ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
God has revealed His plan to save us from the coming judgment in the Scriptures, but there are stumbling blocks, confusion, and misunderstandings that many must first overcome.
The first obstacle for some to overcome is the belief that truth is relative. In other words, what is true for you is not necessarily true for me. Truth is truth. Truth never changes or it wouldn’t be the truth. Truth is eternal.
What Is Truth?
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “truth” as the body of real things, events, and facts. Truth is reality, what is real. Both qualitative, as well as quantitative, real historical places, people, events, and facts characterize the Scriptures. For example, in the historical narratives of the Old Testament, truth is identified with both personal veracity and historical facts. Truth is also a quality used to describe utterances that are from the Lord God as spoken through His prophets.
Trustworthiness of the Scriptures
The Bible is unique in its amazing consistency and unity from cover to cover. Forty different authors wrote the Old and New Testaments of the Bible over a period of 5,000 years with amazing consistency and unity.
The Old Testament Bible’s Reliability
Thousands of ancient manuscripts attest to the Bible’s reliability and authenticity as to its author. Although the Old Testament does not have quite the number of ancient manuscripts that the New Testament has, the number of documents available is still quite remarkable (given the time span of 2-3,000 years that these documents had to endure).
Today’s, Old Testament can also be compared to the Dead Scrolls (50 BCE-130 CE) found in 1947 near the ancient West Bank city of Jericho, that are over 2000 years old. There are virtually no changes to the text when compared to today’s Bibles. The Old Testament is the reliable Word of God. It is true and can be trusted.
The New Testament Bible’s Reliability
Over 5,000 full or partial Greek manuscripts are available today attest to the reliability of today’s New Testament of the Bible. In addition, there are thousands of other copies in other languages that exist, especially in Latin. Comparing today’s Bible with the ancient manuscripts of 2000 years ago they are virtually the same. Yes indeed, the Bible is reliable and trustworthy – more than any other book in all of history. It is literally God’s “love letter” to His people, kept intact and maintained carefully through His providence over thousands of years of human history.
Although many have tried to contaminate it, corrupt it, and otherwise do away with it, it has remained intact, unscathed, and unrivaled. It is truly God’s Word, unique among all the so-called scriptures of the ages. Therefore, the argument man has altered it to fit the outcome is not true.
God Revealed Himself in the Scriptures
Some misstate that the God of the Christians is polytheistic, and not monotheistic. However, the God of the Scriptures has revealed Himself as one God in three personages, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. A very simple example of the mystery of the Godhead is this: H2O can be found in three states: liquid (water), ice (frozen water), and vapor (steam). H2O can be found in three forms yet they are one (water). One substance in three states.
Jesus Returned to His Home in Heaven
The resurrected Jesus told His disciples He was returning to heaven from which He came. Jesus said to Thomas when asked, “We have no idea where You are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus replied, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me. 7 If you had really known Me, you would know who My Father is. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him!” Then Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father! So why are you asking Me to show Him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I speak are not My own, but my Father who lives in Me does His work through Me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen Me do.