The Bible is a collection of 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament or Old Covenant, and 27 in the New Testament or New Covenant.
All the books of the Bible, written over a timeline of around 1600 years, give a consistent picture of who God is, who we are, what God wants, and what we can expect depending on our choices in this life. The Bible reveals the story of how God has dealt with mankind, His chosen nation of Israel and His New Covenant people, the Church. The Bible speaks with the same authority and relevance today regarding who He is and what He is doing in our times. It speaks to us regarding what will happen in the future and how God will change everything.
The Bible is not just a book of rules and ancient history. It contains thousands of wonderful promises which are constantly applicable to all who believe in Him. The challenge that mankind faces today is to know, understand and experience the wonderful things that God promises to do for those who believe. God's promises in the Bible guarantee us more than enough for all our needs in every area. The only condition is to trust and obey God, and expect Him to do what He says He will do. If we don't we are the losers.
The Old Testament begins in the book of Genesis with an account of the creation of the world by God, and then continues with the story of the beginnings of human history. The rest of the Old Testament reveals mostly the history and the heart condition of the people of Israel in different periods before the coming of the promised Messiah.
The New Testament shows us the most important events of the life and work of Jesus the Messiah, how many Jewish people rejected their own Messiah and how God's offer of salvation began to go into all the world. It uncovers more of God's promises and more information about our enemy, Satan, and how we can overcome his plans by trusting and obeying God.
The Central Person of the Bible is the Lord Jesus Christ. Any understanding of the Bible which ignores Jesus has missed the point of the Bible (see John 5:39-40). The Scriptures point us to Jesus, the Word of God (Rev. 19:13), in whom we have life. The Pharisees and other religious people study the Bible but miss Jesus and thereby miss the purpose of it.
THE INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE - what the Bible claims for itself.
The Bible was written down by different human authors of varying backgrounds. Some were fishermen, others, shepherds. One was a tax collector! Yet behind each one of them was God the Holy Spirit who inspired what they wrote. "For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:21). "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16)
REASONS TO BELIEVE IN THE DIVINE INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE
1. No other religious book has specific fulfilled prophecies as the Bible has. Today we have manuscripts dating from well before the time of Jesus, containing Biblical prophecies which directly point to Him. In fact, Jesus fulfilled hundreds of Old Testament prophecies in His lifetime. Some of the strongest are found in Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. These passages are so specific that in Jewish synagogues today they are skipped in the reading of the law.
2. Events and places described in the Bible are confirmed more and more by archaeology and other historical writings as discoveries are made. In this century, men have found Noah's ark mentioned in Genesis 7 and 8 on Mt. Ararat in modern Turkey. It can be seen on by satellite photo! Archaeologists have discovered ancient tablets and city sites which confirm time after time the historical accuracy of the Bible. Those who have speculated otherwise have been proved wrong again and again.
3. The internal consistency of doctrine right across the 66 books of the Bible, despite widely different authors in different periods of time, points to the common source of inspiration of the Bible. If we asked 20 people in this country to each write a separate book about God we would certainly have conflicting opinions and doctrines. Yet because the Holy Spirit inspired the many human authors, this didn't happen in the writing of the different books of the Bible, even though the books were written at different times. They all reveal God as a God of mercy and justice.
4. One of the most important reasons for believing in the Bible is the fact that it works today. Hundreds of millions of people around the world testify that Jesus Christ has changed their lives, and that the promises of God work when believed and applied. People have been healed physically and emotionally while reading the Bible or acting on its teaching. Thousands have been miraculously delivered from the effects of drug abuse or other harmful practices. The character of the man believing the Bible from the heart is changed from selfishness to love. All kinds of people from all kinds of backgrounds in all countries of the world will testify to the reality of this. While not all have heard these testimonies, more and more are hearing and believing every day - going on to experience the same things for themselves.
5. Then there is the historical evidence for the physical resurrection of Christ. The apostles preached this message right from the start, and most of them died for this faith. They knew what they saw. They would not all die for something they knew to be a lie of their own making. And the plain fact was, after many saw Jesus die and be buried, three days later, Jesus' grave was empty. Hundreds testified to seeing Jesus alive from the dead. Hundreds of thousands today, a number of them formerly Muslims, testify to having seen Him in a vision or a dream speaking to them in a way that changed their lives altogether. Miracles happen in Jesus' name today. All this shows that Jesus is alive. And if Jesus is alive, His book, the Bible, can be trusted.
If Christ rose, we should listen to Him, believe His claims, share His attitude to the Scriptures, and trust His ability to preserve His written Word for us.
THE NATURE AND POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD
“For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
God's Word is at work in the world today. It is an active force. It governs the spiritual activity in the Universe. It changes things, especially when spoken and believed, both in the hearts of men and in their circumstances. God is watching over His word to perform it (Jer. 1:12).
The Word of God is compared to a fire. " 'Is not my Word like a fire?', says the LORD, 'And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?' " (Jer. 23:29). It can act as a fire (Jer. 5:14; 20:9). Fire spreads, gives light, warmth, energy and comfort - but it can also destroy. God's Word destroys the power of evil as it is believed and applied. It can break Satan's influence in our hearts and lives.
The Word of God is compared also to water (Eph. 5:26; Ps. 1:1-3). Water brings cleansing, refreshing, life and encouragement and satisfies the thirsty. The Word of God can do this for us also.
God's Word is also compared a mirror which shows us our true spiritual state (James 1:23; 2 Cor. 3:18). It shows us how we need to be cleansed.
Everything that is really important for the man of God in his ministry can be obtained through the Word. The Word is given, "that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Tim. 3:17).
When the Word of God is spread to enough hearts, and put thoroughly into practice in at least a few, the Word will bring revival or spiritual awakening (Acts 19:20; Ps 119:25; Neh 9:3). The value of a true spiritual revival of God is beyond human calculation. This is because the salvation of even one soul is worth more to God than all the material things that exist.
WHAT WE MUST DO WITH THE BIBLE - GOD'S WORD
The most important thing we can do with the Word is to give it our whole hearted attention. "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart." (Prov. 4:20,21). Only in this way will we personally experience the full benefits described above. If we keep our eyes on the Word it will crowd doubt out of our minds.
We should keep God's Words, and treasure them within us. "My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you." (Prov. 7:1). Treasuring God's Word means meditating on it with pleasure (Ps. 1:1- 3), knowing that God's Word in your heart will produce enormous spiritual riches.
Most importantly, we should obey it. True faith leads to obedience (Romans 1:5). "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" said Jesus (Luke 11:28). "But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22). We deceive ourselves if we think that hearing the Word is enough. We must put it into practice. Otherwise our faith is dead.
Once we have begun to obey the Word as disciples of Christ, we should preach it to others (2 Tim. 4:2) so that they can be saved, and teach it to others in a practical way. Jesus said, "Teach them to obey all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:20).
The Christian Civic League has included The Bible as the first in its Policy Statements found at the web site; www.cclmaine.org under the heading “Policies”.
1. Basis of Philosophy and Purpose
A. As The Christian Civic League of Maine, we believe in the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. We believe in the deity of Jesus, to be personally acknowledged as the only Christ and Lord, in His atoning death on our behalf through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection in His ascension to the right hand of the Father and that this same Jesus shall personally return in power and glory. We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ has left us His teachings, His example, and has sent us His Holy Spirit, that we should follow in His steps.
