What do you think of this testimony by someone who use to be a skeptic regarding the Bible?

Question

To the best of my memory, before I came to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, I did not believe the Bible was true. I doubted whether God, Satan, heaven, or hell even existed. I believed that we were born, lived so many years, and then died. I had my own business and thought that I had succeeded by my own wits.
One evening, my wife and I heard some documentation that these were the last days before Jesus Christ would actually return. Not wanting to hear it, I almost walked out. Something kept me there, and I listened but was not convinced; however, I decided to do some research to find out if the Bible was really true. Indeed, if I could find one contradiction or anything that was not true, then I could disregard it. I believed this would not take long. This led me into much research. I learned nearly one-third of the Bible is directly or indirectly related to prophecy which includes about 10,000 prophecies. One thing needed, was to determine when the Bible was actually written. Thus, a study of biblical history, various translations, and archaeology was necessary. The Dead Sea Scrolls, which were found in Israel, contained parts of the Old Testament including prophecies of the coming of Jesus. It has been proven that these were written before Christ came. Thousands of clay tablets and archaeological sites also confirm many accounts in the Bible.
I took time off and began studying the prophecies. My wife would spend much time at the library. She obtained documentation for me from reference books which I would check against the Scriptures to see if the prophecies took place. One week went by and then a month. Every prophecy that we were able to get information on proved to be accurate. I was astonished, but still not convinced. Later, there were people who would show me what appeared to be contradictions in the Bible. These were not contradictions, but only a lack of research on the part of those that said these things. Stubborn, that's me. Even after four months of intensive study, proving prophecy after prophecy was true, I was still skeptical. Four months turned into six. I became more determined. It wasn't possible that the sixty-six books of the Bible written by many people over hundreds of years would not have some errors, I thought. Thousands of prophecies, and every one perfect? No, impossible! If I would admit that, then I would also have to admit there was a God. I was not prepared to do that—yet, I wanted to know the truth. More months passed. Finally, I had to admit after spending almost countless hours of research—I was wrong. I may have been the biggest skeptic in the world, but now I know—the Bible is true and is the perfect Word of God. Anyone willing to take the time I did and do the same research could only come to the same conclusion, if they are honest with themselves. I became afraid that I would perish. I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God as a result of His love, compassion, mercy and grace.
I know that there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we MUST be saved (EXCEPT JESUS)-ref Acts 4:12. I REPENTED of my sins and received Jesus Christ as my only hope of salvation by FAITH-ref Eph 2:8-10. It is written, EXCEPT YE BE CONVERTED, AND BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, YE SHALL NOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN-Mt 18:3. You can also call on Jesus NOW to be YOUR Lord and Savior.

judith - Okay, how do you explain fulfilled prophecy in the Bible. Not just one, but MANY!

Edsawyer - Ancient manuscripts confirming our modern translations are contrived? Manuscripts which confirm the reality of fulfilled prophecy? Sounds like you just do not want to accept the facts to me.

By the way, fulfilled prophecy is a proof of devine inspiration.

Landon - This debate is endless . You know that. You do not believe, thats all.
At the end of the day, what you choose to believe is only based on human reasoning and its very limited knowledge and understanding of things. Jesus is saying, have faith in the things of God.

davidgolds - It was written by Godly people. Enough said.

Kithy - You said there are others who are like Jesus. I'm sorry but your wrong. There are many reasons why, here is one. Name just one other who has had a best selling book of all time written about him. A book read by more people than any. All you can do is attack the Bible, but you can not change the facts. Instead of focusing on negatives, what about all the positive affects, the Bible has had? A return to faith in the Bible is the only thing that can save this nation. You can't see that? There are enemys who will not be stopped. Its only as our nation is right with God, that it will endure. The same is true for each of us.
Psalms 9:17
"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."

It does not necessarily mean they will go there, but rather they will have hell on earth.

Answer 1

I read it, and appreciated it. Thanks for posting it.

Answer 2

I don't think much about it. It's really no different than when a devout Christian turns Atheist (the attitudes are just different). As for prophecy... there were prophecies about Alexander the Great before he was born... and many of those were fulfilled by him. He was also thought to be the child of a virgin woman and "God" sent to free his people from oppression. The story is not unique. There are many like it, with historical figures as the main character. But just because someone says "this is absolutely true" doesn't make it so.

Answer 3

Well I read all that but I have one question: what prophecies do you speak of? Do you mean you searched for Old Testament prophecies and found that they came true in the New Testament? If so, that argument is a load of garbage. Or are you saying you found prophecies that came true during your lifetime? I'd like to see your notes, even though I know you're arguing what many other people have argued. I will debate you on this issue if you want to and I will explain to you why the argument isn't a good one.

Answer 4

God is about faith not about objective truth found in a book written by man. You must look into your own heart to find God because he is there for you are a part of him and all things are one. We are one but also individual. That is the mystery. If you look in your heart you will find that God is love mercy and forgiveness. You will also find that evil is nothing more than the absence of God. A turning away. When you turn away from what you know to be true it hurts. That is the pain of evil. Good luck on your journey friend.

Answer 5

The thoughts as you call them have historical origins , the flood and creation descriptions are particularly such as the Sumerians myths . The exciting certainty concerning to the Sumerian myths is thatbrhesecare of two varieties , one that did no longer substitute over the years or the region the place got here upon , the comparable tale recent in distinctive city state became into precisely comparable notwithstanding the city states have been dominant in distinctive time frames . different myths substitute with time and city state , those have been changed via each city state . the factor being that some have been historical and think of approximately holy. those myths that wer seen holy have been additionally recent in different cultures and religions. The flood fantasy is uncomplicated to many historical ideals . those we possibly decription of human life almost while the ice age became into ending some 10000 years or so in the past. it is approximately while guy a hieved know-how . Kant believes that the moral teachings are a factor of the human suggestions and in that experience those are holy. each human suggestions comes preprogrammed with the moral code and in straightforward terms in infants who're abused or unloved does this code substitute into distorted . looks that the code and the define is holy in essense , the message those thoughts positioned across are holy.

Answer 6

Did it occur to you that since the prophecies in the old testament were so well known, that the writers of the new testament used them to make it seem that Jesus was the messiah and that in reality they did not come true but were added after the fact. None of the New Testament was written while Jesus was alive, in fact the evidence is that parts were written as much as100 years after his death.

Answer 7

I have to say this testimony is awsome! You sound like me, I wanted to believe, but my mind just isn't made that way, blind faith was never my strong point. (I have my testimony here http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-vjY3h0I.eKNFofnHhollC6A8?p=5 )
But the fact still remains, Revelations prophecy is here, no doubt, anyone who takes the time to do a little checking online about it instead of looking for the price of an iPod can see it. I just wish others would realize we aren't trying to recruit them, just giving them a warning, it's only fair. If someone I didn't know was about to be hit by a bus, I'd warn them. :)

Like you, recently I found myself walking into a church which is SO unlike me, I wouldn't go to a funeral or wedding if it was at a church. Anyway, I loved your tesimony and yep, some of us get it and some will forever argue with you because satan lost you and will fight to get you back.
:)

Answer 8

It's contrived. I don't believe it. The contradictions are many and someone who can fail to see them must not have ever been a 'sceptic' in any meaning of the word.

(edit: I didn't say the prophecies were contrived, I said the story of someone who was truly 'sceptical' being convinced by those prophecies is contrived.)

Answer 9

I thought this was awsome and to those people who do not want to hear the word of God and don't want to be preached to should have not kept on reading. Many times the holy spirit is working within us and we choose to rebel and turn away which hardens our hearts and we become numb to things of this world. so I give you props for this message

Answer 10

Thank you - it's wonderful to hear about stories of how people found Jesus and converted. It's always beautiful to read. Praise Jesus!

Thank you and God Bless!

Answer 11

dude, y the freak did u write that all. r u trying to turn somebody to God on the internet. i love God as much as the next person but i dont think this is the place to be witnessing. good luck though]
d