Not everyone believes the Bible is true. Actually, you would be surprised to know how many biblical scholars don't believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is taught that Jesus was a follower of John the Baptist who developed his own following after John's murder. To them, Jesus was simply a popular peasant healer who got himself killed by the Romans.
Since part of my research for these columns involves studying many different points of view, I do read scholars who scoff at the Bible as the invention of clever writers from ancient times. Many liberal scholars teach that Old Testament writers invented biblical characters such as King David and even went so far as to appropriate (steal) stories and myths from their pagan neighbors and give them new names and settings. I scratch my head and wonder why people would devote their entire lives to studying and criticizing something they considered a collection of forgeries, fakes and frauds? I'll leave the question for them to answer and move on to clarify one of the terms I often hear them use when referring to Christians.
Christians, especially the early disciples, are sometimes referred to as members of "The Jesus Cult." I find that term offensive especially in the light of the modern day definition of a cult. You'll remember that a cult is a group of people who have a devoted attachment to, or extravagant admiration for a person. Just this past week such a cult group was discovered in Jerusalem. It is a stretch, by perhaps by strict definition, we Christians might be called members of a "Jesus Cult" were it not for one detail. Christians believe that Jesus was God in the flesh. He wasn't just a man, He was more, or as the Nicean Creed, Constantinople (381 AD) states, "I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven. . . " This statement clearly sets Christians apart from cultists following a mere human leader. As the scriptures state, "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the son of God hath not life." 1John4:11-12.
In reality the attitude you bring to the study of the Bible will determine the blessing it is able to return to you. If one believes the Bible only to be a collection of forgeries, fakes, and frauds, then it seems to me that what follows is a life without meaning, or as William Shakespeare had a character say, "Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." From Macbeth "Hang Out Our Banners On the Outward Wall."
On the other hand, those who believe the Bible is the Word of God and live by its teachings have a wonderful advantage. They have access to a collective wisdom that spans the ages---the validity of which is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Summary (Presbyterian Source)
We believe in the true deity and full humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father and in His personal return in power and glory.

The Nicene Creed (Lutheran Source)
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and
invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father, through whom all things were made: who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man: who for us, too, was crucifed under Pontius Pilate, suffered, and was buried: the third day he rose according to the Scriptures, ascended into heaven, and is seated on the right hand of the Father: he shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe one holy, Christian, and apolstolic church.
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Amen.

The Apostle's Creed (Lutheran)
I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried: he descended into hell, the third day he rose from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and is seated on the right hand of God, the Father almighty, whence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Marvin Hunt
1999

Blessings in your study of God's Word!

Marvin Hunt

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