The restoration plea calls for a return to the Scriptures from an understanding that they are given by the inspiration of God. If the Bible is not the Word of God, then the restoration plea is misplaced. Thankfully, we can have full confidence that the Bible is the Word of God. Many things about the Bible speak to its inspiration. The Bible’s many predictive prophecies are arguably the most impressive evidence. The longevity of the Bible is also a subtle supporting argument for its inspiration; no other work of literature has survived for so long and been preserved as well as the Scriptures. In addition to evidences such as these, the Bible testifies of itself that it is the Word of God. In Luke 24, Jesus spoke of Old Testament books in such a way as to entail all of them and leave no doubt that He viewed those books as inspired. “Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me’” (Luke 24:44 NKJV). Some have no difficulty affirming that the Old Testament is from God, but refuse to accept that the New Testament can also rightly be described as Scripture. In truth, both Testaments were given by inspiration of God. The apostle Paul told Timothy “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable

In Luke 18:25 Jesus said “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Because the idea of a camel fitting through the eye of a literal needle is difficult to imagine, many people interpret the expression figuratively. I firmly believe that a figurative interpretation is well-intentioned but incorrect. Please consider the following points: First, a fundamental rule of interpretation is that Scripture is to be taken literally unless something demands it be taken figuratively. A close look at the verse and the immediate context favors a literal interpretation; it certainly does not demand a figurative one. Second, we should remember the point Jesus is attempting to make by using this word picture. The rich young ruler (as good as he was) had just turned down the opportunity to follow Jesus Christ because he was unwilling to give up his riches. Jesus used this word picture to illustrate the vast difficulty of a rich man entering the kingdom of God. A literal interpretation is certainly suitable for this illustration. Next, the reaction of those who heard Jesus’ illustration is very important. “And those who heard it said, ‘Who then can be saved?’” The audience understood Jesus’ words to represent a physical impossibility. This harmonizes perfectly with Jesus’ answer to the question in Luke 18:27. “But He said, ‘The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.’” Which interpretation most effectively illustrates the impossibility of a