The Bible

The REAL Meaning of the Bible:

Is there a God? What is He like? Why was mankind created in the first place? The list of questions could go on and on. Because the Bible deals with these and other basic questions mankind has always asked himself, it has fascinated him for over 2,000 years. This may one of the reasons it is the most influential and widely read books in history.

From the beginning to the end, the Bible's message is: to reveal the plan of redemption and salvation for mankind. All Scripture should be studied in this light. Even when the judgment of God is mentioned, it is with the purpose of bringing deliverance to mankind. One of the Bible's purposes is that of warning man, individually or corporately, to avoid the consequences of judgment -- God's wrath. If he so chooses, he can escape Hell and go to Heaven. When studied in the light of God's purpose to redeem man through Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, nothing in the Bible can put us into the bondage of legalism (the keeping of laws in an effort to please God). Law is not the theme of the Bible, but redemption through the grace of God.

Before there was a world, before there were any distant galaxies, before there was anything as we know it, there was God. The Bible begins by telling how the eternal God created the world and everything in it. People in all parts of the world turn to it to find satisfying answers to life's deepest questons and problems. But the Bible is more than just an answer book. It is really a library of books - 66 in all - filled with stories about real people, majestic poetry and songs, direct messages and prophecies, and most clearly of all, the account of God visiting our earth in the person of Jesus Christ. The Bible also tells of the rise and fall of ancient nations and the clash of armies. It tells about kings and plain people, heroes and villains. It contains history and theology, philosophy and letters. It contains strange dream-visions, wise sayings, and some seemingly dull collections of court records, family trees, and religious rules. It contains some of the greatest literature ever produced.

What a wonderful book the Bible is!! It is also full of mystery, romance, and drama. Proverbs is a great book of wisdom. The Book of Revelation is a mystery that has been the topic of debate for centuries. And just think of all the romances in the Bible. There's Abraham and Sarah, Jacob and Rachel, Samson and Delilah, Joseph and Mary. The list could go on and on. And talk about drama! The exodus out of Egypt is a good example. What about the flood?

The one thing it does NOT contain is fiction. I believe with all my heart that what is contained in the Bible to be absolutely true and that the Bible is the inspired work of God. What do I mean by "inspired work" of God? I believe that God appointed the writers of the Bible to transcribe what He told them so that it could be passed down from generation to generation. Whether or not the Bible is God's exact words or if the writers were given the freedom to write in their own words, I don't know. But I do believe that if it is in the Bible, it actually happened! Why do I believe this? Just read the following scriptures.

Deuteronomy 4:2
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

1 Kings 8:56
Praise be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

Psalm 119:89
For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

Psalm 138:2
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

Proverbs 30:6
Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Isaiah 40:8
The grass withereth, the flowers fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever.

Ezekiel 12:25
For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God.

Matthew 5:18
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.

Luke 21:32-33
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled, Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

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.

Hebrews 1:1-2
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 he also made the worlds.

2 Peter 1:20-21
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpre-tation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

There are several translations of the Bible on the market today. It seems like more come out all the time. I prefer the King James Version. I realize it can be hard to understand at times, but it just seems to make more sense than some of the others. My favorite "other version" of the Bible is The Book, a special edition of the New Living Translation. If you like to read other translations, that is your prerogative. I would, however, like to suggest that you do so only as a supplement to the King James Version.

Another reason I prefer the King James Version over the others is that some of the other translatons will omit things I believe are essential to the whole story. In Revelation 22:18-19 it reads: "For I testify unto every man that heareth the works of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." I like to believe that applies to the entire Bible!

Why is it so important that we study the Bible? One reason is God commands us to.

Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And they shall write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.

Psalm 119:16
I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

John 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Romans 15:4
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

1 Corinthians 10:11
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

The more we study God's word, the more we grow in our walk with Him. We will also be more knowledgable of what He wants which in turn will help us in our witnessing to others. Study of God's word also will also bless us and give us rewards.

Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psalm 19:7
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the tesimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

Matthew 7:24
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.

Luke 11:28
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

John 14:15-17
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 14:23
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

2 Timothy 3:15
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Revelation 1:3
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.