Provides the truth of humankind’s predicament and God’s plan of salvation!

• According to Biblical Scholar F.F. Bruce: "For the Christian gospel is not primarily a code of ethics or a metaphysical system; it is first and foremost good news, and as such it was proclaimed by its earliest preachers…And this good news is intimately bound up with the historical order, for it tells how for the world's redemption God entered into history, the eternal came into time, the kingdom of heaven invaded the realm of earth, in the great events of the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.”1 (emphasis added)

• This good news is called the Gospel. Jesus referred to the Gospel in more than one account. In the example below, He rebuked the disciples for their initial unbelief upon hearing about His Resurrection (an embarrassing detail supporting the truth of this account) and told them to preach the Gospel to everyone.

  • Later, He appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw Him after He had been resurrected. Then He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. (Mark 16:14-15 CSB emphasis added)

Provides insight into God’s character and how we should live our lives.

• In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells one of His disciples that anyone who has seen Him has seen the Father. So by reading about Jesus’ ministry, we have a better understanding of who God is.

  • "Lord," said Philip, "show us the Father, and that's enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (John 14:8-9 CSB emphasis added)

• In Colossians, Paul refers to Jesus as the image of God (note: firstborn is referenced as a rightful inheritance, not He had a beginning to His existence).

  • He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation; (Colossians 1:15 CSB emphasis added)

• According to Christian teacher and author, John Walvoord:

  • “The Bible was intended to communicate truth about God and the universe, to record historical facts, to reveal ethical principles, to provide wisdom for human judgments, to reveal moral and material values, and to provide prediction for future events.”2 (bold added)

• In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he describes how we should live:

  • I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh...But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:16, 22-23 CSB)

Provides evidence for Christianity being the truth (e.g. Jesus’ resurrection).

• According to the Gospel of John, it is clear that part of the reason the Bible is written is so that people may believe that Jesus is the Son of God and our hope for salvation.

  • Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30-31 CSB emphasis added)