Why do I accept the Bible as God's inspired, authoritative, and sufficient revelation to man?
Did God indeed lead the Bible writers to accurately and reliably record His special revelation to humanity?
Is the historical conviction and confession of the church, therefore, correct – or am I chasing after the wind by aligning my entire life with it and dedicating all my gifts, energy, and time to teaching its contents and making it as widely known as possible?
1. I believe the Bible is God's inspired Word because He Himself planted faith in me through His Spirit
It was and remains a miracle of His sovereign grace. It happened just over fifty years ago after many months of wrestling.
I knew that the Bible is either entirely reliable or the greatest deception of the ages. A compromise between these two extremes is not possible, as the Bible itself declares that it is God's authoritative Word from A to Z in all matters. If one part is false, everything is suspect.
However, a miracle occurred, and my struggle became a thing of the past! And perhaps it is necessary to mention that I was not a naive seventeen-year-old attending an emotional school camp; I worked on the Orange River project as a professional civil engineer with also a thorough academic background in natural science and mathematics.
2. "I believe the Bible is God's inspired Word because I am a serious follower of Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus believed the Old Testament faithfully. The New Testament is full of it! He never questioned the Scriptures; on the contrary.
And there is hardly anything in life which is more important to me than to follow in His footsteps.
3. I believe the Bible is God's inspired Word because the Bible itself says so
I don't approach the Scriptures skeptically and distrustfully but with an open and expectant
heart. This is how I purposefully live. If someone tells me I can trust him, I do so. I give him the benefit of the doubt unless and until his actions make it impossible to trust him or her unconditionally.
Naive and circular reasoning?
No. I know well that one cannot live, nor practise any science, without some fundamental assumptions – or hypotheses.
Furthermore, since there is no higher authority to which God (and thus the Bible) can be tested, He must, by definition, appeal to Himself when it comes to His authority (for example, God necessarily swore by Himself in Heb 6:13-20).
4. I believe the Bible is God's inspired Word because many years of interaction with it continue to impress me with the facinating consistency of its message
This is despite the fact that the sixty-six books that make up the Bible, written over a span of approximately a millennium and a half by around forty authors from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Many unbelieving and critical but honest thinkers who have studied the Scriptures, often with the intent to prove it false, got converted during the process.
Furthermore, the unmistakable and mutual coherency of the Old and New Testaments increasingly fascinates me!
5. I believe the Bible is God's inspired Word because its central message – the gospel – is unique, and directly contradicts the approach of all religions in this world
All religions (including "false churchianity", if not explicitly, at least implicitly) preach that we must ascend to God through ceremonial and moralistic teachings and practises.
The Bible, on the other hand, proclaims that God sovereignly, as it were stoops down to sinners in His love and grace. If the gospel is boiled down to its essential essence, it is the words: God saves sinners!
Of course, the Bible carries a strong ethical message. Of course, it teaches man's responsibility to his Creator. But all of this springs from God's free and regenerating grace in Christ alone.
That's why the obedience of Christians is always rooted in the saving work of Christ. And what is more, if authentic, always springs from eager and willing hearts.
6. I believe the Bible is God's inspired Word because so many prophecies in it have been historically fulfilled. What is more, Soniah and I have experientially witnessed the fulfillment of so many of the Bible's promises for decades
Dozens of Old Testament prophecies about Christ have been fulfilled in the finest details in Him.
For example, Isaiah 53 was written centuries before His coming!
And Soniah and I have experientially witnessed and experienced the fulfillment of many promises in the Bible (in response to prayer, and many, many times even without it).
7. I believe the Bible is God's inspired Word because it has enriched my life beyond measure
It provides me with all the light I seek for my intellectual and philosophical questions.
In fact, there are certain fundamental questions that have troubled unbelieving thinkers throughout the ages, questions that are only answered by the Bible – and, as far as I'm concerned, answered completely satisfactorily.
The Bible's principles, standards and guidelines lead to a life of purpose and excellence, while deviating from them always leads to disaster. The history of each of the more or less dozen-and-a-half great civilizations over the past thousands of years, always ended as it departed from the ethical values of God's Word – in particular the Ten Commandments. Don't we see it very clearly in the fast decline of so-called western civilization (also in our own nation!)?
And, most precious of all, the Word of God, in particular the New Testament, has given me the ultimate answer to the question that Job wrestled with: "How can a creature stand righteous before his Maker?"
8. I believe the Bible is God's inspired Word because of its unmistakably positive effects – not only in an idividual, but also in society
The biblical principles always lead to prosperity – spiritually, emotionally, morally, and even materially. Over the years, countless times, I have witnessed the uplifting fruit of Bible belief in people's lives and families. I have seen how situations of darkness and despair have been transformed into light, well-being, and purpose. And without exception, this has been associated with childlike faith in the authority and reliability of the Word – and living accordin to its moral principles.
On the other hand, where is the uplifting fruit of Bible-critical theology? In fact, theology that undermines the authority of the Bible undermines many people's faith and happiness (not to mention their eternal destiny).
It always holds true: To the extent that a society faithfully embraces the values of the Bible, to that extent it is ennobled. To the extent that it deviates from it, social decay and corruption set in.
9. I believe the Bible is God's inspired Word because it has stood the tests of time
Nothing have been able to kill union with Christ¨millions over the centuries, no matter how fierce the persecution. In fact, the fiercer the persecution, the stronger the true church has become. And it has always been accompanied by a humble faith in the reliability of the Bible. On the other hand, no doubter stands firm in times of attack.
I never cease to be fascinated by how radically now in the twenty-first century, even highly sophisticated individuals' lives can change when they undergo the miracle of rebirth. What is more, even after fifty years, I still often thank the Lord for the dramatic transformation I underwent overnight when it happened to me."
10. Finally, I believe the Bible is God's inspired Word because it keeps me in step with some of the greatest thinkers and noblest people of all time
Yes, certainly, there have been many "Christians" who have dishonored the Bible. But that was because they didn't really believe it or didn't live acording its truth and principles.
Truly, the historical Christian faith – including its view of Scripture – is my joy and glorious security.
Like Spurgeon, I can say:
"As I walk back through the corridors of time
one man and woman of God after another
stands up and shakes my hand."
><(((*>
Nico van der Walt
Tel: 082 848 9396
Email: