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In its “newest” section (the New Testament), the Bible is nearly 2,000 years old. Certainly, a lot has changed in our world in that time! Many books that have been written over this period that have lost relevancy. As a result, many people today have claimed that the Bible is also no longer relevant and applicable to our lives. Yet, is the Bible outdated?
1) The Bible is from the unchanging God. Both internal and external evidence proves beyond a doubt that the Bible really does contain God’s words (2 Timothy 3:16). This is significant to our question because God said that He has not changed (Malachi 3:6). James 1:17 says that God does not change like shifting shadows. And, Hebrews 13:8 says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Yet, in order for the Bible to be outdated and irrelevant to people today, God would have had to “evolve” in what He views as right and wrong. Therefore, God’s standard of what is right and wrong has not changed since the New Testament has been written!
2) The Bible is enduring and must not be changed. As God has spoken through the pages of the Bible, He has directly said that His words are designed to last! 1 Peter 1:23-25 teaches that God’s word is imperishable seed that is living and enduring. While everything else on earth is only relevant for a short time, the word of the Lord endures forever. Now, if God’s word is no longer relevant and would need to be revised, God has just lied! Instead, the truth is that God’s word is always relevant to our lives today – and for as long as life on this earth continues. In fact, any attempt to revise God’s word by either adding to what He says or taking away from what He says is entirely forbidden by God (Galatians 1:6-9; Revelation 22:18-19)!
3) The Bible tells us everything needed for spiritual life. The Bible needs no revision and never fails to be relevant because it teaches everything we need to know about pleasing God and spending eternity in Heaven. There simply is no other way to learn how to be saved besides what God has revealed in the Bible (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25). 2 Peter 1:3 says it is by God’s divine power He has given us everything required for life and godliness. Namely, God’s word in the Bible tells us everything we must believe, everything we need to know about what is sinful in our lives, everything we need to know about how to change what is sinful in our lives, and everything we need to know about living in the way that pleases God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God’s word is just as relevant to do these same things today as it has ever been. For, God has said the faith (the system of acceptable religious belief, teaching, and practice) was delivered to the saints once for all (Jude 1:3). It simply does not need any revision!
4) God’s word will judge us. Although people change their minds about many things and human laws are constantly evolving, we have seen that God’s word does not change! And, it is essential that you accept this truth because God’s word (as revealed in the New Testament) will be the criteria God will use to judge you on the Day Jesus Christ returns and eternity begins (John 12:48; Revelation 20:12)! Yes, the approximately 2,000 year old books containing God’s words in the New Testament will be the criteria by which God will judge whether you had lived to please Him or whether you rebelled against Him, with eternity in Heaven or Hell hanging in the balance!
God’s words contained in the pages of the Bible are not outdated! They are just as relevant for teaching us how God wants us to live today as they were when they were first written. Although people may not like many of the things God’s word teaches, His words remain true and will be the criteria used to judge our lives. We can either choose to accept them as truth today (while we can submit ourselves to their teaching) or when we stand before Jesus in Judgment (when it will be too late to change our lives). The choice is yours.