakes in facts – Historical facts True & Accurate – Scientific details, True – References to cities, mountains, terrain, rivers would be accurate

IF God wrote a book: It would tell the Created about the Creator – Reveal what God is like It would satisfy deepest human needs & answer life’s unanswered questions – Questions that have lived deep in heart of man from beginning – “Why are we here? ” “Where did we come from? ” “Where are we going? ”

IF God wrote a book: It would be for all time, not just events of one time period – As fresh as morning news – Never grow old & stale – message for mankind of all time It would be honest about characters who are subjects of what was written – Truth told about heroes & villains, no matter how damning or vindicating

IF God wrote a book: It would be for all men & all cultures – Bridge gap between black & white, Asian & European, rich & poor… It would be understood by average person – Understandable by more than just privileged few, but understood & cherished by even poorest & least educated of society

IF God wrote a book: It would be an indestructible book! – Because it came from God who created the universe, we would expect His book to stand up to those who would want to destroy it and get rid of it.

The Bible Unlike Any Other Book Meets All of These Qualifications Completely Accurate Without Error – every book in total agreement one with another Written over 1600 years, 60 generations Penned by over 40 men of varying backgrounds

The Bible Unlike Any Other Book Meets All of These Qualifications Written in Three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic & Greek Writers were herdsmen, noblemen, fishermen, kings, warriors & Priests. Came from widely different cultures – nomads, city dwellers…

The Bible Unlike Any Other Book Meets All of These Qualifications The One Who is at the heart of its message, Jesus the Christ, never traveled more than a hundred miles from His birthplace. Perfect Agreement & Unity in Theme & Purpose – Genesis 3: 15 – Revelation 22: 16, 17

The Bible Unlike Any Other Book Meets All of These Qualifications Completely accurate in the area of history – Leviticus 17: 14; Psalm 8: 8 Bible not a book of: History Geography Science And More Bible speaks beyond knowledge of its day

WHY? It Speaks the Mind of God!

Tells us about our Creator Our God is Eternal – Deuteronomy 33: 27 Our God is all powerful – Job 42: 2 Our God is Changeless – Malachi 3: 6 Our God is a God of Love – 1 John 4: 16

Answers Great Questions that have Haunted Man Through the Ages Where did I come from – From God - Ecclesiastes 12: 7 Why am I here? – To serve & Glorify God – Ecclesiastes 12: 13

Answers Great Questions that have Haunted Man Through the Ages Where am I going? – To stand before God to be Judged- 2 Corinthians 5: 1 Is there anything after death? – We will live forever, somewhere – John 5: 282, 29

Bible Has Stood Test of Time, Relevant in Each Succeeding Generation Corruption in government, materialism, hypocrisy in religion, man’s quest for selffulfillment, oppression of poor, war, man’s inhumanity to man. All discussed in the pages of the Bible

Bible Has Stood Test of Time, Relevant in Each Succeeding Generation Speaks honestly & forthrightly about villains & heroes. – David – adultery, murder – Peter – denied the Lord three times Bridges gap between all races & peoples

Bible Has Stood Test of Time, Relevant in Each Succeeding Generation Loved by individuals on every continent, color & nationality – Not a white person’s book, or a black person’s book or an Asian’s book! – Isaiah 2: 1 -3

Bible Has Stood Test of Time, Relevant in Each Succeeding Generation Can be understood by Common man as well as Elite – What is necessary for salvation is simple to understand & obey – Ephesians 3: 1 -4 – 2 Timothy 3: 16, 17

Bible has Stood Against All Enemies & Still Stands Diocletian, Emperor of Rome, early 4 th Century – Ordered burning of Bible Constantine ordered copying of Bible only 25 years later! Tyndale burned at stake for translating Bible into English

Bible has Stood Against All Enemies & Still Stands “A thousand times over, the death knell of the Bible has been sounded, the funeral procession formed, the inscription cut on the tombstones, & committal read. But somehow the corpse never stays put!

Bible has Stood Against All Enemies & Still Stands “No other book has been so chopped, knifed, sifted, scrutinized, & vilified. What book on philosophy or religion or psychology or belles lettres of classical or modern times has been subject to such mass attack as the Bible?

Bible has Stood Against All Enemies & Still Stands “With such venom & skepticism? With such thoroughness & erudition? Upon every chapter, line & tenet? The Bible is still loved by millions, read by millions, & studied by millions. ” Bernard Ramm