How Do We Know The Bible Is True?

 

Have you ever started reading a book and you just couldn't get into it?  Have you ever plowed through it anyways and ended up thinking it was one of the best books you have ever read?

That's what happened to me with this book. I started reading it with my children as part of their school, but when we finished the first chapter we were like, huh? What does that even mean? lol

Ya, we were lost. We went on to the next chapter, and we were still lost. So I stopped reading this with my kids. It was above their ability to understand. (Some of it was above my ability too. lol)
I didn't pick this back up for a little while, but I knew I needed to read it so I could write a well informed review.

As I started reading the 3rd chapter, I was like, hey, this is getting easier to understand. As I kept reading on I really started getting into the book. It became a book that I wanted to read.

How Do We Know The Bible Is True is a fantastic book that really helps you understand how to defend your faith and the Bible.

Some questions you will find answered in this book are:

• Is the Bible totally without error?
• Did the resurrection really happen?
• How do we know that the 66 books of the Bible are from God?
• Does the Bible contradict itself?
• How were people saved before Jesus came?
• What is the purpose and meaning of life?
• Did miracles really happen?
• Was Genesis derived from ancient myths?
• How should we interpret the Bible; should Genesis be literal?
• Do you have to believe in a young earth to be saved?

Some things that I particularly liked in this book are:

In the book it is stated that we should always use Scripture to interpret Scripture. What this means is that if you think there is a contradiction in Scripture, use the rest of Scripture to find out what it really means. Something may sound a little off but Scripture can't contradict itself, so really dig in to the Word and you will find the answers.

I really liked how this book sticks to the Bible and the Bible alone. I like that it teaches us that if an outside writing contradicts Scripture, then it is always the outside writing that is in error, not the Scripture.

For example, the view of Mary being a perpetual virgin is not found anywhere in Scripture. In fact Scripture says exactly the opposite.

So where did this view even come from? It came from an apocryphal book called The Protoevangelium of James.  This is one of those things that you really have to look at. Both views can't be true. Mary couldn't have been a perpetual virgin and not a perpetual virgin. It was either one or the other. But how do you know which one is true? Well, remember that Scripture does not contradict itself, so if an outside writing says something different than Scripture, then the outside writing must be the one in error.

A lot of outside writings confirm Scripture, but if they don't, then they are the ones in error, not the Scripture. This is something very important to remember because if you believe one outside writing to be true over the Bible, then how do you know that any of the Scripture is really true? Either it is all true, or it is not. You can't pick and choose what you will believe. You can't believe some of Scripture, the stuff you like, and then choose to believe something else in other areas. You can't make the Scriptures fit your beliefs.

Something else that really stood out to me was the books description of the apparent contradiction of salvation by faith or works. Romans 4:2-3 and James 2:21,24 seem to contradict one another.

One seems to say salvation is by faith alone, and the other seems to say it is by works. But as we know, Scripture can't contradict itself, so we really need to look at the rest of Scripture to find out if they really contradict one another. This is one area where reading a little deeper can help you understand that these two verses do not really contradict one another. "Romans 4 is teaching about justification before God; by faith alone Abraham was considered righteous before God. But James 2 is teaching about justification before men; by works (as a result of faith) Abraham was considered righteous before men. There is no contradiction. I can't believe I didn't see this before. One is talking about justification before God. Our justification before God is by faith alone, but men see our works."

I have read over these verses and I don't know if I am seeing exactly what the author is saying. I don't see where James 2 exactly says that it is justification before men, but I do know that Scripture can not contradict itself and it clearly states in other ares that you are justified by faith alone. Romans 10:9 says:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

I won't keep on. I could go on forever......This book really made me think. It is a book that I will keep on my shelves and that will be required reading for my kids when they get older.

I highly encourage you to read this book. It is great. I got a pleasant surprise when I finished the book and saw that the afterword was written by one of my favorite pastors and authors, John MacArthur. 

I really think you will love this book as much as I did. I will admit that there is some content in this book that went over my head, but all in all, i loved this book. It was really helpful. I feel better equipped to defend my faith.

If you would like to read this book, you can find it here for $14.99.




*I received this book for free from New Leaf Publishing, in return for an honest review. No other compensation has been given to me.