Why I Believe The Bible

2 Peter 1:12-21......

This just a basic focus on the Word of God......

Peter is speaking of what is needed to be done before he dies and that before he leaves, that he will continually remind them/us or stir us up in the Truth of the Gospel by reminding us.

This is done so that, his readers will be able to call the Word of God to mind, always!

So, after he declares the value of knowing the Scriptures and having them ready in their minds, Peter goes on to tell how they come by this Word of Truth!!

This is how and this is proof, that this is real............those kings, prophets, fisherman, tax collectors, etc. didn’t have back room meetings devising what they would write about.....

First, these things happened right in front of them.....”eyewitnesses”....of Jesus’ majesty

Peter speaks of them witnessing Jesus on the Mt. of Transfiguration and hearing God affirm that Jesus was His Son and that He was well pleased by Him!

Peter continues to state that this prophetic Word is made more sure......

Prophetic word is not just major or minor prophets but the entirety of the OT.

The prophecy being the coming Deliverer/Messiah, Jesus!

And when they saw Jesus at the Transfiguration that made the prophecy of the OT more sure!

You will do well to pay attention to this......like a light shining in darkness

Until the ultimate Light comes back!

Peter, no wants the readers to make sure they know that this report of the Messiah, this prophecy is not of one’s own interpretation.

It seems Peter is pointing to the origination of Scripture not the actual interpretation.

This was not dreamed up in someone’s mind like John Smith and Muhammed.

This was originated by God through His Holy Spirit through men moved by the Holy Spirit.

I heard a preacher put it this way on why He believes the Bible: “It is a reliable collection of historical documents written down by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. They report to us supernatural events that took place in fulfillment of specific prophecies and they claim that their writings are divine rather than human in origin.”

In other words, these Holy Ghost led men wrote these things as history, while others living in that time saw what they saw and reported on it as well.

These historical accounts fulfilled prophecy

The writings also are claimed to be divine!

Not by man, but by God!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “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.”

Therefore, we have these eyewitnesses that reported these things, wrote these things down and on top of that there were other eyewitnesses wrote these things down.

There are even reports from unbelievers that these things happened.

Anything else is cleverly devised fables or tales.........I take my instruction from verified events that are supernatural and fulfills prophecies throughout history!

I marvel at Daniel’s prophecy in the latter part of his historical account when God had given him a historical futuristic account, a lot of those prophecies have been fulfilled....

One of which was about Greece attacking Medo-Persia, severely outnumbered but defeating Medo-Persia and when Alexander the Great, the King of Greece, came through Jerusalem surveying his victories, the priests showed him Daniel’s prophecy of Alexander’s conquest.

Exactly what he and his empire had done, just as he done it.

Now, I know that might not be everyone’s way to believe in the Bible, it was not mine.....it is now, but it didn’t start out that way, I was taught the Bible and believed these things were real and actually happened.....understanding my relationship with God through Jesus Christ was what I had to work out!

I never doubted the Bible and it’s veracity...........

Now, I had to get down to rightly dividing the Word of Truth!

This is word is truth and I had to be careful, that I didn’t divide according to my own lusts or desires.

2 Peter 3:3 “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,”

This is why, The Word of God must stand alone as the only Words from God, not by men or women, not by my own thinking, but only By His Spirit and divide it only through God not ourselves!

2 Timothy 2:14-19...........

There is one profound thing that confirms to me God’s Word..........

There is overwhelming evidence that there is clear difference in God’s way than mine!

And if I can come to terms with that then the Bible becomes real in my life and there is no need to add or put any humanistic understanding into God’s Word.

Jesus’ life, Who is defined as the Word of God by John the apostle, is clear view of the opposition to the world.

Add to that these actual historical accounts by eyewitnesses and these supernatural events confirmed by eyes and in those things prophecy is fulfilled, it is a verification of God’s Truth!

Deuteronomy 17:6 “At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.”

This is a confirmation of a guilty or not guilty verdict....it is based on the report of 2 or 3 eyewitnesses.

Listen to John: 1 John 1:1-3 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

Now, while we are here lets, go back to what I quoted in 2 Timothy 3:16-17......

This is the powerful truth of the entire Word of God! If it is rightly divided, God’s Word will thoroughly furnish us with all things that leads to God’s righteousness.

2 Peter 1:3 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”

Luke 1:1-4 “Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.”

Hebrews 1:1-3 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”

Titus 1:1-3 “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;”

1 John 1:1-3 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”