Today, God's book is under attack from many enemies. Even some in the church question the Bible's validity. Why should we believe the Bible? Allow me to present, for your consideration, a few of my reasons for believing.
It Is Completely Honest. Consider the honesty of the things revealed in the scriptures. Abraham, the father of the Israelites, was a great man of faith; but he was not perfect. "Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you." (Genesis 12:13) He lied about Sarah being his wife. This did not happen just once; it happened on two different occasions! (Genesis 20:1-5) Why would God put this account in the Biblical record?
What about David and Bathsheba? David was a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22). But this same great king committed adultery with Bathsheba and tried to hide it by murdering her husband! (2 Samuel 11, 12) This, and other incidents given, illustrates the humanity of the character of the players in the Bible stories. The Bible tells the bad along with the good.
Jesus chose twelve men to be his disciples. From the beginning, He knew that one of them would betray Him. But that knowledge did not diminish from His love for all of them -- including Judas Iscariot! He forewarned them that their work would not be like a walk in the park! (Matthew 10:16-35) We know this truth from our own life experiences. When truth confronts error, sparks fly. The Bible tells the "entire story" of the men and women whose lives it narrates within its pages. If I were writing a book about my life, I might be tempted to leave out the parts that didn't present me in a good light. The inspired record is painfully honest.
It Harmonizes Perfectly. The Bible was written in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), over a period of 1600 years, by more than 40 different authors who lived during different time periods, and who never met. The 39 Old Testament books and the 27 New Testament books blend together in perfect unity and harmony. How could this be? They all had insider information! From the creation in Genesis 1, to a final glimpse of heaven in Revelation 22, it paints a perfect picture. The theme and main character is Jesus Christ. He is the common thread that ties the Bible into a beautiful love story. Genesis through Malachi contain prophecies about the coming Messiah. From Matthew where we read of His birth, through Acts 1 which tells about His ascension back to heaven, we read about the brief life and times of Jesus Christ. Acts 2 through the end of the Revelation tells the powerful message of His promise to return and redeem us eternally! This story, told in perfect harmony and unity, contains no contradictions. It is impossible to believe it could be anything other than God's work.
It Changes Lives. The Bible stands alone as the best "self-help" book ever written! No other book can take lives that are without direction, value, or profit and transform them into wonderful, productive, and fulfilling. It is God's power to save (Romans 1:16). This book tells us how to raise our children, how to have good marriages, how to have good civil government, how to make a difference in the world, and how to get from earth to an eternal home -- heaven. What other book can claim such attributes? Look at Paul's description of love in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. Look at the golden rule in Matthew 7:12. These things alone make the Bible worthy of the time it takes to examine it. Do you believe the Bible is from God?