The Divine Origin of the Bible

The tenth proof of the divine origin and authority of the Bible is the direct testimony of the Holy Spirit. What we mean by that is this: One can put himself into such an attitude toward God and His truth that the Holy Spirit will bear direct testimony to him that the voice that speaks to him from the Bible is the voice of God. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice.” John 10:27. This is true. A real sheep of Christ has a power of discernment whereby he can distinguish the voice of Christ and the voice of God from other voices. Jesus said again, “He who is of God hears God’s words.” John 8:47. This also is true. The one born of God has an ear for the voice of God, and can tell it when it speaks, and he knows that the voice that speaks to him from the Bible is the voice of his Father.

Anyone can get into that position where he obtains this power of spiritual discernment, or rather where the Holy Spirit testifies to him that the voice that speaks to him from the Bible is the voice of God. The way into this position is very simple, and one that commends itself to every honest man’s conscience. Jesus points it out in John 7:17: “If any man wills to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it be of God,” etc. Absolute surrender to the will of God is the path that leads into the place where one knows that the voice that speaks to him from the Bible is the voice of God. Many have taken this path, and all have come out at the same place, the place where they know the Bible is the Word of God. It has been the path out of scepticism to faith for countless men and women of all classes of society. I was once speaking with a well-read and highly experienced man. He had been through Unitarianism, Theosophy, Spiritualism, and much besides, and was now a thoroughgoing agnostic (someone who believes it is impossible to know the origin of all things). He was a graduate of a British university. He had been present at a lecture upon “How to Deal with Sceptics and Freethinkers,” in which I offered to lead any honest sceptic, freethinker, or agnostic into the light of faith in the Bible as the Word of God and Jesus as the Son of God. At the close of the lecture, he came to me and said: “I do not wish to be discourteous, sir, but really my experience contradicts everything you have said today.”

I replied, “Have you taken the steps that I have mentioned, and do you still remain a sceptic?” “Yes.” “Let us be sure of this,” I said, and called out my secretary and dictated something like this: “I believe there is an absolute difference between right and wrong, and I hereby take my stand upon the right, to follow it wherever it carries me. I promise to make an honest search to find if Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and if I find that He is, I promise to accept Him as my Saviour and confess Him as such before the world.” When this was written out, I handed it to the gentleman and asked him if he would sign it. He read it carefully and said that he was perfectly willing to sign it, but that there was “no point in it,” as his situation was “very unique.” He signed it, however. I then said, “Do you know that there is no God?” “No,” he answered, “no man knows that there is no God.

I am an agnostic, I neither affirm nor deny.” “Do you know God does not answer prayer?” “No. I don’t know that God does not answer prayer, but I do not believe He does.” “Well, I know that He does,” I replied, “but my knowledge will do you no good. But here is a possible clue. Now, you are a university graduate, and you know the modern scientific method is to follow any possible clue to discover where it will lead. Will you adopt this scientific method on the matter of religion? Will you follow this clue to its conclusion? Will you pray this prayer, ‘O God, if there is any God, show me if Jesus Christ is Your Son; and if you show me that He is, I promise to accept Him as my Saviour and confess Him as such before the world?’” “Yes,” he said, “I will do that, but there is no point in it as, my situation is very unique.”

“Now, one thing more: John tells us in his gospel, ‘These things are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, you may have life in His name.’ (John 20:31) Now, you have promised to make an honest search to find if Jesus Christ is the Son of God. This book was written for the very purpose of convincing men of this. Will you take it and read it thoughtfully and honestly, only a few verses at a time, meditating upon what you read, and asking God each time you read to give you light, and promising Him to follow as much light as He gives you? Don’t try to force belief but be willing to believe if it is true. Will you, do it?” “I have read that book again and again already,” he replied. “Yes, but I am asking you to read it in a new way. If you are an honest sceptic, you will. Will you?” “Yes, but there is no point; my situation is very unique.”

A short time later, we met again. Almost his first words were, “There is something to what you said.” “I thought you would see it,” I replied. “Ever since I did what I promised you I would do, it was as if I had been caught up by the Niagara river and was being carried along, and before I know it, I will be shouting hallelujah all the time.” He replied.

A few months later I met him again. His agnosticism had all gone, and things to which he had formerly listened he said, “are all foolishness to me now.”

Anyone can test the efficacy of this method by trying it for themselves. It never fails.

One evening I was speaking with another gentleman, who was a professed agnostic.

Suddenly he turned to me and said: “I am sixty-six years old. I can’t live long, and I have no children to leave my property to, and I can’t take it with me. I would give every penny of it if I could believe as you do.” “I can tell you how,” I answered. “I wish you would.” “Let us go into the house.” We went in and I asked the gentleman’s wife for a sheet of paper and wrote out a pledge similar to that given above.

Then I handed it to the gentleman and asked him if he would sign it. He read it, and replied: “Why, any man ought to be willing to sign that. You only ask me to agree to do what my own conscience tells me I ought to do.” “Will you sign it?” “Why, anybody ought to be willing to sign that.” “Will YOU sign it?” “I will think about it.” He never signed it. He died as he had lived, without God and without hope. He told the truth about one thing; he did not take a penny of his money with him. He went to a Christless grave and a Christless eternity. But whose fault, was it? He had been shown a way out of darkness into light, out of scepticism into faith, which he admitted his own conscience told him he ought to take, and he would not take it. Will you?