New Life Christian Church International

Questions are welcome. Truth can stand up to honest examination.

At New Life Christian Church International, we believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the foundation for Christian faith and life. But we also understand that many people have sincere questions.

Can we trust a book written thousands of years ago? Has the Bible changed over time? Is there historical evidence behind what it teaches? And what difference does the Bible make in our lives today?

These are important questions. We invite you to explore them with us.

Why We Believe the Bible

The Bible is more than one book. It is a collection of writings produced over many centuries by different human authors, yet it presents a remarkable and connected story: God created us, humanity became separated from Him through sin, and God provided redemption through Jesus Christ.

Jesus is at the center of that story.

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
John 5:39 (KJV)

At New Life, our confidence in Scripture is rooted first in our faith in God, but Christian faith does not require us to be afraid of history, evidence, or difficult questions.

Can We Trust the Biblical Text?

One reasonable question is whether the Bible we read today accurately represents the writings passed down through history.

The Bible has been preserved through a large body of ancient manuscript evidence. Scholars compare surviving manuscripts, translations, quotations, and other historical sources to study how the text was transmitted.

There are differences among ancient manuscripts, as we would expect from texts copied by hand over many centuries. Biblical scholarship examines those differences rather than pretending they do not exist.

For us, the important point is that Christianity does not depend upon a secret document available only to a few people. The biblical text has been examined, translated, challenged, studied, preached, and preserved across generations and cultures.

We encourage people to study it for themselves.

What About History and Archaeology?

Archaeology cannot prove every spiritual claim made in Scripture. Faith cannot be reduced to an archaeological excavation.But archaeology and historical research can help us understand the people, places, cultures, governments, languages, and events surrounding the biblical world.That distinction is important.Finding evidence that a biblical city existed does not scientifically prove a miracle occurred there. What it can do is help us determine whether Scripture describes recognizable historical settings rather than an imaginary world.For someone investigating Christianity, historical context is worth studying alongside the biblical text.

What About Prophecy?

One of the remarkable characteristics of Scripture is the way the Old and New Testaments connect.Christians believe that the Old Testament points forward to God's plan of redemption and that Jesus Christ fulfills that plan.For example, Isaiah wrote:

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities...” Isaiah 53:5 (KJV)

The New Testament presents the death and resurrection of Jesus as central to God's plan for salvation.We don't encourage anyone simply to accept a list of supposed predictions without examination. Read the passages in context. Compare Scripture with Scripture. Ask what the original passage meant and why Christians understand it in relation to Christ.Faith and careful study belong together.

What About Difficult Passages?

The Bible contains passages that are difficult to understand.Some describe war and judgment. Others address ancient cultural practices very different from our own. Some passages appear difficult to reconcile until we consider their language, historical setting, literary form, and surrounding context.Our approach at New Life is not to pretend difficult verses aren't there.We study them.A verse should not normally be isolated from the chapter around it. A chapter should be understood within the book in which it appears, and the individual book should be understood within the larger message of Scripture.That is one reason Christian education and Bible teaching are important parts of our ministry.

The Bible Is Meant to Change Us

Ultimately, the Bible was not given merely to provide information.Scripture confronts us with questions about God, sin, forgiveness, purpose, love, justice, eternity, and our relationship with Jesus Christ.James writes:

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only...” James 1:22 (KJV)

At New Life, we don't want people merely to know Bible verses. We want God's Word to shape how we live, how we treat people, how we respond to hardship, how we forgive, how we serve, and how we follow Christ.

Don't Take Our Word for It

If you're wondering whether the Bible is true, we encourage you to begin reading it yourself. A simple place to start is the Gospel of John. As you read, consider three questions:

What does this passage tell me about Jesus?
What does it tell me about myself?
If this is true, what should change in my life?

Pray honestly—even if you're uncertain: “God, if You are real, help me understand Your Word and show me the truth. ”Then keep reading.

Have Questions? Let's Talk.

You don't have to have everything figured out before coming to church. Whether you've followed Christ for years, haven't opened a Bible since childhood, belong to another faith tradition, or aren't sure what you believe, you are welcome to visit New Life and ask questions.

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