Why should we care about the Bible? Many say it’s old, outdated and irrelevant to modern times. But the truth is that the Bible is as fresh and new today as it was when it was written.
Human nature has not changed, which is why the truth of Bible cuts through all cultural barriers, scientific advancements and is the perfect manual for dealing with a difficult world.
On this page we explain why we believe that embracing the Bible is beneficial and essential for a prosperous and joyous life . Hopefully, we can encourage everyone to spend some time with the Bible, receiving the wonders that it has for each of us.
Introduction
Many of us have heard of the Bible, but don’t know much about it. It seems boring, intimidating and overwhelming.
Yet, humans have always been curious about God. How does He fit into our lives? God’s Word is shared with us to help us understand His nature and character. Why do we have a special relationship with God our creator? Answering that question is what the Bible is all about.
This page reviews what’s in the Bible and why it is fundamental for our understanding God.
What is the story told in the Bible?
The story told in the Bible is simple but also infinitely complex. The Bible was written over 1500 years, by over 40 different writers. It tells one contiguous story. The Bible begins with the creation of the earth and the human race. It ends with God’s final judgment and the unveiling of His eternal Kingdom, created just for us.
That’s it. That’s the entire story. God created us as an act of love. But sadly, we chose to disobey Him. Because of that, we were separated from our beautiful, perfect and holy creator.
To reconcile man to Himself, God sent His Son, the Messiah, to pay the penalty for our sins, to cleanse us and make us presentable. The Lord Jesus Christ is the link between all of us and God.
The story told in the Bible is the complete history of man on earth. From man’s creation by God, through his ultimate redemption with Jesus.
God creates a unique race of people, the Israelites (Jews) as a lens to examine human history. Through the Jewish people, we see the good, the bad and the ugly of ourselves.
God revealed Himself through Abraham, and then through Abraham’s decedents Isaac and Jacob. Using the history of the Hebrew people, God establishes His plan to redeem man to Himself. Through the linage of Abraham, God allows us to view the entire history of mankind.
Moses and the 10 commandments
God selected the prophet Moses to lead all of the Hebrews out of captivity in Egypt. They wandered in the desert in the Sinai peninsula for 40 years. Early in their travels, Moses was given the Ten Commandments, which would become the basis of the Jewish faith.
The Bible chronicles those 40 years, leading up to their crossing the Jordan River into what is now called Israel. God’s plan of salvation for man began to take shape. God saved the Jews from Egyptian slavery, just as He saves man from the slavery of sin.
God, through Moses, assembled the entire Jewish race in the desert to deliver His law. It seems impossible to believe that an entire race where in one location all at the same time, but through the miracle of God they were.
The fact that Moses lead the entire Jewish race to Mount Sinai and delivered God’s law is irrefutable. The linage of the Jews proves it happened. This begins the journey of the Jews that ultimately leads to the birth of Jesus, God on earth.
The Bible explains who we are
To understand man on earth, we need to understand the Bible. That’s why we should care about the Bible. Because it explains us. Who we are, why we exist, and why the world is as it is. Nothing else does that.
The more we understand the Bible the more we understand ourselves. It also shows us how much God loves us. God’s love is the most precious thing available to us. The Bible is God speaking directly to us, in love.
The oral traditions of the Bible go back thousands of years. The Jewish people carried the exact text of the Bible forward orally, until it could be written down. Through the discovery of dead sea scrolls, we can authenticate their ancient writings.
God selected the prophet Moses to lead the Hebrews out of captivity in Egypt. They wandered in the desert in the Sinai peninsula for 40 years. Early in their travels, Moses was given the Ten Commandments, which would become the basis of the Jewish faith.
The Bible chronicles those 40 years, leading up to their crossing the Jordan River into what is now called Israel. God’s plan of salvation for man began to take shape.
Understanding the Bible, helps us to appreciate what it means to be human. It explains who created us , why we struggle and why we can have hope.
Through the Bible, we are able to find joy and contentment regardless of our current circumstance. Living as God created us, brings peace beyond any understanding.
Why is the Bible wonderful?
The Bible is wonderful, unique and, most importantly, true. Some or all of the Bible has been translated into 1248 different languages. According to Guinness World Records, the Bible is the best-selling book of all time with an estimated 5 billion copies sold and distributed.
Why can we believe the Bible?
We can believe the Bible because it is accurate and rational. It realistically presents the world as it is. The Bible was written across more than 1500 years, by dozens of authors, yet it is amazingly consistent.
It presents good and evil in a way that is universally understood and accepted. Most of us would agree that murder and stealing are wrong and that we want our spouse to be faithful to us. Much of our definition of right and wrong comes from the Bible.
Believing the world view of the Bible gives us peace and hope for the future.
Why should we study the Bible?
Studying the Bible allows us to fully comprehend Gods love for us. Understanding God’s love for us, frees us from the cruelty and dysfunction of the world that we live in.
Reading and studying the Bible gives us insight into God’s nature and character. It also shows us ourselves. By understanding our own bad behavior, we find ourselves helpless and hopeless.
Through God’s magnificent grace, we see our dysfunction and cruelty. We are given a way out of the human dilemma. We see the world as it is and we can begin to appreciate God as He is.
Why should we follow the Bible?
Why should we do what the Bible says? How should it impact our lives? Because God created us, loves us, and always knows what is best for us. When we follow Him, we live a joyous and free life. The Bible explains what we should be seeking and what we need to avoid.
We are encouraged to follow the Bible because it gives us a clear picture of what went wrong with the world and why we are completely dependent on God for everything.
Call it a road map for the human condition. But mostly, call it the way to have a right relationship with our creator. It shows the pitfalls of life and what to avoid. A short, but powerful, illustration of this is the 23rd Psalm.
The 23rd Psalm
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me lie down in green pastors: he leadth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul; he leadeth my in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
When we follow the Bible, we learn how to soften our heart and to live with hope. We live as we were created to live, avoiding the bitterness and regret of sin and evil.
Summary
We end where we began: Why should we care about the Bible?
We should not miss this opportunity to gain all of these wonderful benefits and to live a life we are called to live.
Exploring the Bible, allows us to get to know God, appreciate what He has to offer, and understand how we are to function in a fallen and dysfunctional world. But mostly to gain an eternal, living and perfect relationship with our Creator. The Bible, in the final analysis, is a love letter to us.
