Why do you believe what you believe?
I’m not asking you to so much think about, what you believe?
What to believe, is what we talk about all the time - right?
Most of the time in our church services & Bible studies
-we’re focusing on what we should believe
These weeks, through Easter
I’d like us to concentrate more on the question - WHY?
Why should we believe what we believe?
-that’s a good question to ask
Or, maybe the question for you, is, “Should I believe?”
Why should I believe?
Why should I believe in this & become a Christian?
-a follower of Christ?
People believe in all kinds of things
-& in this room alone, we have all kinds of beliefs
-when it comes to politics & health
-things like diet & food
-some believe in only a vegetarian diet
-some believe in only eating organically grown foods
-others believe in eating only things that taste good
-some will have beliefs about what water to drink & not drink
-some will have beliefs about dietary supplements & vitamins
-& how vitamins are made
-some have beliefs about immunizations
-a lot of these differences really boil down to preferences
-but, some have to do with beliefs - but not really religious
-some people have strong & different beliefs about what they eat
-as to what’s healthy
Now, I tend to be a skeptical person
-I don’t think it’s easy for me to believe in something
-part of that is my medical training
-doctors are taught to doubt claims of cures & claims of health benefits
-until there’s good reason to believe through testing
-but of course, medical science doesn’t know everything
-& I don’t know everything that’s known by medical science
-but let’s say, someone believes - let’s just throw out an imaginary example,
-in taking a compressed yellow dandelion pill every day
-because he/she believes it will help boost immunity
-& fight against things like colds - even cancer
-if someone took that every day & now, they were saying to me,
“Here, you should take this also?”
-I’d say, “I don’t believe in that!”
Should I consider believing in the merits of taking a yellow dandelion pill?
First, is there any evidence to consider? Has it been tested in any way?
Second, what are the consequences to believing or not believing?
-I suppose, warding off cancer is important
-but then, could there actually be side effects & how much will it cost?
Well, we’re not talking about the benefits of taking a yellow dandelion pill
-we’re considering the reasons for believing in Jesus Christ
-for whom there is much evidence & reasons to consider
-& the consequences are higher than anything will ever be
-because we’re dealing with life in eternity - heaven verses hell
-which is infinitely more important then even cancer
-serious as it is
-however, cancer, just makes this short life shorter
-we’re talking of eternity
Why do you believe what you believe when it comes to God & spiritual matters?
Its good to consider - because even if you’ve believed it for 10-20, 60-70 years
-it’s good to strengthen your faith periodically
-& examine the reasons for why you believe
“Is this really true?!!!”
And, if you haven’t believed in it yet, it’s important to consider
-because, life after death is in jeopardy for you
In recent generations
-people have come up with explanations for how this universe & world,
& ultimately mankind evolved into existence
However, no one can explain how the material that started evolution
-ever got here to start it
-other than a creator God
When you look around, you can’t help but understand that someone made this
-there’s got to be a God!
Psalm 19:1-4
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
Do you believe in God? Why?
-there’s this complex universe & there’s people who’ve been created
And, when you look at it all - even from a biologic & geologic view
-it’s a whole lot easier to believe in creation than evolution
-at least, that’s how I see it
-but regardless - look at this world & the universe you know of
-& you’ve got reasons to believe in God
Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Why should I believe in God? Creation proves to me, there is a God!
But there’s more to it than that
There are all kinds of gods that people believe in
-there are gods of many different names
And, a lot of people believe in a god, without a name - a non-specific god
-an, un-known God - even a “mother-nature” god
So, why should we, or why do we believe that Jesus is the Son of God?
-or God the Son?
Other than creation, convincing you that there is a God
Most of what we believe in, to believe that Jesus is God the Son,
-is found in the Bible
-we believe in Jesus & follow Jesus - because of the Bible
So, our question for today - in asking the more general question
Why do we believe, or why should we believe in Jesus? - is:
Why do we believe, or why should I believe in the Bible?
First, what does the Bible say about itself?
The Old Testament was regarded as written by men who were directed
-by God to write it
-the Old Testament covered creation to a few hundred years before Jesus
-& Jesus confirmed that it was accurately God’s Word to the world
Matthew 5:17-18
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
Jesus often refered to the O.T. scriptures
-as accurate, trustworthy & true to the word, - it was God’s Word!
-what the O.T. addresses - could be & should be believed
-according to Jesus
Jesus went on to explain some of the process by which the N.T.
-would be compiled
-on His last night before His death while He was with His disciples
-He explained:
John 14:25-26
"All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Jesus explained, there would be a process where God the Holy Spirit
-would speak God’s message to & through these disciples
-& for the most part, the N.T. was written by the original disciples
-or men closely associated with them
-as they were directed by the Holy Spirit
The Apostle Peter explains the process:
2 Peter 1:16-21
We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
So, that’s something of what the Bible says about itself
Now, is it accurate? Is it historical?
Of all that’s written about what happened, with & to Jesus
-did it really happen?
Can we trust & believe what we read in the Bible?
And, what about our Bible today!
Is it what was written originally, some 2000 years ago?
Is this Bible accurate - as far as historical accuracy?
One test to answer that - is look at the earliest documents that we have
I understand, for most ancient writings, about 10 manuscripts
-from within 1000 years of the original writing - is acceptable
-that’s good enough to be confident that what we have is accurate
-compared to the original writing
e.g. Aristotle wrote, 343 BC
-earliest copy of manuscript - AD 1100, 5 copies
-we trust & believe that to be accurate
Caesar - history of Gallic War, 58 & 50 BC
-earliest copy from 1000 years later, 9-10 copies
-we trust & believe that to be accurate
Now, for the Bible
-over 20,000 copies, from less than 100 years after the original writing
-we now have manuscripts from AD 130; 155; 200
Wm Albright - “In my opinion, every book of the NT was written by a baptized Jew between the forties & the eighties of the first century, very probably sometime between about AD 50 & 75.”
Can we trust the accuracy of what we have?
Absolutely, with great confidence!
We have real good reason to believe this Bible
-we can conclude, the text we now have is accurate
-compared to the original writing
Let’s ask another question to see if we can believe the Bible:
Is what is written, believable, accurate & true?
Are there contradictions? Known historical inaccuracies?
Are the writers, or witnesses reliable?
Do they have the ability to tell & explain what happen?
How close were they to what happened?
Were they first hand witnesses?
-review what we read from Peter - “We were eyewitnesses!”
Luke, who wasn’t with Jesus during His earthly ministry, wrote:
Luke 1:1-4
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
And, Luke wrote Acts, much of it from his own eyewitness account
John, one of the original 12 disciples who were with Jesus
-wrote at the front of one of his letters:
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 at and our hands have touched — this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
Clearly, the writers were either first hand, eyewitnesses
-or were in contact with eyewitness of the events
So we could say there was validation?
-since the Bible was written soon after the events
-& the writings were circulated during the lifetime of other witnesses
-who could validate or invalidate these claims
-& there were many who really wanted to invalidate this!
-we can say, the Bible withstood the test of witnesses of the time
Many believe the entire N.T. was written before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD
-by people who knew, even saw what happened
-surrounded by many people who could verify or nullify the history
-if it was true - they’d confirm it & it would stand
-if it were not true - they’d argue it down & it would fail
-the compilation of articles written & included in the N.T. Bible stood the test
-as to historical accuracy
-written by men who were close to Jesus
-& understood to be used by God as prophets of the Holy Spirit
-& these men too, were known to be used by God
-through miracles & powers of God, much like Jesus
You can be sure, the writings are consistent with accurate historical facts
One more question - Do other historical materials validate or invalidate the records?
Eusebius AD 130 - quoted Apostle John as saying that Mark wrote
accurately & without mistake what Peter had witnessed
from his time with Christ
Irenaeus AD 180 - was a disciple of Polycarp,
who was a disciple of the Apostle John, refers to the four gospels
written by the authors as accurate accounts of what happened
Archaeology - confirms the historical accuracy
-for example things which happened in the book of Acts
-have been confirmed
THE BIBLE IS TRUSTWORTHY & HISTORICALLY RELIABLE!
We have all the reasons we need to believe the Bible to be the Word of God
God had this written - it’s His message to us on what we should believe
Now, let’s put it into practice
Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Let’s believe what we read & let’s allow it, by the power of the Holy Spirit
-to change our lives!
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
We really emphasize athletic training
-especially for our children
-some will devote their lives to be good enough for the Olympics
-& for the most part, that’s great
-but, how much do we train for God - by following the Bible?
1 Timothy 4:7-8
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
How are you doing with your personal quiet time?
Do you regularly, hopefully every day, open it & read, even study it?
Are you doing what you can to get together with other believers to study it?
And, do you seek to follow it?
Hey, this is from God!
This is what God wants you to know, & understand, & believe, & follow!
How can we turn away from it, or ignore it?
Why do we leave it on the shelf?
Why do whole weeks go by & we never read it?
We have every reason to believe the Bible to be the accurate Word of God
-if this is the Word of God - we better pay attention to it!
Hebrews 2:1-4
We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
If you believe - keep believing & keep following the Lord
-devote yourself to the study & application of His Word!
-if you don’t, you’re likely to “drift away”
-& many of us here this a.m. are probably in that category - we’re drifting
-we’ve neglected God’s Word
& we’re rather stale in our faith & commitment
-this is God’s Word - let’s pay attention
If you don’t believe or you’re not sure
-what are you waiting for!
-this is the real thing - this here teaches you how to have a relationship
-with God
-this is the key to eternal life - through Jesus Christ
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