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Category: Introductory Material

Invitation to Comment/”Leave a Reply” About Articles on this Website

Invitation to Comment/”Leave a Reply” About Articles on this Website

“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence”—1 Peter 3:15 NAB

After each article on this website, there is a place to “Leave a Reply.” We invite all sincere readers who feel inclined to do so, even if you disagree with something in the article.

This website is a place where issues related to the Bible can be openly and sincerely discussed with reason and good attitudes, but is not a place for such things as advertisements, promotions, hostility, bad language or profanity, personal attacks, debate just for the sport of it, etc.  read more

CAN WE UNDERSTAND ALMIGHTY GOD AND HIS WORD, THE BIBLE?

CAN WE UNDERSTAND ALMIGHTY GOD AND HIS WORD, THE BIBLE?

The short answer is, yes, we can understand Almighty God and his Word, the Bible! Does that mean that we can fully understand everything? No, we can’t. The Bible makes this very clear.

“How great is our God–beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out”—Job 36:26 NIV

But the Bible does indeed indicate that understanding of what we need to know, how to act, how to be considered “righteous” by God, and be given the gift of eternal life, is entirely attainable. read more

IS THERE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROVE GOD’S EXISTENCE?

IS THERE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROVE GOD’S EXISTENCE?

Is there enough evidence to prove God’s existence? Atheists say, “No!”

“Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse”—Romans 1:20 NIV

BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY REQUIRES LESS FAITH TO BELIEVE IN THAN ATHEISM

While Christians are often derided for their seemingly “blind faith” in the Creator/God’s existence, the facts give powerful evidence the Biblical Creator/God is real.  read more

What Sincere Beliefs Must a Person Hold To Be a Christian?

What Sincere Beliefs Must a Person Hold To Be a Christian?

Many people in the world today call themselves “Christian,” but there are so many conflicting beliefs and doctrines taught among these people. So what beliefs must a person hold in order to be a true Christian? In order to answer this question, we need to look to God’s Word. Let’s see what the Bible has to say.

Christian belief
Christians view the Bible as God’s revelation to humanity

“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) So the first point is that one must believe that God exists, and becomes the rewarder of those sincerely seeking him.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) The sincere Christian would believe the Bible (the 66 books from Genesis to Malachi) is the word of God.

God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. read more

The Bible Completely Equips Us & Doesn’t Need Supplements

The Bible Completely Equips Us & Doesn’t Need Supplements

Many people professing to be Christians today believe the Bible is useful but incomplete and needs to be supplemented by their own teachings and writings. But is this the case? Is it possible that the Bible completely equips us?

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17) The Bible completely equips Christians because it is the only divinely inspired writing.

“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” (Prov 30:5-6) The Bible is perfect because it is God’s Word and does not need to be supplemented.

False Doctrines
“Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ” (1 Jn 4:1)

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” (Rev 22:18-19) Adding to or subtracting anything from the Bible is condemned by God.

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (Jn 17:17)The Bible is God’s Word.

“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. ” (Jude 3) This body of truth, or faith, contained in the Bible was delivered once for all time, being completed by around 100 CE.

“Remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.” (Jude 17) The word of the apostles was authoritative. The New Testament was written by four apostles directly  chosen by Jesus, namely, Matthew, John, Peter and Paul. Four other close associates of the apostles also wrote the New Testament.

  • 1 Cor 15:7 – “Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.” Jesus appeared to James.
  • Acts 15:13 – “James spoke…”
  • Acts 15:19 – “It is my judgment…”
  • Acts 15:22 – “Then the apostles and elders… decided….” James was the spokesman.
  • Acts 21:18 – “Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present.” James was the leader of the important Jerusalem church.
  • Gal 1:19 – “I saw none of the other apostles – only James, the Lord’s brother.”
  • Gal 2:9 – “James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars.”
  • read more

    Is the New Testament Based on Eyewitness Testimony?

    Is the New Testament Based on Eyewitness Testimony?

    Is the New Testament based on eyewitness testimony? Let’s examine the Bible to find out.

    Is the NT based on eyewitness testimony?
    Is the NT based on eyewitness testimony?

    “Draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses.” (Luke 1:1,2 NIV) The Bible writer Luke based his accounts on eyewitness testimony. read more

    Bible Authenticity – Is the Bible Reliable?

    Bible Authenticity – Is the Bible Reliable?

    Is the Bible reliable?
    Can the Bible be trusted?

    Is the Bible reliable? Does it contain myths, or are the stories true? Did the writers simply write down stories they had heard from other people, or did they experience the things firsthand that they wrote about?

    The Bible is not made up of cleverly devised fables or myths. “We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:16 NAB).  Many of the Bible writers were actually eyewitnesses of their written accounts.  “But we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16 NAB; see also 1 Peter 5:1) Eyewitnesses also handed down their accounts to others who carefully researched these things. (Luke 1:1-3) Still others studied and pondered. (Ecclesiastes 12:9-10) But none came from human will. (2 Peter 1:21)

    All scripture was inspired by God: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16,17 NIV).  The Bible ‘thoroughly equips the servant of God.’ It does not need to be supplemented, as though it were not complete. The Bible alone contains 

    “the faith that was once for all handed down to the holy ones” (Jude 3 NAB).  read more

    Introduction – Where is the Trinity?

    Introduction – Where is the Trinity?

    In the 27 books of the New Testament (NT), this core doctrine (the Trinity) of most Protestant, Catholic, and non-denominational churches should be prolific, and abundantly clear. Is it?

    Each New Testament Bible book has certain statements of its main points, its core ideas. Church leaders generally assert that the Father is God, Jesus, the Son, is God, and the holy Spirit is God, and yet, they are just one God, not three Gods. They are said to be each eternal and equal in this “Godhead,” as they call it. If these ideas are true, we should see this clearly in the NT. Do we? read more

    How Did the Bible Come To Us?

    How Did the Bible Come To Us?

    Manuscript-Transmission

    How did the Bible come to us? Was it passed down through legends and folklore? Has it been copied and recopied so much that the original message is lost?

    “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work”—2 Timothy 3:16,17 NAB

    God wants us to feel confident that the Scriptures are as valid and trustworthy today as they were when they were first written (2 Peter 1:21). He also gives some information on the process he used to get His Word written down in a permanent form.

    “The spirit of Yahweh speaks through me”—2 Samuel 23:2 NJB

    The “older testament,” which exists to­day in 39 books, was written mostly in He­brew over a thousand-year period, hundreds of years before Christ.

    “Paper and ink”—2 John 12

    The 27 books of the “newer testament” were written in Greek during the first century CE. As the various other Christian writings came into existence over the centuries, the people of God corporately studied and recognized these 27 books from the 1st century as being the Word of God.

    The two testaments together tell a com­pleted story. Testament means “covenant” or “agreement” between God and humanity (1 Corinthians 11:25). The Old Testament is “old” in the sense that it re­veals a covenant made at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:3-6; 24:3-8; Romans 10:1). The New Testament or covenant was accom­plished by Christ through His death on the Cross (Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25).

    “Papyrus rolls and . . . parchments”—2  read more

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