DOES THE BIBLE HAVE THE ANSWER?
Quite often I am asked by Christians and non-Christians alike questions that seem to puzzle those who are asking the questions. Some times, I am as much puzzled by their questions as they are. Perhaps, not so much by the difficulty of the question, but the fact that they seem totally unaware of where to find the answer to their question. It did not take long, after I became a Christian, to learn that that the answers pertaining to “life and godliness” are found within the Bible, as can be seen from 2 Peter 1:3, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” With this principle in mind, let us turn to the Bible, and let it answer some questions for us.
Does the Bible have the answer concerning God’s attributes? When one begins to discuss the subject of God, so many questions can arise. Some quite difficult, while others not so difficult. The question of God’s attributes is one that sorely needs to be answered. The Bible tells us that God is “omnipotent,” meaning He possess power sufficient to do what is consistent with His will. Jesus spoke concerning this in Matthew 19:26 when He stated, “…With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Of course, when Jesus said this, He was saying that all things that are consistent with God’s will are possible with Him. Those things that are not possible, would be such things as would be contrary to His nature and will. For example, God cannot lie (Hebrews 6:19). God may limit His ability to do certain things. For example, if you ask, “Can God destroy the world again by water?”, the answer would be a qualified one. Yes, He possesses the power to do so but, no, He will not do so, since He limited Himself in this area, “And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Genesis 9:11).
The Bible states that God is “omnipresent,” referring to God’s ability to be everywhere Deity could be at the same time. Consider Psalms 139:7-11 and Jeremiah 23:23, 24. Since God is “spirit,” (John 4:24), He is not limited by time and space as man is. Thus, the ability to be both present here and there at the same time.
The Bible provides answer to questions concerning God’s “omniscience.” Omniscience references God’s ability to know the knowable, “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.” (Acts 15:18); “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” (1 John 3:20). It is possible for Deity to have a limited knowledge, limited by “Himself.” We would recognize the fact that both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are Deity. Yet, neither knew the time of the second coming of Christ, as seen by the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” The New English Standard Version translates this passage thusly, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”, which is a better translation.
Does the Bible have the answer concerning Satan? When one begins to discuss the subject of Satan, they find themselves facing a variety of questions. The Bible emphasizes that Satan is the “author” of man’s fall, as seen in Genesis 3:13, 14, “And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:”
The Bible, in 2 Corinthians 4:4, sets forth the fact that Satan is the “god” of the worldly mined person, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
The Bible confirms that Satan was defeated by the death of Jesus, as seen in Hebrews 2:14, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;”
Does the Bible have the answer concerning sin? The Bible helps us to understand what sin is, as it declares that “all unrighteousness is sin.”, as seen in the words of John in 1 John 5:17. “Unrighteousness” is defined as that which is “wicked, evil, or unjust”. This would relate to acts performed by people such as ourselves. We are “unrighteous” when we conduct ourselves in such a way wherein we are performing wicked, evil, or unjust acts. John, further, assists us in our understanding of what sin is as seen in 1 John 3:4 where he wrote, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” God has given us His law, found within the pages of the New Testament today. When we “transgress” (break, overstep, go beyond the limits of the law) we sin. The Bible declares that sin is universal. Consider the words of the Apostle Paul to the church at Rome, as found in Romans 3:10; 3:23; and 5:12, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”; “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”; “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” There can be no doubt, with the passages in mind, that sin has touched the lives of every living person in one way or the other.
Does the Bible have the answer concerning Jesus? The Bible says that Jesus is the Son of God, as seen in Luke 1:35, “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” In this capacity, Jesus came to give His life for us so that we might be saved, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”, John 3:16, 17; “ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”, Romans 5:8, 9. The Bible says that Jesus is the way to the Father. Many religious people suggest there are various ways to the Father, wherein is salvation. However, the Bible speaks clearly on this matter in John 14:6 and Acts 4:12, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”; “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Does the Bible have the answer concerning salvation? The question of what must one do in order to be saved is of utmost importance. It was a form of that question that was asked following the first sermon preached after the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Note Acts 2:37, “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” From that point forward, men have asked “what must be done to be saved?” The Bible reveals that salvation is deliverance from sin. Note the words of John in 1 John 3:6, “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” The Bible shows that salvation is not brought about by meritorious works, as seen in 2 Timothy 1:9, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” Let us add, though, that this does not exclude us from working in the kingdom, but that these works cannot save us apart from Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:18). Neither does it exclude of from works of obedience. The Bible points out that salvation is brought about by our obedience to the commands set forth by God as seen in Hebrews 5:9 and Matthew 7:21; “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”; “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” As man is groping in spiritual darkness, the answer to salvation is found within the confines of God’s word.
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