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EvidencefortheExistenceofGod
LecturenotesbyCharlieCampbell DirectorofTheAlwaysBeReadyApologeticsMinistry

1.THECOSMOS
TheapostlePaulalludestothisfirstevidenceinthefirstchapterofhisepistletotheRomans: Romans1:20Forsincethecreationoftheworld(kosmosintheGreek)Hisinvisibleattributes,Hiseternalpower anddivinenature,havebeenclearlyseen,beingunderstood(How?)throughwhathasbeenmade,sothatthey (peoplewhorejectGod)arewithoutexcuse. TheuniverseitselfisevidencethatthereisaGod.DavidpointsthisoutaswellinPsalm19: Psalm19:14 TheheavenstellofthegloryofGod.TheHeavensdisplayHismarvelouscraftsmanship.Day afterdaytheycontinuetospeak;nightafternighttheymakeHimknown.Theyspeakwithoutasoundora word;theirvoiceissilentintheskies;yettheirmessagehasgoneouttoalltheearthandtheirwordstothe entireworld.... TheveryexistenceoftheuniverseitselftestifiestothefactthatGodexists.AndIdontthinkyouevenneedtoquote theBibletoshowapersonthis.Don'tgetmewrong,IliketoshareScripturewithpeople,butIdontthinkitis necessarytodothattoshowapersonthatthisisthecase. Letsthinkaboutthisforaminute.Thereareonlythreeoptionsfortheexistenceoftheuniverse:
1. Ithasalwaysbeen

2. Itcreateditself 3. Itwascreatedbysomethingorsomeoneoutsideofitself Let'swalkbackthroughtheseandseewhichoftheseoptionsisthemostreasonabletobelieve.Thefirstoption, thattheuniversehasalwaysbeen(i.e.,itiseternal),hasbeenutterlyrejectedbythescientificcommunity.Why? Thescientificevidenceagainstaneternaluniversehasdemolishedthistheory.Numerousevidencesfromthe fieldofastronomy,suchas:

TheBackgroundRadiationEcho TheSecondLawofThermodynamics TheMotionoftheGalaxies

overwhelminglypointtothefactthattheuniverseactuallybegantoexistafinitetimeagoinaneventwhenall
thephysicalspace time matter andenergy

.intheuniversecameintobeing. Wedonthavetimetodiscussalloftheseevidences,buttheconsensusamongstthemajorityofastronomersis this:Theuniversebegantoexist.StephenHawking,theverypopularandimmenselyrespectedastronomer fromtheCambridgeUniversity,agrees.Hesays,Almosteveryonebelievesthattheuniverse,andtimeitself, hadabeginning

StephenHawkingandRogerPenrose,TheNatureofSpaceandTime, TheIsaacNewtonInstituteSeriesofLectures(Princeton:PrincetonUniversityPress,1996),p.20.]

Thatsinteresting.ThisisinperfectharmonywithwhattheBiblesays(intheveryfirstverse!) Genesis1:1Inthebeginning,Godcreatedtheheavensandtheearth TheBiblemakesitveryclearthattheuniverseactuallyhadabeginning,exactlylikethescientificcommunityhas discoveredmorethan3,000yearsafterMosespennedthosewords. ArnoPenzias,whowasawardedaNobelPrizefordiscoveringevidence(thebackgroundradiationecho)thattheuniverse didhaveabeginning,agreesthatthescientificdatalinesrightupwiththeBible.Hesaid:Thebestdatawehave areexactlywhatIwouldhavepredicted,hadInothingtogoonbutthefivebooksofMoses,thePsalmsandthe Bibleasawhole[CitedbyJohnLennoxinRaviZacharias,editor,BeyondOpinion,2007,p.121] NowbecausetheuniversehadabeginningthatrulesoutOption1:TheUniverseHasAlwaysBeen.Thatnowleaves uswithtwootheroptionsleftfortheexistenceoftheuniverse:
2.Itcreateditself 3.Itwascreatedbysomeoneorsomethingoutsideofitself

Option2,that:TheUniverseCreatedItself.isphilosophicallyimpossible.Theatheistasks,Why? Well,ofcourse,beforetheuniverseexisteditwouldnothavebeenaroundtodothecreating.Obviously,anon existentuniversecouldnothavedoneanything!Itdidnotexist.Askmostatheists,Whatwasaroundbeforethe universecameintobeing?andtheywillsay,asdoesthewellknownatheistRichardDawkins:Nothing.

[RichardDawkins,TheAncestorsTale:APilgrimagetotheDawnofEvolution,(FirstMarinerBooks,fifthedition,2005),p.613]

Well,weallknowthatnothingcantdoanything.Whatisnothing?Haveyouthoughtaboutthat?Righthere;thisis whatnothinglookslike[fadePowerPointtoblackscreen].Whatisnothing?Nothing.Nothingcantdoanything. Itcannotsee,smell,act,think,letalonecreatesomething.Infact,itsoundsprettyridiculousformetoevenreferto nothingasanit"becausenothingisnoteventhat! EvenDavidHume(17111776),oneofthemostzealousskepticsofChristianityever,agreedthatthingsdontjust popthemselvesintoexistence.In1754,hewrote,Ineverassertedsoabsurdapropositionasthatanythingmight arisewithoutacause.[DavidHume,TheLettersofDavidHume,2vols.,ed.JY.T.Greig(Oxford:Clarendon,1932),1:187] TheimpossibilityofsomethingcreatingitselfisinharmonywithabasiclawofphysicscalledTheLawofEnergyand Matter Conservation. If youve ever had a physics class youll recall this. It basically states: From nothing, comes nothing."Now,Idon'tknowwhotherocketscientistwaswhofinallypennedthisdown,butthisisconsideredtobea bedrocklawofscience.Why?Well,therehasneverbeenasingleobservedinstanceinthehistoryofmankindinwhich thislawhasbeenviolated.Canyouimagineturningonthenewsandseeingtheheadline:"Nothingcaughtdoing somethingonfilm!Seethefootageateleven."What?No.You'dthink,"Whatchannelisthis?!What'sgoingonhere." Even the wellknown atheist, J.L. Mackie said: I myself find it hard to accept the notion of selfcreation from nothing,evengivenunrestrictedchance.[J.L.Mackie,TimesLiterarySupplement,February5,1982,p.126.] So,therearethreeoptionsfortheexistenceoftheuniverse
1.Ithasalwaysbeen 2.Itcreateditself 3.Itwascreatedbysomeoneorsomethingoutsideofitself

Option1and2canbethrownoutonscientificandphilosophicalgrounds.(YoudontevenneedtobringtheBibleintothe debatetoruleoutthesefirsttwooptions.)Option3:ThatSomeoneOrSomethingOutsideOfTheUniverse(i.e.,God)created theuniverse,istheonlyreasonable&logicaloption.

 The existence of the universe has led many people to conclude that God must exist, including, Charles Darwin himself.Darwinsaid,Reasontellsmeoftheextremedifficultyorratherimpossibilityofconceivingthisimmense andwonderfuluniverse,includingmanwithhiscapabilityoflookingfarbackwardsandfarintofuturity,asthe result of blind chance or necessity. When thus reflecting I feel compelled to look to a First Cause having an intelligentmindinsomedegreeanalogoustothatofman;andIdeservetobecalledaTheist.
[CitedbyAntonyFlewinThereisaGod:HowtheWorldsMostNotoriousAtheistChangedHisMind,2007,p.106]

IsntitironicthatsomanyatheiststodayconsiderCharlesDarwintheirheromanyofthemnotknowingthathe himselfactuallybelievedinacreator?TheuniversecompelledDarwintobelieveinanintelligentmindthatbrought italltogether. SKEPTIC:WellCharlie,youknow,IjusthaveahardtimebelievinginsomethingthatIcannotsee. Iunderstandthat.Istruggledwiththataswell.Letmehelpyouthinkthroughthis.LetsimagineIhaveapainting. Question:Whenyouseeapainting,whatproofdoyouneedtoestablishthefactthatapainterexists?Well,the obviousanswerisnothingbesidesthepaintingitself.Thepaintingitselfisabsoluteproofthattherewasapainter. Youdonotneedtoseethepaintertobelievethatheorsheexists.Thepaintingisalltheevidenceyouneed.The paintingwouldnotbethereifthepainterdidnotexist;andsoitiswiththeuniverse.Hence,theexistenceofthe universe(agiantpaintingifyouwill)itselfprovesabsolutelythatthereisacreator. I believe that it takes far more faith to be an atheist than it does to believe in God. Atheists believe that everythingthatexists(theentireuniverse)camefromnothingandbynothing.Thattakesalotoffaith!Sothe 1streasonIbelievethatGodexistsisthecosmos.The2ndreasonIbelieveGodexistsis SKEPTIC:Charlie,notsofasthere;Ihaveaquestion.Ifthecosmosdemandsacreator,thenwhycantwejustsay Godmusthaveacreatoraswell? ME:Thisisaverycommonquestionthatpeoplehave.Inotherwords:WHOMADEGOD?NobodymadeGod.Unlike thefiniteuniversethatdemandsacreator,Goddoesnotneedacreator. SKEPTIC:Why? ME:BecauseHeiseternal.Someonewhohasalwaysexisteddoesnotneedacreatororsomeonetohavebrought Himintoexistence,becauseHesalwaysbeen.Psalm90:2says,EvenfromeverlastingtoeverlastingYouareGod. Godiseternal.Buttheuniversefallsintoanentirelydifferentcategory.Asthescientificdiscoverieshaveshown,it has not always existed. And anything that begins to exist, requires a cause or maker. Things dont just pop into existenceallontheirown.Nothingcannotproduceanything. SKEPTIC:OkayCharliethatmakessense,butyoubelievethatGodhasjustalwaysexisted? ME:Yes. SKEPTIC:Impossible! ME:Well,beforeyouscoffatthenotionofGodhavingalwaysexisted,keepthisinmind:somethingmusthave alwaysexisted.Doyourealizethat? SKEPTIC:Whydoyouthinkthat? ME:Well,thinkthroughthiswithme:Ifnothingcannotproducesomething,andyetsomethingexists,thenitfollows necessarilythatsomethinghasalwaysexisted(in order to bring the something into existence).Thinkofitthisway:

 Ifthereeverwasatimethatabsolutelynothingexisted,nothingwouldexistnow.Somethingexists now.Therefore,therewasneveratimethatabsolutelynothingexisted.So,toanswerthequestion,Who
madeGod?wesay:Noone.Godiseternalanddoesnotneedamaker.Theuniverseisnoteternalanddoes require a maker. Finally, it is hard to understand, but logically, not impossible to grasp, how something or someonecouldhavealwaysexisted.Why?Forstarters,EVERYTHINGwecreaturesknowandexperiencehasa beginningandanend.Weareborn,andthendie.EachDay,monthandyearbeginsandends.Westartacareer andthenretireordie.Wehavenotknownorexperiencedeternity,yet,butwillifwetrustinJesus,theEternal Creatorofallthings!Now,obviouslymorecanandwillbesaidaboutthis,butfortimessake,letsmovealong.

2.THECONDITIONSFORLIFE
WhatamItalkingabout?Wellthemorescientistsstudytheuniverse,themoretheydiscoverthatconditionsinthe universe appear to have been extremely finetuned (designed) to permit life. Scientists call this apparent fine tuningoftheuniversetheAnthropicPrinciple. The word anthropic comes from the Greek word anthropos which means human or man. So the term AnthropicPrincipleisjustafancynametodescribethenumeroushighlyimprobableenvironmentalconditions thatexistintheuniversethatmakelifepossibleforhumansorman. Numerousconditionshavebeenidentifiedthathavetohavejusttherightvalues(inotherwords,theyneedtobetunedto justtherightdegree)foranykindofconceivablephysicallifetoexistintheuniverse.Ifanyoftheseconditionswereto changeevenalittle,theuniversewouldbehostiletolifeandincapableofsupportingit.Illquicklymentionafewof theseconditionsandthenIlltellyouwhymanyscientiststhinktheypointtotheexistenceofadesigner. Thefirstlifepermittingconditionistheforceofgravity.Iftheforceofgravityweremuchstrongereverythingwould collapse.Ifitweremuchweakereverythingwoulddriftapart.Ifthespeedoflightorthemassofanelectronwere evenslightlydifferenttherewouldbenoplanetcapableofsupportinghumanlife.Iftheforcethatbindssubatomic particles(suchasneutronsandprotons)togetherwithinthenucleiofatomswerestrongerorweakerbymorethanabout onepercent, the universe wouldbeeitherallhydrogenorhave no hydrogenatall.Theenergylevelsincarbon atomsarejustrightforlifetoexist.Changethemalittleandtheuniversewouldbeincapableofsupportinglife.And wecouldgoonandon. Whenitcomestothesekindsofconditions,Dr.FrancisCollins,headoftheHumanGenomeProject,statesthatif any of these constants was off by even one part in a million, or in some cases, by one part in a million million...therewouldhavebeennogalaxy,stars,planetsorpeople.[August2006interviewwithSalon.com] Now,theoddsthatsomanyconditionsintheuniversecouldbesofinelytuned,hasledmanycosmologistsand physiciststoconcludethatsomethingsupernaturalisgoingonbehindthescenes. StephenHawkingsaid,Theremarkablefactisthatthevaluesofthesenumbersseemtohavebeenveryfinely adjustedtomakepossiblethedevelopmentoflife.Andelsewhere:Itwouldbeverydifficulttoexplainwhythe universewouldhavebeguninjustthiswayexceptastheactofaGodwhointendedtocreatebeingslikeus.[Brief HistoryofTime,p.125.SecondquoteisinTimothyKeller,TheReasonforGod,p.134.] Soevenscientists,likeStephenHawking,whodontconsiderthemselvesChristians,arethemselvesbringingGod intotheconversationwhentheydiscussthesefinelytunedlifepermittingconditions.Hawkingisnotsayingthathe believesinGod.Heremainsagnosticontheissue.Hesjustsayingthatitisverydifficulttoexplainalloftheselife permittingconditionsapartfromaCreator/God/IntelligentDesigner. Well,thisconclusion(thatGodisbehinditall)ofcoursedoesnotsitwellwithatheistswhoarecommittedtoagodless universe.Sowheredotheyrun?Howdotheyexplainthefinetuningoftheuniverse? (Theydoacknowledgethatwhatappearstobefinetuningexists.)Sowhatdotheydowithit?Well,theyandthis includesthewellknownatheistRichardDawkinsexplainawaytheapparentfinetuningoftheuniversewithafairy talelikehypothesiscalledTheMultiverse

 Themultiverse?Whatsthat?Theirmultiversehypothesissaysthatthereareaninfinitenumberofuniverses(thus thetermmultiverse)andthatsomewhereinthemixofalltheseuniversesafinelytuneduniversewillappearby chancealone.Andwehumansjusthappentoliveinthatfinelytuneduniverse(So,TheresnoneedtobelieveinGod!' theysay.'Thisuniverseendeduplikethisbychance!). Wellfriends,thisisadesperatetheorythatatheistshavecomeupwith.Whatevidenceistherefortheexistenceofa multiverse?Thereisnone.Thereisnotashredofevidencethatthereisevenoneuniverseoutsideourown,letalone aninfiniteamountofuniverses.Ifinditironicthatatheistsalwaystouttheirinterestinobservationalevidencebut whenfacedwiththeobservationalevidenceoffinetuning,theyretreattoanelaborateschemethathasnoapparent observational evidence to support it. None! And even if their multiverse theory was correct (and there are millions of universesinadditiontoourown),thatstilldoesnotendthedebateovertheexistenceofGod,forthequestionwouldremain:

Howdidthoseuniversescomeintoexistence? Nothingdoesnotproducesomething. Ithinkthemultiversetheoryactuallymakestheatheistsdilemmamoredifficult.For,ifthemultiversetheorywere true,nothingnessnotonlymadeoneuniverse,butnothingnessmadealotofuniverses.Well,Idonthave enoughfaithtobelieveinamultiverse.Theincrediblefinetuningofthisuniversetheonlyoneweknowexistsis compellingevidencefortheexistenceofGod. AthirdreasonyoucanbeconfidentthatGodexistsis

3.THECOMPLEXITYOFLIFE
LetsimagineforafewminutesthatyouhavedecidedtogoonatwoweekcruisetoTahiti,complimentsof yourboss.Soundnice?Wellitseemedlikeagoodideabutsomeoneforgottocheckthe weatherreport. Andmuchtoyourhorror,thelargeststormthattheSouthPacifichaseverseencapsizesyourcruiseliner andsendsyouandtheothersoutintothemiddleofthePacificOceanforanight. YouawaketofindyourselfshipwreckedonanislandsomewhereintheSouthPacific.Asyouwalkaround theislandwithoneoftheothersurvivors,youbegintowonderiftheremightbeanyintelligentlifethereon theislandthatmaybeabletohelpyougethome. Asyourewalkingalongtheshoreyouspotsomething lyingthereinthesand.Uponcloserexaminationyoudiscoverwhatappearstobeanarrowhead. Question:Afterthisinitialdiscovery,whatdoyouthinkthechancesarethathumanlifemightexistonthe island?Prettygood.Now,itmaynotbethekindofintelligentlifeyouarehopingfor.Itmaybeatribeof headhunters! Muchtoyoursurprise,theotherpersonwhosurvivedtheshipwreckwithyou,suggeststhat,Well,let'snot gettooexcitedaboutgoinghomeanytimesoon.Perhapsoverbillionsofyearsthewindandthewavesand therisingandfallingofthetidesjusthappenedtoformarockthatlookslikeanarrowhead. Findingthathardtobelieve,youagreetoremainopenmindedandcontinuesearching.Anothermiledown thebeach,youdiscoverwhatappearstobeacanoeanchoredupontheshoreline.Nowyoureconvinced thatsomesortofintelligentlifemustexistontheisland!Butjustintimetodampenyourenthusiasm,your newfriendandfellowshipwrecksurvivorsuggeststhat:Perhapsmillionsofyearsofstormsandwavesjust shapedapileofdriftwoodintowhatappearstobeawelldesignedcanoeshapedboat." Okay. Now, finding the statement about the canoe even harder to believe than the comments about the arrowhead,youagreetocontinuesearching.Ahundredyardsdownthebeachyouencounterwhatappearstobe writing in the sand. The letters spell out the word Welcome. You look over at your openminded evolutionist friendonlytohearhimsay,Perhapsthewindandthewavesjustformedthatsequenceofletters. Now,whatwouldyousaytothispersonwhothinksthatsimplethingslikearrowheads,canoes,andlettersinthe sandmayhaveevolved?(please check one below) __A.Youreprobablyright.Pleaseforgivemeforbelievingthatintelligentlifebroughtthesethingsabout. __B.Whathaveyoubeensmoking?

 Imsurethatmostofusherewouldconcludethatthearrowhead,canoe,andthelettersinthesandwere surelydesignedbysomeintelligentlifeform.Why?

Design:NotHardToRecognize
AndeverywherewelookonplanetearthwefindamazinglyDESIGNEDcomplexlifeformsthataremillionsoftimes morecomplexthanarrowheadsorcanoes.Thisamazingcomplexitythatpermeatesalloflifeisanotherreasonwhy moreandmorescientistsareconcludinganintelligentDESIGNERmustexist. Let'sconsidersomeofthecomplexityweseeinnatureandfortime'ssake,let'sjustlimitourconsiderationtothe humanboy.IthasanamazingcomplexionofDESIGN:
Nervoussystem Cardiovascularsystem Reproductivecapability Skeletalsystem Musclesystem Digestivesystem Abilitytohealitself ImmuneSystemtofightoffdiseases

youwouldnevergetaMt.Rushmore,letalonealiving,breathinghumanbeing.Why?Ittakesintelligence.You needintelligentintervention.Ittook400intelligentworkersfourteenyears(19271941)tocarvethosefourfaces. AndGeorgeandAbejuststareatyou.Theydonttalk.Theydontsmile.Theydontdoanything.Howmuchmore intelligencewouldittaketocreatealivingbreathinghumanbeing?Goodquestion?Ihopeso! AsDr.NormanGeislerpointsout,itwouldtakegreatintelligencetocreatearobotthatoperateslikeahuman,and itwouldtakeevengreaterintelligencetocreatearealhumanbeing.Noonealivetodaywouldbelievethatthefaces ofMt.Rushmorecameaboutbymillions/billionsofyearsof...

Erosion Wind Rain Andundirectedrandomacts

Wind Rain Theforcesofnature Chance Andmillions/billionsofyearsoftime

Ifinditdifficulttobelievethatthehumanbodycouldhavecomeintoexistencebysomemindlessprocess,apart fromanincrediblyintelligentDesigner,evengivenmillionsandbillionsofyears.Ifwecouldsomehowallowthe barrensideofanymountain,tobeexposedto...

AndyetAtheistsandEvolutionistsbelievethatreallifehumanbeingswith

206bones 640muscles anaverageheartthatbeatsover100,000timesaday

istheproductofamindless,randomseriesofaccidents.Thisisfoolish!IdonthaveenoughFaithtobelievethat! Notonlyisthebodyasawholeincrediblycomplex,theindividualpartsmakingupthebodyarehighlycomplex.The lateagnosticastronomerCarlSaganconcededthatthebrainaloneisamachinemorewonderfulthananydevised byhumansandthatitholdsenoughinformationtofillsometwentymillionvolumes[CarlSagan,Cosmos,1985,p.230] Isitpossiblethatthishumanmachine,whichismorewonderfulthananydevisedbyhumans,cameintobeingfrom nothing,bynothing?andthenevolvedviasomemindless,randomseriesofaccidents,asevolutionistsbelieve?Ittakes waymoreFaithtobelieveinthefoolishnessofAtheism/EvolutionthantobelieveinanIntelligentDesigner.

Considertheheart.Theheartisamuscleaboutthesizeofaman'sfist,contractsandforcesbloodthrough60,000 milesofveins,arteriesandcapillariesinyourbody.Everyhouritpumpsabout75gallonsofbloodtotallingmore than50,000gallonseverymonth.[http://www.medicinenet.com/heart_how_the_heart_works/article.htm] Agoodquestiontoaskatheistsis:Whatdoyouthinkevolvedfirst?Hearts,bloodorveins? ATHEIST:Hearts.

ME:Allright.Whatdidtheydo?Whatdidtheypump?

ATHEIST:Maybebloodevolvedfirst.

ME:Allright.Whatdiditdo?Wherediditgo?Howdiditgetthere?

ATHEIST:Well,maybeveinsevolvedfirst.

ME:Allright.Whatdidtheydo?Whatdidtheycarry?Whatweretheyconnectedto?

ATHEIST:Idon'tlikethisquestion. Yes, this is a dilemma for the atheist. Consider the human eye. The eye is composed of more than two million workingparts.[J.P.MorelandandTimMuehlhoff,TheGodConversation,p.1]

Theeyeisaballwith:
alensononeside andalightsensitiveretinamadeupofrodsandconesinsidetheother Thelensitselfhasasturdyprotectivecoveringcalledacornea andsitsoveranirisdesignedtoprotecttheeyefromexcessivelight Theeyecontainsanamazingwaterysubstancethatisreplacedeveryfourhours Tearglandscontinuouslyflushtheoutsideclean Aneyelidsweepssecretionsoverthecorneatokeepitmoist Eyelashesprotectitfromdust Andextraordinarilyfinetunedmusclesareattachedtotheeyethatmovetheeyeandshapethelensforthefunctionoffocus.
[AdaptedfromHankHanegraaff,FatalFlaws,2003,p.43]

Theeyeisfarmorecomplexandadvancedthantheworldsgreatestautofocuscamerathattookresearchersand developers numerous years and millions of dollars to design and create. Did this amazing piece of complex machinery (theeye)cometogetherbysomemindlessprocessandrandomseriesofaccidents?Atheistsmusterup thefaithtoanswerYestothatquestion.Idonthaveenoughfaithtobeanatheist. Even the most well known Darwinist of all time had difficulties believing that the eye came into being by blind forces.WhoamItalkingabout?CharlesDarwin.Darwinhimselffoundithardtoacceptthenotionthattheeye couldbetheproductofevolution.Beforehisdeath,hesaid,Theeyetothisdaygivesmeacoldshudder[Letterto
AsaGray,8or9February1860.InF.BurkhardtandS.Smith(eds.),TheCorrespondenceofCharlesDarwin1860(1993),Vol.8,p.75.]

Inhisfamousbook,OnTheOriginofSpecies(1859),CharlesDarwinsaid,Tosupposethattheeye,withallits inimitable [matchless] contrivances [plans] for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amountsoflight,andforthecorrectionofsphericalandchromaticaberration,couldhavebeenformedbynatural selection,seems,Ifreelyconfess,absurdinthehighestpossibledegree.[p.217] Notonlydoesthebodyasawhole,thebrainandtheeyepointtoanintelligentdesigner,sodoessomethingas smallasalivingcell.Acellisconsideredthesmallestunitofmatteraliveandmeasureslessthanathousandthofan inchindiameter.InDarwinsday,cellsappearedtobelittleunsophisticatedglobsofjello,mysteriouslittlepartsof lifethatnoonecouldseeinto. Butnowthatwehavetheabilitytopeerintothecellwithelectronmicroscopes,weseethatlifedownatthecellular levelisimmeasurablymorecomplexthanDarwineverdreamed.

Speakingaboutthecell,Dr.WalterBradley,arespectedscientistandauthorofTheMysteryofLifesOrigin,says:A onecell organism is more complicated than anything weve been able to recreate through supercomputers."
[InterviewwithLeeStrobel,TheCaseforFaith,2000,p.98]

AccordingtoNobelPrizewinnerLinusPauling,widelyregardedasthegreatestchemistofthetwentiethcentury, justonelivingcellinthehumanbodyis,"morecomplexthanNewYorkcity[CitedinDaveHunt,InDefenseoftheFaith,
1996,p.22].

IdontknowifyouhavebeentoNewYorkcity,butitisonecomplexplace.Witheightmillionresidents,itisthe largestandprobablymostcomplexcityintheUnitedStates.ImagineforamomenthowcomplexNewYorkCityis:
Hundredsofskyscrapers Hundredsofthousandsofresidencesandoffices Subwayszippingaroundunderground Hundredsoftaxicabsracingaround Planeslandingatallhoursoftheday Shipspullinginandout

Nowimaginepackingthatkindofcomplexityintoasinglecellinsideyourbody.Andthatisjustthebeginning.Your bodyiscomprisedofthousandsofdifferentkindsofcellstotaling morethan:100,000,000,000,000 (100 trillion)in number.Andyourbodymakesmillionsofnewcellseverysecondandtheyallworktogether! Howdotheyallworktogether?Howdotheyknowwhattodo,wheretogo,whatorganstoproduce,whatcolor hairtoproduce,whattodowhenyoucutyourself?Ahhh,itstheDNAinthecell.ThesixfeetofcoiledupDNAin everyoneofyourcellscontainsastaggeringamountofdetailedcomplexinformationandinstructionthattellseach cellhowtofunction,wheretogo,whattodo. Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, said this about DNA: DNA is like a computer program, but far, far more advancedthananysoftwareweveevercreated.[BillGates,TheRoadAhead,1996,p.228] WheredidthisstaggeringamountofcomplexdetailedinformationinacellsDNA (that is far more advanced than any software Microsoft ever created) come from? Computer programs do not write themselves. A programmer is always involved. Even if you provide lots of time, a computer program cannot write itself. The same is true with the complexinformationstoredinDNA.Wherediditcomefrom? PerhapsskepticsshouldconsiderwhatthelateOxfordprofessorAntonyFlewhadtosay.Upuntil2004,AntonyFlew waswidelyconsideredtheworldsmostinfluentialatheisticphilosopher,authoranddebater.InDecemberof2004 newscameoutthatFlewhadabandonedhisatheismandnowbelievedthatGodmustexist.Whatchangedhismind? AntonyFlewsaid:Yes,InowthinkitdoespointtoacreativeIntelligencealmostentirelybecauseoftheDNA investigations. What I think the DNA material has done is that it has shown, by the almost unbelievable complexity of the arrangements which which are needed to produce life, that intelligence must have been involvedingettingtheseextraordinarilydiverseelementstoworktogether.[AntonyFlew,ThereIsAGod,HowtheWorld's
MostNotoriousAtheistChangedHisMind,2007,p.75]

ThetitleofAntonyFlewsnewestbook?ThereIsAGod:HowtheWorldsMostNotoriousAtheistChangedHisMind. AntonyFlewisnotaloneinabandoningatheismandnaturalisticexplanationsforthecomplexityoflife.Hundredsof Ph.D.scientists,fromprestigiousinstitutionslike:

U.C.Berkeley U.C.L.A. CambridgeUniversity Yale Princeton Stanford M.I.T. Harvard andTheSmithsonian

 areexpressingtheirskepticismofDarwinism.Thesescientistsareevensigningtheirnamestoastatement/petition expressingtheirdoubtsregardingDarwinism.Youcanseethestatement,theirnames,andtheinstitutionstheyare from,at:www.DissentFromDarwin.org ThenexttimeaprofessormakesyoursonordaughterfeellikeafoolforbelievinginGod,youmightgotothis webstieandprintoutthelonglistofallthesePh.D.scientistsandgiveittohimandassurehimthatheisstandingin goodcompanywhenheexpresseshisdoubtsregardingDarwinism.Youmightalsoremindhimorherthatmanyof the most brilliant scientists to have ever lived, men like Isaac Newton, Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei, Blaise Pascal,andAlbertEinstein,allbelievedintheexistenceofaGodand/oranIntelligentDesigner. Ifarrowheads,canoesandsimplemessagesinthesandpointtoanintelligentdesigner,evenmorewearejustified inbelievingthatthecomplexityinlivingorganismspointstoanintelligentdesigner.

4.THECANONOFSCRIPTURE

TheBibleisabookunlikeanyotherbook.Itisacompilationof66differentbookswrittenbymorethan40different authors,overaperiodof1,500years,onthreedifferentcontinents,inthreedifferentlanguages.Overandoverthe authorsoftheBibleclaimtoberecordingeventsandwritingwordsthattheysaidtheywereinspiredtowriteby GodHimself(2Tim.3:16). Andofcourse,theBiblerevealstousveryplainly

Godexists whatHeislike andwhatHiswillisforourlives

SKEPTIC:Charlie,thisdoesntnecessarilymeanthattheBibleistrue. Right.But,theBibledoesntjustmaketheseclaims.Itdemonstratesitself,unlikeanyotherancientreligiouswriting, tobedivinelyinspiredandhistoricallyreliablewith

Hundredsoffulfilledprophecies Itsamazinginternalharmony Itsamazingscientificaccuracyandforesight Morethan25,000archaeologicaldiscoveries MathematicalInternalCode(readtheBookTheBibleCodeandseepage15LastParagraphofAnswerstoQuestions)

ThefifthreasonyoucanbeconfidentGodexistsis

5.CHRIST
ManywhodoubttheexistenceofGodhavereassuredthemselveswiththethought,IfGodwantedustobelievein Him,Hewouldappeartous.Well,wehavetobecarefulwhenwetalkaboutwantingGodtoappeartous.IfHe weretodothatinallHisglory,whilewewereinoursinfulfallencondition,theBiblesayswewouldnotlivethrough theexperience(Ex.33:20,1Tim.6:1516,John1:18).ButwhatifGodwastoveilHisgloryandappeartomankindinthe formofaman,someonemankindcouldreallyrelatewith?WhatkindofamanwouldGodbe? Someonewiselypointedoutthat,WewouldexpectHimtobesinless;wewouldexpecthimtobeholy;wewould expect His words to be the greatest words ever spoken; we would expect Him to exert a profound power over humanpersonality;wewouldexpectHimtoperformsupernaturaldoings;andwewouldexpectHimtomanifest theloveofGod.[JohnMacArthursummarizingateachingbyBernardRamm.] Hmmm.Hasanyoneevercomeontheworldsscene,whoclaimedtobeGodandwhometallofthosecriteria? Ahh,ofallthehumanbeingswhohaveeverlived,JesusChristalonemetthesecriteria.Whensomeonesays,IfGod wantedustobelieveinHim,Hewouldappeartous,IliketotellthemthatiswhatGodhasalreadydone.

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 TheBibletellsusthatJesuswasGodinhumanflesh(Isaiah9:6,Colossians2:9,John20:28)andJesusHimselfmadethat clearinverseslikeJohn5:18andJohn8:58. AndJesusdidntjustclaimtobeGod.Anybodycandothat.LeeBoydMalvo,theWashingtonD.C.sniper,claimedto beGod.DavidKoresh,downinWaco,Texas,claimedtobeGod.SoanyonecanmaketheclaimandJesusknewthat. SowhatdidJesusdo?HewentaroundprovingthatHewasGodbydoingthingsthatonlyGodcando.

Heopenedtheeyesoftheblind Hehealedthelame Heraisedthedead Hewalkedonwater Helivedasinlesslife HerosefromthegravethreedaysafterHewasputtodeath AndHeascendedintoheavenvisiblyrightbeforeHisdiscipleseyes

ThesearejustafewofthemiraclesthatthedisciplesrecordedforusintheNewTestamentthathelpsubstantiate Jesusclaimstodeity. SKEPTIC:HoldonhereasecondCharlie!ThatdoesntmeanthatwhatthedisciplessaidaboutHimwasactually true.PerhapstheyweremakingupthiswholestoryaboutJesus'resurrection. Ifindithardtobelievethatthesemenwerelying.Thinkbacktothetimesyouhavelied.Peoplelietogetoutof trouble.ButthethingsthediscipleswentaroundsayingaboutJesusgotthemintrouble.Lotsoftrouble.Historians suchasFlaviusJosephus,Eusebiusandothers,recordforusthatJesusdiscipleswenttotheirgraves,onebyone, sufferinganddyingpainfuldeaths,fortheirongoingbeliefandpreachingthatJesuswasLordandwasrisenfrom thedead.Wearetoldthat...

Matthewwasslainwithahalberd(similartoanaxe)inEthiopia MarkdiedinAlexandria,inNorthernEgypt,afterhavingbeencruellydraggedthroughthestreetsofthatcity LukewashunguponanolivetreeinGreece JameswasbeheadedinJerusalem PhilipwashungupagainstapillarinthecityofHeiropolisandstonedtodeath Bartholomewwasflayedalive Judewasshottodeathwitharrows Andrewwasboundtoacross,andlefttodie Barnabaswasstonedtodeath Paul,afteravarietyoffloggings,torturesandpersecutions,wasbeheadedinRome ThomaswasrunthroughthebodywithalanceinsoutheastIndia Peterwascrucified(justasJesustoldhimhewouldbeinJohn21)inRome,upsidedown

Werethesemenlying? Ifindithardtobelievethatmen,willingtodiethesekindofslow,painfuldeaths,weremakingupastoryabout Jesus.Peoplemaybewillingtodieforsomethingthattheythinkorhopeistrue (e.g.,Kamikazepilots,Muslimterrorists), butnobodywillinglydiesforsomethingtheyknowisalie. Jesusdisciplessealedtheirtestimonieswiththeirownblood,claimingallthewaytotheendthatthelongawaited SaviorandGodoftheworldhadlivedamongthem,thatHehadbecomeasacrificeforsin,andthatHehadrisen fromthedead.That,tome,iscompellingevidencethatthesemenweretellingthetruthaboutJesus.So,wehave theevidenceof...

1.TheCosmos 2.TheConditionsforLife 3.TheComplexityofLife 4.TheCanonofScripture 5.TheChrist

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 Thiskindofevidenceshouldbringgreatjoytoyourheart.AllofthisisareminderthatthereisaGodinHeaven!If youhaveplacedyourfaithinJesusChrist,youhaventfollowedaftersomecleverlydevisedtales.Yourfaithisnt groundedinwishfulthinking.Yourfaithisgroundedinthetruth.ThereisgoodevidencethattheGodoftheBibleis actuallythere.Whatgoodnewsthisis! Youarenotpartofsomegiganticcosmicaccident!Youarenotjustsomeconglomerationofcellswalkingaround withoutmeaningonarandomplanetallaloneintheuniverse.Yourenottheresultofmillionsofyearsofevolution. No.YouareoneofGodscreations.Heformedyouinyourmotherswomb.TheBiblesaysthatyouarefearfullyand wonderfullymade(Psalm139:14)andthatGodhasapurposeforyourlife.Doyouknowthat?DoyouknowthatGod lovesyou?Hedesirestohaveaclose,intimate,personalrelationshipwitheachoneofyou. DoyouhavethatkindofarelationshipwithGod?Youcan. TwothousandyearsagoJesusdiedonthatcruelwoodenRomancrosstotakethepunishmentforyoursinssothat youcouldbeforgiven,savedfromthecomingjudgmentofGod,andcometoexperiencethegreatestrelationship youlleverknow:knowingGodpersonally,notonlyinthislifebutthroughouteternity.Ifyoullacknowledgeyour sinfulnesstoGod,turnawayfromyoursinfulwayofliving,andplaceyourtrustinJesusChrist,youcanbeforgiven andreconciledtoGodtoday. WhatajoyitwouldbetolayyourheaddownonyourpillowtonightknowingthatallisrightwithGod,knowingthat allofyoursinsareforgiven.IencourageyoutocallouttoGodrightnow.

ALogicalArgumentforGod'sExistence
LecturenotesbyCharlieCampbell DirectorofTheAlwaysBeReadyApologeticsMinistry

1.Somethingexists.

Thatseemsprettysimple,right?Canweallagreethatthisistrue?Eventheatheistwillagreethatthisistrue.This seemstobeundeniablytrue.Anybodywhowouldsaythatnothingexistswouldhavetoexisttoinordertosay thatinwhichcasehewouldbedefeatinghisownstatement. Mysecondpremiseisthis:

2.Nothingdoesnotproducesomething.
Thisstatementisofcoursetrueaswell.Thinkaboutit.Itwouldbeabsurdtosaythatnothingcouldcreateor producesomething. Nothingisnothing.Nothingdoesnothavethepowertodoanythingatall,doesit!EvenDavidHumeoneofthe mostzealousskepticsofChristianityeveragreedtothetruthofthissecondpremise.Hesaid,Ineverassertedso absurdapropositionasthatanythingmightarisewithoutacause.(Feb.1754). Toproposethatnothingcoulddoanythingatallsoundsutterlyfoolish.Abasiclawofphysics(andifyoueverhad aphysicsclassyoullrecallthis)iscalledtheLawofConservation.Itstates:Fromnothing,comesnothing. Thissupportsoursecondpremiseaswell.Soifthefirsttwopremisesaretrue,that
1.Somethingexistsand 2.Nothingdoesnotproducesomething,thenaratherastoundingconclusionlogicallyfollows... 3.Somethingmusthavealwaysexisted.

Whysthat?Okay,well,letswalkbackthroughthis.Somethingnowexists.Nothingdoesnotproducesomething, thensomethingmusthavealwaysexisted.

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 Why must something have always existed? To have brought the something that now exists (in No.1) into existence.Why?Becausepremisenumbertwoistrue(Nothingdoesnotproducesomething).Butthecriticasks, Whydoesthatsomethinghavetobeeternal?Arentyoujustassumingtheeternalityofthatsomethingthat broughtintoexistencethesomethingthatnowexists(no.1)?" Not at all. Stay with me on this. There is a reason why that something (no. 3) must be eternal. To say that that something(inpremiseno.3)didnotalwaysexistwouldbetosaythatitwasfinite.Right?Ifthatsomething(inpremiseno. 3)wasfinite,thatmeansithadabeginning.Ifthatsomethinghadabeginningwearebackatourstart.Howdidthat something(premiseno.3)begin?Didnothingcreatesomething?No,thatsimpossible.Nothingcantdoanything. Anythingthatbeginstoexistmusthaveacause.Ifwedenythiswearesayingthatnothingproducedsomething from nothing and by nothing. But this is absurd. So we are left with the only other option and that is that somethinginno.3musthavealwaysexisted. Doyouunderstandwhypremise3mustbetrue? Now,thereareonlytwooptionsastowhatthatsomethingthatalwaysexistedmightbe: A.TheUniverse,or B.Somethingoutsidetheuniverse Thefourthpremiseinmyargumentisthis: 4.TheUniversehasnotalwaysexisted.

In1948,atheoryknownasTheSteadyStateTheory,wassetforth,thatproposedthattheuniversewaseternal (WilliamLaneCraig,ReasonableFaith,p.102).Itstatedthattheuniversehasalwaysbeen.Ifthistheoryiscorrectthe critics of Christianity said, there is no need for a Creator. Well, the theory sounded good on paper for the atheist,forawhilebutthescientificevidenceagainstithassincedemolishedthetheory. Numerousevidencesfromthefieldofastronomynowoverwhelminglypointtothefactthattheuniverseactually begantoexistafinitetimeagoinaneventwhenallthephysicalspace,time,matter,andenergyintheuniverse cameintobeing. AndthatisexactlywhattheBibleaffirms,thattheuniversehadabeginning.InthebeginningGodcreatedthe heavensandtheearth(Gen.1:1) Letmesharewithyoujust2factsofsciencethatdealafataldeathblowtothetheoryofaneternaluniverse.The firstblowtothistheorythatuniverseiseternalis a)THEMOTIONOFTHEGALAXIES

Prior to the 1920s, scientists had always assumed that the universe as a whole was stationary. [Of course they acknowledgedthattherewasmovementofplanetsinsolarsystems,etc.] But in 1929 an alarming thing happened. An astronomer named Edwin Hubblediscovered that the light from distantgalaxiesappearedtoberedderthanitshould.ThestartlingconclusiontowhichHubblewasledwasthat thelightisredderbecausetheuniverseisgrowingapart;itisexpanding!Whenthesourceofincominglightis movingawayfromanobjectthelightthatyouseeisshiftedtowardtheredendofthespectrum.Thelightofthe galaxies wasredder because theyare moving away from us. But here is theinteresting part: Hubble notonly showed that the universe is expanding, but that it is expanding the same in all directions. Scientists have concludedthatthegalaxiesintheuniversearenotstationarybutareexpandingfurtherandfurtherawayfrom eachotherfromwhatappearstobesomestationarypoint. ImaginethatIwastodrawabunchofdotsonaballoonthatrepresentedgalaxiesandthenblowuptheballoon. Ifyouweretosucktheairbackout,orletssayrewindthefilm,gobackintimewhatwouldhappen?Thedots would converge, i.e. get closer to one another. The same is true with our universe. If you go back in time scientistssaythatthestarswouldconvergeintoasingularspace,wheretheyexplodedintobeing:

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 Thisexplosionorbeginningoftheuniverseisoftenreferredtoas,youknowthename: THEBIGBANG."WecallitGenesis1:1.ItsincrediblethatthescientificevidencethathelpsestablishBigBang theoryalsohelpsverifywhattheChristiantheisthasalwaysbelieved:Thattheuniverseactuallyhadabeginning!! Genesis1:1 Inthebeginning,Godcreatedtheheavens..." Asecondblowtothetheorythattheuniverseiseternalcomesfromthefactsbehind... b)THESECONDLAWSOFTHERMODYNAMICS

[Thefirstlawsaysthattheactualamountofenergyintheuniverseremainsconstantitdoesntchange.]

TheSecondLawofThermodynamicsisoneofthebest,mostestablishedlawsinallofscience.Infact,thereisno recordedexperimentinthehistoryofsciencethatcontradictsit.Itstatesthat:theamountofuseableenergyin any closed system (which the universe is) is decreasing. In other words, the useable energy in the universe is dyingoutlikethebatteriesinaflashlight. Scientistsacknowledgethatthesuncannotburnforever,andthatevenourgalaxyitselfwilloneday,ifleftto itself,burnupanddieout.SowereasonthatiftheSecondLawofThermodynamicsistrueforallclosedsystems, and it is, then it is true for the universe asa whole. The universe according to the atheist is a gigantic closed system,sincetothemitisallthereisandthereisnothingoutsideit.Thismeansthattheuniverseiscurrently runningoutofuseableenergy.Ifitisrunningoutofuseableenergy,thenitcannotbeeternal,forafiniteamount ofenergy(nomatterhowlargethequantity.)couldneverhavebroughttheuniversethroughaneternityoftime.

Flashlight Illustration: Let's say you stumbled upon this flashlight and youre curious how long it has been burning. So you do a little investigation. Through your investigation you discover that the batteries are going downhill.Theyarerunningoutofenergy.Youturntoascientiststandingnearbyandaskhim:Howlongdoyou thinktheflashlightsbeenburning?Now,whatifhewastotellyou:Itsalwaysbeenon.Itsbeenlitlikethisand burninglikethisforever. Huh?Wouldyoubelievethat?Ofcoursenot.Theresaproblemwiththatisntthere? Batterieswithafiniteamountofenergy(seeninthefactthattheyaresteadilyrunningoutofenergy)couldnever havekeptthelightburningforaneternalamountoftime.Itwouldhaverunoutofbatteriestrillionsofyears ago!!Soitiswiththeuniverse.Theamountofuseableenergyissteadilydecreasing,thusprovingitimpossible thatithasbeenburningforalleternity.So,itisscientificdiscoverieslike 1.TheMotionoftheGalaxies 2.TheSecondLawofThermodynamics
(andotherdiscoverieslikethebackgroundradiationechodiscoveredbyPenziasandWilson)

...thathaveblowntheSteadyStateTheoryintosmithereens. Now,ifmypremisesarealltrue:
1. Somethingexists. 2.Nothingdoesnotproducesomething. 3.Somethingmusthavealwaysexisted. 4.Theuniversehasnotalwaysexisted

...thenaconclusioncanbevalidlydrawnfromthesepremises. 5.TheremustbeaneternalpowerbeyondtheUniversethatcausedtheuniversetocomeintobeing. Doyouthinkthisisasoundargumentthusfar?Ibelieveitis!Thewholeargumentcouldcomecrashingdown,if evenjustoneofthepremisescouldbeproventobefalse.Causingtheargumenttocrashwouldntprovethat Goddoesntexist,itwouldjustprovethattheargumentisnotvalid.Letstakeitabitfurther.

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 6.IntelligentlifeexistsintheUniverse I take that to be selfevident. This also seems to be undeniable. Anybody who would say that there is not intelligentlifeintheuniversewouldbeutteringanintelligentstatementfromanintelligentbeing. Tounderstandanyofthisstudythisfar(evenifyoudisagreedwithwhatIwassaying)wouldprovethatthissixth premiseistrue...forithastakenagreatdegreeofintelligencetounderstandthethousandsofcombinationsof syllablesthatIhavebeenuttering. Sothispremiseisundeniablytrueaswell.Letstakeitfurther. 7.Ittakesanintelligentlivingbeingtocreateanintelligentlivingbeing. Howcouldamaterial,inanimate,unintelligent,unconsciousforceproduceonintelligentliving,breathingbeing? It takesa living, intelligent being to create a living, intelligent being. Nonlife does not produce life. Youcould leavethebarrensideofamountainexposedto...

wind rain theforcesofnature chance millionsofyearsoftimeandyouwouldnevergetaMountRushmore,letalonealiving,breathinghumanbeing.

Why?Ittakesintelligence.Youneedintelligentintervention.Itwouldtakegreatintelligencetocreatearobot thatoperateslikeahuman,andevenmoreso,ittakesintelligencetocreatearealhumanbeing. 8.Therefore,itmustbeanintelligent,living,eternalpower,beyondtheuniversethatcreatedtheuniverse

Thatintelligent,living,eternalpower,beyondtheuniversethatcreatedtheuniverseisGod. Now this may sound a little too complex to share with an unbeliever. But that is only because I tried to go throughthisverycarefully.Letmeshowyouhoweasyandquicklythiskindofinformationcanbesharedwitha personthatchallengesyouabouttheexistenceofGod. Skeptic:HowdoyouknowthatGodexists?Idontunderstandhowyoucanbelieveinsomethingyoucantsee. Christian:Well,letmeaskyouacoupleofquestions. Skeptic:Sure. Christian:Canweagreethatsomethingexists[premiseone]? Skeptic:Yes Christian:Canweagreethatnothingdoesnotproducesomething[premise2]? Skeptic:Letmethinkaboutthat. Christian:Thisshouldbeeasytorealize.Nothingcantdoanything.Whatisnothing?Itisnothing.Itcanteat, breathe,think,move,oract.Nothingisnothing.EvenDavidHumeconcededthatitisanabsurdpropositionto suggestthatthingsarisewithoutacause. Skeptic:Thatmakessense.Yes. Christian:Ifsomethingexists,andnothingdoesnotproducesomethingthencanweagreethatsomethingmust havealwaysexisted[premise3]? Skeptic:Huh? Christian:Somethingmusthavealwaysexistedtohavebroughtintobeingthethingsthatnowexist,forasyou justagreed:Nothingcannotproducesomething.Now,thereareonlytwooptionsastowhatthatsomethingthat has always existed might be: The universe or something outside the universe. Well amazingly, today scientists haveactuallyproventhattheuniversehasnotalwaysexisted[premise4].Themotionofthegalaxies,theSecond LawofThermodynamics,theBackgroundRadiationEchoallpointtothefactthattheuniversebegantoexist. Iftheuniversehasnotalwaysexisted,andsomethingmusthavealwaysexisted,thensomethingorsomeone outside of the universe must have always existed, I propose to you that that person is an intelligent, living, powerfulbeing,i.e.God[conclusion]. Skeptic:Interesting.Nooneseverexplainedittomethatway.

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 CONCLUSION Formeitismorereasonabletobelieve,basedonthelawsoflogicaswellastheobservablescientificevidence thatGodexists,ratherthantobelievewhattheatheistbelievesthatnothing,timesnobody,equalseverything weseeintheuniverse. ThrowinthefactthatwealsohavethetestimonyofourconscienceandtherevelationofGodintheScriptures andIbelievewearestandingonsolidgroundwhenweaffirm: InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavensandtheearth.(Genesis1:1)

FourWaysGodHasRevealedHimself
LecturenotesbyCharlieCampbell DirectorofTheAlwaysBeReadyApologeticsMinistry

GODHASREVEALEDHimselftomankindinavarietyofways.Here,inaconcisemanner,are4ofthemainways: 1.CREATION Psalm19:14 "TheheavenstellofthegloryofGod.TheskiesdisplayHismarvelouscraftsmanship.Dayafterdaytheycontinue tospeak;nightafternighttheymakeHimknown.Theyspeakwithoutasoundoraword;theirvoiceissilentinthe skies;yettheirmessagehasgoneouttoalltheearth,andtheirwordstoalltheworld..." Romans1:20 "ForsincethecreationoftheworldHisinvisibleattributes,Hiseternalpoweranddivinenature,havebeenclearly seen,beingunderstoodthroughwhathasbeenmade,sothattheyarewithoutexcuse." Haveyoueverstoppedtothinkaboutthis?Verse20saysthatGod'sinvisibleattributes,anddivinenature,have beenclearlyseen(v.20)."TheBiblesaysthatman,bysimplycontemplatingcreationitself,cancometoan understandingofcertainaspectsofGod'spersonalityorattributes!Infact,Hisattributesareclearlyseen. Q.WhataresomeoftheattributesofGodthatyouthinkareclearlyseen(apartfromtheScripturalrevelation)justby lookingatcreation?Ithinkitissafetoconclude(evenapartfromtheScriptures)thatGodmustbe... a)POWERFUL.Whenoneconsidersthevastoceans,themajesticmountainpeaks,the enormityoftheearthandtheincomprehensiblesizeofthestarsandthebillionsofgalaxies, itiseasytodiscernthatGodmustbeincrediblypowerful. b)INTELLIGENT.Whenoneexaminestheintricatedesignandharmonyallaroundusorthe irreduciblycomplexinteriorofacellorthecodeembeddedintheDNA,itiseasytoconclude thatGodmustbeincrediblyintelligent. c)CREATIVE.Thinkofthemillionsofkindsofanimals,andreptiles,bugs,fish.Thereareat least10millionspeciesofinsects(TheU.S.NaturalMuseum). d)PERSONAL.Ifwecancommunicate,ifwecanhearandsee,thensurelyourCreatorwho madetheearandtheeyecanhearandseealso. Psalm94:89 "Understand,yousenselessamongthepeople;Andyoufools,whenwillyoubewise?Hewho plantedtheear,shallHenothear?Hewhoformedtheeye,shallHenotsee?(NKJV)

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 'Can'tyoudiscern'hesays,'thatifyoucanhearandsee,thattheGodwhomadeyoumustalsobe abletodoso?' e)KINDandGRACIOUS.InActs14:17,PaulsaidthatGod.... didnotleaveHimselfwithoutwitness,inthatHedidgoodandgaveyourainsfromheavenand fruitfulseasons,satisfyingyourheartswithfoodandgladness. f)RIGHTEOUS.Ourconscience(whichissomethingthatPaulbringsupinRomans2)andtheconvicting workoftheHolySpirit,revealstousthatGodisrighteous.MyconsciencetellsmethatGodis right,andIamguiltywhenI'vesinnedagainstHislaws.TheHolySpiritconvictsofsin,andof righteousnessandjudgment.

2.CONSCIENCE

Romans2:1415ForwhenGentileswhodonothavetheLawdoinstinctivelythethingsoftheLaw,these,not havingtheLaw,arealawtothemselves,15inthattheyshowtheworkoftheLawwrittenintheirhearts,their consciencebearingwitness,andtheirthoughtsalternatelyaccusingorelsedefendingthem(NASB)

Godhasprogrammedeveryindividualtoknowthatcertainthingsarerightandcertainthingsarewrong regardlessofwhetherthelawsareputintolegislationbyhumangovernments.Theexistenceofthesemorallaws pointsmantoaMoralLawgiverthattranscends(orisoverandabove)humangovernmentsandmanmadelaws.

Bothtestimonyofcreationandconsciencefallundertheheadingof:GeneralRevelation.Generalrevelation
referstoGod'srevelationthatreaches

allpeople ofalltimes ineveryculture

3.CHRIST

TheBibleteachesthatJesuswasGodincarnate(e.g.,John1:1,5:18,8:58). Hebrews1:12God,whoatvarioustimesandinvariouswaysspokeintimepasttothefathersbytheprophets, hasintheselastdaysspokentousby[What?]HisSon,whomHehasappointedheirofallthings,throughwhom alsoHemadetheworlds; John1:18TheonlybegottenSon,whoisinthebosomoftheFather,HehasdeclaredHim John14:9IfyouhaveseenmeyouhaveseentheFather

Godhasalso,fourthly,revealedHimselftomanthrough

4.CANONOFSCRIPTURETHEBIBLE

Theword,canonmeansstandard.BycanonthenIamreferringtothestandardcollectionof66booksthatmake uptheBible,God'sholyword.TheScripturesrevealtous

thatGodexists whatHeislike andwhatHiswillisforus andevensomeofHisdealingswithpeopleinthepast.

John20:31ButthesearewrittenthatyoumaybelievethatJesusistheChrist,theSonofGod,andthatbelieving youmayhavelifeinHisname AndtheBiblenotonlyclaimstobetheWordofGodbutitdemonstratesitselftobetheWordofGodwithits numerousfulfilledprophecies,amazingunity,andscientificaccuracyandforesight. 2Peter1:1921Wehavealsoamoresurewordofprophecy;whereyoushalldowellifyetakeheed,asuntoa lightthatshinesinadarkplace,untilthedaydawn,andthedaystarariseinyourhearts:Knowingthisfirst,that noprophecyofthescriptureisofanyprivateinterpretation.Fortheprophecycamenotinoldtimebythewillof man:butholymenofGodspokeastheyweremovedbytheHolyGhost

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EvidenceofTrustworthinessforTheBible
byCharlieCampbell

ThewordBiblecomesfromtheGreekwordbiblos,whichmeansbook. The Bibleisunarguablyanincrediblebook!TheBibleisthebestselling,mostquoted, most published, most circulated, most translated, most influential book in the historyofmankind.Nowtheseareinterestingfacts,butdothey provethatthe Bibleisactuallytrue?No.WhyshouldanybodybelievethattheBibleisactually true? Might not the Bible be a fraud? Might not it be an ancient book of mythology,filledwiththefanciful,yetdeceitfulwritingsofmen?WhyshouldI trusttheBible? Thosearequestionsthatintelligent,criticalthinkingpeopleareaskingtoday.ThosearethequestionsIusedto askabouttheBible.Weneedto,asChristians,beabletoanswerthesequestions.So,inourtimetogetherthis eveningIdliketosharewithyousomeoftheevidencethatIthinkdemonstratesthattheBibleisindeedwhatit claimstobe,theinspired,trustworthyWordofGod. Iwanttodothatbybringingtothewitnessstand,ifyouwill,tenwitnessesorevidencesthatalltestifytothis truth.Myprayeristhat,ifyouarealreadyaChristian,yourfaithintheBiblewillbestrengthened,andifyouare askepticthatyouwillreconsideryourskepticism.
ThefirstwitnessorevidencefortheBiblestrustworthinessis...

1.FULFILLEDPROPHECY
Fulfilled prophecy is something that sets the Bible apart from every other religious book. There are 26 other religiousbooksthatpeopleoffaithbelievearedivinelyinspired (theVedas,theBhagavadGita,theMahabharata, theUpanishads,theQur'an,theBookofMormon,theTripitaka,etc.). Ofthesetwentysixbooks,noneofthem,nota singleone,containsanyspecific,fulfilledprophecies! The Bible however, is filled with hundreds of specific detailed prophecies that were written hundreds and/or thousandsofyearsbeforetheirfulfillment!Infact,anamazing27%oftheBible (more than 1 out of every 4 verses) contains what was predictive prophecy at the time that it was written. And the authors of the Bible did not just predictsomevaguethingslikeNostradamusorJeanneDixon (whobytheway,haveproventobewrongoverandover again), theywere veryspecific. Consider some of the more than100 differentand very specific prophecies made concerningtheMessiah,whotheOldTestamentprophesiedwouldcome. The Old Testament foretold, hundreds, even thousands of years in advance, very specific details about: the Messiah's ancestry, that Hed be born of the seed of Abraham (Gen. 12:13, 22:18), of the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:10), of the house of David (2 Samuel 7:12f), etc. The city in which He would be born (Micah 5:2), that Hed comewhilethetemplewasstillstanding (Malachi3:1), thatHewouldbebornofavirgin (Isaiah7:14), thatHe wouldperformmiracles (Isaiah35:56), thatHedberejectedbyHisownpeople (Psalm118:22;Isa53:31Pet 2:7), theprecisetimeinhistorywhenHewoulddie (Dan9:2426;483yrsafterthedeclarationtoreconstructthecity ofJerusalemin444B.C.Thiswasfulfilledtotheveryyear.), howHewoulddie (Psalm22:1618Isa53;Zech12:10), thatHewouldrisefromthedead(Psalm16:10;Acts2:2732),andtherearemanymore.Alloftheseprophecies& hundredsothershavebeenliterallyfulfilled. Theskepticsays:Maybe Christiansinsertedthose prophecies backintotheOldTestamentafter Jesuslived. Notachance.Howdoweknow?ThereexiststodayhundredsofmanuscriptcopiesoftheOldTestamentthat predatethetimeofChristsbirth.TheseancientcopiesoftheOldTestament,datingbacktothethirdcentury B.C.,verifythatthesepropheciesconcerningtheMessiahwerealreadyinplace.In1947ashepherdboytending hisfatherssheepinQumran,northandtothewestoftheDeadSeainIsrael,madeanamazingdiscoverywhile lookingforalostsheep.ThereinQumran,inahillside

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cavethathadlainuntouchedfornearly2,000years,hediscoveredanancientcollectionofhandwrittencopies oftheOldTestament.ThesescrollshadbeenhiddenincavesbytheEssenes,aJewishsectlivinginQumran, 2,000yearsago.Thesescrollsandwritings(nowknownastheDeadSeaScrolls)representedeverybookoftheOld TestamentexcepttheBookofEsther,andareconsideredoneofthegreatestdiscoveriesinmoderntimes.Its manuscript evidence like this Isaiah scroll that dates back to about 100 B.C. proves, beyond the shadow of a doubt,thattheOldTestament,anditsmanypropheciesconcerningtheMessiah,wasfinishedlongbeforeJesus wasevenborn. Theskepticsays:HowdoyouknowthattheDeadSeaScrollsdatebacktobeforeChrist?Teamsofscholars determinedthescrollsagebyexamining1.Thepotterythathousedthemanuscripts2.Theweaveandpattern ofthemanuscriptcloths3.Theformofthewrittencharacters4.Thespellingofthewords5.Thecoinsfound alongsidethemanuscripts6.TheyalsousedCarbon14Dating Theskepticsays:PerhapsJesuswasnottheMessiah,butjustaccidentallyorevendeliberatelysetouttofulfill theseprophecies.First,itshardtothinkofanypersondeliberatelysettingouttofulfillpropheciesthatwould result in a short life and an excruciating drawn out death on a cross. Secondly, how doesa man deliberately choosethelineageheisborninto,thetimeperiodinwhichheisborn,thecityinwhichheisborn?Wasthe fulfillmentofthesepropheciesanaccident?PeterStoner,amathematician,andProfessorEmeritusofScience atWestmontCollege,inhisbookScienceSpeaks(Moody1963) calculatedtheoddsofasinglemanfulfillingjust eightofthepropheciesthatJesusfulfilledasthemathematicalimprobabilityof1in10tothe17th.Thatisa HUGE number. One in 10 to the seventeenth power. That's a one with 17zeros after it (100,000,000,000,000,000). Ifwehad100quadrillion1x1.5tileswecouldcovereverysquareinchofdryland onplanetEarth.Thefactthatthesepropheciesandhundredsofothershavebeenfulfilled,eventhoughthey werespokenhundredsandeventhousandsofyearsbeforetheirfulfillment,isstrongevidencethataGod,who isallknowingandallpowerful,alsoorchestratedtheBiblescompletionandduration. Theskepticsays:RegardingPeterStonersresearch:Howdoyouknowhisconclusionswerereliable?Washis researchcheckedbyanyofhispeers?Yeshesubmittedhisresearchtohispeers.Infacthesubmittedittothe American Scientific Affiliation. Even H. Harold Hartzler, Ph. D., of the American Scientific Affiliation, said this (anditisintheforewordofPeterStoner'sbook): ThemanuscriptforScienceSpeakshasbeencarefullyreviewed byacommitteeoftheAmericanScientificAffiliationmembersandbytheExecutiveCouncilofthesamegroup andhasbeenfound,ingeneral,tobedependableandaccurateinregardtothescientificmaterialpresented. Themathematicalanalysisincludedisbaseduponprinciplesofprobabilitywhicharethoroughlysoundand Professor Stoner has applied these principles in a proper and convincing way. Only the God of the Bible knowstheendfromthebeginning.TheGodoftheBiblesaidinIsaiah46:910IamGod,andthereisnone like Me,Declaringtheendfromthebeginning,andfromancienttimesthingsthatarenotyetdone." Agreat bookonBibleprophecyis,EveryProphecyoftheBible,byDr.JohnWalvoord.Itdocumentshownearly1,000 of the Bibles prophecies have already been fulfilled. So evidence number one: Fulfilled Prophecy, an amazing witnesstothedivineoriginandtrustworthinessoftheBible.

2.ARCHAEOLOGICALDISCOVERIES
Forthepast150yearsarchaeologistshavebeenverifyingtheexacttruthfulnessoftheBible'sdetailedrecordsof variousevents,customs,persons,cities,nations,andgeographicallocations.Dr.NelsonGlueckprobablythegreatest modernauthorityonIsraeliarcheology,hassaid,Noarcheologicaldiscoveryhasevercontroverted [overturned] a Biblicalreference.Scoresofarcheologicalfindingshavebeenmadewhichconfirminclearoutlineorinexactdetail, thehistoricalstatementsfoundintheBible.And,bythesametoken,properevaluationofBiblicaldescriptionshas oftenledtoamazingArchaeologicaldiscoveries. In every instance where the Bible can be, or has been checked out archaeologically, it has been found to be 100%accurate.TheBiblehasprovensoaccuratethatarchaeologistsoftenrefertoitasareliableguidewhen theygotodiginnewareas.Infact,therehavebeenmorethan25,000discoverieswithintheregionknownas the "Bible Lands that have confirmed the truthfulness of the Bible. Entire books have been written on this topic.Allowmetogiveyou3Examples:

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a)PontiusPilate TheBiblesaysthathewastheRomangovernorofJudeathemanwhoissuedtheofficialorderforJesustobe sentenced to death by crucifixion. [Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 1819] For years critics of Christianity wereskepticalofwhetherPontiusPilatewasarealhistoricalpersonornotbecausetherewaslittlementionof him outside of the Bible. But the day came in June of 1961, when a team of Italian archaeologists led by Dr. Antonio Frova, were excavating the Mediterranean port city of Caesarea that had at one time served as the RomancapitalofPalestine.ItwasthereinthejumbledruinsofanancientRomantheaterthattheyuncovereda large 2 x 3, 5 or so thick, limestone rock. The inscription on the rock amazed the archaeologists. It read in Latin:PontiusPilate,PrefectofJudea,haspresentedtheTiberiumtotheCaesareans.(Scholarsbelievethatthe
TiberiumreferstoatempleorsomeotherkindofpublicstructurenamedaftertheRomanemperorTiberius,whoreignedfrom 1437ad)ThisstoneisondisplaytodayintheIsraelMuseumasatestimonytothereliabilityoftheBible.

b)Caiaphas Caiaphas,theBibletellsus,wastheJewishhighpriestatthetimeofJesuscrucifixion.Washeamakebelieve character?Somethoughtso,thatisuntilNovemberof1990,whentheCaiaphasfamilytombwasaccidentally discoveredbyworkersconstructingawaterparkjustsouthofJerusalem.Archaeologistswerehastilycalledto the scene. When they examined the tomb they found 12 ossuaries (limestone bone boxes) containing the remainsof63individuals.Ontheoutsideofthemostbeautifullydecoratedoftheossuarieswasinscribedthe words:JosephsonofCaiaphas.WhatsincredibleisthatJosephus (thatJewishhistorianofthefirstcenturyA.D.) inhiswritings (Antiquities18: 2, 2;4,3) documentsthatthatwasactuallythefullnameofthehighpriestwho arrested Jesus, Joseph son of Caiaphas. (Saying son of was a way of referring to the family name). Inside the ossuaryarchaeologistsfoundtheremainsofsomeoneapproximately60yearsoldatthetimeofhisdeath...the actualbonesofCaiaphas,thehighpriestmentionedintheBible.TodayCaiaphasossuaryisalsoondisplayin theIsraelMuseumasatestimonyoftheBiblestrustworthiness!Athirdexampleastodowith c)David DavidofcoursewasthemostlovedofallofIsraelskings.SomeliberalscholarsthoughhaddeniedthatKing David was a historical figure because there was no mention of him outside of the Bible. Their skepticism changedin1993.Itwasthen,atanexcavationatTelDaninNorthIsraeltheyfoundanowfamousstonewithan inscription (in Aramaic) referring to the House of David. In 1994 two more fragments of the same stone inscriptionwerediscovered,againmentioningtheHouseofDavid.In1995TimeMagazinedidastoryonthis discoveryandstated,Thiswritingdatedtothe9thcenturyB.C.,onlyacenturyafterDavidsreigndescribed avictorybyaneighboringkingovertheIsraelitesTheskepticsclaimthatKingDavidneverexistedisnowhard todefend" (Time,December18,1995). ItsbecauseofdiscoverieslikethisthatmenlikeMillarBurrows,(former ProfessoratYaleUniversity)stated,archaeologicalworkhasunquestionablystrengthenedconfidenceinthe reliabilityoftheScripturalrecord.MorethanonearchaeologisthasfoundhisrespectfortheBibleincreased by the experience of excavation in Palestine" (Burrows, Millar. What Mean These Stones? New Haven: American Schools of Oriental Research. 1941, p. 1.). Like I said, there are literally thousands of these archaeological discoveriesthatpointtotheBiblebeinganaccurateandtrustworthyhistoricaldocument. Now,thisissomethingthathasnotproventobethecaseforothersupposedHolyBooks.ConsidertheBook ofMormon.NotonepieceofevidencehaseverbeenfoundtosupporttheBookofMormon notatraceof thelargecitiesitnames,noruins,nocoins,nolettersordocumentsormonuments,nothinginwriting.Not evenoneoftheriversormountainsoranyofthetopographyitmentionshaseverbeenidentified.(DaveHunt, p.156,InDefenseoftheFaith;alsoseep.107inTheCaseforChrist,byLeeStrobel). Nothingwhichdemonstratesthatthe Book of Mormon is anything other than an early 19th century piece of American fiction, invented by Joseph Smith has ever been found. National Geographic Society stated on August 12th 1998, Archaeologists and otherscholarshavelongprobedthehemisphere'spast,andtheSocietydoesnotknowofanythingfoundso far that has substantiated the Book of Mormon. The Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. has also verified this utter lack ofevidence saying in 1996 The Smithsonian Institution has never used theBook of Mormon in any way as a scientific guide. Smithsonian Archaeologists see no connection between the archaeologyoftheNewWorldandthesubjectmatteroftheBook.

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 d)PoolofSiloam Hezekiah, a king of Judah in the Eighth century B.C., built a tunnel through Mount Ophel in Jerusalem southwardfromtheundergroundGihonSpringthroughalmost1,750feetofrocktochannelwatertothePool ofSiloaminsidethecitywalls.ItwastothispoolthatJesussentablindmantohavehimwashhiseyesinits waterandreceivehissight,accordingtoJohn9:7. Until recently, only a small portion of the pool has been accessible. After the site was excavated in the late nineteenth century, the people of the village of Silwan (modern spelling of Siloam) built on the northwest cornerofthelittlepoolamosquewithaminaret,whichstillstandsaboveit.However,excavationsatthesitein thefirstsixmonthsof2005haveuncoveredtheeasternportionofalargepool,fiftymetersinlength,(itswidth notyetknown)whichliesonlyabouttenmeterssouthofthelittlepool.Thesetwoareundoubtedlyapartof onelargercomplexthatwascalledtheSiloamPool(likethePoolofBethesdawhichhadtwosections).Ithasa series of stone steps for entering the pool, which, being fed by fresh running water from the Gihon Spring through a small channel discovered on the north side of the pool, was probably a major facility for ritual purificationbeforeenteringthetemple.ThismaybethereasonJesuschosethispoolforthemiracle.Astone pavementhasalsorecentlybeendiscovered,leadingfromthepoolupMt.OpheltotheTempleMount. e)RollingStonesatTombs InMatthew(see28:2)itisstatedthatanangeldescendedfromheaventothetombofJesus,"rolledbackthe stoneandsatuponit."ManytombsfromthetimeofChristhavebeendiscoveredinJerusalem,andsomeof themstillhavetheserollingstonesbytheirentrances.AtombfromthetimeofJesuswasbuiltfortheburialof Queen Helena of Adiabene north of the Damascus Gate and has the stone still in place. Another, better preservedrollingstone,stillstandsbesidetheentrancetothetombofthefamilyofHerodtheGreat,southof the King David Hotel. More than 60 rolling stone tombs have been found and studied in Israel and Jordan in recentyears. f)CapernaumSynagogue WhenJesusbeganhispublicministryinNazarethofGalileeatabout30yearsofageandwasrejectedinthe synagoguethere(seeLuke3:23;4:1630),hewenttoCapernaum,asmallvillageonthenorthshoreoftheSea ofGalilee,whereheapparentlylivedinthehomeofSimonPeter,oneofhisdisciples(seeMatthew8:14;Mark 2:1), and taught in the synagogue (see Mark 1:21; 3:1; John 6:59). Archaeological excavations conducted in Capernaum have discovered the synagogue under the fourth/fifth century limestone structure still standing there.Portionsofthefloorandwallsofthefirstcenturysynagoguewerefoundbeneaththefloorofthislater building. g)Acts17:6andPolitarchsinThessalonica The credibility of the Bible has been challenged for many years by critics who have insisted that Luke, the authoroftheActsoftheApostles,erroneouslyusedtheGreektermPolitarchinreferringtotheofficialsbefore whomChristiansassociatedwiththeapostlePaulweretakeninthecityofThessalonica(seeActs17:6).Ithas beenadamantlyassertedthatnosuchofficeexistedatthattime.However,aninscriptioncontainingthisterm hasbeenfoundinthatcityandisnowdisplayedintheBritishMuseum.Theinscription,whichwasattachedtoa first century arch on Egnatia Street, begins "In the time of the Politarchs..." Thirtyfive inscriptions have now beendiscoveredwhichcontainthisterm;nineteenofthemcomefromThessalonica,andatleastthreedateto thefirstcenturyA.D.TheseinscriptionsprovethattheofficeofpolitarchsexistedinThessalonicainthetimeof theNewTestamentandthattheBibleisaccurateinitsuseoftheterm. h)ErastusinCorinth BeforeA.D.50,a62footsquareareawaspavedwithstoneatthenortheastcornerofthetheaterinCorinth, Greece.ExcavationsthererevealedpartofaLatininscriptioncarvedintothepavementwhichreads:"Erastusin returnforhisaedileshiplaid(thepavement)athisownexpense."

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The Erastus of this inscription is identified in the excavation publication as the Erastus mentioned by Paul in Romans16:23,aletterwrittenfromCorinth,inwhichErastusisreferredtoas"thecitytreasurer."Threemain pointsfavoringtheidentificationaresetforthbytheeditoroftheinscriptions:1)thepavementwaslaidaround A.D. 50, the time when Erastus would likely have been converted; 2) the name Erastus, an uncommon cognomen,isnotfoundinCorinthotherthaninthisinscription;3)theparticularGreekwordusedbyPaulin thispassagefor"treasurer"(oikonomos)isanappropriatetermtodescribetheworkofaCorinthianaedile. i)Romans13:3InscriptioninCaesareaMaritima WhileIwasexcavatingatCaesareaonthecoastofIsraelin1972,weuncoveredalargemosaicinscriptionofthe GreektextofRomans13:3.Ashorteronehadbeenfoundin1960byanIsraeliarchaeologist,AbrahamNegev. Thetwotexts,datingtoatleastthefifthcentury,arepartofamosaicfloorofalargepublicbuilding (perhapsa praetoriumorarchivesbuilding)andareidenticaltothatpassageintheGreekNewTestament.Theseareasoldas someofouroldestmanuscriptsoftheNewTestament. j)PaulbeforeGallioattheTribunalinCorinth One of the most important discoveries relating to the New Testament is the tribunal (Greek bema), or speaker's platform,fromwhichofficialproclamationswereread,andwherecitizensappearedbeforeappropriateofficials.It stillstandsintheheartoftheforuminCorinth,Greece.Thelargestoneplatformwasidentifiedbyportionsofan inscriptionfoundnearbyanddatedtotheperiodbetweenA.D.25and50,justpriortoPaul'sarrivalinthecity. Paul spent 18 months in Corinth on his second missionary journey. At the end of that time, the Jews took advantageoftheinaugurationofGallioasproconsulofAchaiainMayorJuneof51A.D.(seeActs18:12) tobring Paul before him on the charge of violating their law. Gallio found no violation of Roman law by Paul, no "wrongdoing or vicious crime (see Acts 18:14), and refusing to be a judge of Jewish law, drove Paul's accusers from this "tribunal" (see Acts 18:1617), where he was seated. Gallio was the brother of Seneca, a Greek stoic philosopherwholaterbecameanadvisertotheemperorNero.Senecaperhapsinformedtheemperorofthe factthatPaulhadalreadybeenacquittedbeforeGallioinCorinthandthusinfluencedthefavorableoutcomeof Paul'sfirstarrestinRomeasimpliedinthelastversesofActs.Luke'saccuracyinreferringtothistribunalonce againenhancestheaccuracyoftheBible. Gallio was visiting Corinth from his official residence in Delphi across the Corinthian Gulf. Four fragments of an inscriptioncarvedinstonewhichhadbeenmountedonthewallofapublicbuildinginDelphihavebeenexcavated, whichcontaininformationabouttheaccessionofGallioandhelptodeterminethedateofhistenureinoffice. ThefragmentsarefromacopyofalettersentfromClaudiustothecityofDelphi,eithertothepeopleofDelphiorto thesuccessorofGallio,whohadthelettercarvedintostoneandattachedtothewallofthebuilding.Itcontainsthe nameof"GallioProconsulofAsia",inadditiontothatoftheRomanemperorClaudius,withdatesforhisreign. TheletterisdatedtoA.D.52.Sinceproconsulsnormallyheldofficeforoneyear,andtheseprovincialgovernors wererequiredtoleaveRomefortheirpostsnolaterthanthemiddleofApril,Gallioprobablybeganhistermof officeinMayofA.D.51.AndsincePaulhadarrivedinCorinth 18monthsearlierthanhisappearancebefore Gallio(seeActs18:1112),hewouldhaveenteredCorinthinthewinterof49/50perhapsinJanuaryofA.D.50. This would coincide well with Luke's statement in Acts 18:2, that when Paul arrived in Corinth on his second journey, he found Aquila and Priscilla, Jews who had "recently" come from Rome, "because Claudius had commandedalltheJewstoleaveRome."Thisexpulsionisalsoreferredtoinotherancientsourcesandcanbe datedtoA.D.49.Suetonius,chiefsecretarytotheemperorHadrian (A.D.11738),wroteabiographicalaccount of the Roman emperors entitled The Twelve Caesars, in which he said, "Because the Jews at Rome caused continuousdisturbancesattheinstigationofChrist,heexpelledthemfromtheCity" (seeClaudius25.4).Thus, theaccuracyofLuke'saccountinActsisconfirmedandillustrated.

*ArticleonDiscoveryofChristianChurch/JesusName:http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,174685,00.html 22

3.THEBIBLESINTERNALCONSISTENCY What do I mean, when I speak of the Bibles internal consistency? I am talking about the Bibles internalharmony.FromthefirstbookoftheBible,Genesis,tothelastbook,Revelation,theBibleis absolutelyconsistentthroughout. The skeptic says: Why is that an evidence of divine origin? There are plenty of books that are internallyconsistent.Well,letmegiveyousevenfactorsthatmaketheconsistencyoftheBibleabig dealandanamazingevidenceofitsdivineorigin.
a)TheBibleaddresseslifesmostcontroversialquestions.Howdidtheuniversecomeintoexistence?

DoesGodexist?Andifso,whatisHelike?Whydoesmanexist?Whatisourpurposeforbeinghere? Whyisthereevilandsufferingintheworld?WhathappenstomeafterIdie?
b)TheBibleisacollectionof66differentdocuments.Itmightbeeasytohaveharmonyofthoughtina singlebook liketheQuranthatcontainstheteachingsofasingleman.ButtheBibleisnotasingle book.Itsacompilationof66books:39=BooksintheOldTestament.and.27=BooksintheNew Testament.,allwrittenby40separateAuthors,who,bytheway,claimDivineInspiration.
JewishPriest,Farmers,Paupers,Princes,Prophets,CommonMenandetc)

c) The Bible was written by approximately 40different authors. (Kings, Fisherman, TaxCollector, Doctor,

d)ManyoftheBiblesauthorscamefromdifferenteducationalandculturalbackgroundsPeterwasa fishermanPaulwasascholarDanielwasaprimeministerAsaphwasamusicianMatthewwasa taxcollector.DavidwasashepherdthenakingLukewasahistorianandmedicaldoctor.TheBibles consistencygetsevenmoreamazingwhenyouconsiderfourthlythat e)TheBiblewaswrittenoveraperiodofapproximately1500+years,coveringsome60+generations. Notonlyweretheauthorsseparatedfromeachotherbyhundredsofyearsintime,but... f)Manyoftheauthorswereseparatedbyhundredsofmilesgeographically.Manypeopledontrealize this,buttheBiblewaswritteninavarietyofplacesonthreedifferentcontinents.a.Africa (Egypt)b. Asia c. Europe (Rome for instance) Paul wrote four letters imprisoned in Rome, located in Italy. The Apostle John, wrote while a prisoner banished to the Isle of Patmos in the Mediterranean Sea. The prophetEzekielwrotehisworkwhileheldcaptiveinBabylon.Jeremiahwasinadungeon.Lukewrote whiletraveling.Danielwrotefromahillsideandinapalace. g) The Bible was written in three different languages, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. In spite of these

sevendifferentfactors,whenwelookattheBibleasawhole,wefindittobeaconsistent,harmonious, perfectlyunifiedaccountofhowGodisseekingtoreconcilesinfulmankindbacktoHimselfthroughthe person of His Son, Jesus Christ! If youre not convinced that this is an amazing evidence of the divine originoftheBible,gothroughyourneighborhoodandaskjust10ofyourneighbors,whattheirbeliefs areonthenatureoftheuniverse,themeaningoflife,theoriginofevil,thewayofsalvation,etc.and youllimmediatelyseehowlikelyitistohaveavarietyofcontradictingopinions! 4.EXTERNALVERIFICATION Many people dont know this but there are dozens of writings outside of the Bible that verify the historicalaccuracyofmanyofthenamesofpeople,places,andeventsmentionedintheBible.Infact, externalsourcesverifythatatleast80personswereactualhistoricalfigures,50peoplefromtheOld

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Testamentand30peoplefromtheNewTestament (see list of names and sources on p. 270 in I Dont Have EnoughFaithToBeAnAtheistbyNormanGeislerandFrankTurek).Becauseofengravingsandstatues,andetc., weevenknowwhat18ofthemlookedlike!(12fromtheOTand6fromtheNT). External verification of what the Bible says has led to a radical change of view among liberal (progressives)scholarsregardingthepersonofJesus.Somehadatonetimeputforththefalseideathat Jesus never even existed; that He was merely a mythological character! But, today the existence of Jesus is hardly even debated within informed scholarly circles. The reason why? There are over 39 sources outside of the Bible that attest to more than 100 facts regarding Jesus life, teachings, crucifixion, and resurrection. One of those external sources was the 1st century Roman historian Flavius Josephus. In his writings Josephus verifies that Herod the Great, Herod Antipas, Caiaphas, PontiusPilate,JohntheBaptist,JamesthehalfbrotherofJesus,Felix,Festus,andevenJesus,were allhistoricalfigures.ListentooneofJosephusstatementsaboutJesusofNazareth.Ihavepurposely takenthisfromtheArabictext,ofJosephuswritingscalledAntiquities,chapter18:6364,atextthatis unchallengedbymostcriticsoftheBible.
Josephuswrote:AtthistimetherewasawisemanthatwascalledJesus.Andhisconductwasgood,and (He) was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his

disciples.PilatecondemnedHimtobecrucifiedtodie.Andthosewhohadbecomehisdisciplesdidnotabandon hisdiscipleship.TheyreportedthatHehadappearedtothem3daysafterhiscrucifixionandthatHewasalive."

These are not the words of the Bible or a Christian, but a Roman historian writing outside of the pages of Scripture.Josephuswasntthelonevoice.Therewereothersaswell: a)CorneliusTacitus (ca.A.D.55120)aRomanHistorianwhowrotearoundA.D.115.Althoughhewasnota

ChristianbuthedidverifythatJesuslived,thatHewasfromJudea,thatHelivedduringthereignofTiberius
(A.D.1437),andwasexecutedbyPontiusPilate,whogovernedtheprovinceofJudeafromA.D.2636.

b)GaiusSuetonius(thechiefsecretaryofEmperorHadrianinA.D.117138)

AgreatbookforthoseofinterestedonreadingmoreaboutexternalverificationofthelifeofJesus,is TheHistoricalJesus:AncientEvidencefortheLifeofChrist byGaryR.Habermas.Thisbookisavailablein ouronlinebookstore. 5.THEBIBLESAMAZINGSCIENTIFICACCURACYANDFORESIGHT EventhoughtheBiblewascompleted2,000yearsago,longbeforetheinventionofthemicroscope, the telescope, satellites, etc. it does not contain any scientific errors. This might be considered a miracle in itself. Without exception, every ancient religious writing has certain unscientific views of astronomy,medicine,hygiene,etc.TheQuransaysinSurah18:86thatthesunsetsinamuddyspring. Quran18:86whenhereachedthesettingplaceofthesun,hefounditsettinginamuddyspring Theonlyexceptiontothesekindsoferrors,amongancientreligiouswritings,istheBible. Not only is the Bible free from scientific errors, it miraculously makes known numerous, accurate scientificfactsabouttheuniversethousandsofyearsbeforemodernscientistscaughtup.Thereare lotsofthem.FortimessakeIwillgiveyouafewquickexamples.
a)TheSun

IncontrasttotheQuran,theBibleteachesthatthesunisactuallyonacircuitthroughspace.Writing

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ofthesuninPsalm19:6,Davidsaid,Itsrisingisfromoneendofheaven,anditscircuittotheother end.Formanyyearscriticsscoffedatthisverse,claimingthatittaughtthatthesunrevolvesaround theearth.Scientistsatthattimethoughtthesunwasstationary.However,ithasbeendiscoveredin recentyearsthatthesunisinfactonacircuitthroughspace,justliketheBiblesays.

b)TheShapeoftheEarth

Whentherestoftheworldin1492believedtheearthwasflat,2,000yearsearlier,theProphetIsaiah declaredthattheworldwasroundIsaiah40:22ItisHewhositsabovethecircleoftheearth." The Hebrew word there for circle [chuwg] literally means sphere. And what encircles our globe? A SphereofAtoms(Atmosphere).WhendidIsaiahwritethesewords?Between740680B.C.Thatwasat least 300 years before Aristotle suggested, in his book On the Heavens, that the earth might be a sphere.OtherversesareProverbs8:27andJob26:10.Morethan2,000yearslatersomepeoplestill believedthatChristopherColumbus(14511506)wasgoingtosailofftheedgeofaflatplanetin1492!
c)TheSuspensionoftheEarth

BeforeIsaacNewtondiscoveredgravityHindusbelievedthattheearthrestedonthebackofanelephant thatstoodonthebackofaturtlethatwasswimminginagreatendlesssea.TheGreeksbelievedthatthe mythicalgodAtlascarriedtheearthonhisshoulders.ButJob,theauthorofoneoftheoldestbooksin theBible,wentagainstthephilosophyandscienceofthedayandproclaimedmorethan4,000yearsago thatwhichhasonlybeenscientificallyprovablesincetheadventofsatelliteandrockettechnologyinthe 20thcentury,andthatisthis:Job26:7He[God]hangstheearthuponnothing.

d)TheStars

Beforethetelescopewasinvented,manwasabletonumberthestars.TheGreekastronomerand mathematician Hipparchus (190120 B.C.) said there were exactly 1,026 stars. The astronomer, and mathematicianPtolemysaidtherewere1,056stars.TheGermanastronomer,JohannesKepler(1571 1630), counted 1,006. The whole thought of the stars being uncountable was contrary to modern scienceuntiltheinventionofthetelescope.WhenGalileofirstpointedhistelescopetotheheavensin 1608,wediscoveredtherewerealotmorestarsthananybodyhadeverimagined,justasJeremiah hadsaidJeremiah33:22thehostofheaven[areferencetothestars] cannotbenumbered,northe sand of the sea measured (NKJV). Today, based on powerful telescopes & modern satellite photographs, scientists estimate the universe contains approximately 100 billion galaxies containing approximately200billionstarseach.CarlSagan (19341996),theworldfamousastronomer,said,The totalnumberofstarsintheuniverseisgreaterthanallthegrainsofsandonallthebeachesofthe planetEarth.(Cosmos,p.196).Thatisenoughstarsforeverypersonaliveonplanetearthtopersonally ownapproximately2trillionstarseach.Countingatarateoftenstarsperseconditwouldtakeover 100trillionyears.Surelythehostofheavencannotbenumbered!Dr.MarkEastman,seeScience and The Bible @marshill.org. If you want more of these kinds of amazing scientific insights Id recommendthatyoucheckoutsomeofthesewebsites:marshill.org/answersingenesis.org/icr.org HowdidtheauthorsoftheBibleknowthatthestarswereuncountable,thattheearthwasroundand hangsonnothing?Weretheytakingluckyguesses?Idon'tthinkso.Theirflawlessaccuracyrulesthat out.TheBiblesaysin2Peter1:21thatholymenofGodspokeastheyweremovedbytheHolySpirit. God,whoknowsallthereistoknowabouttheuniverseHecreated,superintendedthewritingofthe Bible to make sure that what He wanted written, was accurately written and translated from generationtogeneration,forallgenerationstoknow!
YoucanrememberthesefirstfiveevidenceswiththeacronymF.A.C.E.S.

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6.THEMANUSCRIPTEVIDENCE Manuscript?Whatisamanuscript?Amanuscriptisahandwrittencopyofanancientdocumentthat predatestheinventionoftheprintingpressin1455.Therehavebeenthose (includingtheMormonsand Muslims) who have falsely asserted that the Bible has undergone corruption down through the centuriesasitwascopiedandtranslated.Buttheevidenceactuallyprovesotherwise. Todaytheresurvivesmorethan24,000partialandcomplete,ancienthandwrittenmanuscriptcopies of the New Testament alone, not to mention hundreds of Old Testament manuscripts that survive today dating back to as early as the 3rd Century B.C. These hand written manuscripts have allowed scholarsandtextualcriticstogobackand verifythattheBiblewehaveinourpossessiontodayisthe sameBiblethattheearlychurchpossessed2,000yearsago.Youcanviewthesemanuscriptsyourselfat placesliketheBritishMuseum,CambridgeUniversityLibrary,SmithsonianInstitute,OxfordUniversity, the NationalLibraryatParisandtheIsraelMuseum. Even if we did not have any manuscripts, we have the writings of the church fathers. By church fatherswearereferringtothoseleadersinthechurch,ofthefirstthreecenturiesA.D.thatfollowed theoriginaldisciples.MenlikeJustinMartyr,Eusebius,Tertullian,Polycarp,whoweredisciplebythe Original Apostles themselves. These men in their writings and correspondence with other believers andotherchurchesquotetheScripturesoverandoveragain.Infact,theearlychurchfathersreferto theNewTestamentalonemorethan86,000times.Thereareenoughquotationsfromtheearlychurch fathers that even if we did not ever have a single manuscript copy of the Bible, scholars could still reconstruct99.86%oftheNewTestament&93%oftheOldTestamentthatwehavetoday! Sothen,whatkindofproofistheMuslimorMormon abletooffertoprovethattheBiblehasbeen changedorcorrupteddownthroughthecenturies?None.TodemonstrateorprovethattheBiblehas beencorrupted,theMuslimorMormonwouldneedtobeabletoholdupancientcopiesoftheBibleand say,Look,hereswhattheBibleusedtosay&hereiswhattheBiblesaysnow.Ithasbeenchanged. But that is exactly what the Mormon and the Muslim can not do. WHY? When you go back to the ancientcopiesoftheBible(theDeadSeaScrolls)thatarestillinexistencetodayinmuseumsandlibrarys around the world, you quickly come to the conclusion, as numerous secular scholars have, that the textofthemodernBiblehasnotundergonecorruption.
Isaiah40:8Thegrasswithers,theflowerfades,butthewordofourGodstandsforever. Matthew24:35Heavenandearthwillpassaway,butMywordswillbynomeanspassaway.

7.THEBIBLESFORTHRIGHTNESSABOUTITSAUTHORSANDHEROSFAILURES TheBiblesopennessaboutitsveryownauthorssinsandfailuresisaseventhreasonthatIbelievethe Bible is an honest work. Its forthrightness in this regard makes it absolutely unique among all other religiousbooks. Unliketheauthorsof otherreligious writingstheauthors oftheBibledidnot seekto castthemselvesingoodlightortoelevatethemselvesatall.Infact,theyfreelyconfessedthattheywere justsinful,ordinarymen.ConsidersomeofthefailuresandshortcomingsthewritersoftheBibletoldus about.WereadofNoahsgettingdrunkshortlyaftergettingoffoftheark (Gen.9:21);Abraham,lying (on more than one occasion) about Sarah being his wife (Gen. 12:13; 20:2); Moses outburst of anger, how he misrepresented God, and wasnt even allowed to enter into the promise land (Num. 20:1011); Israels rejection of God on numerous occasions (for example, see the book of Judges); Davids adultery and subsequent murder of Uriah (2 Samuel 11); the disciples argument over which one of them was the greatest (Luke22:24);PetersdenialoftheLord (Matt.26:72) andhisfearofbeingseeneatingwithGentiles (Gal.2:1112);thedisciplesfallingasleepwhenJesusaskedthemtopray (Mark 14:3241);Paul,confession thathewasawretchedman(Rom7:24)thechiefofsinners(1Tim.1:15);PaulandBarnabasargument 26

overwhetherornotMarkshouldbeallowedtotravelwiththem (Acts15:3839).Doallthesesoundlike thekindofthingsthatmenmakinguptheBiblewouldwriteaboutthemselves?Notatall.Theauthors opennessaboutthesekindsofdetailshelpsmetobelievethatthesemenwerebeinghonestaboutthe thingstheywroteabout.Addtothisseventhevidencethefactthatthesemenimpartedtotheworldthe higheststandardsofconducttheworldhaseverseen,andweonlystrengthenourcase. 8.THEWILLINGNESSOFJESUS'DISCIPLESTOSUFFER Thediscipleswenttotheirgraves,onebyone,sufferinganddyingmartyr'sdeathsfortheirongoingbelief and preaching that Jesus resurrection was an absolute fact of history! Historians like Flavius Josephus, Eusebius and others tell us that Matthew was slain with a sword in a city of Ethiopia. Mark died in Alexandria,inNorthernEgyptafterhavingbeencruellydraggedthroughthestreetsofthatcity.Lukewas hunguponanolivetreeinthelandofGreece.JameswasbeheadedinJerusalem.JamestheLess (ashes calledinMark15:40)wasthrownfromaloftypinnacleofthetemple.Philipwashungupagainstapillarat HeiropolisintheprovinceofPhrygia.Bartholomewwasflayedalive.Andrewwasboundtoacross,andleft todie.Judewasshottodeathwitharrows.Matthias(theapostlechosentoreplaceJudas)wasfirststoned, andthenbeheaded.BarnabaswasstonedtodeathbytheJewsatSalonica.Paul,thatformerenemyof Christ (Acts 9), after a variety of tortures and persecutions, was finally beheaded in Rome. Peter was crucified (just as Jesus told him he would be in John 21) in Jerusalem. Thomas, the former skeptic of the resurrection (John 20:28), was run through the body with a lance at Coromandel in the East Indies for preachingthegospel.GuysthedisciplessealedtheirtestimonythatChristwasalivewiththeirownblood. Theywenttotheirgravesstillaffirmingthattheeventswhichtheyhadwitnessedhadactuallyoccurred.I findithardtobelievethatthesemenwerelying.Peoplemaybewillingtodieforsomethingthattheythink istrue,butnobodywillinglydiesforsomethingtheyknowisalie.IfanybodyknewwhetherornotJesus was alive after His resurrection, it would have been the disciples. They were in a unique position historicallythatallowedthemtoknowwhetherwhattheyweresayingwastrueornot.Theyactuallylived inIsrael,atthetimeJesuslivedandwasraisedfromthedead,orwasnot.Theywerethere. 9.THEBIBLESTRANSFORMINGPOWERFORGOOD TheBibleclaimstobelivingandpowerful (Hebrews4:12,Psalm19:710) andthathasindeedproventobethe case.Nootherbookintheworldhashadthetransformingeffectuponlivesandsocietiesforgood,thanthat oftheBible.Whereverthegospelhasgone,theBiblehashadatransformingeffectoneverycultureand countryforgood.Downthroughthecenturies,itswordshaveconvertedmillionsofunbelieverstofaithin JesusChristasLord.Millionsofpeople,whowouldtestifythattheywereimmoral,vilesinners,drowningin drugaddictions,alcoholism,pornography,gamblingandthelike,havebeentransformedintogodlymenand women as they have studied and followed the teachings of the Bible. What words of wisdom the Bible contains!!Peopleoneverycontinent,inmorethan2,000languages,looktotheBibletoguidethemthrough lifes perplexing and confusing circumstances. The Bible has inspired people to build hospitals, start universities(mostoftheworldsgreatestuniversitiese..g.Harvard,Yale,Princeton,werestartedbyChristiansforChristianpurposes),launch humanitarian efforts to the poor, abolish slavery (William Wilberforce, an evangelical Christian and member of the British Parliamentintheearly19thcentury,wastheonelargelyresponsiblefortheabolitionoftheslavetrade),workfortheequalityofpeople amongdifferentracesandwomen,investigatetheuniversescientifically,andfurtherthedevelopmentof greatartandmusic. Philip Schaff, speaking of Jesus influence, aptly wrote... ...Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms,
conqueredmoremillionsthanAlexander,Caesar,Mohammed,andNapoleon;withoutscienceandlearning,Heshedmore lightonthingshumananddivinethanallphilosophersandscholarscombined;withouttheeloquenceofschools,Hespoke suchwordsoflifeaswereneverspokenbeforeorsince,andproducedeffectswhichliebeyondthereachoforatororpoet; withoutwritingasingleline,Hesetmorepensinmotion,andfurnishedthemesformoresermons,orations,discussions, learnedvolumes,worksofart,andsongsofpraisethanthewholearmyofgreatmenofancientandmoderntimes.

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The Bibles ability to powerfully transform lives and cultures for good is just another piece of the evidencethatthisBookistheinspiredWordofGod. Two greatbooksonthistopicareWhatif the BibleHadNeverBeenWritten?andWhatifJesusHadNeverBeenBorn?............................................... .byD.JamesKennedy&JerryNewcombe 10.THETESTIMONYOFJESUS,THESONOFGODAnotherreasonthatyoucanbesurethattheBible istrustworthyisbecauseJesussaiditwas!JesusdidnotjustclaimtobetheSonofGod,Heproved that He was truly Son of God by His resurrection from the dead (Rom. 1:4), fulfilling hundreds of Old Testamentprophecies,livingasinlesslife,andperformingamultitudeofmiracles.IfJesusistheSonof God,wecantrustwhatHehadtosayaboutthewordofGod. JesusSpoke/Affirmed7thingsabouttheBibleasTrue: A.WithoutError.InJohn17:17,JesussaidinHisprayertoHisFather.Thywordis(What?Fullof contradictions,anderrors?No.)truth.Jesustaughtsecondly,thattheBiblewas... B.HistoricallyReliable.Jesusaffirmedashistoricallytruesomeofthemostdisputedpassagesofthe Old Testament, including... the story of Jonah in the whale (in Matt. 12:40) the destruction of the worldbyafloodinthedaysofNoah (inMatt.24:3739),Adam&Eve (inMatt.1) Cain&Abel (inLuke11:51), theProphetDaniel(inMark13:14),Abraham,Isaac,Jacob(inMatt.8:11)andmany,manyothers(seep.560, DanStory,DefendingYourFaith,andGeisler,p.559,SystematicTheology,Vol.1). C.FuturisticallyReliable.AllcurrentPropheciesthathavebeenfulfilledprovethispoint,andarea verystrongindicatorthattherestoftheProphecies,areyettobefulfilled,andWILLbefulfilled.But justincaseyourdoubtful,read:John20:29Matthew24:35Luke21:32Revelation1:3&chpt.19 D.DivinelyAuthoritative.Overandover,throughoutScripture,JesusrepeatedlysaidtoSatanandto manyothers,Itiswritten...itiswritten...itiswritten...(Matt.4:410)andThussayeththeLord E. Scientifically Accurate. For example, when He taught on marriage He referred not to the Theory of EvolutionbuttoaliteralcreationofAdam/Eveatthebeginningoftheworld(Mat19:45).TheBiblerevealsthe earthisround(2,700yrsago)&theearthhangsuponnothingoveremptyspace(4,400yrsago)(Isa40:22Job26:7) In1492,theIntelligenceofthatdayweredebatingoverwhichAnimalhelduptheearth,aTurtleorElephant! F.Infallible(Dependable/Unbreakable).InJohn10:35Jesussaid,TheScripturecannotbebroken.(Mat19:45) G.Indestructible. InMatthew5:18Jesussaid,FortrulyIsaytoyou,untilheavenandearthpassaway,not thesmallestletterorstrokeshallpassawayfromtheLaw,untilallisaccomplished.IfJesuswasaprophetof God,aseventheQuranteaches,orevenifHewasagoodteacher(assomanyarewillingtobelievetoday),it would be wise for us to take His Word on the matter! For Jesus claerly taught that the Bible is a historically reliable,divinelyauthoritative,scientificallyaccurate,dependable,errorfree,indestructibleBook.
Theskepticsays:Comeon,Charlie,YourereferringtothewordsofJesusintheBibletoprovetheBible.Youre guiltyofcircularreasoning.YourequotingtheBibletoprovetheBible! Ahhh,butasIpointedoutearlier,the Bibleisnotonebook.Itisacollectionof66bookswrittenby40differentauthors,overaspanofabout2,000 years!SowhenIquoteJesus'wordstosubstantiatewhatMosesorotherauthorswroteIamnotinvolvedin circular reasoning at all. Instead, I am quoting altogether independent sources that happen to be bound togetherbetweentwocoversofthesamebook.Q.Doyouseehowthatworks? Theskepticsays:OkayCharlie!But,JesuswasonlytalkingabouttheOldTestamentwhenHesaidthosethings. TheNewTestamenthadnotbeenwritten. Youreright!Itwasnotwrittenyet.ButlistentowhatJesussaidto HisdisciplesinJohn14:26.HepromisedtheaidoftheHolySpirittoHisdisciplesinwritingthenew.Jesussaid, ButtheHelper,theHolySpirit,whomtheFatherwillsendinMyname,Hewillteachyouallthings,andbringto

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yourremembranceallthingsthatIsaidtoyou(John14:26).InthebookofJohn16:13,JesustoldHisdisciples, However,whenHe,theSpiritoftruth,hascome,Hewillguideyouintoalltruth;forHewillnotspeakonHis ownauthority,butwhateverHehearsHewillspeak;andHewilltellyouthingstocome.JesuspromisedHis disciples the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit in writing the New Testament. So, Jesus validated the trustworthiness of the Old Testament and He promised the trustworthiness of the New. Based on Jesus testimony, you can trust both. Now, Ive brought to the witness stand 10witnesses that all testify to the trustworthinessoftheBible.
1.FulfilledProphecy 2.ArchaeologicalVerification 3.TheBiblesInternalConsistency 4.ExternalVerification 5.TheBiblesAmazingScientificAccuracyandForesight 6.TheManuscriptEvidence 7.TheBiblesForthrightnessaboutitsAuthors&HerosFailures. 8.TheWillingnessofJesusDisciplestoSuffer 9.TheBiblesTransformingPowerforGood 10.ThetestimonyofJesus,theSonofGod

Theforceofthisevidenceiscumulative.IfIweretopresenttheseargumentsindividuallyonemightbeinclined toarguethattheevidencewasinconclusive(thatmerearchaeologicalevidencedoesnotconvincethemthatthe Bible is truly the Word of God). And that is a valid argument. But, all 10 of these evidences, when taken together,buildaverystrongcaseforthetrustworthiness&DivineInspirationoftheBible.

SomeBibleFactiods:
IftheFactsabovehavenotalreadywowedyou,checkoutthis1BibleFactoidbelow:

Whenreadingthefactoidbelow,keepinmindthattheWHOLEBIBLEwasnotwrittenbyjust1person,butby40Different Authors,whowrote66Booksoveraperiodof1,500yearsandeachAuthorclaimsthattheywroteundertheINSPIRATION OF GOD. GodSPOKE andthey DICTATED.Also keep inmind that King David wrote the Book of Psalms about600years before the rest of the OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS were written and about 1,000 years before the rest of the Bible, (New Testament)waswritten.

A:Psalm117 1.WhatistheshortestChapterinthewholeBible? A:Psalm119 2.WhatisthelongestChapterinthewholeBible? 3.WhatisthecenterChapterofthewholeBible? A:Psalm118 4.WhatisthecenterVerseofthewholeBible? A:Psalm118:8 5.HowmanyChaptersarebeforePsalm118? A:594 6.HowmanyChaptersareafterPsalm118? A:594 7.HowmanyChaptersbefore&afterPsalm118? A:1,188(118:8)

Psalm118:8isalsothemostCentralthemeandMessagethroughouttheentireBiblefrombeginningtoend.Wewouldbewisetotake heedtoit.Itsays:ItisbettertotrustintheLordthantoputconfidenceinman.AllthesefactorsaboveisCoincidence?Do younowthinkthatthese66BooksoftheBiblewerejustwrittenbytheWILL&MINDof40differentmen,overaperiodof 1,500years,withoutanyDivineInspiration?JustabunchofluckyguessesaboutLife,Love,andGod,whichallendedupwith 594Chaptersbefore&594ChaptersafterPsalm118,foraTotalof1,188Chapterstotal,withtheMIDDLEVERSEofthewhole BibleisPsalm118:8beingthecentralmessageandthemefromGodtoMan?Isthisamerecoincidentalchance?OrDivine Inspiration&Intervention?KingDavidwaslongdeadandgonebeforetheNewTestamentwriterswereevenborn,andclearly couldnothaveknownthisfactoidabove.Finally,theoriginalBibleBooksofbothOT&NTdidnotcontainChapters&Verses. SuchChapters&VerseswereinsertedbyKingJames(andthemanyScholarsHehired)in1611.Godmusthaveinspiredthemtoo! KingDavidalsowrote: Psa119:129Thytestimoniesarewonderful;Thereforedothmysoulkeepthem.Inotherwords,GodgaveTestimonyto man.GodHimselfverballytestifiedaboutHimselftoKingDavid,whothenputGodsWordsintoMusic,makingSongsof them.AndsoclaimalltheotherwritersoftheBible,theyclaimGodspoketothem,andsotheyWrote.2Timothy3:16All scriptureisgivenbyinspirationofGodisprofitablefordoctrine,reproof,correction&instructioninrighteousness:

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 KingDavidalsowrote: Psa12:6ThewordsoftheLORDarepurewords:assilvertriedinafurnaceofearthpurified7times.

Finally,ThisverseabovebringsustoourNEXTBIBLEFACTOIDconcerningtheNumber7andGod.Themostintriguingdiscoveryin theBibleistheMathematicalSequencesfoundasoneopenlyreadswithinitpages.Evenmoreastounding,istheMathematical Patterns and Sequences found InBetween the Lines, so to speak, called: THE BIBLE CODE. Thats right! The Bible has been supernaturallyencodedbyIntelligentDesign.ForanInDepthreviewofthissubjectsee:TheBibleCodebyMarkDrosnin.ThisEx Atheist Jewish Journalist, who believed the Bible was foolishness, now knows the Bible was given by Intelligent Design after discoveringtheHiddenMathematicalPatternswithinitspages.HediscoveredsuchwiththeAidofaJewishRabbiandaComputer. IfinterestedinviewingatasteofthisMathematicalBibleFactoid,seeGODSMASTERPLANbyMissionaryJames.Ifyoulikedthe BibleFactoidabove,waituntilyouSeeandReadthisBeautifulInDepthBibleFactoidbyMissionaryJames.GodsMasterPlan(GMP) isalaminatedMiniPoster/DinnerPlaceMatw/GRAPHICSonFrontandTEXTontheBackwithQ&As.Youcanviewandprintout suchforFreeat:www.MySpace.com/jd4him.Onceyourethere,lookforMissionaryJamesBlog&Click,GodsMasterPlan.Or,you canmailyourOrder/RequestforaGMPfromMissionaryJamesbysending$10totheAddressbelow,orcall: 60AugustaStreetSouthRiverNJ08882 BibleGraphics@yahoo.com (732)3536665

BIBLEGRAPHICS

*InmatesatCountyJailsand/orStatePrisonsmayreceiveaFREECOPYbysimplywritingtousandrequestingaGMP
Missionary James has been doing Missionary Work in Haiti since 1985. He was saved at Yardville Youth CorrectionalFacilityonSept.16,1980andwasintroducedtotheLordJesusbyaGideonMinister;Michael Lovero.MissionaryJameslivedalifeofSex,DrugsandRocknRoll.HisLifewascommittedtoStealing,Drug Dealing and playing in a Heavy Metal Band. Since Missionary James conversion, He has shared His TestimonyonseveralTVShows;700Club,KeystoneOnline,atGideonDinnerEvents,variousRadioShows, Haiti,DominicanRepublic,Mexico,Canada,theUSexceptAlaskaandHawaii,England,FranceandHolland. Missionary James has also been involved with Prison Ministry for 30years now and founded a Ministry named ALMS that reaches out to Haiti. Missionary James also had the privilege to tour the US/Canada/EuropewithaChristianRockGroupbythenameofTHREECROSSESfor3years!Shouldyoube interestedinbookingMissionaryJamespleaseContactusat:(732)3536665orMySpace.com/jd4him

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 WhatevidencedoyouhavethatthereisaGod? TheveryexistenceoftheuniverseitselfisevidencethatthereisaGod.Letsthinkaboutthisfora moment.Thereareonlythreeoptionsfortheexistenceoftheuniverse. 1.Thatithasalwaysbeen. 2.Thatitcameintobeingbyitself. 3.Thatitwascreated.

Thefirstoption,thattheuniverseiseternal,hasbeenutterlyrejectedbythescientificcommunity. Themotionofthegalaxies,thebackgroundradiationecho,andotherevidencesalloverwhelmingly point to the fact that the universe sprang into existence at a particular point in time, something scientistscalltheBigBang.

Optiontwo,thattheuniversecreateditself,isjustphilosophically&literallyimpossible.Ofcourse, before the universe existed it would not have been around to do the creating. Obviously, a non existentuniversecouldnothavedoneanything!Itdidnotexist. (ifwecouldevencallnothinganit!) We all know that nothing is incapableof doing anything. Nothing is nothing. It cannot see, smell, act, think,orcreate.Sooption1&2canbethrownoutonscientific&philosophicalgrounds.

Optionthree,thatsomethingorsomeoneoutsideoftheuniversecreatedtheuniverseistheonly reasonableoption.LetsimagineIamholdingupapainting.Whenyouseeapainting,whatproofdo you need to establish the fact that a painter exists? Nothing else besides the painting itself. The paintingisabsoluteproofthattherewasapainter.Youdonotneedtoseethepaintertobelieve thatheorsheexists.Thepaintingisalltheevidenceyouneed.Itwouldnotbethereifthepainter did not exist, and so it is with the universe. The existenceof the universe itself proves absolutely thatthereisacreator. WhatevidencedoyouhavethattheBibleisactuallytrue? IfIhadtonarrowitdowntoafewevidences,Iwouldprobablysay:fulfilledprophecies,archaeological discoveries,andtheBiblesamazingunity.TheBible,unlikeanyotherreligiousbook,hasdemonstrated itselftobetheWordofGodthroughitsabilitytorightlypredictthefuture.Thereareliterallyhundreds ofveryspecificpropheciesintheBiblethatwerespokenhundreds,evenover1,000yearsbeforetheir fulfillmentthathavealreadycometopass.Plus,letsnotforgettheLastDaysProphecies(seepage6and/or GodsMasterPlan)whicharenow,andwillbefulfilled,evensomeofthem,inourlifetime.TheFactthat ALLpastBiblicalPropheciesconcerningtheMessiah,like: TheRise&FallofspecificEmpires,andmore, havebeenfulfilled,serveasaPROOFthatFutureBiblicalPropheciesshallbefulfilledaswell.Noother religiousbookcanverifyitselfinthisway.TheBiblehasalsobeenproventobehistoricallyreliableby numerous archaeological discoveries. To date, there have been more than 25,000 archaeological discoveriesthathaveverifiedthenamesofpersons,places,events,andcustomsmentionedintheBible. Finally,thereistheBiblesamazingunity.Hereisabookthatisactuallyacollectionof66different

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books,writtendownbymorethanfortydifferentauthors,overaperiodof1,500plusyears,onthree differentcontinents,inthreedifferentlanguages,anditaddresseslifesmostcontroversialtopicsfrom beginningtoend.Youwouldthinktherewouldbechaos,confusion,andcontradictions,yettheBible miraculously remains absolutely consistent and internally harmonious from beginning to end. These threeevidences(fulfilledprophecy,archaeologicaldiscoveries,andtheBiblesamazingunity)buildacompellingcase forthedivineoriginandhistoricalreliabilityoftheBible. HasnttheBibleundergonecorruptionwhiletranslatedhundredsoftimesthroughthecenturies? TheBiblehasbeentranslatedintohundredsofdifferentlanguagesdownthroughthecenturies.You arerightaboutthat,butthetextoftheBiblehasbeenaccuratelypreservedallthewaythrough.How doweknowthattobetrue? First,thereisthemanuscriptevidence.Today,thereexistsseveralthousandpartial&complete,ancient handwrittenmanuscriptcopiesoftheBible,somedatingasfarbackasthethirdcentury,upto300B.C. Thesemanuscriptshaveallowedtextualcritics&scholarstoverifythattheBiblewehavetodayisthe sameBibletheearlychurchhad. Secondly,therearethewritingsofthechurchfathers.Bychurchfathers,IamreferringtoLeadersinthe earlychurch.IntheircommentariesontheBible,theirletterstooneanother,andtheirletterstoother churches, these men quoted the New Testament Scriptures alone more than 86,000 times. Their quotationshaveallowedscholarstoreconstruct99.86%oftheNewTestament. Thereareonly11versesin the New Testament that the church fathers apparently never cited. These 2evidences, the manuscript evidence and the writings of the church fathers, verify conclusively that the original texts of the New TestamentBiblehavebeenaccuratelypreservedfor2,000yrsandtheOldTestamentfor2,300. WhataboutthosewhohaveneverheardofJesus?Willtheybecondemnedtohell? TheBiblesaysGodisloving(Psalm103:8,1John4:10)andthatHeisnotwillingthatanyshouldperish(2Pet3:9). IfapersonhasneverheardofJesus,theBiblesaysGodisgoingtobeabsolutelyfairwiththem(Psalm98:9) andthatHewilljudgethembasedonwhattheydoknowthroughthetestimonyofCreationandtheir conscience (Romans 1:20, 2:1215). If a person truly seeks to know God, the Bible says that God is a rewarderofthosewhodiligentlyseekHim (Hebrews11:6).TherearemanywaysthatGodcangetthe truthaboutsalvationtothosewhotrulyseektoknowHim.Hecansendamissionary (Acts10),aradio broadcast(Daniel12:4),oraBible(Psalm119:130).TheoreticallyGodcouldsendavision(Daniel2) oranangel (Revelation14:6).Youyourselfhaveheardthetruth.ForYouhaveheardofJesusdeathonthecrossfor yoursinsandGodwillholdyouaccountableforwhatyoudowiththatinformation. IfGodsoloves,whydoesHeallowevilandsuffering? ThisisthemostcommonquestionpeoplehaveregardingGod.TheShortAnswertothisis:FREE WILL. For an InDepth Explanation to this question, please read the back portion of GODS MASTERPLAN(byJamesDePaola).YoumayobtainoneforFreeat:BibleGraphics@yahoo.com To continue this Answer briefly, here is an interesting question for you to consider. What do you proposeGodshoulddoaboutit?Tostopevilandsuffering,Godwouldhavetostopeveryactthat causes any suffering. To do that, He would have to stop those who cause the suffering (adulterers, liars,murderers,criminals,fornicators,etc.).WouldntthatmeanHewouldhavetoputastoptoyoutoo? Havent you, by your own actions, caused some of the suffering that exists in the world? Havent you hurt somebodys feelings? My friend, God has not destroyed evil because He would have to destroyYOUandALLofus.Bypermittingevilandsufferingtocontinue,Godisactuallyshowingthe worldmercy.TheBiblesaysthatthereiscomingadaywhenGodwillstopALLevil(2Pet3:713)He

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 willjudgesinners,putthemawayforever,andcreateanewheavenandanewearthwherethere willnolongerbeanydeath,mourning,crying,orpain (Revelation21:4).Inthemeantime,Godisusing thesufferingthatexistsforgood(Romans8:28,Philippians1:12).Often,whenapersonissuffering,they turntoGodandreceivethekindofhelptheytrulyneedfromHim.WeallneedHishelp.AndGod hasgivenit,andwillcontinuetogiveit.(Jeremiah29:13&33:3) HaventcertainbooksoftheBiblebeenlost? No.ThesupposedlylostbooksoftheBiblethathavebeenfound,thesocalledgospelsofThomas, Philip, & Mary Magdalene, were not lost gospels, they were pseudo gospels that the early church rejectedasuninspired,spuriouswritings.TheChristianchurchwasfamiliarwiththesedocuments,but purposelyleftthemoutoftheBible,easilyrecognizingthattheywerenotdivinelyinspired.Wetoo,can becertainthatthesebooksdonotbelongintheBible.Why?First,theywerenotwrittenbyanyofthe apostles or their close associates (e.g., Mark or Luke). Most scholars, Christian and nonChristian, date these Gnostic gospels to the second and third centuries, long after the time of Christ and Apostles. Secondly,thesewritingscontradictauthenticrevelation.YoucanbeabsolutelyconfidentthatGod,who inspired (2 Timothy3:16)thementopenthewordsoftheBible (2 Peter1:21),sawtoitthatnoneofthe inspiredwritingswerelost.Itwouldbefoolishforustothinkthatanallknowing,allpowerfulGodcould losetrackofbooksHeintendedtoputintheBible,oranythingelseforthatmatter. WhywouldGodcreateus,ifHeknewinadvancethatsomanypeoplewouldbeeternallylost? GodbeingomniscientcertainlydidknowbeforeHecreatedus,thatmanywouldrejectHimandend upeternallyseparatedfromHim.Hisforeknowledgeisperfect.Sothen,whydidHecreateus,even knowing in advance that many would be lost? I believe the simplest and shortest answer is this: LOVE.JustastheLordknewmanywouldrejectHim,Healsoknewthatmanywouldfreelyreceive Him,LoveHiminreturnandenjoyeternitywithHim.Apparently,evenknowingthatmanywould reject Himand end upin hell,He felt it worthit, so that we, who would receiveHim, could have fellowship with Him and Him with us, forever! Why should God have not created humans, just becausesomewouldfreelyrefusetoloveHimandsubmittheirlivestoHim?Thatwouldallowevil to triumph over good. I wouldn't refuse to start a family just because I realize that some of my descendantsmightrejectthegospelandendupinhell.Why?BecauseIknowthatmanywillnot.I realizethatbyhavingkids,Ibecomethetrunk,ifyouwill,toalargefamilytree.Irealizethatitis verylikelythatsomeofmydescendantswillrejectthegospelandgo tohell.ShouldIhaverefused to start a family because these will suffer? No. Why? Again, LOVE.AND.Because many of my descendantswillnotgotohellbutwillgettoenjoythegloriesofheavenforever,andIwillbewith them! And those who do suffer will end up in hell of their own free accord. By me fathering (or grandfathering) children, I am not in any way forcing them to go to hell. They will have the same optiontoreceiveGod'smercyandforgiveness.SoI'mnotgoingtowithholdtheblessingsofeternity frommychildrenandotherdescendants,becauseoftheevilactionsofafew.Thisisalsotruewith God.HeknewthatsomewouldrejectHim,butHealsoknewthatsomewouldreceive&LoveHim.
(seeGodsMasterPlanalso)

WhydoChristiansrejecttheapocryphalwritingsthatareintheCatholicBible? TherearenumerousreasonswhyChristians (includingthosemakinguptheearlychurch)haverejectedthe apocryphalbooksasauthoritativeordivinelyinspired.Letmesharewithyoufourreasons. First,theapocryphalwritingscontainnumerousteachingsthatcontradictauthenticScripture (e.g., praying for the dead, the doctrine of purgatory, the teaching that salvation is available through good works and the givingofalms).

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 Secondly,theapocryphalwritingscontainnumeroushistorical,geographical&chronologicalerrors. Thirdly,JesusandtheapostlescitetheOldTestamentnearlythreehundredtimesinthepagesof theNewTestament (referringtoitasScripture);theyneverquotedfromanyoftheapocryphalbooks acceptedbytheRomanCatholicChurch. Fourthly, the apocryphal writings were never included in the Hebrew Bible. The Jews themselves, from whom the apocryphal writings came, did not accept the writings as divinely inspired. The apocryphal writings were not formally declared to be authoritative and inspired by the Catholic ChurchuntiltheCouncilofTrentinA.D.1546.TheCatholicChurchsacceptanceofthesewritings intothecanonofScripturewasanefforttocountertheteachingsofMartinLutherandtheother leaders of the Reformation. These men were pointing out that many teachings of the Catholic ChurchcamefromtheApocrypha,andnotfromthe66booksoftheBible. Whatabouthomosexuals?Doyoubelievethattheygotohell? TheBiblesaysthatanybodywhorefusestoturnfromtheirsinandreceiveGodsforgivenesswillendup inhell,whethertheybeaheterosexualorhomosexual.DoestheBibleteachthathomosexualityisasin? Yes,veryclearly (seeLeviticus18:221Corinthians6:910Romans1:2628),butitalsosaysthatfornication (sex between unmarried man/woman),lying,stealing,anddrunkennessaresinsaswell.So,letuslayasidethe whole issue of homosexuality for a moment and imagine that our homosexual friends are married, monogamousheterosexuals.Theystillhaveaproblem.They,likeallofus (Psalm143:2),havebrokena number of Gods other commandments. No matter the sin, every person, (heterosexual or homosexual), accordingtotheBible,mustturntoJesus&trustinChristalone,inordertobesaved(Acts4:12,17:3031). CanGodmakearocksobigthatHecannotmoveit?YesorNo? With the way you have worded the questiona simpleYes or No answer will not work. Either answerwouldsuggestthatGodisnotomnipotent (allpowerful),somethingtheBibleclearlyaffirms (Genesis18:14,Luke1:37).Yourquestionislikeaskingsomeone,Haveyoustoppedbeatingyourwife yet?YesorNo?Forthepersonwhohasnotbeenbeatinghiswife,asimpleyesornoanswerwill notdo.Ifhesaysyes,heimpliesthatheusedtobeathiswife.Ifhesaysno,heimpliesthatheisstill beatinghiswife.Thesameistruewiththisquestion.Ayesornoanswerwillnotwork.Iwillanswer yourquestionthisway;God,becauseHeisomnipotent,cancreateanykindofrockthatHewantsto andbecauseHeisomnipotent,HecanliftanyrockthatHecreates.So,couldGodmakeaRockso bigthatHecannotmove?YES.ButwouldHe?Idontthinkso.Whatwouldbethepoint?Foryour entertainment?Toamuseyou?Toshowoff? WhyarentdinosaursmentionedintheBible?
First, we should not expect to see the word dinosaurin the Bible. The term was not coined until a famous paleontologist,SirRichardOwen,gavethemthatnamein1841nearlyeighteencenturiesaftertheNT was finished.Second,justbecauseacreatureisnotmentionedintheBibledoesnotmeanthatitdidnotexist. There are thousands of creatures that are not specifically mentioned in the Bible: giraffes, alligators, penguins,justtonameafew.Thirdly,theBibledoesactuallymentionatleasttwodifferentcreaturesthat areveryclearly,Dinosaurs:Behemoth,andLeviathan.Behemothisdescribedashavingataillikeacedartree (Job40:1519).OfLeviathan,theLordsaidtoJob,indeed,anyhopeofovercominghimisfalse;Shallonenot beoverwhelmedatthesightofhim?Nooneissofiercethathewoulddarestirhimup.Whocanremovehis outercoat?Whocanapproachhimwithadoublebridle?Whocanopenthedoorsofhisface,withhisterrible teethallaround?Hisrowsofscalesarehispride (Job41:910,1315a).Scales?Terribleteeth?Sofiercethatno one would dare wake him up? It is easy to see why many Biblical scholars have concluded that the descriptionsgiveninthebookofJOB,bothLeviathanandBehemothareclearlyDinosaurs.

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"HowcouldthegospelwritershaveaccuratelyrememberedallthatJesussaidanddid?" Wemustrememberthatthediscipleshadthe supernaturalaidoftheHolySpirit.OntheeveofHis crucifixion,JesustoldHisdisciples,ThesethingsIhavespokentoyouwhilebeingpresentwithyou. ButtheHelper,theHolySpirit,whomtheFatherwillsendinMyname,Hewillteachyouallthings,and bringtoyourremembrance[What?]allthingsthatIsaidtoyou (John14:2526).Jesuspromisedthat theHolySpiritwouldhelpthembybringingtotheirremembranceallthethingsthatHetoldthem. In addition to the help of the Holy Spirit, its reasonable to assume that the disciples took detailed notes(Matthewbeingataxcollectorwouldhavebeenskilledinshorthand).Thirdly,itwouldbehardtoforgetthe thingsJesusdid.ManyofJesusteachingswereaccompaniedwithextraordinarymiraclesthatwould haveleftanindelible(permanent)impressionuponthedisciplesminds. If you enjoy concise answers like those above, you'll enjoy One Minute Answers to Skeptics' Top Forty Questions available in our online store. It has been endorsed by Dr. Norman Geisler, Charles Colson, Chuck Smith, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Jeremy Camp, Brian Brodersen,andmore.Clickheretoseeourbooks.Clickheretoview ourDVDs.ToviewourCDsgoto: www.AlwaysBeReady.com

ABOUT CHARLIE CAMPBELL Charlie Campbell is the Director of The Always Be Ready
ApologeticsMinistry,theauthorofOneMinuteAnswerstoSkepticsTopFortyQuestions,andapopular guestspeakeratchurchesaroundtheUnitedStatesonissuesrelatedtothedefenseoftheChristianfaith. His teachings and resources have been endorsed by Dr. Norman Geisler, Charles Colson, Chuck Smith, NancyLeighDeMoss,JeremyCamp,andBrianBrodersen.HeresidesinsouthernCaliforniawithhiswife andfourchildren. BOOKING:IfyouwouldliketoinquireabouthavingCharlieCampbellteachatyourchurch,conference,Christianschool,or retreatpleasecallemailInfo@AlwaysBeReady.comorClickhereforfurtherdetails. ADDITIONALRESOURCES:Foradditionalresources,includingnotes,audiomessages,andDVDs,thatwillhelpyoualways bereadytodefendthefaith(1Peter3:15)pleasefeelfreetocheckout:www.AlwaysBeReady.com

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1.Acknowledgethatyouareasinner.
AbriefreadingoftheBiblemakesitclearthatallofushavesinnedagainstGodinavarietyofways.The Biblesummarizesmankind'sconditionwiththesewords,"Thereisnonerighteous,nonotone....allhavesinned (Romans3:10,23).Johntheapostlesaid,"Ifwesaythatwehavenosin,wedeceiveourselves"(1John1:8).Thefirststep toexperienceGod'sforgivenessandhaveyourrelationshiprestoredwithHimistoacknowledge(orconfess)your sinfulnesstoHim.Turnthispageoverandread,DoYouThinkYouArea"GoodPerson?

2.BelievethatJesusChristdiedonthecrossforyou.
TheBiblesays,"IfyouconfesswithyourmouthJesusasLord,andbelieveinyourheartthatGodraisedHim fromthedead,youshallbesaved" (Romans10:9).Jesussaid,"ForGodsolovedtheworldthatHegaveHis onlybegottenSon,thatwhoeverbelievesinHimshouldnotperishbuthaveeverlastinglife"(John3:16).

3.Changedirection.Turnawayfromyoursinfulwayoflife.
TheBiblesays,"Godisnowdeclaringtomenthatallpeopleeverywhereshouldrepent[repentmeanstochange direction, i.e., turn away from your sins], because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness" (Acts17:3031).Ifyouarewillingtorepent,Godwillbegintochangeyouandhelpyoulivea lifethatispleasingtoHim.

DoyouwanttoknowGod?
DoyouwanttoexperiencethekindoflifeHedesignedforyoutolive?Doyouwantyoursinsforgiven?Do youwanttospendeternitywithGodwhenyoudie?Youcanhaveyoursinsforgivenrightnowandbegin experiencingarelationshipwithGodtoday.Praysomethinglikethis:

"God,IconfessthatIamasinner.IrealizethatIneedYourforgiveness.IbelievethatYou,Jesus, paidthepriceformysinsonthecross.IbelievethatYouroseagainfromthedeadandwantto havearelationshipwithme.ThankYou.Comeintomylife.Forgivemeofallmysins.BemyLord,be myGod.IwanttoturnawayfrommysinsandbegintofollowYou.Helpmetodothat.Changeme. EmpowermewithYourHolySpirittolivemylifeforYou.Amen."

Ifyouprayedthatprayerwithasincereheart,youhavebegunarelationshipwithJesusChrist,andGodhas forgivenyouofyoursins.So,Wenowencourageyouto...

a) Begin reading and obeying the Bible. Try starting out with the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament,andfollowthatupbyreadingtheBookofActs,andthentherestoftheBible. (Ifyou
havequestionsaboutthetrustworthinessoftheBibleseeenclosedliterature)

b)Beginpraying.Simplyput,talktoGod.Helovesyouanddesirestohavearelationshipwithyou.

c)BegingoingtoachurchthatteachesthroughtheBible&wherethepeoplelovetoworshipthe Lord.Iftheyhaveanewbeliever'sclass,signuptoattend.(AgoodlocalchurchisCalvaryChapelofOld BridgeCCOB)ForDirections,contactCCOBbycalling(732)6799222orgoto: www.ccob.org(SpanishServicesavailableeverySundayat12:00)

d)Makefriendswithotherbelieverswhocanencourageyouandbeablessingtoyouinyournew relationshipwithJesus.IfyouhaveafriendorafamilymemberwhoisaChristian,callthemandlet themknowofthedecisionyouhavemade.

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DoYouThinkYouAreaGoodPerson?
Whydon'tyoutakealittletesttoseeifyouaregoodenoughtogotoheaven?AndbeHonest!

HaveyouevergivenallegiancetoanythingelseoverGodinyourlife?(Exodus20:3) Haveyoueverusedanythingasanobjectofworshiporveneration?(Exodus20:4) HaveyoueverusedGod'snameinavainorvulgarfashion?(Exodus20:7) Haveyoudisobeyedordishonoredyourparentsevenonce?(Exodus20:12) Haveyoumurderedanyone,orevenhadharshthoughtsaboutsomeone?(Matthew5:22) Haveyouhadsexwithsomeoneotherthanyourspouse,oreventhoughtaboutit?(Matt.5:28) Haveyoustolensomethingthatwasn'tyours?(Exodus20:15) Haveyoueverlied?(Exodus20:16) Haveyoucovetedafterthingsthatdidntbelongtoyou?(Exodus20:17) Haveyoueverbeendrunk?(Ephesians5:18)

So, how did you do? If you answered "Yes" to even one of these questions above, you are guilty of violatingALLofGod'scommands.FortheBiblesays:

James2:10Forwhosoevershallkeepthewholelaw,andyetoffendinonepoint,heisguiltyofall.

AsfortheRighteousnessofALLMankind,theBibleclearlystates:
Romans3:10ForthereisnoneRighteous,nonotone. Romans3:23ForallhavesinnedandfallshortoftheGloryofGod. Isaiah64:6Butweareallasanuncleanthing,andallourrighteousnessareasfilthyrags; Jeremiah17:9Theheartisdeceitfulaboveallthings,anddesperatelywicked:whocanknowit?

TheabovemeansyoureasinnerinneedofGod'sgrace/forgiveness.Tothatend,Godsays:
Isa1:18Comenow,andletusreasontogether,saiththeLORD:thoughyoursinsbeasscarlet, theyshallbeaswhiteassnow;thoughtheyberedlikecrimson,theyshallbeaswool.

John3:17ForGoddidnotsendHisSonintotheworldtocondemntheworld,butthat theworldthroughHimmightbesaved

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is.. willing that noone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

SalvationisaFreeGiftthatcannotbeearnedorobtainedbyworks:
Romans3:20Thereforebythedeedsofthelawthereshallnofleshbejustifiedinhis sight:

Romans3:28Thereforeweconcludethatamanisjustifiedbyfaithwithoutthedeedsofthe law

Ephesians2:89Forbygraceareyesavedthroughfaith;andthatnotofyourselves:itis thegiftofGod:Notofworks,lestanymanshouldboast

Galations2:16Knowingthatamanisnotjustifiedbytheworksofthelaw,butbythefaithof JesusChrist,evenwehavebelievedinJesusChrist,thatwemightbejustifiedbythefaithof Christ,andnotbytheworksofthelaw:forbytheworksofthelawshallnofleshbejustified

*Sonow,flipthispageovertoparagraph2andseehowyoucanexperiencethatforgivenessrightnow.

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 TheeyesoftheLORDareineveryplace,beholdingtheevilandthegood Ezekiel33:11AsIlive,saystheLordGOD,Ihavenopleasureinthedeathofthewicked;butthatthewickedturn fromhiswayandlive:turnye,turnyefromyourevilways;forwhywillyedieinyoursins? Psalms116:15PreciousinthesightoftheLORDisthedeathofhissaints

Proverbs 15:3

John11:35Jesuswept

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