A repost. As originally published on EV Mail News for the week of January 2-8, 2012.
http://www.evmailnews.com/eastern-visayas-mail-issue-of-january-2-8-2012
"...it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail." -Luke 16:17
When I was growing up, I can't say that reading the Bible was part of my daily routine. I can't even remember if I've ever opened one and if I've actually read it during my childhood way up to my teen years. This may sound horrible to you now as I tell you this truth of my younger years but, honestly, I didn't think much about it then.
We're not a very religious family. (And we're still not.) Yes, we went to church and I was raised in a Catholic school all through high school but the Bible was not a "normal" part of our daily lives. Not reading it was what’s "normal" for me back then. The only passages from the Bible that were familiar to me were the common ones used during the Catholic Mass and some of the verses that we read from children's books. I didn't even bother to check out those passages against a real Bible. I just didn't have any reason to. And as I've said, it was no big deal for me then.
But since the moment when the Lord found me and made me comprehend His gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone, on how He died on the cross to pay for my sins, Bible reading is now a daily "routine" for me and my family. Maybe if I tell my son about the "small" truth from my childhood, I guess he would be a little surprised because what's "normal" for him includes a daily Bible reading in our household.
I'm not blaming anyone for what has occurred in my childhood (or, has not occurred), for it is what it is. There are things God allows to happen in our lives without Him explaining every bit of the why part. One of the reasons I know why I wasn't reading my Bible when I was young was simply because my family thought it was not important. I thought it was not important.
Yes, since I was raised by my parents then the responsibility for my spiritual well-being lies on them but they didn't know any better. The same way I don't know any better about a lot of things for my son's well-being today. But I thank God that reading the Bible regularly at our home is not one of them. This is not because I'm smarter or wiser than my parents on how they raised their children. No. God just showed me then my husband and I decided to take this route for our family.
After I became a Bible-believing and a serious "Bible-studying" Christian, I took notes on some reasons why I believe the Bible to be true and infallible. These reasons are not just my own. They are shared by millions of Bible-believing Christians around the world. These may be very simplistic and basic which come from my simple thinking and layman deductions, and for that I apologize. If you expect some earth-shattering or deep theological arguments to be presented on here, you're reading the wrong article. So, here are the reasons:
First. The Bible (the term originated from Latin, then Greek, meaning "books") is actually a compilation of several books --66 to be exact. It is divided into two periods: the Old Testament (OT) and the New Testament (NT). The OT, simply put, is the time from God's creation of the world up to before the time of the birth of Jesus. The NT is from the time of Jesus Christ's birth up to the book of Revelation, which covers some part of the future.
As I continue to study the Bible, it shows that the OT books mainly spoke of the prophecies of the coming of the Messiah, of God in the flesh, to save mankind. Then the NT books speak mainly of the fulfillment of those prophecies. These NT books also point into the future of the same Messiah's second coming.
Each of the OT and NT books span several hundred of years apart. They were written in different places, in various cultures, and in different ages, by several different writers who (most likely) didn't even get to meet each other in their lifetimes. So how did their writings coincide with each other? How did all the OT writers penned about all of the prophecies on Jesus and then the NT writers came later to write about its fulfillment? Nobody, even in this digital age or with all the talents and genius of Steven Spielberg, can conjure such an uncanny coincidence. And by the way, I don't believe in coincidences.
Second. Most, if not all, of the historical events recorded in the Bible, especially in the OT, are backed-up by an innumerable proofs and evidences. These evidences are scientific facts, archeological proofs and findings, artifacts, and ancient physical materials that can be found in museums and places where experts keep such priceless things for safekeeping.
Fossils and the remains of sea creatures have been found on mountaintops which confirm the story of the flood as recorded in the book of Genesis. Stuff used for everyday life that are said to possess "Israelitic" origins have been found at the bottom of the Red Sea which prove the story of how God parted its waters to save the Israelites from the Pharaoh of Egypt. And the places and streets on which Jesus has trodden while He was here on earth which can be found on Google map today is proof enough that the stories of the Gospels are not merely from the NT writers' imagination. Real coins, real types of grains, food they ate, the style of clothing they wore, and all the historical data of actual people who lived mentioned in the Bible can be researched by anyone who wants to find out more about them. They are not fictional stuff. Some historians even use the Bible as a historical reference although they don't necessarily believe in God.
Third. This is my last reason and really, I don't need any more. Three is compelling enough especially when the Holy Spirit continues to give me His quiet assurances of God's truth from the Bible.
The third reason for me is the "unhuman" teachings from the Word of God. I believe not one person can think up of such passages out of imagination or thin air, no matter how much he tries. The best of the best of man's literary works throughout the ages may be considered great, thoughtful, spiritually moving, intellectually stirring, and provocative at its best, but never has anyone written anything that can be considered as totally stripped off of human tendencies and human nature.
Only the Bible can tell a person to go against one's own natural inclinations. What man can honestly think of loving one's enemies or to offer the other cheek after we've been slapped? Who in their right mind would think that having hatred in our hearts is equivalent to murder and looking at someone with lust is the same as the sin of sexual immorality or adultery?
And what best proof of the Bible's truth and infallibility but from the testimonies of the billions of Christians from around the world? On how each Christian would attest that the Bible has changed them, changed them from the inside out, changed us for the better. And on how the lives of Bible-believing Christians will never be the same again after the truth of the Bible got a hold of their hearts and has gripped their minds and souls forever.
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." –Matthew 5:17-19
http://www.evmailnews.com/eastern-visayas-mail-issue-of-january-2-8-2012
"...it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail." -Luke 16:17
When I was growing up, I can't say that reading the Bible was part of my daily routine. I can't even remember if I've ever opened one and if I've actually read it during my childhood way up to my teen years. This may sound horrible to you now as I tell you this truth of my younger years but, honestly, I didn't think much about it then.
We're not a very religious family. (And we're still not.) Yes, we went to church and I was raised in a Catholic school all through high school but the Bible was not a "normal" part of our daily lives. Not reading it was what’s "normal" for me back then. The only passages from the Bible that were familiar to me were the common ones used during the Catholic Mass and some of the verses that we read from children's books. I didn't even bother to check out those passages against a real Bible. I just didn't have any reason to. And as I've said, it was no big deal for me then.
But since the moment when the Lord found me and made me comprehend His gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone, on how He died on the cross to pay for my sins, Bible reading is now a daily "routine" for me and my family. Maybe if I tell my son about the "small" truth from my childhood, I guess he would be a little surprised because what's "normal" for him includes a daily Bible reading in our household.
I'm not blaming anyone for what has occurred in my childhood (or, has not occurred), for it is what it is. There are things God allows to happen in our lives without Him explaining every bit of the why part. One of the reasons I know why I wasn't reading my Bible when I was young was simply because my family thought it was not important. I thought it was not important.
Yes, since I was raised by my parents then the responsibility for my spiritual well-being lies on them but they didn't know any better. The same way I don't know any better about a lot of things for my son's well-being today. But I thank God that reading the Bible regularly at our home is not one of them. This is not because I'm smarter or wiser than my parents on how they raised their children. No. God just showed me then my husband and I decided to take this route for our family.
After I became a Bible-believing and a serious "Bible-studying" Christian, I took notes on some reasons why I believe the Bible to be true and infallible. These reasons are not just my own. They are shared by millions of Bible-believing Christians around the world. These may be very simplistic and basic which come from my simple thinking and layman deductions, and for that I apologize. If you expect some earth-shattering or deep theological arguments to be presented on here, you're reading the wrong article. So, here are the reasons:
First. The Bible (the term originated from Latin, then Greek, meaning "books") is actually a compilation of several books --66 to be exact. It is divided into two periods: the Old Testament (OT) and the New Testament (NT). The OT, simply put, is the time from God's creation of the world up to before the time of the birth of Jesus. The NT is from the time of Jesus Christ's birth up to the book of Revelation, which covers some part of the future.
As I continue to study the Bible, it shows that the OT books mainly spoke of the prophecies of the coming of the Messiah, of God in the flesh, to save mankind. Then the NT books speak mainly of the fulfillment of those prophecies. These NT books also point into the future of the same Messiah's second coming.
Each of the OT and NT books span several hundred of years apart. They were written in different places, in various cultures, and in different ages, by several different writers who (most likely) didn't even get to meet each other in their lifetimes. So how did their writings coincide with each other? How did all the OT writers penned about all of the prophecies on Jesus and then the NT writers came later to write about its fulfillment? Nobody, even in this digital age or with all the talents and genius of Steven Spielberg, can conjure such an uncanny coincidence. And by the way, I don't believe in coincidences.
Second. Most, if not all, of the historical events recorded in the Bible, especially in the OT, are backed-up by an innumerable proofs and evidences. These evidences are scientific facts, archeological proofs and findings, artifacts, and ancient physical materials that can be found in museums and places where experts keep such priceless things for safekeeping.
Fossils and the remains of sea creatures have been found on mountaintops which confirm the story of the flood as recorded in the book of Genesis. Stuff used for everyday life that are said to possess "Israelitic" origins have been found at the bottom of the Red Sea which prove the story of how God parted its waters to save the Israelites from the Pharaoh of Egypt. And the places and streets on which Jesus has trodden while He was here on earth which can be found on Google map today is proof enough that the stories of the Gospels are not merely from the NT writers' imagination. Real coins, real types of grains, food they ate, the style of clothing they wore, and all the historical data of actual people who lived mentioned in the Bible can be researched by anyone who wants to find out more about them. They are not fictional stuff. Some historians even use the Bible as a historical reference although they don't necessarily believe in God.
Third. This is my last reason and really, I don't need any more. Three is compelling enough especially when the Holy Spirit continues to give me His quiet assurances of God's truth from the Bible.
The third reason for me is the "unhuman" teachings from the Word of God. I believe not one person can think up of such passages out of imagination or thin air, no matter how much he tries. The best of the best of man's literary works throughout the ages may be considered great, thoughtful, spiritually moving, intellectually stirring, and provocative at its best, but never has anyone written anything that can be considered as totally stripped off of human tendencies and human nature.
Only the Bible can tell a person to go against one's own natural inclinations. What man can honestly think of loving one's enemies or to offer the other cheek after we've been slapped? Who in their right mind would think that having hatred in our hearts is equivalent to murder and looking at someone with lust is the same as the sin of sexual immorality or adultery?
And what best proof of the Bible's truth and infallibility but from the testimonies of the billions of Christians from around the world? On how each Christian would attest that the Bible has changed them, changed them from the inside out, changed us for the better. And on how the lives of Bible-believing Christians will never be the same again after the truth of the Bible got a hold of their hearts and has gripped their minds and souls forever.
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." –Matthew 5:17-19
Mara, I always thought of you as a very nice person. You were very devoted to your faith even when we were younger. Kami man hadto, ambot nala. Haha. Your posts never fail to inspire me. I admire you for being committed to your God and to your site. Usa pa: alagad kadamo hit im blogs. How do you do that?
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks so much Doray! I didn't know you thought I was nice when we were younger.heehehe! And thanks once again for visiting my blog. It's been a while since I've heard from you, but I know how very busy you are.
DeleteYes, I kinda maintain 2 "major" blogs --1 personal/primary blog in which I write for my own "pleasure," and the 2nd one as a "mirror" of my column Sweetened Waters from Eastern Visayas (EV) Mail newspaper published & circulated in Ormoc City & its surrounding areas.
I have a 3rd blog which is purely for "artistic" release. lol! I love poems & I sometimes try to express my heart through it hence the Free Verse blog. The 4th one is actually "incognito." I don't try to publish it in the web that's why I'm surprised you found it! Imbestigadora ka gud liwat! =) It's just for "filing" purposes.
Salamat hin madamo utro hit im suporta sangkay! God bless you...
Great post backing up the validity of the Bible!
ReplyDelete