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It was a strange site to see… really.

Two women walking in the neighborhood who seemed so very different from each other.

I would walk in shorts, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes. Some of the days were extremely warm with temperatures soaring into the 90’s.

The other woman, my neighbor, had darker skin and was covered from head to toe. She even wore a hijab (a scarf covering her head and neck) on the hottest days.

She and her family had relocated from Kuwait to move right next door to us… a little Baptist preacher’s family.

With so many voices, and faiths, and religions, and Bibles out there, how do we know that the Christian Bible is God's Word? Why do we trust the Bible over the Quran, the Book of Mormon, or some other religious book? That's what this post is all about. Join us for hope-filled words of truth, instruction, Bible explanations, and practical teaching about the absolute truth of God's Word as a part of the Delight in Doctrine Series. (www.melanieredd.com and www.dawnklinge.com.)

How Do We Know that the Bible really is God’s Word?

Her name was Nida, and she actually approached me about walking with her.

We’d walk about two miles, three to four times a week, discussing our children, our neighborhood, our lives, and our religions.

One particular week, I invited her to share her faith with me. I listened, I asked questions, and I had the chance to better understand her Muslim beliefs.

Then, in time, she returned the favor.

She asked me about my faith and what I believed. It was so sweet to share with her about the truths from the Bible, God’s Word.

My story brings up some great questions:

– Why do Christians believe the Bible?

– What makes us trust the Bible over the Quran, the Book of Mormon, or some other religious book?

– Why do we trust that it is God’s Word?

– And, why do we believe the Bible is the ultimate authority for our lives?

Why do we believe the Bible is the ultimate authority for our lives? Click To Tweet

Let me share with you five reasons that we can KNOW that the Bible is God’s Word:

First, the Bible claims to be God’s Word.

The words, “Thus says the Lord,” appear hundreds of times in the Bible.

(For example, you find this phrase in Exodus 4:22; Exodus 7:17; Joshua 24:2; Judges 6:8; 1 Samuel 15:2; 1 Kings 12:24, and in many additional places.)

 

When the prophets would speak, they would claim to be speaking in God’s name.

(See Num. 22:38; Ezek. 2:7; 1 Kings 14:18; Jer. 37:2; Zech. 7:7)

 

Many New Testament verses make this claim as well. One of the most well-known is 2 Timothy 3:16:

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”


With so many voices, and faiths, and religions, and Bibles out there, how do we know that the Christian Bible is God's Word? Why do we trust the Bible over the Quran, the Book of Mormon, or some other religious book? That's what this post is all about. Join us for hope-filled words of truth, instruction, Bible explanations, and practical teaching about the absolute truth of God's Word as a part of the Delight in Doctrine Series. (www.melanieredd.com and www.dawnklinge.com.)

Paul, Peter, and many of the other NT writers also mention that the Bible is God’s Word to men.

(See 2 Peter 1:21; Luke 1:70; John 5:45-47; Acts 3:18; Romans 1:2; 3:2; Hebrew 1:1-2; Romans 15:4)


**KEY TRUTH – We believe the Bible because the Bible itself claims to be God’s Word.


We believe the Bible because the Bible itself claims to be God’s Word. Click To Tweet

Second, the Holy Spirit confirms in our hearts that the Bible is God’s Word.

In other words, as we read and study the Bible, God’s Spirit confirms with our spirits that what we are reading is truth. And, this truth is from God.

Paul explains the way that the Spirit convinces us of the truth of Scripture in 1 Corinthians 2:13-14:

When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.

But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.


**KEY TRUTH – We believe the Bible because the Holy Spirit convinces us of the Bible’s claims.


Third, we believe the Bible is God’s Word because God cannot lie or speak falsely.

If we believe that God is who He says He is, we also believe that He is truthful—unable to lie or speak falsely.

Titus 1:2 puts it plainly:

“which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.”

Our God can be trusted!

He is completely worthy of our respect, trust, and faith.


**KEY TRUTH – We believe the Bible is God’s Word because we believe in a God who does not lie. 


We believe the Bible is God’s Word because we believe in a God who does not lie. Click To Tweet

Fourth, the Bible is truthful and all of the words in Scripture are completely true and without error.

In believing that God is truthful and does not lie, then we also believe that His Words are completely true and without error.

Several scriptures testify to the truth of God’s Word:

Psalm 12:6“And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.”

Proverbs 30:5“Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.”

Psalm 119:89“Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven [standing firm and unchangeable].”


*KEY TRUTH – We believe the Bible is God’s Word because all of Scripture is completely true and without error.


Finally, God’s Words are the ultimate standard of truth.

The Bible is our final authority.

The written words of Scripture are our ultimate guide.

We can trust them.

“We must continually remember that we have in the Bible God’s very words, and we must not try to ‘improve’ on them in some way, for this cannot be done. Rather, we should seek to understand them and then trust them and obey them with our whole heart.” (Grudem, page 85)


**KEY TRUTH – We believe the Bible is God’s Word because truth is what God says, and we have what He has said in the Bible.


With so many voices, and faiths, and religions, and Bibles out there, how do we know that the Christian Bible is God's Word? Why do we trust the Bible over the Quran, the Book of Mormon, or some other religious book? That's what this post is all about. Join us for hope-filled words of truth, instruction, Bible explanations, and practical teaching about the absolute truth of God's Word as a part of the Delight in Doctrine Series. (www.melanieredd.com and www.dawnklinge.com.)

A Closing Thought about the Bible

Go back with me to the story I shared with you at the beginning of this post.

In talking with my neighbor from Kuwait, I also discovered something fascinating about my Bible that wasn’t included in hers.

As I shared with Nita about the concept of GRACE, she got very flustered.

Very upset.

After many questions and a great deal of discussion, she looked at me with sad eyes, and said,

“In my religion, we have no concept of this GRACE.

I do not understand this grace.

It is not part of what we believe.”

Can I tell you my final and best reason for believing that the Bible is God’s Word?

Grace!

God’s grace.

Unmerited favor.

Unearned love.

God’s riches at Christ’s expense.

Other religions and religious books may sound interesting, appealing, or even partially true.

But, there is no other religion like ours.

There is no other Bible like ours.

For at the very core of our Bible is this concept of GRACE.

For at the very core of our Bible is this concept of GRACE. Click To Tweet

All of this talk about grace makes me think of the words to The Wonderful Cross by Chris Tomlin:

When I survey the wondrous Cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain, I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

See from His head, His hands, His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet?
Or thorns compose, so rich a crown

Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
All who gather here by grace, draw near and bless Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. Click To Tweet

Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
All who gather here by grace, draw near and bless Your name

(Lyrics to The Wonderful Cross by Chris Tomlin)

With so many voices, and faiths, and religions, and Bibles out there, how do we know that the Christian Bible is God's Word? Why do we trust the Bible over the Quran, the Book of Mormon, or some other religious book? That's what this post is all about. Join us for hope-filled words of truth, instruction, Bible explanations, and practical teaching about the absolute truth of God's Word as a part of the Delight in Doctrine Series. (www.melanieredd.com and www.dawnklinge.com.)


So, what do you think?

Do you believe the Bible is God’s Word? Is it truthful?

What causes you to believe the Bible is God’s Word?

If you don’t believe, what makes you doubt?

What about GRACE? Have you experienced it? Are you familiar with this concept?

I always enjoy hearing from you!


Join us as we take a clear and practical look at some of the most basic and essential tenants of the Christian life – the doctrines of the faith.

Each week, we will highlight and explain a core doctrine. Then, we will pose the question, “Why does this matter to you and me?”

You can catch all of this year’s “Delight in Doctrine” posts by clicking HERE.

For the purposes of the study, our main texts will be first, the Bible, of course, and Wayne Grudem’s classic, Systematic Theology:  An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine.

It is our prayer that by the end of 2017, we will all find more delight in understanding what we believe and why we believe it.

“…And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27 (ESV)


Were you encouraged by what you read today?

Would you share this article with a friend, co-worker, or family member?

Maybe you can send it to a friend or family member?

This blog occasionally uses affiliate links and may contain affiliate links. Melanie Redd is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. For more on my disclosure policy, click HERE.

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© Melanie Redd and Ministry of Hope, 2017. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner are strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Melanie Redd and Ministry of Hope with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

 


helloredds@gmail.com

Best-Selling Author | Speaker | Blogger| Podcaster | When the world is falling apart, we can ALWAYS trust in God’s goodness!

8 Comments

brendan hallinan · 08/28/2022 at 3:12 PM

what do i think? i think the bible is not gods word, if you want to believe it is go ahead

    helloredds@gmail.com · 08/29/2022 at 8:46 AM

    Hey Brendan,
    Thanks for stopping by to leave a comment.
    I’m going to pray that the eyes of your heart will be enlightened!
    May God make Himself known to you!
    Melanie

Kira · 03/31/2017 at 2:34 PM

Great answers to a common question. Thanks for providing well thought out truths for us to share with others.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 04/03/2017 at 10:24 AM

    Thank you, Kira!
    I’m so glad you stopped by today, and I really appreciate your encouraging words!
    Blessings to you,
    Melanie

Dawn · 03/30/2017 at 7:53 AM

Hi, Melanie. I appreciate the thoughtful way you explained why the Bible is God’s word. One way that the Spirit confirms to me that the Scriptures are, in fact, God’s Word, is how it becomes more and more clear each time I re-read the Bible, how these different books, written over thousands of years, by many different people (under the inspiration of God) fit together. It’s remarkable and quite beautiful.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 03/30/2017 at 10:40 AM

    Thank you, Dawn!
    Don’t you love how the Spirit teaches us through the Living Word! It’s amazing and remarkable.
    Sure am blessed by you~
    Melanie

Susan · 03/29/2017 at 7:01 PM

Hi Melanie,

Thank you for this wonderful post about sharing your faith with your Muslim friend! I really enjoyed what you wrote. You have made me really ponder this subject, and I have a lot of thoughts about it. I hope it’s okay to share them here.

In talking to non-Christians about why we believe the Bible is the Word of God, we have to be careful about using the argument, “because the Bible says it is!” We need proof that Scripture is valid beyond using its text to demonstrate our claim. We must keep in mind that passages like 1 Cor. 2:13-14 were written (as a letter) to a specific historic audience. Its message is Spirit inspired and therefore has much to teach believers in every age, but we must be careful how we apply these words and for what purpose. We also need to remember that until the printing press was invented, Christians did not have “The Bible” as we have it today. Indeed, most churches did not have the complete “canon” of Scripture. Yet, whatever Scripture individual churches did possess was enough to pass on the faith to entire continents.

What do we mean when we say that the “Bible is the Word of God”?:

“In order to reveal himself to men, in the condescension of his goodness God speaks to them in human words: ‘Indeed the words of God, expressed in the words of men, are in every way like human language, just as the Word of the eternal Father, when he took on himself the flesh of human weakness, became like men’. . .
“Through all the words of Sacred Scripture, God speaks only one single Word, his one Utterance in whom he expresses himself completely. . .
“For this reason, the Church has always venerated the Scriptures as she venerates the Lord’s Body. She never ceases to present to the faithful the bread of life, taken from the one table of God’s Word and Christ’s Body. . .
“In Sacred Scripture, the Church constantly finds her nourishment and her strength, for she welcomes it not as a human word, ‘but as what it really is, the word of God’ .” (CCC 101-104)

After explaining what we mean by “Word of God”, we can then offer these proofs that the Bible is inspired/infallible.
1) Consider history: Jesus was a historical personage (on this there is no argument). It stands that He either told the truth about Himself or He was a liar or madman.
2) The acts of his apostles and the early Christians provide historical evidence that *they* believed Jesus was the Son of God. Nearly all of them were martyred for their faith in His death and resurrection (people may go along with a hoax for a while, but they are not willing to die for one).
3) People in every age can thus conclude that Jesus’ claims about Himself have credibility.
4) Jesus spoke of the Old Testament scriptures as being the inspired word of God and bearing witness to Him: Luke 24:44-47.
5) Jesus also said that He would build His Church and preserve it from error on matters of faith and morality: Matthew 16:18-19.
6) Christ promised to guide his Church through the ministry of his apostles (John 14:16-18, 25-26), and the apostles passed on this authority to their successors, the bishops.
7) It was the bishops of the Church that determined which books among the many in circulation in the early days of the Church were truly inspired.
8) We know that the Bible is the Word of God because the Church has consistently taught that it is, and “the church of the living God, [is] the pillar and foundation of truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15

I love that beautiful hymn!

    helloredds@gmail.com · 03/30/2017 at 10:35 AM

    Hey Susan,

    It’s so good to hear from you! And, of course, you are welcome to share your thoughts and responses. I always enjoy hearing what my readers are thinking!

    What great additions you’ve added to this post! I love the way you have broken down your argument and considered the lost person as you’ve shared. Excellent stuff!

    Thanks so much for taking the time to respond today. And, please stop by again.
    Blessings to you,
    Melanie

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