Vol. 12 No. 9 – May, 2015
Claims That Make the Bible Special
Phillip Owens
It is one thing to make a claim; it is a completely different matter to prove the claim.
When we consider all books in existence, very few make claims that they are inspired or from God. That being the case, the Bible is therefore removed from the category of “just another book.” It is special just because of its claims.
Of course, a claim does not prove anything; it simply states something as true. When one makes a claim to something, logically it is either true or false. If the claim is true, there will be evidences indicating such. If false, such will likewise be the case.
Much is at stake because of what the Bible claims. After all, if it is what it claims to be, God’s word, then all it says on every matter must be extremely important!
1. Jesus is the only way to God and heaven eternally. Jesus made this claim, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Especially in the gospel of John, Jesus’ unique relation to the Father is emphasized (see John 3:16 – He gave “his only begotten son”). By unique, we do not mean unusual, but one and only one of a kind. Jesus claimed that no one had the kind of relation that He had with the Father (see John 5:17-18 and also Matthew 11:27). He claimed throughout His ministry to have been “sent from” God (John 10:36 and others). He claimed that His purpose was to give his life a ransom for sin (Matt. 20:28). In minute details He predicted His own death (Matt. 16:21), as well as His own resurrection (Matt. 12:40). Evidence given in the Scripture is that by the miracles He performed such as raising Lazarus from the dead, His claims to being able to raise us from the dead and give us eternal life were proved true (see John 11:24-25).
God’s power required in raising Jesus’ body from the dead accomplished at least two things. First, it substantiated Jesus’ claims concerning His being raised from the dead as true. Second, it verified the unique relation He had claimed with the Father. God the Father performed a miracle on the very body of Jesus raising it from the dead. This then became an external proof of all Jesus had earlier claimed and was the “miracle of miracles” that God used to declare Jesus’ deity (see Romans 1:1-4).
Jesus’ claims constitute a type of “package deal.” If He is who He claimed to be, then everything about which He spoke is true. If He is not who He claimed to be, no one could logically have confidence in anything He said about any subject! This “package deal” logically makes it impossible for one to be neutral about Jesus Christ as the only way to God and heaven for this reason: If Jesus were not who He claimed to be, then He was a fraud, liar, and was not only not God’s Son, but His words were not worthy of any consideration whatsoever. Why would anyone consider carefully the words of a total liar? Further, it is logically foolish to believe “some” of what Jesus said, use it as a valuable guide to life, but reject other matters. Therefore, Jesus’ claims make Him and the Bible special.
2. Claims of eternal punishment or happiness based on one’s rejection or acceptance of the Bible are made. Few books in comparison make this claim. Some that have made such claims are already on the ash heap of history, proved beyond doubt as fraudulent. However, in no uncertain terms, the New Testament claims to be the standard by which all people will be judged who have lived from the time the gospel was first preached and on. Jesus said, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive my words, has that which judges him – the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). Paul claimed that judgment would be administered by Jesus Christ (Acts 17:30-31), that the standard by which all people will be judged is the gospel He preached (Rom. 2:16), and that eternal life and joy with God or eternal pain and suffering in hell are the only two destinies in which all humanity will one day dwell (Rom. 2:1-16).
These are tremendously awesome claims. If true, we should read and study carefully all the Bible says since we will have our “final exam” one day which will fix our destiny for all eternity. On the other hand, if these claims are based on falsehoods, that Jesus is not God’s Son, that Paul was really not speaking God’s word, then logically none of it is important and no one should be concerned. It would also mean that all the existence mankind will experience is this life. At death, one ceases to exist. Do you understand why these claims make the Bible special?
3. The Bible claims that it is an all-sufficient guide for all people until the end of time. This is implied in the preceding point. If the Bible claims that the gospel is that by which we will be judged (Rom. 2:16), and that it is to continue until the end of time (I Peter 1:24-25), then that necessary implies its usefulness as a guide for life.
Furthermore, it specifically claims the same for itself in no uncertain terms. Concerning the Scripture itself, Paul claimed that it is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:16-17). This is a claim that all we need to know about God as well as ourselves spiritually, all we need to know concerning our mistakes, how to make them right, and how to live “right” lives is found in the Scripture itself. By this the “man of God” can be “complete,” or all-sufficiently provided for to make him equipped for every good work. What a claim! If true, we need to follow it. If not true, such a false claim makes the whole unworthy of any consideration.
Claims the Bible makes are tremendous. Because of this alone it is special. However, because of evidences that prove it is what it claims to be, these facts become foundations for our faith in Jesus Christ as our savior, king, and judge in the final day. Consequently, we should humble ourselves before Him as we learn of Him through the Scripture, and submit to His every precept.