I had planned to continue looking at Christ and what it means to be full of Grace & Truth, but I realise some of you may not believe He is the source of truth and that he is the truth. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

In discussing what scripture has to say about marriage with my Yr 12 Form Class a student felt that they were now dumber as they had heard words of wisdom from 2500+ years ago – he said we have evolved and learned a lot since Christ’s time and before and his implication was that what the Bible had to say was out-of-date and irrelevant.

So is he right ?– should we throw away the best selling book ever and instead listen only to today’s prophets & prophetesses like Eminem, Oprah, Anthony Robbins, and our sitcoms such as Friends, Home & Away and the Simpsons?

Is the Bible really God’s word or the words of some ancient and dumb people?

Many people have doubted the Bible but lets briefly look at some facts. Until very recent archaeological discoveries, many disbelieved the Bible’s account of an Assyrian King Sargon in Isiah 20.1.There was no other record anywhere in any other text or artefact of this King yet a recent find uncovered his palace and inscription describing his victories as per the Bible!

The more we uncover in archaeological digs the more the Bible is vindicated. Also Jesus spoke about the Old Testament writings as if they were absolute truth.

So what of the New Testament and Jesus?

Historians have derived a Test of Historical accuracy based on 3 Principles.

1. Bibliographical Test

– based on number of manuscripts and time between original & existing copies. The NT has 20k+ vs next best the Illiad at 643.

2. Internal Evidence – bibliographical test shows that what we now have is what was originally recorded (50-70 AD). Is this text credible and to what extent? The NT written by eyewitnesses or those relating eyewitness accounts Luke 1:1-3,

1Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Luke 3:1

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests

NT accounts circulated at time when people were still alive who were all witnesses to events

Acts 2:22.
22"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know--

Also the story is too fanciful to have been invented by such ‘simple’ folk.

3. External Evidence Test – use other documents + sources that substantiate the accuracy, reliability + authenticity.

Eg. friends of the Apostle John – Papias + Polycap – their confirming writings preserved + related by others.
Archaeology has confirmed many passages rejected by critics. Sir William Ramsay one of the most renowned of Historians who like many started as a critic said that Luke’s Book of Acts is an accurate description of geography, antiquities, and society of Asia Minor.

So the evidence when studied is pretty clear the Bible is inspired y God and does give an accurate and truthful account of the life of Jesus.

So what was he?

Jesus – was he a liar, lunatic or Lord? (come back to this time permitting).

OK so God wrote the Bible and is the source of all knowledge & wisdom

we have learned more and more but only a subset of Gods – as Bible is from the creator of all then it is the source of truth. God wrote primarily about people & relationships not his created world – he left a lot for us to uncover such as engineering, technology, medicine, genetics, etc – but it all ultimately points to him.

So what can we conclude re our evolution and the possible dumbing down of our brains if we listen to the Bible’s truth? I believe we can only gain from it – unfortunately we have moved so far from God’s truth that we often fail to recognize it of even reject it.

God’s truth is hard, tough & uncompromising – yet His grace is beyond comprehension. I think you are surrounded by wonderful Christians who share God’s grace with you but are to ‘scared’ to share God’s truth. However I plan to!

We need to get back to the simplicity and truth of His Word. Life really does go better for you when you follow His Laws. You can’t fight gravity very easily and for long. Similarly with God – eventually you will lose – better to accept His guidance now and have your life head in the right and eternal direction.

It’s your choice – head for hell or choose a life for ever in heaven.