Truth Simply Explained

An Introduction to The Holy Bible

This is a simple introduction to the Holy Bible, especially for those unfamiliar with it.

The Holy Bible is God’s Word to mankind. It consists of a collection of 66 books written by over 40 authors.

What is called the Old Testament has 39 books, beginning with the creation of the world in Genesis. It covers the history of the world through the nation of Israel, up to 400 years before Christ. It contains the giving of the Ten Commandments and many prophecies of events fulfilled in the New Testament. The most notable being the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The 27 books of the New Testament begin with four Gospels containing eyewitness accounts of the birth, life, sacrificial death, resurrection and ascension into heaven of Jesus Christ.

The other 23 books tell of the formation of the early church, with inspired letters by the Apostles, Peter, John and Paul to the churches making up the greater part. These letters Instruct, comfort, encourage and reprove them. They reveal God’s will for his people.

Our Lord said he would come again with great glory at the end of the world. The New Testament tells of this event.

We trust the Holy Bible as being the only Word of God to mankind, unique among books, and of supreme authority because:

It is a reliable collection of historical records.
These documents were written by eye witnesses and during the lifetime of other witnesses, who could question or verify their accuracy.
It records supernatural events that fulfilled specific prophecies. For instance the Lord’s crucifixion was foretold by King David in Psalm 22 in exact detail 1000 years before it actually took place, his rising from the dead in Psalm 16.
The authors actually claim that the text is of divine, not human origin.
No man can claim to have a higher authority than God, and God tells us that the Bible is his Word.
Of the majesty and consistency throughout, although written over a period of about 1600 years.
It explains not only the amazing world we live in, but a reason for the presence of death and suffering.

The Holy Bible is the Word of God

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. (Luke 4:4) The phrase “saith the LORD” appears more than 500 times in the Bible.

Why it is so important to have and to read the Holy Bible.

In it God reveals the truth about us – our danger. All have sinned (broken God’s law) and are under condemnation. We must all stand before God’s judgement throne after death. In it God reveals his Son Jesus Christ. That he came into the world to die for the sins of his people. – to suffer in their place. God will save all who believe in Him, trust in him and repent, turning from their own evil ways and following and obeying him.

The most important thing is to be saved

Your Bible will do you no good sitting on a shelf.
Read it and pray to God that he will save you.
Attend a good church where the Bible is read, and Jesus Christ is preached as the only way to be saved.

Bible translations

The original languages of the Bible were Hebrew and Greek. We believe that although there are now many “versions” of the English Bible, the most accurate translation is the Authorised (King James) version, translated in 1611 and greatly blessed over the years.

What the Holy Bible says of itself

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

1Thessalonians 2:13

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

2 Peter 1:20-21)

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The Gospel Simply Explained

From the Word of God, The Holy Bible

This is a simple summary of how God brings men and women from being his enemy to his friend, from spiritual death and eternal condemnation to spiritual life and eternal happiness. These truths are from the Holy Bible – God’s word to mankind.

The condemnation we are all under from when we were born

We have all sinned and rebelled against God. Gone our own way. In Adam’s sin the whole human race was corrupted and is under the sentence of death.
Under that sentence we are born spiritually dead and enemies to God. We live a life separate from God and his way. We cannot by our “good” works earn God’s favour.
We must one day die and after death stand before God and his judgement throne. Then, as guilty, be banished to an eternity in hell; banished from God without hope and in eternal fire.

But God has made a way that his people are reconciled and brought back to him. A way that he can have mercy and yet justice is done.

The way is through the death and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

The Gospel – What Jesus did on earth

God sent his eternal Son to be made like those who had sinned. God became man - Emmanuel, God with us. Jesus Christ.
In his sinless body and soul he lived a perfect life that was to be imputed to a believer. So that in God’s sight, it is as if the believer had lived a perfect life instead of their own sinful life.
Then his heavenly Father laid the sins of his people on him in the garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus then laid down his life a sacrifice to put away their sins. The wrath of God fell on him instead of his people.
After three days He rose again showing the sacrifice was accepted.
He showed himself to many witnesses, and commanded them to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone. – Saying that there is repentance (turning from sin to God) and forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ.
He promised he would be with them by his Spirit and grace unto the end of the world, when he would return with power and great glory to judge the world and all who ever lived.
After forty days he ascended into heaven.

The Gospel – God’s message to you and me

Ten days after He ascended into heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to bless the preaching of the good news of the Gospel to sinners.
The message is best summed up in the exact words of our Lord as recorded in the Gospel according to John, chapter 3 verses 16 to 20. They are on the back of this leaflet.
Many do not want to hear the message and ridicule it and the reality of any of these things.
We hope that you who are reading this will take this message seriously.

If you are concerned and feel that what God says about you being a sinner is true

Know that you cannot be saved by our own good works. You can only be saved by believing in Jesus Christ and trusting alone in what he has done.
Read the Holy Bible – We suggest you begin at the Gospel According to John – Ask God in prayer to bless the word to you.
In God’s time and way he will bless you with faith to repent and believe that Jesus has put away your sins, and give you love to God, peace and quietness and a hope of heaven.
Attend a Church where God’s word is faithfully preached and explained.

The Words of our Lord Jesus Christ

John 3:16-20

(16) 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.

(17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

(18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

(19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

(20) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.