When I was a child and attending Sand Beach Independent Bible Church, there was a running challenge to little kids like me. The glass-enclosed case in the lobby of the downstairs section had prizes for those who earned enough tickets. Each Sunday if you attended you would get a blue ticket (1 pt). If you brought your Bible you got a red ticket (2 pts). I also believe you got a red ticket for memorizing a verse.
And, oh, the prizes you could win! There was a little display full of trinkets and baubles.. but not the ones on the top shelf! Those were the Bibles.
And, buddy, I earned a Bible. Took me long enough, but I was able to "buy" a Bible for about 50 or so ticket points. Man, I loved that Bible. It was great to carefully write my name on the inside cover, and leaf through the maps and various passages.
The Bible still holds an awe to me today.
The Bible, as you know, has 66 books, with 39 in the Old Testament, and 29 in the New Testament. The OT, as some people call it, foreshadowed the coming of the Messiah, and gave prophecies and hints about it through the 39 books, like:
The Messiah would be born of a virgin Isa. 7:14
The Messiah would be rejected by men and be wounded for our sins Isa. 53 (the whole chapter)The Messiah would not only be the Everlasting Father, He would be the Prince of Peace Isa 9:6
The Messiah would be pierced in His hands and feet Psalms 22: 16
The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2
There are many many more but these beginning ones give you an idea of the supernatural nature of the Bible. These prophecies came true even though they were separated by hundreds of years. The Bible, all 66 books, are cohesive and make up one theme: Jesus making the way for us to be with God and be part of His family.
2 Timothy 3:16 says that "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." Paul meant that both the New and the Old Testament were - and are - inspired. The word "inspired" is literally "God-breathed." This implies that the Scriptures are from the mouth of God.
As I said, the OT had prophecies, right? And you see that 2 Peter 1:21 says "for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." Peter is saying that prophecy is not the product of human will, but by those moved by the Holy Spirit.
