Know WHY You Believe Your OWN Faith Series TNT 2005

Know WHY You Believe The Bible says we should always be ready to tell people why we believe. But WHY should we listen to the Bible? 1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”

WHY Listen to the Bible The Bible is 100%, all the time, totally, wholly, completely TRUE! It needs nothing else! It is God’s Word. But HOW do we know for sure? 2 Tim 3:16 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.”

HOW We Know the Bible is True Jesus was the Messiah  Backed up by prophecy! Jesus said the Bible was totally true The Bible tells us what Jesus actually said

Jesus was the Predicted Messiah Prophecies about Jesus not made up! Dead Sea Scrolls date 200 years before Jesus!  Where he would be born  Where he would die  How he would die  How he would be buried  That he would rise from the dead Luke 24:44-46 “He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day...’”

Jesus said the Bible was totally true Matt. 5:17,18 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Matt. 24:35"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." John 8:31,32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Bible Tells Us What Jesus Actually Said Written by first-hand witnesses! If they lied, lots of people could have told on them. WAY more copies in WAY less time than any other historical book! Bible does not contradict itself. Does not contradict other things we know  like Science, Archaeology  Other “scriptures” do – e.g. Book of Mormon

WHAT’S ALL THIS MEAN? We have good proof that the Bible is true, and totally accurate in what it says.

APPLICATION If the Bible tells us to do something, we should do it quickly and not forget. Don’t let other people try to convince you that the Bible is just a bunch of old stories that aren’t true. The Bible tells us that we are FOOLS if we don’t act on what it says... Matt. 7:24-27 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

CALL TO ACTION: Memorize Matt 7:24 “Anyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”