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My Answer: How do we know to trust the Bible?

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Q: I know you believe the Bible is God’s word, but can you prove it? I haven’t read the Bible much, but all it talks about are things that happened thousands of years ago, and that doesn’t seem very important to me.

— L.S.C.

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A: If the Bible were just like any other book of ancient history, then you’d be right. It wouldn’t hold much importance for us today. But it’s not just like any other book. Instead, the Bible tells us about God: who he is, what he has done for us, and most of all, how we can come to know him personally. Can you imagine anything more important?

From the first verse of Genesis to the last verse in Revelation, the central theme of the Bible is God. He made this world — and someday, the Bible says, he will do away with all the evil that spoils it and bring about a perfect world of peace and justice.

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As the Bible promises, “In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).

Why do I believe the Bible is God’s word? One reason is that’s what Jesus believed about it. Repeatedly he quoted from the Old Testament and said it was God’s word. And the New Testament is likewise God’s word, because it points us to the one who was the living word of God — Jesus Christ.

But I also believe the Bible is God’s word because its message has changed my life, and it can change yours as well. Begin reading one of the Gospels — I often suggest John — asking God to speak to you through its pages. I believe he will, and your life will never be the same.

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Q: How can I find out about your religion? My family and I came here from another country and we grew up with another religion, but inside I have many doubts and fears. I would ask some of the people I work with, but they don’t seem very religious. This disappoints me, because I thought this was a Christian nation.

— K.Z.

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A: It’s true that our nation has been deeply influenced by Christianity. Many of our original settlers came here so they could practice their faith freely, and many of our laws reflect our Judeo-Christian heritage.

But unlike some countries, people in the U.S. are free to practice any religion or no religion at all. Most people today would still claim to be Christians, but in reality many of them, like your fellow workers, don’t take it seriously. Unfortunately, when God or the Bible aren’t taken seriously, this leads inevitably to moral chaos, as we see all around us today.

I sense that in your heart you wonder if God is real, and I want to assure you that he is. More than that, God loves you and wants you to come to know him as your friend. The proof is that slightly more than 2,000 years ago, he came down from heaven in the person of Jesus Christ.

Do you want to know what God is like? Ask your local bookstore for a modern version of the Bible, and begin reading about Jesus in the section called the New Testament. I recommend starting with the Gospel of John.

In addition, you can find information at billygraham.org. Jesus’ promise is for you: “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).

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Send your queries to “My Answer,” c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn., 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201, or visit https://www.billygraham.org.

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