The Real God in a World of Counterfeits

“There exists today a widening consensus by many in our country that the Bible does not belong in the public square or in public education. Of course, this is nonsense. The Bible is the greatest Book ever written and the best textbook any serious student could ever encounter. This is not only a sentiment held by theologians throughout history but, also, it was the dominant opinion of our Founding Fathers. In the article below, Dr. Sam Thomas speaks to the Bible as the greatest textbook ever written in matters of theology.”

-Dr. Jason J. Nelson (Editor-in-Chief)

Today, we look at how and why the Bible is the best textbook on theology and how the Word reveals to us the One and Only true God.

Theology comes from two Greek words, theos (God) and logos (study, science, discipline); the word theology means the study of God. Religious texts and scriptures provide us with different descriptions of God.

Why do we say that the Bible is the best textbook on theology and the Revelation of God? 

When you compare the depiction of God in the Bible with the depictions and portrayals of gods and goddesses that are found in other religious texts and scriptures, you find that the God of the Bible is the most coherent, the most correct, and the most rational understanding of God. The following are eight reasons to underscore this point.

First, the God of the Bible is a holy God. The Bible is consistent and speaks with one voice on this theme throughout its length. God is sinless. He is pure. He is holy. In my mind, this is evidence that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. This is in contrast to the gods and goddesses who are involved in lying, murder, acts of jealousy, stealing, adultery, and so on.

Second, because the God of the Bible is holy, He exposes sin and punishes sin. He calls people to holiness. When the gods and goddesses are themselves sinful, they cannot and do not call people to holiness. When human beings give birth to gods in their imaginations, they create these gods in their own image and likeness. Hence, such gods resemble human sinfulness.

Third, the God of the Bible repeatedly asserts that there is only one God and that He alone is God. This is in contrast to the many gods and goddesses that are found in other scriptures and writings. The Bible asserts monotheism in contrast to the polytheism and other -isms of the other scriptures.

Fourth, the God of the Bible asserts His love for all humanity. He gave His only begotten Son so that anyone who believes in Him would have eternal life. No such love, demonstration of love, or even claim of such love is found in any of the other gods or goddesses.

Fifth, the God of the Bible demonstrates amazing grace to any and every sinner. Even the most wicked sinner can come to God and find mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Sinners can have no such hope in any of the other gods or goddesses.

Sixth, the God of the Bible makes accurate prophecies concerning the future. The idols, the gods, and the goddesses of the other religious texts cannot do the same. In the book of Isaiah, there are multiple passages where God challenges the gods to prove that they are gods by predicting the future. He was trying to prove to the Israelites that the idols they were serving were not gods at all.

Seventh, the God of the Bible has revealed Himself through historical events, and He is very much present in history, in contrast to the myths, legends, and non-historical nature of the other gods and goddesses.

Eighth, the God of the Bible invites you and me into a personal and intimate relationship with Him. None of the other gods and goddesses can do that.

This is why we say the Bible is the best textbook on theology and the Revelation of who God is in a world of counterfeits.