Can I Trust the Bible?
When I was a young believer, a discussion with two cult members left me confused. I asked God to show me the truth. They claimed Jesus was the Son of God but not God the Son. Was Jesus truly God?
Later that day, I stumbled across Colossians 2:9 (NASB), “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.” I marveled that God cared enough to answer my prayer so quickly and clearly. I wasn’t thinking about my question when I was reading.
Since then, God’s Word has spoken to my specific needs countless times. I used to wonder how God knew I’d be in that place in my Bible on the very day I needed that wisdom. Now I realize His Word is living. His Spirit uses where I am to speak to me or draws my attention to the passage I need.
But it wasn’t always that way. For years, my Bible reading raised more questions than answers. In college, I joined a small group Bible study that changed everything. These women read the Bible as if it meant what it said. Do I hear a “Duh”?
My teenaged youth group didn’t believe the Bible meant what it said—or at least that it applied to today. Picking and choosing what applied stripped the Bible of its power, comfort, and insight.
During that small group study, I made a shift that would forever change my life: I decided to trust the Bible. I began reading it as if it meant what it said and living by it as best I could. In other words, I chose to trust God’s Word over the culture and my own reasoning—and everything changed.
The Bible became alive, and my whole worldview changed. Even the way I viewed the news shifted. I told a friend, “I feel like I’ve been walking around blindfolded all my life. Now I can see.”
Someone once asked, “How do you prove a knife cuts? Do you explain its purpose and how it’s made?” The best way to prove it cuts is to use it. Pick up a crisp apple and slice it. Similarly, how do we know God’s Word is true? Read it and apply it.
Trusting the Bible boils down to trusting God. It would be foolish to think an all-powerful God could not preserve His Word for His people.
What about the Old Testament?Some people say they only trust the New Testament. But Jesus and Paul quoted the Old Testament. Jesus used the Old Testament to explain His crucifixion after His resurrection. We may not always understand it, but God recorded every word for our benefit.
Two Helps for Understanding the Bible“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4 NASB).
To get the most from Scripture, we need two essential ingredients:
Humility: When we approach the Bible, we must recognize our limitations and prejudices. We need to humble ourselves before God and ask Him to grant us understanding (Psalm 25:9).The Holy Spirit: The Bible is a spiritual book. The Holy Spirit gives us understanding and applies God’s Word to our lives.More Suggestions for Growing in God’s WordGet a translation you enjoy—one that’s clear and easy for you to read.Choose a regular time and place to meet with God.Work through a book of the Bible or a structured study rather than skipping around. [Here’s a simple guide on “How to Get More from Your Bible.”]Pray: Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you in a way you can understand.Live what you learn—use it, or you’ll lose it.“The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV).
God promises incredible blessings to those who follow His Word, and He warns of the snares that befall those who ignore His wisdom. The Bible is our sustenance and our light in a dark world. Cherish this priceless gift from God.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right” (2 Timothy 3:16 NLT).
How has the Bible changed your life? If you know someone who’s questioning the Bible, tell them how it’s changed you.
Can you trust the Bible? Yes—and here’s why. #Bible, #Faith,
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Blessings,
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