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Text of brochure:
THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOK
The Bible is the most important book in the world. It is a collection of many “books,” divided into the Old and the New Testaments. It was written by many different people between 1450 B.C. and A.D. 100, reflecting the various styles of literature (history, poetry, wisdom sayings, doctrinal explanations, etc). As we read the Bible, the personalities and experiences of the writers shine through. But what makes the Bible the most important book? Its words did not originate in human minds, but came directly from God the Holy Spirit. This is called divine inspiration. “All Scripture is Godbreathed” (II Timothy 3:16).
GOD’S TRUTH TO THE WORLD
God the Holy Spirit chose the writers of the books of the Bible. He gave them the exact words He wanted them to write. This means that every word of the Bible’s Old and New Testaments is true and trustworthy. Every word carries full authority from God. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, recognized this by saying, “The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).
FAITH CREATING
It is possible to know a lot “about” the Bible. We can know how it came into being. We can know that the Old Testament is a history of creation, the Israelite people, and most importantly God’s promise to send the sinful world a Savior. We can know that the New Testament is a record of the ministry and teaching of Jesus Christ, the world’s promised Savior, and of the mission efforts of the early Christians. But truly to know the Bible, we must believe its central message about Jesus. Through the warnings of the Ten Commandments (which move us to confess our sin) and the gracious promises of the Gospel (which proclaim forgiveness of sin and eternal life in Jesus’ Name) God the Holy Spirit is always working to bring people to faith in Jesus and to keep them in the faith. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
THE BIBLE’S HEART AND CENTER
God the Father sent His only begotten Son into the world as the sinless man Jesus Christ. Jesus died for sins and rose again to victory! The purpose of the Bible is to proclaim this wonderful fact. This makes Jesus Christ the heart and center of the Bible. Jesus once said to some of his religion opponents, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think, by them, you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39). Near the end of his Gospel the Apostle John wrote, “These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).
We’re glad you asked about the Bible. It is the inspired Word of God. Through its faith-creating message God reveals to the world his love and forgiveness in Jesus Christ, his Son, our Lord.
