You will now understand that we have very good reason for trusting the Bible. We now invite you to read the Bible itself. There are several ways to set about this task. One way is to read attentively through the whole Bible. If you prefer this method, we suggest that you read through the New Testament first, for this will help you to understand the Old Testament better. Before you read, you could pray and ask God's guidance as follows:

“O God, please show me if this Book is Your Word, and help me to find and obey the truth!”

God answers prayer and will help you to discover the truth. A second method would be to study certain themes as we find them in the Bible. We will try to do that in the remainder of this course. So stay with us, read all the Bible verses given, and you will find that your understanding of God and his plan for this world will be greatly improved.

God Reveals Himself

All that we know about God was and is communicated by revelation. God reveals himself in different ways:

• By His works of creation (Romans 1:20, Psalm 19:1-4).
• In the conscience of man (Romans 2:14-15).
• In the course of history (Psalm 78:12-16).
• In the Holy Scripture, the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16).
• Through His living Word, Jesus (John 1:1-4, 9-14; Hebrews 1:1-2; Sura 4:171).

Be Willing to Obey

We understand very well that it is probably difficult for you, as a Muslim, to read the Bible without some prejudice. It is exactly the same when a non-Muslim starts reading the Qur'an. But first of all we should make sure that we truly wish to obey God and not to hold on to our human prejudices. Jesus ('Isa) once challenged the Jews in this way:

“If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own.”(John 7:17.)

I am sure that you and I both choose to do God's will. Let us then go prayerfully forward and see what He reveals to us.

God's Nature According to the Bible

If you are familiar with the “99 names of God”, most of the following may be familiar to you. The references are given, if you wish to look them up. Meditate on the meaning and message of each characteristic.

God is the Creator of everything : Genesis 1:1; Psalm 8; Acts 17:24-27; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-3.

God is almighty: Genesis 17:1; Exodus 6:3; Numbers 24:4; Psalm 91:1; Isaiah 13:6; Revelation 1:8; 4:8; 11:17.

God is holy: Isaiah 6:3; Leviticus 11:44; Joshua 24:19; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 15:4; 4:8.

God is all-knowing: 1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 139:1-4, 23-4; Jeremiah 17:10; Matthew 6:8, 18, 32; 10:30; John 1:48-49; 2:25; 6:64.

God is all-present: Psalm 139:5-12; Matthew 18:20; 28:20.

God is righteous and just: Genesis 6:5-7; Exodus 34:7; Deuteronomy 10:17-18; 32:4; Psalm 11:7; Romans 2:4-11; Hebrews 10:30; 1 Peter 1:17.

God is eternal: Genesis 21:33; Psalm 90:1-2; 102:27-28; Isaiah 40:28; 51:6.

God is Spirit: John 4:24; 2 Corinthians 3:17.

God is glorious: Numbers 14:21; Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 8:1; 104:1; Isaiah 6:1-3; 57:15; Matthew 16:27; John 1:14; 17:5; 1 Timothy 6:14-16; Revelation 4:11.

God is the Judge: Genesis 18:25; Psalm 7:11; John 5:22-27; Acts 10:42-43.

God is merciful: Exodus 34:6; Psalm 103:8-13; Micah 7:18; John 3:16-18; Titus 21-12.

God is unsearchable: Romans 11:33-34; 1 Corinthians 2:6-7; 1 Timothy 6:16.

God is perceptible: Romans 1:19-20; 2:14-15; Acts 14:17; 17:26-27.

God is invisible: Exodus 33:20-23; John 1:18; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; 6:16; 1 John 4:12, 20.

God is the Saviour: Psalm 106:21; Isaiah 44:6; 45:21; 63:7-10; Titus 2:11-14; Jude 25; John 3:16-18.

God is good: Psalm 118:1; 136; 1:17; 36:7-9; 63:3-4; 34:8; 31:19.

God is faithful: Deuteronomy 7:9; 32:4; Joshua 23:14-16; Titus 1:2; Psalm 117; 118:1-4; Exodus 34:6; 2 Timothy 2:13; 1 John 1:9.

God is patient: Numbers 14:18; Nehemiah 9:16-21; Psalm 103:8; Luke 13:6-9; Romans 9:22-23; 2 Peter 3:9.

God provides and preserves: Matthew 6:25-34; Deuteronomy 29:2-6; Exodus 16:13-15; Psalm 41:1-3; 67:6-7; 104:27-28; 145:15-21; 147:7-9.

God teaches and guides: Psalm 25:4-5; John 6:45; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Exodus 4:15; Job 36:22; Psalm 94:12; Luke 12:12; John 14:26.

God is the Helper: Hebrews 13:6; Psalm 33:20; 46:1-3; 124:8; Acts 26:19-23; Romans 8:26.

God is the Living One: Genesis 16:14; Psalm 42:2; Jeremiah 17:13; John 5:26; Genesis 15:45; Revelation 1:18.

We wish to draw your special attention to the following attributes that may be new to you. Do read some of these references!

God is the Father of every believer: Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 31:9; Matthew 5:16, 45, 48; 6:8-9, 32; John 8:41; 14:6; 15:16; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; 1 John 1:3: 2:1: 2:23.

God is love: Revelation 21:2; Isaiah 62:5; Jeremiah 31:3; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 3:19; 1 John 4:7-8.

God is peace: Ephesians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Romans 15:33; 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20.

God is kind: Titus 3:4-5; Nehemiah 9:17; Romans 2:4; 1 Peter 2:3.

I do hope that you have looked up some of the references. If not, please take your time, go back and read them. It will be a great blessing to you. Surely God is wonderful!

Test Yourself No 5

Answer the following questions and compare your answers with the answers found here.

• 1. Name five ways in which God reveals himself: