Lesson 1 Continue

6. Are the historical statements of the Bible accurate? Isaiah 45:19
Yes, Bible historical statements are accurate. What God says in His book is true. Sometimes, temporarily, evidence may not be found to substantiate certain historical facts from the Bible, but in time the evidence surface. Note the following:
A. For years skeptics said the Bible was unreliable because it mentions the Hittite nation (Deut. 7:1) and cities like Nineveh (Jonah 1:1, 2) and Sodom (Gen. 19:1), which they denied ever existed. But now modern archaeology has confirmed that all three did, indeed, exist.
B. Critics also said that Bible-mentioned kings Belshazzar (Dan. 5:1) and Sargon (Isa. 20:1) never existed. Once again, it has now been confirmed they did exist.
C. Skeptics also said the Bible record of Moses was not reliable because it mentions writing (Exo. 24:4) and wheeled vehicles (Exo. 14:25), neither of which they said existed at the time. They, of course, know better today.
D. At one time the 39 kings of ancient Israel and Judah who reigned during the divided kingdom were authenticated only from the Bible record, so critics charged fabrication. But then archaeologists found cuneiform records that mentioned many of these kings and, once again, the Bible record was proved accurate. Critics have repeatedly been proved wrong as new discoveries confirm biblical people, places, and events. It will always be so.
7. One of the greatest miracles of the Bible is its unity. Please ponder the following amazing facts:
A. The 66 books of the Bible were written:
1. On three continents.
2. In three languages.
3. By about 40 different people (kings, shepherds, scientists, attorneys, an army general, fishermen, priests, and a physician).
4. Over a period of about 1,500 years.
5. On the most controversial subjects.
6. By people who, in most cases, had never met.
7. By authors whose education and background varied greatly.
B. Yet, though it seems totally inconceivable,
1. The 66 books maintain harmony with each other.
2. Often new concepts on a subject are expressed, but these concepts do not undermine what other Bible writers say on the same subject.
C. Talk about astounding!
Ask people who have viewed an identical event to each give a report of what happened. They will differ widely and will virtually always contradict each other in some way. Yet the Bible, penned by 40 writers over a 1,500-year period, reads as if written by one great mind. And, indeed, it was: “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21. The Holy Ghost “moved” them all. He is the real Bible Author. The four Gospels do sometimes differ in the way they report the same event, but they complement each other.
8. What evidence of Bible inspiration is found in the lives of people? 2 Corinthians 5:17
The changed lives of those who follow Jesus and obey Scripture constitute the most heartwarming proof of Bible inspiration. The drunkard becomes sober; the immoral, pure; the addicted, free; the profane, reverent; the fearful, courageous; and the rude, kind. An American skeptic was visiting an island whose natives were originally cannibals. When he spotted an old man reading the Bible, he ridiculed him for reading a book “full of myths which had already been exposed.” The native smiled at him and said, “My friend, be grateful we do believe this book. Otherwise, we would be serving you for dinner.” The Bible really does change people, and this amazing fact confirms its inspiration.
9. What evidence for Bible inspiration emerges when we compare Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah with New Testament happenings in the life of Jesus? Luke 24:27; Acts 18:28
The Old Testament predictions of the Messiah to come were so specific and so clearly fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth that both Jesus and Apollos used these prophecies to prove to the Jews that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah. There are more than 125 of these prophecies. Let’s review just 12 of them:
Prophecy Old Testament Scripture New Testament Scripture
1.Born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2 Matthew 2:1
2.Born of a Virgin Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:18-23
3.Of David’s lineage Jeremiah 23:5 Revelation 22:16
4.Attempted murder by Herod Jeremiah 31:15 Matthew 2:16-18
5.Betrayal by friend Psalm 41:9 John 13:18, 19, 26
6.Sold for 30 silver coins Zechariah 11:12 Matthew 26:14-16
7.Crucified Zechariah 12:10 John 19:16-18, 37
8.Lots cast for His clothes Psalms 22:18 Matthew 27:35
9.No bones broken Psalms 34:20, Exodus 12:46 John 19:31-36
10. Buried in rich man’s tomb Isaiah 53:9 Matthew 27:57-60
11.Year, day, hour of his death Daniel 9:26, 27, Exodus 12:6 Matthew 27:45-50
12.Raised the third day Hosea 6:2 Acts 10:38-40
Dr. Peter Stoner, former chairman of the departments of mathematics, astronomy, and engineering at Pasadena College (California), worked with 600 students for several years applying the “principle of probability” to the prophecies of the Messiah’s coming. They chose just eight from the many available and finally decided the chances of all eight being fulfilled in one man in a lifetime is one in 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. What would the odds be on the more than 125 prophecies of the Messiah? It couldn’t just happen!
10. What great advantage does a person have who accepts the Bible as God’s inspired word? Psalms 119:98, 100; Isaiah 55:9
A person who accepts the Word of God will soon know the answers too many complex challenges that secular scholars will never figure out. For example, the Bible teaches:
A. God created the earth and all living organisms in six literal, 24-hour days (Exodus 20:11; Psalms 33:6, 9).
B. A worldwide flood destroyed every living thing except the sea life and what was inside Noah’s ark (Genesis Ch. 6, 7, 8).
C. The different languages of the world began at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:19).
God, who has always existed and knows everything, shares the above three truths with us, recognizing that we could never figure them out on our own. We know only “in part” now (1 Corinthians 13:9). And God’s knowledge is “past finding out” Romans 11:33. Evolutionists will never know the age of the earth because it was created with apparent age, as were Adam and Eve. The couples were only one day old on their second day of life, but they appeared to be mature. Man’s measuring instruments cannot allow for apparent age. In such cases, they are not trustworthy. Believe the Bible, and you will always be ahead of the speculation of secular scholars and the worldly-wise.
11. What crucial world happenings have brought the power and appeal of the Bible into sharp focus?
The failure and collapse of communism and the weakening and inconsistency of the theory of evolution have spotlighted the Bible. Evolution, like communism, is losing its grip and credibility. We must remember that it is nothing more than an unproved, shaky theory. The atheistic theory of evolution that humans and apes came from common ancestors scorns the concepts that people were created in the image of God. It denies the existence of God, totally disavows Jesus as Savior, negates the Bible, and ridicules the truth of an eternal home in heaven. Satan loves the evolution theory because it destroys the credibility of salvation. Communists are learning. Will we?
12. Why does the Bible have such universal appeal? Psalms 119:105; John 15:11; Genesis 1:27; Matthew 5:16; John 14:3
Because it answers life’s most puzzling questions:
A. Where did I come from? God created us in His image. We did not accidentally emerge as nondescript globs from some primeval slime. We are sons and daughters of God, the Mighty King (Galatians 3:26). We are so precious to God that when Adam and Eve sinned, He gave His Son to die and pay the penalty for our sins so we could be free. He wants to restore us to His image and then, shortly, take us back to Eden, the home Adam and Eve lost.
B. Why am I here? Our aims for life today should be to discover the Bible’s wonderful answers to life’s puzzling problems and to accept Jesus’ offer to restore us to Him image (Romans 8:29).
C. What does the future hold for me? There is no guesswork about the future. Jesus will come very soon to take His people to the fabulous home He has prepared for them in heaven. There, with supreme joy and happiness, people will live forever (John 14:1-3; Revelation 21:3, 4).
13. I am thankful to God for giving me positive answers to life’s most puzzling questions.
O YES
O NO