Shocked by the Bible, Changed by the Truth

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The Bible holds many shocking truths that few people have ever known or recognized. Fewer still are those who go beyond the shock of the Bible and allow themselves to be changed by the truth. Will you be one of them?

Jack had a good thing going while stationed in Hawaii in the U.S. Navy. Everything was under control. He sang on a live television entertainment show, played football on a local navy team, performed at dances with a musical ensemble and drove to the beach in his baby-blue convertible.

As the flight scheduler for all the Navy and Marine fliers on the island, his office commanded a spectacular view of the ocean. Hollywood could not have produced a more satisfying environment.

Life was good until the day his barracks supervisor, a gnarly and salty boatswain's mate, added to his cubicle room a sailor named Chuck. For the past year, Jack had treasured the peace and freedom of solitude, but that would soon end.

Chuck regularly listened to a particular radio preacher every evening. The preacher authoritatively painted frightening scenarios about biblical prophecy and the end of this age of man.

Jack asked Chuck to turn down the sound. A week later Jack asked Chuck to turn up the sound. His curiosity trumped his agitation.

Jack was shocked by what the preacher reported the Bible said, and he set himself to prove wrong both the preacher and Chuck. But digging into the Bible itself, much to his surprise he proved them right.

Up until that time, Jack (not his real name) had been in control of his life, or so he thought. But no longer. His days of peaceful serenity were over. Initially shocked by the Bible, he noticed his life beginning to change by the truth he was discovering.

Are we following truth or tradition?

The Bible shocks most people when they compare their long-held religious traditions to the truths of God revealed in Scripture. It never occurred to them that their beliefs didn't match up!

Caught in this quandary, most just don't know where to turn. Some try to resolve their problems by "giving their hearts to the Lord." But when things don't miraculously and immediately change for them, they often take their hearts back.

To most religious-minded people, the unvarnished facts of the Bible can indeed be shocking. One person who was shocked was Joe Kovacs, executive news editor of WorldNetDaily. An interview with him appears in this issue, see Shocked by the Bible. Kovacs has written a book titled Shocked by the Bible, in which he offers his readers some interesting Bible facts. For example, one cannot find in the Bible that Sunday is the biblical Sabbath, and one cannot find Christmas or Easter at all.

His book, one of the religious best sellers in recent years, directly—and sometimes humorously—contrasts popular religious beliefs with Bible facts. And yes, many of the things he documents are quite shocking!

Blessings and benefits from the truth

Are there any benefits to biblical shocks and surprises? Yes, because anytime you learn biblical truth and live by it, it will benefit you.

We see a positive case of biblical shock in the example of the people of the ancient city of Berea in northern Greece, whose attitude is held up as an example in Scripture.

The Gospel writer Luke wrote of how the apostle Paul and his companion Silas went into the synagogue in Berea and preached the gospel of Christ Jesus. Both Jews and Greeks there believed what Paul taught from Scripture. But they were also proactive and proved to themselves whether what they had heard was true.

Acts 17:11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
See All... tells us of the Bereans, "These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so" (New Revised Standard Version, emphasis added throughout).

Though they had never heard of these facts from the Bible (for them a set of scrolls), and though they were likely surprised by them, still they approached Paul's teaching and the scriptural facts he presented with a positive attitude. As a result, they received great benefits for proving true the facts of the Bible: They learned that Jesus Christ was indeed the prophesied Messiah, the Son of God, and that He taught God's truths leading to eternal life.

Paul, formerly known as Saul, experienced an even greater shock from Scripture. Though he knew well the Old Testament from his studies as a rabbinical student, he aggressively persecuted the early Church, traveling great distances to bring Christians back to Jerusalem, where they would be jailed or worse (Acts 8:3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
See All...; 9:1-2). He was even complicit in the execution of Stephen, a faithful deacon who was stoned to death (Acts 7:58And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
See All...; 8:1).

God shocked Paul by blinding him for three days. God then directed a Church member, Ananias, to lay his hands on Paul so he could receive his sight (Acts 9:3-17 [3] And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
[4] And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
[5] And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
[6] And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
[7] And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
[8] And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
[9] And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
[10] And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
[11] And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
[12] And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
[13] Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
[14] And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
[15] But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
[16] For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
[17] And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

See All...). "Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God" (verse 20).

From persecutor of the Church, Paul became a proclaimer of Jesus Christ. God shocked Paul and changed his life completely. More shocks followed: God selected Paul to be "a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel" (verse 15), which led to persecution and death.

Still, Paul enjoyed many great spiritual blessings and benefits, especially the sure conviction that ultimately He would live forever. As his life neared its end, he wrote: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8 [7] I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
[8] Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

See All...).

There are many tangible benefits to being shocked by the Bible, if one takes them to heart. Sadly, most do nothing even after they're shocked by Bible truths. As Winston Churchill famously said of our natural human tendencies, "Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened."

Jesus tells us: "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14 [13] Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
[14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

See All...).

Very few find Christ's narrow gate to eternal life because of spiritual blindness.

Blinded by a great deceiver

One shocking fact of the Bible is that most people are blinded to God's truth, including professing Christians (Matthew 13:10-15 [10] And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
[11] He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
[12] For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
[13] Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
[14] And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
[15] For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

See All...; John 12:37-40 [37] But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
[38] That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
[39] Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
[40] He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

See All...; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 [3] But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
[4] In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

See All...; 11:13-15).

Well-meaning people have been led to believe that God accepts their brand of Christianity as long as they are sincere about it. Sincerity is good, but salvation is built on God's Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24 [23] But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
[24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

See All...).

If sincerity alone identifies a true Christian, then God has failed miserably. The Bible says "the truth [singular] shall set you free" (John 8:32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
See All...)—not truths, plural. All of the different religious denominations, and there are hundreds if not thousands, think they have the truth—and yet their doctrines vary wildly and often diametrically contradict each other.

But Christ is not divided (1 Corinthians 1:13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
See All...). He has one body, one Spirit, one hope, one faith and one baptism, all given by one Lord, one God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:4-6 [4] There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
[5] One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
[6] One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

See All...). Jesus said He would build His Church—one singular body of believers, not many different and contradicting churches (Matthew 16:18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
See All...).

Why are there so many differing churches that claim to represent Jesus Christ? Because, as the apostle Paul warned, there is a "god of this age" who has subtly blinded well-meaning people from the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
See All...).

This lying being, Satan the devil, has deceived people into believing in "another Jesus" with a "different gospel" (2 Corinthians 11:4For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
See All...). And he slyly palms himself off as "an angel of light," with misguided ministers following him who may seem to be ministers of righteousness but are purveyors of falsehood (verses 13-15). If Christians refuse a counterfeit $100 dollar bill, why would they trust their eternal salvation to counterfeit religious traditions?

The Bible exposes this interloper who wants to be worshipped as the god of humankind. After Jesus' 40-day fast, Satan audaciously offered Him authority over all the kingdoms of the earth —but there was, of course, a catch: "And he [Satan] said to Him, 'All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me'" (Matthew 4:9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
See All...). Thankfully, Jesus refused to worship Satan. Sadly, however, a blinded, deceived humanity has made a different choice (1 John 5:19And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
See All...; Revelation 12:9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
See All...).

All make a choice

Most people, including professing Christians, are blinded to these shocking Bible facts. They don't know that much of what masquerades as Christianity is not of Christ, but is part of Satan's great deception of mankind.

Many major "Christian" beliefs and practices—such as Christmas, Easter and weekly Sunday worship—are not found in the Bible. They are parts of a different gospel, a counterfeit of Jesus' true gospel and the accompanying authentic biblical observances of Passover, Pentecost and God's other commanded festivals, as well as the weekly seventh-day Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11 [8] Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
[9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
[10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
[11] For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

See All...; Leviticus 23).

Well-meaning Bible readers are so blinded by man-made religious traditions that they cannot see Christ's true gospel.

Why are 2 billion professing Christians blinded by human religious traditions? The sad fact is that they are, at least in part, complicit in their own blindness. Jesus said: "For the heart of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them" (Matthew 13:15For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
See All...).

Did you catch what Jesus said? He said they have willingly closed their own eyes to the truth!

Jesus holds each of us responsible to act on the facts of Scripture once we hear them (Acts 17:30And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
See All...; James 4:17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
See All...). He also said that the world loves its own but hates those who love God and His truth (John 15:19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
See All...).

Where do you stand on this matter? Though the plain truths of the Bible can shock well-meaning people for a short time, usually the shock wears off, either because—to use Jesus' figurative language—the seed of truth fell by the wayside, or on stony places with no fertile soil to support spiritual roots, or among the thorns, meaning worldly distractions and entrenched bad habits or works of the flesh that choke out growth (Matthew 13:4-7 [4] And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
[5] Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
[6] And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
[7] And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

See All...; Galatians 5:19-21 [19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
[20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
[21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

See All...).

Encouragingly, Jesus reveals that a few in this age would respond favorably to God's good spiritual seeds, yielding good fruits or works. Some are able to produce a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold (Matthew 13:8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
See All...). God's good spiritual seeds are spread before you in this magazine in the hope that they will take root.

Most people find a religion they feel comfortable with. But to live the truth as Jesus did requires the conviction and courage to leave our comfort zones (Luke 14:26-27 [26] If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
[27] And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

See All...). It requires counting the cost of following God wherever that might lead (verses 28-32). It means, if necessary, giving up everything to devote one's life to following Christ (verse 33).

To follow Christ is to represent Him and God the Father as an ambassador of Their heavenly Kingdom, which is soon coming to this earth (2 Corinthians 5:20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
See All...; Luke 11:2And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
See All...).

Yes, religious traditions blind many well-meaning people. The Bible can indeed shock you and impact your life, but whether or not you will allow the truth to further change you is ultimately your decision.

Changed by the truth

Jack, whom we met at the beginning of this article, was shocked by the Bible—what it did and did not say. He spent hours every night striving to disprove what he was hearing so his friend Chuck could be set free from the bonds of what Chuck confidently called the truth.

It took several months for Jack to discover what Chuck already knew. Unlike the Bereans, he tried earnestly to disprove what Chuck called the truth. Instead, Jack found himself being changed by the Bible teachings he thought were bogus.

Although Jack was shocked at what Chuck showed him from the Bible, it took Jack's unconditional surrender to God, imperfect though it was, for him to be really changed by the truth.

What does it take to be changed by the truth, to understand the spiritual applications of God's laws? You can know Bible facts, but to allow those facts to change you requires something more. It requires spiritual discernment and understanding.

Such spiritual discernment and understanding come only through the gift of God's Holy Spirit. That is what makes one a true Christian (Romans 8:9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
See All...). But how does one receive the gift of God's Spirit? There are progressive steps a person must go through to become and remain a true Christian.

First, God the Father must call us. Jesus said, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
See All...). The Father's calling sets the stage for our salvation.

We must respond to God as we learn His truth, which means we change from our old ways that conflict with His new ways. The Bible calls this repentance (Acts 2:37-38 [37] Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
[38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

See All...).

We then exercise faith or belief in God beyond simply saying we are Christians or that we believe in Jesus. Believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior we must. But that means believing in Jesus' teachings, including His commands and rewards, and acting on them. As Christ Himself said, "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
See All...). It also means accepting His sacrifice for sins and receiving Him and the Father into your life completely.

We then ask for baptism from a minister of Christ who believes, teaches and practices the truths of the Bible. True Christian baptism is total immersion in water symbolizing the death and burial of the old sinful self and resurrection to a new life in Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-11 [3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
[5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
[6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
[7] For he that is dead is freed from sin.
[8] Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
[9] Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
[10] For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
[11] Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

See All...). God washes our sins away through Christ when we go through this symbolic act (Acts 22:16And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
See All...).

After the minister baptizes us, he then places his hands on our head, asking God to give us the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
See All...), which God does if repentance is sincere.

Through receiving the Holy Spirit, we are begotten as the Father's own children (2 Corinthians 6:18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
See All...). Having been raised from the symbolic watery grave of baptism to new life, we are now expected to live our life after the manner that Jesus lived His, as a new creation in Him (Galatians 2:20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
See All...; 2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
See All...).

We are now able to examine and evaluate our own life on a daily basis (1 Peter 4:17For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
See All...: 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 [31] For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
[32] But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

See All...), viewing ourselves in the mirror of God's law of liberty and Jesus' sinless and perfect life (James 1:21-25 [21] Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
[22] But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
[23] For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
[24] For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
[25] But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

See All...).

Finally we strive daily to become more and more spiritually mature or perfect (Matthew 5:48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
See All...), living by and applying God's law, which is spiritual and holy (Romans 7:12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
See All...). The apostle Paul said that we die daily (1 Corinthians 15:31I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our LORD, I die daily.
See All...), continuing to repent of our old habits and sins that crop back up at times, and are renewed daily, striving to follow Jesus' sinless example (2 Corinthians 4:16For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
See All...).

Perfected by the truth

God the Father wants us to become perfect or complete in Him (Matthew 5:43-48 [43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
[44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
[45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
[46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
[47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
[48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

See All...). He is perfecting us through Christ, His Holy Spirit and our willingness to actively strive to change our life with His help (Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 2:21-22 [21] In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
[22] In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

See All...; Galatians 2:20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
See All...).

God is merciful toward us, patient with us and loves us so much that He gave His only Son that we might have life (John 3:16-17 [16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
[17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

See All...). "What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?...In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:31-32 [31] What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
[32] He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

See All..., 37, NRSV).

To be changed by the truth, one must give up the world's way of living and actively live God's way of life. This is what Jack learned after he was challenged by the facts of Scripture that shocked him. He gave up his former way of life and allowed Christ to change him through the gift of the Holy Spirit. He went from being shocked by the Bible to being transformed by its truths.

Again, Jesus Christ clearly shows that we come to understand God and are changed by God's truth through the power of God's Spirit: "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24 [23] But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
[24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

See All...).

We hope that you will be one of those who are shocked by the Bible and then ultimately changed by God's truth!  GN