| The Bible is a precious gift from God. It is like a letter from a loving father to his children. It tells us the truth about God – who he is and what he stand for. It explains how to cope with problems and how to find true happiness. The Bible alone tells us what we must do to please God. (Psalm 1:1-3; Isaiah 48:17-18) |
Psalm 1:1-3: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Isaiah 48:17-18: This is what the LORD says- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea." |
...like a letter from a loving father to his children. ...how to cope with problems ... find true happiness ... what we must do. A letter from a loving father would not simply be a set of instructions. It would run along the lines of, "Dearest Child, I love you! I want to see you soon! ..." It explains ... how to find true happiness. Much of the Christian walk is not at all "happy." God allows all sorts of trials and tribulations in our lives for the sake of molding us into better people. This statement (especially made in the first paragraph of the tract) implies that Christianity is about finding happiness. However, one might interpret "true happiness" to mean "joy" (which is fundamentally different from happiness) or the eternal delight we will have when we enter heaven. Which is the case here? ...what we must do to please God. Also in the opening statement of this tract, the idea of "pleasing" God is set as the goal. Considering the premise and point of the tract, this is appropriate, since the tract is all about pleasing God. Unfortunately, a works-based religion misses the point of "Christianity", which is faith-based and relationship-based. What Pleases God? There is a plain statement at Colossians 1:19-20: "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." What pleases God is to see us reconciled to Him through the acts of His Son. |
| The Bible was written by some 40 different men over a period of 1,600 years, beginning in 1513 B.C.E. It is made up of 66 little books. Those who wrote the Bible were inspired by God. They wrote his thoughts, not their own. So God in heaven, not any human on earth, is the Author of the Bible. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21) |
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness... 2 Peter 1:20-21 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 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. |
No arguments: The Bible was inspired by God and is His Word. |
| God made sure that the Bible was accurately copied and preserved. More Bibles have been printed than any other book. Not everyone will be happy to see you studying the Bible, but do not let that stop you. Your eternal future depends on your getting to know God and doing his will despite any opposition. (Matthew 5:10-12; John 17:3) |
Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. |
...the Bible was accurately copied and preserved. How are different versions of the Bible reconciled with each other? How come John 1:1 is such a theological issue, if the Bible was accurately copied? Your eternal future depends on you getting to know God. This, I agree with – relationship with God is the key to salvation. The statement should be a stand-alone statement. Your eternal future depends on your ... doing his will ... None of the scripture references support this assertion. The reference to the Beatitudes says that the righteous are blessed, but does not enforce the idea that works are key to salvation. This is an illogical conclusion from the scripture. |
