Voiceover: Next on That’s in the Bible!
Brother Philip Velasquez: Today we’ll be answering questions. A number of questions actually, about this, the Bible.
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The Bible.
Brother Philip Velasquez: Why the Bible and not these other books? Well because the Bible is the word of God. And so it does not only teach the things that we just mentioned, but also teaches the sole way to attain salvation or eternal life, which no other book can do.
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Brother Philip: Hello, I’m Brother Philip Velasquez and you joined us again on another episode of That’s in the Bible. Today we’ll be answering questions—a number of questions actually about this, the Bible. We have two questions today about the Bible.
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Why believe in the Bible instead of other religious books?
Brother Philip: There are many faiths in the world today which use a book that they hold sacred and serves as a basis of their faith. Examples of major world religions are Islam who uses the Qur’an, the Tripitaka for Buddhism, and the King for Confucians, just to name a few. All may strive to teach morals to mankind and how one can lead a happy content life in spite of hardship, while some claim to contain the teachings of an enlightened individual or individuals or even the words of the Almighty God Himself.
Why believe the Bible is God’s word?
Brother Philip: So the question was, why the Bible and not these other books? Well, because the Bible is the word of God and so it does not only teach the things that we just mentioned, but also teaches the sole way to attain salvation or eternal life, which no other book can do. So why do we believe that the Bible is the book that truly contains the true word of God that leads to salvation? Well, we believe that there is only one God, who is the Father, and this true God is the source of all truth. And His word is truth as pointed out in John 17:17 and we can read that clearly in the Holy Scriptures:
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
[John 17:17 New King James Version]
Brother Philip: And in order for God’s truth to reach mankind, God inspired the prophets and Apostles who wrote the Bible. And this we can read in 2 Timothy 3:16:
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living,
[2 Timothy 3:16 Today’s English Version]
Brother Philip: We read clearly dear friends, that all Scripture or the Bible is inspired by our Almighty God. So whatever the will of God may be for us, regarding the way we live, how we should serve Him and what values we have to uphold, these were all recorded in the Holy Scriptures.
Why should people live according to the Bible?
Brother Philip: But what is the ultimate benefit of following the inspired word of God written in Scripture? Let’s continue on in the same book, same chapter, this time verse 15:
and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
[2 Timothy 3:15 Today’s English Version]
Brother Philip: So, as a partial answer to your question, Jansen, not only does the Bible teach us the way one should live, but it also teaches us how to attain salvation. That’s why it is important to have faith in and live by the Holy Scriptures. But how about the other books that may claim to teach the same? Couldn’t it be that these other books contain also the word of God that leads to salvation? What makes the Bible so special amongst these other books, which is why it alone should be the sole basis of our faith? Let’s read Isaiah 46:9-11, this is recorded in the Holy Scriptures:
Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure, Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.
[Isaiah 46:9-11 New King James Version]
Brother Philip: Dear friends, as we’ve heard recorded in the Bible are proclamations made by our Almighty God long ago regarding events that would happen in the future. And take note, that whatever God said it would find fulfillment. That’s why His word that is written in the Bible is truth. No other religious book contains such.
Is the Bible accurate? Why believe the Bible as the basis of your faith?
Brother Philip: What are some examples of foretold events recorded in the Bible which have been fulfilled proving that this is truly the word of God? Let’s read the proclamation written here in Matthew 24:6-8:
“And you will hear of wars, and rumors of more wars, but don’t be alarmed. All of these events must take place, but they do not mean that the end has come. Because when the end is actually approaching, many nations will rise up and war against many other nations, and kingdoms against other kingdoms. And there will be famines, disease epidemics, and earthquakes in various places. But even these are only the beginning of the birth pangs.
[Matthew 24:6-8 Last Days Bible]
Brother Philip: What’s foretold in the Holy Scriptures many thousands of years ago dear friends? When the end is near there would be global wars, world wars, where nation and kingdom will go to war against each other. When in history did this happen? What is the fulfillment of this prophecy written in the Holy Scriptures? Well, history books will tell us it’s none other than World War I that began in 1914 and ended in 1918, which was then followed by the second World War that began in 1939 and ended in 1945. And even Bible scholars concur to this fulfillment written in the Bible. Listen here to the footnote of the Bible in reference to the prophecy in the verses that we just read to you.
“Wars between nations, or even kingdoms, is and has been a common occurrence. History has recorded famines at various times. There have been times of great disease epidemics. There have been earthquakes in the past, but increasingly so in the present day. Jesus tells His disciples, however, to be awaiting a specific time during which all of these phenomena would be in evidence at the same time. The first such time in world history occurred during the years of World War 1(1914-1918) and immediately following.”
[Last Days Bible, pg 54]
Brother Philip: As we’ve seen, the great wars, World War 1 and World War 2 broke out at the beginning of the last century were prophesied around 2,000 years ago and recorded here in the Bible. Dear friends, this is just one example of the many prophecies of God recorded in this book, the Bible, that have been fulfilled just as God foretold to be so. What does this prophecy along with all the others we find in the Bible prove? Let’s read 2 Peter 1:19 and 21. What do these prophecies in the Bible actually prove?
“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
[2 Peter 1:19, 21 New King James Version]
Brother Philip: Dear friends, these prophecies prove that the Bible is the truth and was not written by the will of man, but authored by the Almighty God as His Holy Spirit inspired them. This is why the Bible should be the only book upon where we base our faith. The Bible contains the true word of God that teaches us the true way to live and serve God, and the truth in attaining salvation. No other book has this quality. So going back to Paje’s question, who asks what the Bible says about other holy books claiming to contain the words of God.
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What does the Bible say about other holy books claiming to contain the words of God?
Brother Philip: Well Apostle Paul, messenger of God, condemned any other teaching that was different from what they learned from our Lord Jesus Christ, the greatest of God messengers who taught them His words. Let’s read what Apostle Paul teaches in Galatians 1:8-9:
But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
[Galatians 1:8-9 New King James Version]
Brother Philip: We are prohibited to accept any other gospel apart from the one taught by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Apostles. So where can we find this gospel in which we should solely base our faith? Let’s go to the Bible of John in 20:30-31:
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
[John 20:30-31 New King James Version]
Brother Philip: Dear friends, it’s in this book, the Holy Scripture or the Bible, and in no other where we can find the true words of our Almighty God as taught by the Apostles, the prophets, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Well that’s all we have time for this episode. We thank you for joining us. We’ll be back soon, but in the meantime why not share this episode on Facebook with someone who you know? We also invite you to find the closest local congregation by going to our chapel directory.
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To find an Iglesia Ni Cristo congregations: directory.iglesianicristo.net
Brother Philip: You’ll be more than welcome to join us. We also encourage you to email us your questions.
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answers@incmedia.org
Brother Philip: And remember one of the instructions of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is told in Matthews 7:7:
’Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
[Matthew 7:7 New International Version]
Brother Philip: Now that’s in the Bible. Thanks for watching! I’m Brother Philip Velasquez and I’ll see you next time.
