SOME COMMON LIES THAT HINDER PEOPLE FROM SPENDING ETERNITY WITH GOD
LIE #1) “THE BIBLE IS JUST A BOOK WRITTEN BY MEN”.
Just about every Christian, before they came to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, have entertained this thought, and it’s actually understandable that most people would believe this.
While it is true that there were over forty men from all stations of life, who took pens in their hands and actually PHYSICALLY wrote the words of the Bible, the Bible itself declares that
"All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
2
Tim 3:16-17(KJV)
Two things must be noticed here. One is not so obvious to the casual reader, while the other is. What is not obvious is the use of the Greek word here translated in English as “INSPIRATION”.
In the Greek, this word is “theopneustos”. The proper translation of the word according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance is:
2315 theopneustos (theh-op'-nyoo-stos); from 2316 and a presumed derivative of 4154; divinely breathed in: KJV-- given by inspiration of God.
VINE’S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF BIBLICAL WORDS DEFINES IT IN THIS WAY:
INSPIRATION OF GOD, INSPIRED OF GOD theopneustos ^2315^, "inspired by God" (Theos, "God," pneo, "to breathe"), is used in <2 Tim. 3:16>, of the Scriptures as distinct from non-inspired writings. Wycliffe, Tyndale, Coverdale and the Great Bible have the rendering "inspired of God."# (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words) (Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
“Theopneustos” literally means “God breathed”.
Now, I realize that some would say that I am using a questionable source (the Bible) to prove its’ viability, which would be akin to taking any other book, and using pages from that book to prove that the book in question is true. Before I became Born Again, I used to hate it when people did that. Bear with me. I’m trying to make a point.
In Genesis 2:7, we read that not until God breathed the breath of Life into the nostrils of man, did he become a living soul. The Bible uses the words breath and spirit interchangeably for the same words in the Greek and Hebrew. In the Greek, the word “pneuma” can either mean breath, or spirit, depending on the context in which it is used. The Hebrew word used here in Genesis, is “neshamah”, which means:
5397 neshamah- the breath, the spirit a) the breath (of God) b) the breath (of man) c) every breathing thing d) the spirit (of man)
ONLY THE SPIRIT OF GOD GIVES LIFE.
THE REMARKABLE THING ABOUT THE SCRIPTURES IS THAT UNTIL ONE RECIEVES THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THEY CANNOT FULLY COMPREHEND THE RICHNESS AND THE DEPTHS OF THE SCRIPTURES. A PERSON CAN SCOFF ALL THEY WANT , BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT IT IS TRUE.
THIS IS AN EXPERIANCE THAT EVERY TRULY BORN AGAIN CHILD OF GOD WILL TELL YOU. THE THINGS OF GOD ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED, AND THE NATURAL MAN CANNOT UNDERSTAND THEM, BECAUSE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLING IN HIM (GOD HAS NOT YET BREATHED HIS SPIRIT INTO HIM, SO THE SCRIPTURES WHICH WERE GOD-BREATHED, CANNOT BE UNDERSTOOD BY THOSE IN WHOM GOD HAS NOT BREATHED HIS SPIRIT). KIND OF A CATCH 22.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE SECOND POINT IN THE ABOVE VERSE, WHICH SHOULD BE OBVIOUS TO THE CASUAL READER (BUT IT GENERALLY ISN’T ,BECAUSE OF THE FIRST REASON GIVEN...).
THIS IS THAT THE SCRIPTURES ARE NOT FOR THE UNBELIEVER AND THE SKEPTIC, BUT FOR THE CHILD OF GOD, SO THAT HE OR SHE MAY GROW TO MATURITY, AND BECOME FULLY EQUIPPED TO WALK IN THAT WHICH GOD HAS CALLED THEM TO.
I realize some people are yelling “foul” right now, but it’s true. I have met so many people who profess to have read the Bible, and they argue against it’s truth, because they simply do not have the Spirit of God dwelling in them.
Once you become Born Again, of the Spirit of God, the scales that were on your eyes of understanding fall off, and now you are able to understand the TRUTH of the Scriptures. It’s an awesome thing, and the Word of God is a treasure of Knowledge that passes understanding.
Externally, though, the truth of the Scriptures can also be established, if one just honestly does some research.
Archaeologically, the Bible is continually being proven true. Skeptics in the 18th century had scoffed at the story of Jericho. Archeologists discovered the site. The same can be said of Nineveh, of Mizpeh, and a score of other sites mentioned in the Word of God. Where men had once scoffed at their existance, now they have found out that there were indeed cities and people with the names mentioned in the Bible.
Along with the Archealogical evidence, there is also the historical evidence which bears out the Truth of the Bible. When people of different cultures and religions thought the world was flat, and/or supported on the shoulders of some god, or a turtle, or the backs of two elephants, the Bible held the truth for those who were searching for the truth:
" It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: " Isa 40:22 (KJV)
The Word of God says that heaven is His throne, and the earth is His footstool. Who can stand against so great a Creator?
Job 26:7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.(KJV)
There are many other examples of the REVEALED Truth of the Scriptures, but I can’t cover them all in such a brief study. There are some excellent books available for those who are sincerely seeking.
Once a person becomes truly Born from Above, (a child of God), they understand that the Bible, while it was physically penned by men, was truly Divinely inspired by God. God breathed the Words of Life into them, so that we can truly say that the Bible is the inerrant, infallible, and uncorrupted Word of God. How rich are the depths of His Word!
I have been saved since 1983, and have read the Bible through at least once a year, sometimes twice, and I still am amazed at the wonderful truths He teaches me in His Word. No other book can match the genius of the Word of God.
LIE #2: ANOTHER LIE I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE WORD OF GOD, IS THAT IT CONTAINS SO MANY CONTRADICTIONS.
GENERALLY, THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THESE STATEMENTS ARE JUST PARROTING WHAT THEY HAD HEARD OTHERS SAY. I HAVE YET TO FIND ONE.
TAKE THIS AS A PERSONAL CHALLENGE. I AM NO SCHOLAR, BUT I BELIEVE THE WORD OF GOD, AND ANY SUPPOSED CONTRADICTIONS CAN BE EXPLAINED THROUGH READING THE WORD IN CONTEXT.
2 Cor 4:1-6 1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (KJV)
