A Brief Summary of Things to Ponder-
1. Thousands of ancient manuscripts and fragments exist demonstrating accuracy and consistency over 3.5 millennia. The Bible was written on 3 continents, by over 40 authors and over a 1500 year period of time yet is completely consistent in context, content and purpose. It is a book of books, 66 to be exact. It contains history, poetry, moral instruction, spiritual guidance, progression of civilization and prophecy, both fulfilled and yet-to-be-fulfilled. Together, the mosaic beautifully interweaves the tapestry of Man’s struggles, evil temptation, the progression of time and history of key events, God’s direction and timely interventions and God’s overall purpose and plan for His creation and Mankind. Though the Bible is far more than a good story, it is the actual “his-story” of Mankind. It also contains the essential elements of great literature with plot, minor plots, major and minor characters, conflict, setting, and theme. We find these major elements:
A) The setting is God’s beautiful creation which He spoke into existence; His perfection and the beauty of His original creation which may have existed eternally.
B) The conflict is the battle of good vs evil. Man falls into temptation, sin and subsequent rebellion. Due to this fallen nature Man has a continuous battle with temptation, sin and the consequences of sin. Because of this, Man is separated from our Holy, righteous God.
C) The theme of the Bible is God’s incredible immeasurable, sacrificial LOVE. God’s love for Mankind is revealed and He has provided a path for our redemption and future restoration.
D) God’s redemptive plan is underway and cannot be thwarted. The characters are the descendants of Abraham. Over time they become identified as Hebrews, Israelites, Jews and the nation of Israel.
God calls a representative man to lead the way. The man’s descendants become a nation. The nation is to provide a beacon of hope and light and to live in reverence and obedience to God. The nation is to be separate and distinct from other nations of the earth and to live as an example for other nations. They are instructed to become a priest nation giving sacrifices and offerings and worship to God alone as the only one, true, living God. The nation falls short because of continued sin of the fallen human condition. Later, God provides, in and through His Son, a Messiah who would come and be born in the very nature of Man to provide substitutionary atonement Savior for all Mankind.
The message of the Bible offers an invitation- It is each man’s opportunity to humble themselves and accept the plan and path of redemption.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
2. The manuscripts of the Bible have survived many efforts to destroy them. This is an evidence of supernatural protection of its content and its message to Mankind. The Bible remains the best-selling, most scrutinized, most printed book in history.
3. The Bible accurately describes historic people, places and events that have been corroborated and authenticated with extra-biblical writings and archaeological findings. The evidence of catastrophic flooding, geological fossilization and deformation of sediments and rock layers is clear for those willing to see it.
4. The narrative of the Bible is consistent with what can be observed in the world such as, moral absolutes of right and wrong, good vs evil, life and death, blessings and curses, the presence of evil temptation, distinction of nations, tribes and languages, the rise and fall of nations, the dilemmas of leadership, supernatural miracles, answers to prayer.
5. Most people recognize they are both a natural person and a spiritual being. The Bible clearly identifies the natural world and reveals the reality of the unseen spiritual realm. The natural realm is passing away. The spiritual world is eternal. Hence, greater value and emphasis is placed on the spiritual realm and eternity. Reading and studying and encountering its message leads to a supernatural, spiritual transformation of the human heart and soul, rendering them “new creations.” This has been evidenced worldwide, crossing every cultural line for 2000 years.
6. The internal context descriptions of spiritual entities such as angels and demons when encountered in real life situations is completely consistent. When the authority of the name of Jesus Christ is applied while encountering demon possessed people is consistent and powerfully effective.
7. The internal evidence of the Scriptures themselves bearing witness are convincing. Such as:
“Thus says the Lord” appears 415 times in the ESV Bible.
“God of Israel” appears 201 times…
“God of the Hebrews” appears 6 times…
“Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” appears 5 times…
“Son of God” appears 44 times…
“judgment” appears 235 times…
“condemnation” appears 15 times…
“salvation” appears 178 times…
“Jesus” appears 1058 times…
“shall be saved” appears 6 times…
“will be saved” appears 17 times…
“truth” appears 139 times…
“eternal life” appears 44 times…
“heaven” appears 465 times…
“hell” appears 14 times…
“lake of fire” appears 4 times.
Isaiah 55: 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Jeremiah 1: 11 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond[a] branch.” 12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”
Matthew 24: 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Luke 1: 1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us…
John 1: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Hebrews 4: 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
2 Timothy 3: 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Peter 1: 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
John 5: 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
Revelation 3: 8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
Try it. Read it. Study it. Apply it to your life. Treat it as if it is the most important message you will ever hear. Your eternity weighs in the balance of your response.
HalleluYah!