These Things Were Written That You Might Believe

8 in 10 individuals who were hospitalized by COVID-19 said they wished they had used the Bible more.’

I posted this originally in the Spring of 2021. Maybe it's a good time to remind ourselves of these things at the beginning of 2023.

As we begin a New Year Reachout Trust is committed to encouraging Bible reading, which is in a poor state across the church. We have more and better access to a dizzying choice of Bibles, electronic Bibles having become very popular over recent years. It is reported YouVersion’s Bible App gives us free access to 1,839 Bible versions in 1,275 languages.

And yet...

Christianity Today reported Bible reading in the US has fallen away during the pandemic:

‘Between early 2019 and 2020, the percentage of US adults who say they use the Bible daily dropped from 14 percent to 9 percent, according to the State of the Bible 2020 report released by the Barna Group and the American Bible Society (ABS).’

This is dissonance on a grand scale. A feast of the best things is provided but people sitting at table demand fast food and additives. The troubling headline above comes from that Christianity Today report, saying, ‘Individuals were most likely to report an increase in Bible engagement if a family member in their household or a neighbor died from COVID-19. 8 in 10 individuals who were hospitalized by COVID-19 said they wished they had used the Bible more.’

In January 2019, Christianity reported that ‘most Christian millennials in the UK (51%) engage with the Bible a few times a year, or less. Only 9% read the Bible every day and a mere 13% look at the scriptures “a few times a week”.

God-breathed

We are told, “All Scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16)

The term ‘God-breathed’, or divinely breathed, gives the clear sense of Scripture being the word of God Himself, God’s words to man and through man, rather than simply man’s attempt at writing his own account unaided. The Bible is God’s Word to us today.

When the Sadducees attempted to catch Jesus out on a point of law he immediately turned to Scripture, saying, ‘You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.’ (Mt.22:29) How often have I spoken to people caught out on a cult question for no other reason than they don’t know the Scriptures? Christians themselves can end up believing the wackiest things because they don’t read their Bible. The Bible is our resource in witnessing, in understanding Gods purpose in creation and redemption.

We are also told that, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these 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 20:30-31)

Much more material, then, was available to the disciples who witnessed and knew much more than they have passed on. However, in the purposes of God, these things were written ‘that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ’. The purpose and end of Scripture is that we may believe aright, not simply that we get our account straight, but ‘that [we] may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing [we] may have life in him.’

The Bible is God’s Word to the lost, that they may believe and be saved, to the saved that we may grow in the things of God. Scripture is there to give us encouragement and hope (Romans 15:4). The events recounted there are for examples and warnings (1 Corinthians 10:11), that we may believe in Jesus and, in believing, know life through him. Peter writes:

‘His divine power has granted us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his glory and excellence.’ (2 Peter 1:3). The Bible tells us of him. Don’t wait until you’re loved ones are fretting around your hospital bed before you pick up the book. Pick up your Bible and read it; today, tomorrow, every day, and find sustenance for your life, assurance for your soul, and a hope of eternity in his comforting, encouraging Word.

Mormon Christians? Whats in a Name?

The Mormon Church, disturbed by the continuing identifying of polygamus sects in the news with the name Mormon, recently issued a press statement aimed at "clarifying" issues. It is interesting to note that if you substitute the name "Christian" where they use the name "Mormon" it makes a very good argument for us against the claims of the Mormon Church. The full press release is reproduced below in italics with each paragraph rewritten in ordinary text to present it from a Christian perspective. SALT LAKE CITY 10 July 2008 On 26 June, Newsroom published a package of information featuring profiles of ordinary Latter-day Saints in Texas. With no other intention but to define themselves, these members provided a tangible depiction of what their faith is all about. They serve as the best distinction between the lifestyles and values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Texas-based polygamous group that has recently attracted media attent...

The Times of the Gentiles - by Dawn Partington

Jehovah's Witnesses teach that “the times of the gentiles” is a time period of 2,520 years, beginning in 607BC and ending in AD1914. According to their doctrine, Jesus was enthroned as King in AD1914 when the “gentile times” ended. 1. Only one verse in scripture mentions “the times of the gentiles”: 'They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.' Luke 21:24 NIV. The Jehovah's Witness organisation has linked this one verse with other prophetic passages to calculate the supposed length of these “gentile times”, notably a time period which began hundreds of years before the incarnation and ended over 1900 years after it. 2. Simple examination of the text of Luke 21 reveals what Jesus was referring to when he used the phrase “the times of the gentiles”. Let's look at the passage together and distil this into four points which you may...

How Will Jehovah Forgive Us

The June 2022 Watchtower Article 24 titled “ Jehovah—The Greatest Forgiver ” attempts to paint a picture of Jehovah as a wise, just, and knowledgeable judge – which, of course He is. However, it also shows Him as a judge who has a number of requirements before He will forgive. The article quotes numerous Old Testament scriptures showing that Jehovah will forgive our transgressions and agrees that this forgiveness is made possible through Jesus dying for our sins, though it doesn’t mention the covenant this sacrifice generated. As Christians we would understand that Jesus’ sacrifice, the shedding of His blood, pays for our sins so that a just God can be merciful and forgive them; the price for those sins has already been paid (1 Cor 6 v 20, Heb 9 v 22). In contrast, the Watchtower article talks of there being other requirements for Jehovah’s forgiveness. It states that, before Jehovah will decide to offer forgiveness, “ He needs to be able to consider...

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