Doctrines Of The Bible
Part 1

The Bible

In a world where change is inevitable and nothing remains static, it is good to know the Word of God is the same. It never changes, and it will last forever.

The Bible, God's message to men of all generations everywhere, contains simplicity, clarity, and logic. God's messages are as clear and relevant to us today as they were centuries ago to the early Christians. In God's Word we find a clear answer to any problem we might encounter in everyday life.

What is the Bible?

The Bible is truth. The scripture says, "Thy word is truth." (John 17:17) It is the inspired Word of God. These are not words of men's wisdom, but the prophecy came when holy men of old were moved by the Holy Ghost to speak and write.

The Bible is a complete library of books! There are sixty-six books in all. These are divided into the Old and New Testaments. The word "Testament" means "Covenant," and is a word by which God designates the relationship between Himself and His people.

In the Old Testament we find thirty-nine books. There are many exciting stories about God's wonderful creation and fellowship in the Garden of Eden. In the Book of Genesis we learn that man fell in sin and was driven from the garden, separated from perfect communion with God. Many exciting and sometimes horrible consequences happened to man because of the original sin. You will read about these in the first books of the Bible.

The Old Testament contains the calling and history of the Jewish nation. God's chosen people had many wonderful leaders who were devoted to God's cause and fully dependent upon Him. You will read of the fantastic feats of Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, and many others. Study their lives and accomplishments. Find out what motivated them to do the things they did. What great "cause" did each of them love most of all? Who was uppermost in their hearts and minds at all times? Were they ever selfish in their motives? Were they unkind to others? Study the characteristics of a good leader as you read the true thrilling accounts of Jewish "great" men in the Old Testament. Then ask yourself this question, "How can this character help me to become a better Christian?"

Because of his separation from God and his knowledge of sin, man needed a savior. Only one who knew no sin could pay the supreme sacrifice for our salvation and buy us back from Satan.

The prophets of the Old Testament often spoke of the coming Messiah, as they preached to the Jewish nation. Joel and Isaiah were the ones who spoke out most frequently. Joel said, "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions." (Joel 2:28) Isaiah spoke of the coming Messiah as a sheep led to the slaughter. Peter used Joel's prophecy on the Day of Pentecost when he said, "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel." (Acts 2)