Expert: Dr Tim Gladu - 11/27/2007

Question
Hello there, my name is Joe. I am sort of on a spiritual quest I guess you could say. I am not real sure that I am saved. I know that in the Bible it talks about God sending his Son to die for us. I am quite familiar with things pertaining to salvation and the Bible. My question isn't to pick an online fight. I am truly seeking the truth (and the Truth if you will) about Biblical Christianity, and how I can know for certain it can be trusted. I know in the Old Testament, there are tons of Messianic prophecies. I have read many of these, and see their confirmation in the New Testament. Although, I have run into a problem. I know this sounds crazy, but I just can't really seem to truly believe until I get this junk cleared away first. How do we know the writers of the Gospels weren't just deliberately making up it's content? How do we know they (including Jesus) didn't just get together and deliberately fulfill prophecy? Granted there is prophecy that Jesus obviously couldn't have fulfilled deliberately such as where He was born and buried. But hey, as a writer of one of the Gospels, why not just write those things in there as if those things really did happen. And who knows? Maybe Jesus, the Apostles, and the writers of the Gospels just wanted to start a lie. Maybe Jesus was like that guy (the one who had the Davidian followers?) and was a complete liar. How can the Gospels be confirmed in the truth of it's content. How do we know they weren't made up? I have an additional question. If secular Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in history and can be validated, wouldn't that prove that the God of the Bible is true? That would probably confirm that the entire Bible is true huh? Please talk about this as well. Thank you.

Answer
Joe,

To start with I do understand your question. I have had this same question before in my years in ministry. Many people wonder why should I believe in the Bible. How could it be true. The first thing I want you to think about is the Bible itself. The Bible consists of 66 books written by 44 authors and over a span of 1500 years in about 7 different countries.. Now just think about that. How many books would have the same idea and theme that had that many variables. Take just 2 psychology books by 2 different authors. You would find 2 very different opinions and most likely they would not even agree in most cases. Now that fact that there is any agreement to the Bible at all is proof that it had to be written by the Holy Spirit and not solely by the men who penned it. The prophecy about Christ and how he would die and the aspects of that was written almost 700 years before Christ and it was accurate down to the Roman solider giving Christ vinegar to drink. I know that is minor but 700 years before down to what Christ drank. old Testament Prophecy was fulfilled and there is a lot of proof. The Smithsonian uses the Bible to find historical locations and they are able to find just what is described. Normal secular history books also back up many of the events of the Bible. The Dead Sea scrolls also are a major proof of the Bible because they showed many of the same exact writings of the current texts and they were just the same as what is written. God ensured that His word was preserved. When the Bible was copied before they had the printing press this is how it was done. The scribes that would make the copies would select a random page in the copy. If there was even one letter out of place they would destroy the entire book because it may have been wrong. I know that the Bible is the Word of God. I have no doubt. I have studied the Bible and seen for myself the power of the Holy Spirit to perform miracles in every day life. I have been a Christian since the age of 6 so I really never lived life without the Holy Spirit to guide and direct my actions and my life. The Internet is a great source and also there are several books that show how true the Bible is and why it is true. Look at Isaiah 53 that is the chapter about Christ's death and just look at all those things that no one could have made happen. I suggest that if you are unsure about what you believe take this away from this. God loves you and He sent His Son to die for your sins. The gift was for all who will believe and none have to believe it is your choice. If you accept Christ and try to live the life that God would want for you you go to Heaven. If you choose not to believe in the Bible and that Christ was born lived as a man and died and was raised from the dead then you choose Hell. The great thing about God is He gives us a choice and it is one that we all have to make. I pray that you make the right choice.