Dennis L. Finnan Commentator
"The World, the Word & You! Broadcast"

WHY I BELIEVE THE BIBLE

“EVERYBODY BELIEVES IN SOMETHING TO LIVE BY!
THE QUESTION IS ON WHAT DO YOU BASE YOUR LIFE
 AND FAITH? I FOR ONE BASE MY LIFE AND FAITH
IN THE WORD OF GOD, THE JUDEO/CHRISTIAN BIBLE.
HOW ABOUT YOU?”  

 I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about the Bible, God’s holy Word and why you too should affirm your faith in its wonderful life saving message and truths….

…The world today is desperately looking for truth, real truth, and nothing but the truth!  But of course, the only source of receiving it is through what true believers call the “Word of God,” the Christian Bible.  Yet, I'm amazed that even in this enlightened day of wisdom and knowledge, still many people, worldwide, are under the delusion, that the Bible is just a book of fairy tales and inaccurate myths for the simple at heart.  Of course, such concepts do not come from reading and studying the Bible, rather from what someone was taught by a parent or teacher, and accepted as reality without any supportive facts to prove it.

Therefore my friend, today I want to deliver to you what we call in the faith, an apologetic; that, is a defense for a position and truth the Christian faith believes.  Today I want to encourage you in your faith, or to come to a faith, that the Bible, the Holy Scriptures of the Judeo-Christian heritage, is still and always shall be the infallible, inerrant and only source of truth man can ever know about our world, God's Word & you! So stay tuned, for after we pause one more time for another moment of delightful music, I'll return with my message entitled: WHY I TRUST THE BIBLE…

…Perhaps there is no book in human history that is more loved and hated than the Christian Bible. It seems there is a curious piece prejudice in the human heart against God's Word that needs an explanation. For instance, today and in any generation past or to come, mankind bristles at what is taught in the Bible, mainly because it calls all men to realize that they are not an island unto themselves. Rather, they are intricately connected to the creation in the sense that all that exists is here by the divine act of a Creator God. As such, everything and everyone is accountable to this God for life, living and eternity. Today, many voices which reject the idea of a Creator God, must also reject the idea that such a God has chosen to reveal Himself to His creation through a book known as the Bible.

Therefore, our secular evolutionary humanist thinkers, who are best classified as the godless secularists of our society, continue to malign God's Word as not relevant or true for today's thinking people. However, the opposite is the truth, which you need to know and embrace. 

Perhaps it’s best to jump right in, by asking this question. "Does the Bible give evidence of being from God?" This really is the question all of us need an answer to. For if I'm going to trust my life to the truths taught in this book, it must obviously be a book that God has written, and one that gives evidence of this. Herein is the first threshold issue.

"Does a God exist who has communicated with us? –

 If so, what kind of God is He?"

If any being is to be God, He obviously must be a God who is omnipotent, sovereign, and transcendent of whatever He creates. He also must be a being who is infallible, that means whatever He says is truth and nothing but the truth with absolutely no error in His revelations to us.  This is of course, is seen the historic reality and teaching of the Bible and its followers through the centuries of its writing.  Interestingly, there are countless reports of skeptics of the Bible's truthfulness, accuracy and revelation from God, who set out to debunk the Bible, but upon serious examination, were soundly converted, to Christ and His Word. So now, let's explore the Bible and it fantastic claim to be the very "breath of God,", and let me tell you why I trust the Bible with my life, now and for eternity.

At the onset, everyone needs to know that all have to first exercise faith, faith enough to believe even God's Word. For instance today everyone believes that the works of Shakespeare, the classics of Greek and Roman writers and other ancient literature that has been passed on to us, that they are accurate representations of the originals. We study them in school, we see their plays acted out - and we ALL BELIEVE, that what was written by these ancient writers is accurately passed down to us. Am I not right? Yet, when it comes to the Bible, many secular sources reject the Bible on the basis that through the centuries it has been corrupted by copying and has left us with nothing more than myths.  Strangely, this charge goes on today. But my friend, you need to know it is absolutely unfounded! 

Basically, there are three major reasons why I trust the Bible and you can do that too. For if one can trust God's Word, they can believe everything written in there that pertains to a knowledge of our existence and our future. Here then are three reasons I believe God's Word is absolutely, a true representation of God's revelation to mankind. 

First, I have found, as thousands of others have, that God's Word when tested, shows its 

1.  scientific and historical accuracy, from cover to cover. Now this is amazing in light of the fact that the Bible is a unique book unlike any other ever written. For instance, The Bible was written over a period of 1500 years by over 40 generations of authors from all walks of life. The Bible was also written in different places, different times, in different moods, and in different languages. Moreover, its subjects cover hundreds of controversial topics and truths about our world and human life. Yet, although it exists as 66 separate books under one cover, it is really one complete book, with total agreement on any subject therein. Yes, the Bible, unlike any other book where multitudes of authors cannot agree on any subject, is the “only” ancient book that speaks in full “unity” from cover to cover on any subject, and is accurate in all its reportage and details.  Now this is especially true in what it reports about matter of science. You know, as you look over any other ancient literature, you'll find that all of it contains notions about the universe which a grammar school child today would think is foolish; But, not the Bible. Why even the scientific thinking of our world's greatest philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato, when they spoke of science, today their words are nothing more than silly fairy tales. Again, not so the Bible! Do you know, that even before secular man discovered many scientific facts proven today, they were already written in the Bible, thousands of years before?

For instance, In the Book of Isaiah, God revealed to the prophet, that the planet on which we live is actually spherical in shape, and that the world was not flat as popularly believed. Listen to,

Isa 40:22 (NIV)  “He [God] sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.”

For centuries the educated world feared that Columbus would sail off the face of the earth, yet God's Word, thousands of years before him,  revealed the world was not flat, but an actual sphere! Then there was the famous scientist, Hipparchus, the originator of Greek Astronomy. He catalogued a total of 1,080 stars in the universe in the year 140 B.C. This count was believed to be accurate for more than 300 years after his statement. Yet it was through Galileo's invention of the celestial telescope in the 17th century, that this count of stars became a foolish thought.  Yet long before Galileo, or Hipparchus, the Bible spoke and said in,

Jer 33:22 (NIV)  “I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless as the stars of the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.’””

Today scientists believe that the stars in space number at least, 100 septillion (1026)! Truly Jeremiah, who had no telescopes, no science of his day, could not have known this truth, outside of divine revelation! Yet God revealed it to him, for when the Bible speaks on science, it always speaks with truth. Some other scientific concepts that could not be known to early man but are revealed in the Bible are the following facts. Today we know of the unalterable scientific,  

1. law of entropy – which reveals we are living in a closed environment, and that all things are winding down and decreasing in complexity. Yet the Psalmist long ago commented on this scientific truth in,

 Psa 102:25-27 (NIV)  “In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. 27 But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

Here this 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, the Law of Entropy, is affirmed before anyone even knew it existed! Then in the Book of Leviticus we find another amazing truth. Today we know that medical technology only a few centuries ago found out what the Bible said long ago concerning what blood is. We read in,

Lev 17:11 (NIV)  “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”

Our blood carries in it, the very “life” of our humanity, something scientists rejected for centuries. But, God said it long ago, in a day when no one could ever have known or understood these medical realities. But let's not stop here, look at what Job writes as he talks about the universe. . Job writes,

Job 26:7 (NIV)  “He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.”

Here Job tells us the amazing truth, that the earth is “suspended” in an unending expanse of matter known as the Heavens. Now really, no human being on earth could know that in Job's day, apart from a divine revelation from the Creator Himself. Then there are other examples of the scientific accuracy of the Bible. For instance, the laws of Conservation, energy and mass, are affirmed in passages such as 2 Pet. 3:7, or truths about our world's hydrologic cycle are confirmed by the writer of Ecc. 1:7.  Yes, the Bible, whether it speaks on Astronomy, Botany, Chemistry, Meteorology, Biology or any other avenue of science - always and in every single case, speaks in simplicity of the day it was written but always with absolute scientific accuracy, and always devoid of scientific absurdities as all other ancient literature is filled with.

Now as to history, less than a century ago the agnostic took great glee in sneeringly referring to the "hundreds of historical mistakes"  Many critics of the past looked for holes in the Bible's historical reporting, and claiming they found errors by the Bible's report of the existence of a Hittite empire. Secular historians for centuries found no trace of these people anywhere. Thus, the Bible was laughed at. Yet today, no historian “worth his salt,” would deny the Bible's historical accuracy since the unearthing of the entire Hittite empire has finally occurred.

As far as anyone today can claim, the Bible's record of history proves to be totally accurate as to names, places and events in our world's past. There is no error anywhere as to scientific and historical truths. Only a bigot or an ignoramus would deny the historical or scientific merits of the Bible today! Yes my friend, I trust the Bible because God has given us a book, like Himself that is infallible, accurate and truthful with no error in any of its teachings, truths and reportage.

Now the second reason I trust the Bible is its, 

2. Archaeological accuracy. The Bible has now for more than a century proven its value in the study of archaeology. Although many laughed at the Bible's accuracy to speak truth concerning archaeology. Today it is no longer laughed at by any archaeologist, Christian or non-Christian. None would ever dare disparage the Bible's reporting on archaeology. Why? Well listen to one of our world's greatest archaeologist who has a reputation for accuracy and truth.  Dr. William F. Albright, a man with a string of degrees said,  "There can be no doubt that archeology has confirmed the substantial historicity of the Old Testament tradition. nothing has been found to disturb a reasonable faith, nor discovered which can disprove a single doctrine of the Bible. The Bible stands for itself."  Then there was the well known Jewish archeologist, Nelson Glueck, who wrote,  "it may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference." Yes, these two giants of archaeology affirm the accuracy of God's Word when it speaks of the record of man's past glory and living.

However, the best case in point is the story of the Battle and Fall of Jericho in (Joshua 6:1-17). We all know the story of how the Israelites surrounded the walls and blew their trumpets in accord with God's specific command, and upon the completion, the great wall of Jericho instantly fell down. Now for centuries scoffers laughed at such a story. Yet in the 1930's, an archeologist by the name of Dr. Garstang found evidence of the actual destroyed remains of ancient Jericho about 1400 B.C. As he  unearthed this city, Garstang was startled so deeply by what he found, that he prepared the following statement and I quote,

" There remains no doubt now, that the walls fell flat and outward so completely that the attackers would be able to clamber up and over the ruins into the city."

Why so unusual? Because the walls of cities do not fall “outwards,” they fall inward when attacked by ramming weapons of that day. Garstang also found layers of ashes left by Joshua's fire (Josh 6:24) Yet we read in,

Josh 6:20 (NIV)  “When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city.”

Josh 6:24 (NIV)  “Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the Lord’s house.”

Laugh at God's Word? No archeologist today, in his right mind would do that! For God caused the walls to fall outward to give Israel the victory, and archaeology confirms this!  Yes, friend the Bible is accurate in its reporting of scientific truths, historical truths, and also archeological truths - Herein are two reasons why “I believe the Bible and trust it with my heart and life.”

But now finally, there is perhaps the greatest reason anyone can trust God's Word. Do you know what that is? It is SUPERNATURAL ABILITY TO CHANGE LIVES! Someone has said the "proof of the pudding is in the eating!"  So it is. Undoubtedly, the greatest proof of all that the Bible is indeed God's Word is its amazing ability to change corrupt humanity! Yes, the Bible claims it has supernatural power to change the lives of those who read it, believe it and act upon that belief!  Listen to what God's Word says,

Psa 119:9 (NIV)  “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.”

2 Cor 5:17 (NIV)  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

You see even to this day, thousands of years later, humankind has found that those who turn their hearts and lives over to believing what the Bible says about the spiritual matters of our existence, it always changes them radically, and positively for all eternity.

I believe the Bible is true, because for me and hundreds of thousands of others, it gives us the experience it claims - a new and pure life, more abundantly. When I accepted these truths of the Bible, and what it said about Jesus Christ and my relationship to God without Him - God granted to me the full and forever forgiveness of all my sins. Yes, God says in,

Mat 11:28 (NIV)  “”Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Eph 1:7 (NIV)  “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace”

Friend, additionally when I believed that Jesus Christ was indeed my Lord and God, I experienced a new peace and contentment I never had before, for God said in,

Rom 5:1 (NIV)  “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Phil 4:7 (NIV)  “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Indeed, when I confessed my sins to God with my own lips, and admitted that I was a sinner without God's righteousness, and then accepted Jesus Christ as my substitute sin bearer, God gave me a new heart and life. Yes, He made me a new being that could now live joyously for Him, that would now want to fulfill His Word in every facet of my life, that would now long for and yearn to worship the one true God Jesus Christ in all purity of body, soul and spirit.

Oh how wonderful, this new being I became, was born that day when at age 29 for me, I came to trust God's Word not only in matters of historical, scientific and archaeological truths, but the greater spiritual teachings about life and eternity.

Now admittedly, all of us want to know deep inside -  “who am I, where am I going?”  The Bible friend, indeed has the answer for it’s the infallible, inerrant and marvelous book God has given to a world of sinners, lost in sin. So marvel not, no man will ever see God, nor experience Him and His grace outside trusting fully in God's Word for life, living and eternity.

Although God's Word is infallible, I must also admit God's people are not. We are fallible and at times we can dishonor God's Word in different ways. Sometimes by erroneous teaching concerning it, other times by wrong living of it, and still other times by blatantly disobeying it.  Yes, Christians, as someone has said, are forgiven and going to heaven by the merits of Jesus Christ, but we still are fallen human beings. 

So my friend I say to you? Have you trusted and believed in God's Word, by accepting and receiving Jesus Christ into your heart and life? Perhaps you're one who has stayed away from exploring its wondrous truths because you saw the fallibility of some professing Christian. Well wait no longer, God's existence and grace do not depend upon the faithfulness of followers.  What a tragedy it would be that you, my friend, would miss heaven, because you were turned off by the sinfulness of some professing believer. No, rather for yourself set out to explore God's Word through careful open-minded reading of it. I want to put a challenge before you, if you are an honest seeker.  Today get a Bible, and begin reading it, starting with the Gospel of John in the New Testament. But before you begin reading it, why not first pray this little prayer.  "O God, if you truly exist and this book is your infallible Word, speak to me from it. For if you do, I will turn my whole life over to you in adoration and thankfulness for your very existence and love to reveal yourself to me." My friend, if you take this challenge, I know you will like millions of others, come away soundly converted to trust in Jesus Christ as your personal God and Savior, and you will have experienced for yourself the promise of a new life and heart, through Jesus Christ, the Lord. 

Now, I've been a Christian for many years and as a pastor, I want you to know this final truth. I've never met anyone who has sincerely believed and followed God's Word and truth, who later said, " I've studied the Bible and I've lived it for years - and it doesn't work for me."  Rather, the opposite is always true! The more one studies the Bible and practices its truths, the more God reveals Himself to that person, and the more Scripture that is absorbed in the heart, the more God empowers us to miraculously live in honor and obedience to Him with inner joy and satisfaction.

Oh friend, God's Word is still a miracle Book for you today.  May God find you, not a faithless doubter who bases disbelief on the foolish skepticism of godless detectors groundless claims, but rather a seeker of truth, for God promises all who come to him,

Prov 8:17 (NIV)  “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.”

The story is told of a sea captain who one dark cloudy and moonless night, saw what looked like the lights of another ship heading straight for him. He quickly had his signalman blink to the other ship: "change your course 10 degrees south." The reply came back "Change your course 10 degrees north." The ships' Captain annoyingly answered, "I am a Captain. Change your course south. To which the reply came: " I am a seaman first class. Change your course north." This infuriated the Captain, so he personally signaled back. " I say change your course  south. I'm on a battle ship!" To which the reply came back: "And I say change your course north. I'm in a lighthouse!"  That lighthouse for mankind, adrift on the sea of life, is the Word of God.  Yes, human wisdom and philosophy such as godless evolutionary atheism seem to be the big ship these days as it proudly steers our nation on its godless path, but the Bible is God's lighthouse to steer mankind away from the rocks of sin and death's penalty.  Jesus Christ is our rock, the Solid Rock upon which for ages God's Word stands.  Friend, make God's Word the basis of your life and living, and you'll never be broken by the storms of life on the rocks of sin. I have placed my trust on the lighthouse of God's Word. I know it will never fail me, or any who likewise have done the same.

·         Radio talk #2702

·         Broadcast date: July 7, 2002

·         Speaker: Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator

·         Program: The World, the Word & You! Radio Broadcast

·         Address: P.O. Box 40133 Grand Junction, CO 81504

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 22 years, and serves as General Director.

These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also.