R. A. Torrey (1856- 1928) was converted to Christianity from Agnosticism. He gave ten reasons that summarize why he was convinced that the Bible was truly God’s word. These are the last six of the ten.
This book has always been hated. No sooner was it given to the world than it met the hatred of men, and they tried to stamp it out. If it were man’s book it would have been annihilated hundreds of years ago. But because there is in it “the hiding of God’s power,” still it has fulfilled wonderfully the words of Christ, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
As people grow better they are more likely to accept the Bible. As they grow worse they are more likely to reject it. We have all known those who were sinful and unbelieving, who by forsaking their sin lost their unbelief. But did you ever know someone who was sinful and believing, who by forsaking sin lost faith? The nearer people live to God, the more confident they are that the Bible is God’s Word; the farther they get away from Him, the more confident they are that it is not.
There is more power in that little Book to save, purify, gladden and beautify lives than in all other literature but together- more power to lift us up to God. A stream never rise higher than its source, and a book that has a power that no other book has to lift us up to God in a way that no other book has.
Nothing has been added to it in 1,800 years, but for generations many have dug into it and given to the world thousands of volumes devoted to its exposition. And they have not reached the bottom of the quarry yet. A book that man produces man can exhaust, but all men together have not been able to get to the bottom of this book. How are you going to account for it? Only in this way- that in this Book are hidden the infinite and inexhaustible treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God.
Thoughtful people when they start out to study the Bible find many things with which they do not agree, but as they go on studying and growing in likeness to God, the nearer they get to God the nearer they get to the Bible. The nearer and nearer we get to God’s standpoint the less and less becomes the disagreement between the Bible and us. When we get where God is, the Bible and we will meet. In other words, the Bible was written from God’s standpoint.
The Holy Spirit sets on the believer’s soul His seal to the divine authority of the Bible. It is possible to get to a place where we need no argument to prove that the Bible is God’s Word. Christ says, “My sheep hear my voice” (John 10:27). I know that the voice that speaks to me from the pages of that Book is the voice o my Father. Everyone can have that testimony. John 7:17 tells us how: “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God” Surrender your will to the will of God, no matter where it carries you. When you read this Book you will recognize that the voice that speaks to you from it is the voice of the God to whom you have surrendered your will.
Reference: Adapted from “Ten Reasons Why I Believe the Bible is God’s Word.” By R. A. Torrey 1898
THE NEARER AND NEARER WE GET TO GOD’S STANDPOINT THE LESS AND LESS BECOMES THE DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BIBLE AND US.