Welcome to 3ABN
Spring Camp Meeting 2017:
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We want to welcome
you now to hour number 2
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of our very first night
of Spring Camp Meeting 2017.
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And you're a
pretty good looking group.
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And we praise the Lord.
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We welcome you; this is going to
be a wonderful sitting together.
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We are not going
to curse the darkness.
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During the next several
days we are simply going to let
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the Lord's light shine.
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And the darkness will cease to
be as we bathe in the sunshine
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of God's love. I
want you to smile.
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Look like you're
happy in the Lord
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because you never know when
we're going to put that camera
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on you. So if you don't
want the camera to see you,
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then don't
smile... just look mad,
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look sad, look like
you don't want to be here.
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You may be running from the law
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or in the Witness
Protection Program
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and you don't want
your face on camera.
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Well, then just don't
smile. But if you're smiling
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and you've got your
Bible open you just may end up
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seeing yourself on camera.
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So we welcome you. It's
going to be a good night
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of preaching and teaching.
The Spirit of the Lord is here
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and you are here. We
welcome our in-house guests
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and we welcome those
from around the world
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that are sharing this
wonderful Camp Meeting with us.
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Got some news
from the weatherman.
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The next several
days: sunshiny and fair.
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Amen! So it's going
to be sunshiny outside
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and sunshiny inside
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as the love of Christ
shines out in our hearts.
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Our music is
coming from Tim Parton.
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We call them happy feet.
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You ever see those feet
going while he's playing
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and those hands are going?
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He's just happy
in the Lord. Amen.
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So Tim... we'll
turn it over to you.
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Yes, and I want the
congregation to sing with me
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on this beautiful hymn.
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So grateful for the Word of God.
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Now I hope you'll
make this your prayer:
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Open our eyes,
Lord - yeah, sing it -
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we want to see Jesus.
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We want to see Jesus.
To reach out and touch Him.
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To reach out and touch Him -
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and say that we love Him -
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and say that we love Him.
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Open our ears, Lord,
and help us to listen -
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and help us to listen.
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Open our eyes, Lord,
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Open our eyes, Lord,
we want to see Jesus -
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we want to see Jesus.
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Oh, sing that
again... open our eyes:
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Open our eyes, Lord,
we want to see Jesus...
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we want to see Jesus.
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To reach out and touch Him -
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to reach out and touch Him -
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and say that we love Him -
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and say that we love Him.
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Open our ears...
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Open our ears, Lord,
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and help us to listen -
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and help us to listen.
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Open our eyes, Lord,
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Open our eyes, Lord,
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we want to see Jesus...
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Lord, open our eyes,
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Lord,
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we want to see
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Jesus.
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Amen. Thank you,
Tim, so very much.
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Someone said to me back stage
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"You didn't introduce yourself"
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to which I responded:
"I already know who I am. "
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My name is C.A. Murray. I'm
the Proclaim! general manager
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here at 3ABN, and
whatever else I am asked to do
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I do joyfully in
the name of the Lord.
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But in all seriousness now
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we move into the
meat of the meetings
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for this particular sitting.
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Our speaker is
Pastor Nathan Renner.
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He currently pastors
the Discover Life SDA Church
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in Sonora, California.
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He is the husband
of one wife: Becky,
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the father of two
children: Levi and Laurel.
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He has pastored at
Discover Life for eight years.
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He grew up as it
were in South Dakota.
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Nathan tells me that
he was the first convert
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of David Asscherick.
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And how interesting that
David should baptize his clone
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because they do
look remarkably similar.
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Nathan has
changed just a little bit.
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He and I share the same
low-maintenance hair style.
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But he has the
energy of a David Asscherick
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and the power of
a David Asscherick
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and speaks for his Lord
with passion and with grace.
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He was baptized in 1997
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so he's been at
this a little while now
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and God has
blessed his ministry.
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His topic: Is The
Bible Just Fiction?
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He is from the
Central California Conference
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but he comes to us tonight
to preach the Word of God.
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Hear ye him. Amen!
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Good evening. Good evening!
It's a joy to be here with you
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and a joy to share God's Word
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with you here and
with our global audience.
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Let's pray together, shall we?
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Our Father in
heaven, thank you so much
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for this... this
time that You've given us
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to open Your Word and
to seek You from Your Word.
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God, as we open the Word we
ask that You would speak to us
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and bless us and
draw us close to Christ.
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We thank you in
Jesus' name, Amen. Amen.
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As C.A. just mentioned
our topic this evening is
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Is The Bible Just Fiction?
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We live in a world where
the truthfulness of scripture
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is almost
universally questioned.
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I know this
because I was a skeptic.
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I was raised as a
young child going to church
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and through a series
of kind of tragic events
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in that church my mom
and my family... we kind of
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left the church
and left Christianity
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and began to embrace a
more secular world view.
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By the time I was in
my teens and early 20's
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I considered myself an atheist.
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In fact, the language that
I used to use about Christians
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I don't even use
those words any more.
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I was passionately
secular in my thinking.
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I doubted Jesus;
I doubted the Bible;
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I doubted religion in general.
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And I imagined that
if you were a person
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who had respect for the Bible,
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who had convictions about Jesus,
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that you were likely suffering
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from a
deficiency of intelligence.
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The dominant
secular world view today,
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the dominant
secular philosophy today
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believes that there is no
world view with absolute truth.
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They believe that everything
is shaped by our perspective
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and so everything is relative.
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And it is true that everything
is shaped by our perspective.
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Every human world view
is conditioned by humanity.
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That's why in a
humanistic world,
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that's why in a scientific world
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there can be - and I
want you to listen carefully -
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in a humanistic world
view, in a scientific world view
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there can be no absolute truth.
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You know, it's interesting
because the scientists
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would like us to think
that if you're a Christian
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you can't believe what
is true. But the reality is
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in a scientific world
there is much less truth
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than in a Christian
world view. "What do you mean?
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What do you mean, Pastor? "
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There's a philosopher
of science: his name is
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Karl Popper.
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He is the single
greatest philosopher of science
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of the 20th century. If you
were to go to any university,
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any college, and you were
to take a philosophy of science
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class, Karl Popper
would be the #1 person
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that you would study and
read. I want you to listen
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to what Karl Popper
said about science's ability
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to tell us the truth.
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Follow:
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"The old scientific idea
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of episteme, of absolute certain
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demonstratable knowledge
has proved to be an idol.
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The demand for
scientific objectivity
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makes it inevitable that
every scientific statement
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must remain tentative forever. "
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Did you hear that?
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This is the man that
teaches scientists how to think.
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And what he says is is
that the idea that science
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can tell you absolute
truth, absolute knowledge
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he says: "that is an idol. "
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He goes on... he says... he
says that: "every scientific
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statement must
remain tentative forever. "
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He goes on: "That is why
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absolute truth... Excuse me.
He goes on: "It may indeed be
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corroborated, but every
corroboration is relative
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to other statements
which again are tentative.
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Only in our subjective
experience of conviction
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in our subjective faith
can we be absolutely certain. "
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So I want to unpack
this statement for you.
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Here you have one of the
most brilliant minds of the 20th
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century. Here you have
a person whose job it is
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to help scientists think
about how they do science,
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and what he says to
the scientists is this:
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"You can never
arrive at absolute truth
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because the way science works
everything that you believe
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is always tentative. And
yes, it can be corroborated
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with other things,
but the other things that
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it's corroborated
with are all tentative
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so you through science
can never arrive at bedrock. "
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In fact, he says
in another place...
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That was from The Logic
of Scientific Discovery.
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He says in another place:
"Science is not a system of
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certain or
well-established statements
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nor is it a system in which
knowledge steadily advances
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toward a state of finality.
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Our science is not
knowledge episteme.
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It can never claim
to have attained truth
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or even a substitute for
it such as probability. "
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Now again, notice what
he says. He says that...
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that what we understand
scientifically is not certain.
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It is not well-established.
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It is not a system
that arrives at finality.
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In fact, what we get from
science is not "knowledge. "
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It's not even probability.
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And then he says this:
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"We do not know -
we can only guess -
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and our guesses are
guided by the unscientific,
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the metaphysical faith in laws,
00:14:37.64\00:14:41.71
in regularities which we
can uncover and discover. "
00:14:41.91\00:14:45.95
Now what I want you to get
from this statement is this:
00:14:46.78\00:14:50.65
the secular world will
come to you and they will say
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"We have science,
you have religion.
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The science gave you computers
and trips to outer space.
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Religion? What
did that give you? "
00:15:00.23\00:15:01.86
And they will then say
that what we have in science
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is more certain than
what we have in scripture.
00:15:05.43\00:15:09.07
But what I want you
to understand is that
00:15:09.47\00:15:11.81
what we have in science
is tentative ideas that are
00:15:12.01\00:15:17.35
kind of piled on
other tentative ideas...
00:15:17.55\00:15:20.05
so much so that
science can never arrive
00:15:20.25\00:15:23.79
at absolute truth.
00:15:23.99\00:15:26.29
Now, John chapter 17 verse 17.
00:15:27.99\00:15:32.49
If you have your Bible, you're
welcome to come there with me.
00:15:32.69\00:15:34.66
John 17:17 says these words.
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Jesus is speaking and He says:
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"Sanctify them by Your truth:
00:15:42.17\00:15:45.31
Your Word is truth. "
00:15:46.11\00:15:50.31
You see, science is a
human project of understanding.
00:15:50.81\00:15:55.02
Science is a human
project of understanding
00:15:55.22\00:15:57.59
and so because it is human
it is always weak and tentative.
00:15:57.79\00:16:02.56
But Jesus claims
that God's Word is truth.
00:16:02.96\00:16:08.26
And I want you to think
about this with me for a moment
00:16:08.66\00:16:11.37
from a
philosophical perspective.
00:16:11.57\00:16:13.64
God in the Word
claims to have spoken
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His thoughts and His
ideas and His way of thinking.
00:16:18.14\00:16:23.21
And so, yes, any human idea
00:16:23.65\00:16:27.02
is conditioned by
a human perspective.
00:16:27.25\00:16:30.59
But this book does not
claim to be a human book.
00:16:30.79\00:16:34.69
This book claims to represent
the thoughts and the feelings
00:16:34.89\00:16:39.53
of God. Amen!
Therefore this book actually
00:16:39.73\00:16:43.87
has the capacity to do
something that science can't.
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Science cannot
tell us absolute truth.
00:16:48.77\00:16:52.31
It's not capable of that;
it's not designed to do that.
00:16:52.51\00:16:56.18
It's not
possible for it to do that
00:16:56.38\00:16:58.48
because it is a human project.
00:16:58.68\00:17:01.12
But this book - God's Word -
00:17:01.62\00:17:04.15
is not a human project. It
claims to have come from God.
00:17:04.35\00:17:08.99
And if it does
indeed come from God,
00:17:09.19\00:17:11.79
then it is in fact
possible for it to tell us
00:17:11.99\00:17:15.63
not just little-t truth.
00:17:15.83\00:17:17.73
It is possible for it
to tell us absolute Truth,
00:17:17.93\00:17:21.24
final truth,
capital-T Truth. Amen!
00:17:21.44\00:17:26.01
In the book of II Timothy -
00:17:26.21\00:17:28.44
you're welcome to go
there as well: II Timothy
00:17:28.64\00:17:31.55
chapter 3 the
Bible claims about itself
00:17:32.45\00:17:37.29
something dramatic. It
claims it is not merely
00:17:37.49\00:17:41.59
a human book but that it
is a book that is inspired
00:17:41.99\00:17:46.46
by God. II Timothy chapter 3.
00:17:46.70\00:17:50.37
Paul is writing
to a young minister
00:17:50.87\00:17:53.23
and nothing is more
important for a young minister
00:17:53.44\00:17:56.87
or an old minister
than the Word of God.
00:17:57.07\00:18:00.11
So Paul says to
Timothy in chapter 3 verse 15
00:18:00.91\00:18:05.78
"that from childhood you
have known the holy scriptures
00:18:06.18\00:18:11.45
which are able to
make you wise for salvation
00:18:11.65\00:18:15.02
through faith which
is in Christ Jesus. "
00:18:15.22\00:18:18.83
Paul reminds
Timothy that the scriptures
00:18:19.73\00:18:23.37
teach us the way of salvation
through faith in Christ.
00:18:23.77\00:18:28.17
And then Paul says
these words... verse 16:
00:18:28.37\00:18:31.84
"All scripture is given
by inspiration of God. "
00:18:32.67\00:18:37.58
The fundamental idea
that we have in scripture
00:18:38.25\00:18:41.05
is not that man
wrote but that God inspired
00:18:41.25\00:18:46.86
this Word. Certainly
humans wrote the message
00:18:47.06\00:18:50.73
that God intended
for them to communicate
00:18:50.93\00:18:53.50
but this message
is not a human message
00:18:53.70\00:18:56.73
it is an inspired
message. It is a message
00:18:56.93\00:19:00.30
infused and enthused
with the power of God.
00:19:00.70\00:19:05.24
And it goes on to say:
"All scripture is given by
00:19:06.14\00:19:08.88
inspiration of God
and is profitable for
00:19:09.08\00:19:12.25
doctrine, for
reproof, for correction,
00:19:12.45\00:19:15.82
for instruction in righteousness
00:19:16.02\00:19:19.25
that the man of
God may be complete,
00:19:19.45\00:19:21.76
thoroughly equipped
for every good work. "
00:19:22.06\00:19:26.33
Now there's a couple of things
that we need to note here.
00:19:26.53\00:19:29.23
Paul wrote II Timothy;
it's a New Testament book.
00:19:29.43\00:19:32.50
At the time that Paul wrote
this there was no New Testament.
00:19:32.70\00:19:37.44
The New Testament was in
the process of being written.
00:19:37.64\00:19:39.87
So when Paul here is
referring to all scripture
00:19:40.28\00:19:43.85
being inspired by God
he's actually referring to
00:19:44.05\00:19:48.08
the Hebrew Bible:
Genesis through Malachi.
00:19:48.28\00:19:51.45
He's referring to
what Christians often call
00:19:51.65\00:19:53.76
the Old Testament.
00:19:53.96\00:19:55.29
Now what Paul says
about the Hebrew Bible -
00:19:55.39\00:19:57.89
the Old Testament -
is that it is profitable
00:19:58.09\00:20:01.06
for doctrine.
If we as Christians
00:20:01.26\00:20:06.03
want good doctrine, it ought
to be built on the whole Bible
00:20:06.23\00:20:11.11
not just a part of the Bible.
00:20:11.31\00:20:12.97
And so Paul says:
"All scripture is given
00:20:13.98\00:20:16.18
by inspiration of
God. " That this book,
00:20:16.38\00:20:19.15
the whole of it, is
not a human product...
00:20:19.35\00:20:22.52
it's a divine product.
00:20:22.82\00:20:24.42
And because
it's a divine product
00:20:24.82\00:20:26.32
it actually has the
ability to tell us the truth
00:20:26.52\00:20:30.09
in the way that no
human intellectual product
00:20:30.29\00:20:33.80
ever could. All
throughout the scripture
00:20:34.00\00:20:37.10
the truthfulness and
the voracity of scripture
00:20:37.30\00:20:41.74
is proclaimed. In
the book of Psalms
00:20:41.94\00:20:44.41
Psalm 18 says it
in the following way.
00:20:44.61\00:20:50.08
Psalm 18 verse 30 says:
00:20:50.28\00:20:53.55
"As for God? His
way is perfect. "
00:20:53.75\00:20:57.55
It goes on:
"The Word of the Lord
00:20:57.95\00:21:02.69
is proven. He is a shield
to all who trust in Him. "
00:21:03.53\00:21:09.46
Here Psalm 18 speaks of
God's Word as being proven,
00:21:10.03\00:21:14.97
tested. The language there
comes from a refiner's fire.
00:21:15.17\00:21:19.67
And so the idea is
that if you put this book
00:21:19.87\00:21:25.38
into the refiner's fire
nothing will be burned away.
00:21:25.58\00:21:29.62
There's no dross in this book.
00:21:30.05\00:21:32.75
This book is proven Word of God.
00:21:33.15\00:21:37.13
The next Psalm - Psalm
19- describes the Word of God
00:21:37.86\00:21:42.26
in lots of language,
a variety of language,
00:21:42.46\00:21:45.87
but it's all
driving at the same concept.
00:21:46.07\00:21:49.54
Psalm 19:7. In this context
he says: "The law of the Lord
00:21:49.94\00:21:54.11
is perfect. " The
word law there refers to
00:21:54.28\00:21:57.38
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
Numbers and Deuteronomy:
00:21:57.58\00:22:00.32
the Torah. "The law
of the Lord is perfect
00:22:00.52\00:22:04.49
converting the soul.
The testimony of the Lord
00:22:04.69\00:22:07.56
is sure. " That's
what the prophets write.
00:22:07.72\00:22:09.66
That's the rest
of the Old Testament.
00:22:10.06\00:22:11.96
That which is not
law in the Old Testament
00:22:12.36\00:22:14.30
is the testimonies.
So: "The law of the Lord
00:22:14.40\00:22:18.97
is perfect,
converting the soul. "
00:22:19.17\00:22:20.70
That's Genesis, Exodus, Leviti-
cus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
00:22:20.90\00:22:23.41
The testimony of the Lord:
that's the things the prophets
00:22:23.71\00:22:26.68
say. "The testimony
of the Lord is sure,
00:22:26.88\00:22:29.48
making wise the simple.
The statutes of the Lord
00:22:29.68\00:22:32.55
are right, rejoicing the heart.
00:22:32.75\00:22:35.65
The commandment of the Lord
is pure, enlightening the eyes.
00:22:35.85\00:22:40.22
The fear of the Lord is
clean, enduring forever.
00:22:40.42\00:22:44.56
The judgments of the
Lord are true and righteous
00:22:44.76\00:22:48.70
all together. More to be
desired are they than gold...
00:22:48.90\00:22:54.07
yea, than much fine gold.
00:22:54.24\00:22:57.61
Sweeter also than
honey and the honeycomb. "
00:22:57.81\00:23:01.64
This Word - this book - claims
to come from a divine origin.
00:23:02.88\00:23:08.85
This book claims to come
from a transcendent perspective:
00:23:09.05\00:23:13.56
the perspective of God.
00:23:13.76\00:23:15.29
A human perspective can
never tell you capital-T Truth.
00:23:15.59\00:23:18.76
But God's perspective
CAN tell you capital-T Truth.
00:23:18.96\00:23:22.90
But that leads us to a
very important question.
00:23:23.53\00:23:27.74
What are the evidences
that this book came from God?
00:23:28.54\00:23:34.14
What are the
evidences that this is indeed
00:23:34.71\00:23:38.61
a book that has God's
Word in it, that is God's Word?
00:23:38.81\00:23:43.55
Now, I thought of
several arguments,
00:23:44.65\00:23:47.46
sort of different reasons
why I believe that this...
00:23:47.66\00:23:51.93
this book is God's Word.
00:23:52.13\00:23:54.46
And I'm going to kind of...
00:23:54.63\00:23:55.96
I'm going to start in the
most basic way and then we're
00:23:56.10\00:23:58.87
going to expand and
expand until we get to the
00:23:59.07\00:24:02.37
final argument which I believe
is the most compelling argument
00:24:02.57\00:24:05.91
for why I believe
this book is God's Word.
00:24:06.11\00:24:09.54
And the first thing I'd like
to bring to your attention is -
00:24:10.45\00:24:13.18
and maybe you've heard this
or maybe even you've said this -
00:24:13.42\00:24:17.19
that "How can we believe
that this is what God said
00:24:17.59\00:24:23.46
when this book is so old?
00:24:23.66\00:24:26.46
How do we know what it actually
said when it was written? "
00:24:27.13\00:24:29.90
Number one, and number two:
"It's been translated so many
00:24:30.33\00:24:33.50
times how could we even
know what it really says? "
00:24:33.70\00:24:37.27
Maybe you've heard
that or maybe even said
00:24:37.47\00:24:40.44
"I said both those things
a lot when I was a skeptic. "
00:24:40.64\00:24:45.25
Now... share a
couple of ideas with you.
00:24:45.65\00:24:48.55
Number one: in 1946 a
shepherd boy was looking after
00:24:48.75\00:24:53.96
his animals and one of his
animals wandered into a cave.
00:24:54.16\00:24:57.96
And he, being a wee little lad,
00:24:58.16\00:25:01.83
didn't want to go
into that dark scary cave
00:25:02.03\00:25:05.50
to get his little animal out.
00:25:05.70\00:25:09.07
And so he picked up a
rock and he threw it at...
00:25:09.27\00:25:12.11
at the entrance of the cave.
The rock goes into the cave
00:25:12.31\00:25:16.08
and he hears the
sound of breaking pottery.
00:25:16.28\00:25:20.82
And he thought to himself:
"Well that's an unusual sound. "
00:25:23.02\00:25:26.35
And so he and his fellow tribe
00:25:26.55\00:25:32.13
started kind of investigating.
00:25:32.63\00:25:34.63
And they discovered
something that is called
00:25:34.83\00:25:38.20
the Dead Sea Scrolls.
00:25:38.40\00:25:40.24
In the caves around the Dead Sea
00:25:41.24\00:25:44.51
there are
perfectly preserved copies
00:25:44.71\00:25:47.54
of the entire Old
Testament minus one small book
00:25:47.74\00:25:51.11
that date from
the days of Jesus.
00:25:52.35\00:25:55.28
Fascinatingly enough, as they
went through those documents
00:25:56.95\00:26:02.96
meticulously - and it took
them decades to go through all
00:26:03.16\00:26:06.53
of the documents... And
by the way, I've had the
00:26:06.73\00:26:08.43
privilege of seeing
many of those documents
00:26:08.63\00:26:10.47
with my very own eyes.
It's absolutely incredible
00:26:10.67\00:26:13.47
to gaze on a
2,000-year-old scroll
00:26:13.67\00:26:17.61
and imagine the Essenes -
that's who did the copying,
00:26:17.81\00:26:21.91
a group of people
called the Essenes.
00:26:22.11\00:26:23.45
They lived in
the Qumran community.
00:26:23.58\00:26:25.65
And so it's just incredible
to see those 2,000-year-old
00:26:25.85\00:26:29.68
scrolls and imagine these Essene
scribes in the Qumran community
00:26:29.88\00:26:35.19
copying
meticulously Isaiah, Jeremiah,
00:26:35.39\00:26:39.19
Ezekiel, Daniel. And
here's the amazing thing:
00:26:39.39\00:26:44.23
what we now know is
that the Old Testament
00:26:45.10\00:26:48.84
that Jesus Himself had access to
00:26:49.04\00:26:51.54
is identical to
the Old Testament
00:26:51.94\00:26:55.21
that we have in
our Bibles today. Amen!
00:26:55.41\00:26:58.51
There was an absolute science
00:26:58.71\00:27:03.08
to copying scripture
in the days of Jesus.
00:27:03.28\00:27:05.69
Now I want you to imagine:
you're copying and you make
00:27:05.89\00:27:09.16
a mistake... And when they
copy they count every syllable.
00:27:09.36\00:27:13.43
They count every
letter; they count every word.
00:27:13.63\00:27:16.67
Everything has to be perfect
00:27:16.87\00:27:19.70
and if there is
any mistake at all
00:27:19.90\00:27:22.94
the whole thing
went in the "trash bin. "
00:27:23.14\00:27:26.37
So what does that mean?
00:27:31.78\00:27:33.52
What that means is... is that
there is not a real question
00:27:33.72\00:27:38.32
as to what the
Bible actually says.
00:27:38.52\00:27:43.19
We know that the
Bible that we have today
00:27:43.43\00:27:47.10
came down through
2,000 years of history
00:27:47.96\00:27:51.77
to us today, and
the words that we have
00:27:51.97\00:27:55.54
are identifcal to the
words they had in Jesus' day.
00:27:55.94\00:28:00.24
Now... what
about the translation?
00:28:01.24\00:28:03.48
Sometimes people... people
say: "Well... but... OK, OK,
00:28:03.68\00:28:06.85
we'll grant that Hebrew
and the Greek and the Aramaic
00:28:07.05\00:28:10.92
are all the way they were, but
the Bible has been translated
00:28:11.09\00:28:14.72
so many times, you
know, how could you ever
00:28:14.92\00:28:18.76
ever trust it? "
00:28:18.96\00:28:22.90
I was talking to
a friend of mine.
00:28:23.87\00:28:25.30
She and her husband were under-
cover missionaries in Turkey.
00:28:25.70\00:28:31.14
OK? There's less than
5,000 Christians in the entire
00:28:31.34\00:28:37.35
country of Turkey. Millions...
there's 200 million people
00:28:37.55\00:28:42.68
in the country of Turkey
and there's less than 5,000
00:28:42.88\00:28:45.72
Christians. So they
went there to plant a church.
00:28:45.92\00:28:48.72
And they worked very
hard and God blessed them
00:28:49.12\00:28:51.06
and they were successful.
When she first moved to Turkey
00:28:51.26\00:28:53.90
she got
pregnant, she had a baby.
00:28:54.10\00:28:55.43
She didn't speak
a "lick" of Turkish.
00:28:56.40\00:28:58.57
So how did she
communicate with the doctor?
00:29:02.77\00:29:05.27
A translator.
00:29:07.31\00:29:08.91
Now, if you... if
you were having a baby
00:29:09.61\00:29:13.18
or maybe you were in
some foreign land and you had
00:29:13.38\00:29:15.72
some kind of injury, would
the fact that you had to use
00:29:15.92\00:29:19.05
a translator to
communicate with the doctor...
00:29:19.25\00:29:21.29
would that keep you
from going to see the doctor?
00:29:21.49\00:29:23.66
If I broke my leg in Mexico
00:29:26.76\00:29:30.67
and I needed a
translator to get some help,
00:29:30.87\00:29:33.03
you'd better believe
I'm going to be happy
00:29:33.44\00:29:35.37
to have a translator.
00:29:35.57\00:29:37.11
If I get hit by a truck in
Paris, I'd be happy to have
00:29:37.41\00:29:41.24
a translator to help
me get put back together.
00:29:41.44\00:29:44.05
So, so yes... the
Bible has been translated
00:29:44.48\00:29:47.98
and yes, I thank God FOR it!
00:29:48.18\00:29:51.05
'Cause I don't read Hebrew
very well and I don't read Greek
00:29:51.99\00:29:55.06
very well and I don't
read Aramaic very well.
00:29:55.26\00:29:57.53
And so I thank God
that there are translators
00:29:58.49\00:30:02.26
that can help me understand
what it was that God said.
00:30:02.46\00:30:06.47
Now it's interesting because
I don't speak much Spanish
00:30:06.70\00:30:11.14
but I do know if I
say ¿Cuántos años tienes?
00:30:11.34\00:30:15.14
that means how
many years do you have?
00:30:17.31\00:30:20.92
Right? But when we
translate it we say what?
00:30:21.42\00:30:25.99
How old are you?
That's right... that's right.
00:30:26.82\00:30:29.69
So some Bible
translations will translate it
00:30:29.89\00:30:33.76
"Well... how many
years do you have? "
00:30:34.13\00:30:36.46
OK? Another might say:
"Well how old are you? "
00:30:36.70\00:30:38.97
And then another might
say: "Yeah, what's up, homie?
00:30:39.37\00:30:41.77
When's your birthday? "
00:30:41.97\00:30:43.84
I try not to go
into those translations
00:30:48.98\00:30:51.28
'cause that's a
little interpretive, right?
00:30:51.48\00:30:53.95
But if one says: "How
many years do you have? "
00:30:54.15\00:30:56.38
I have to scratch: "Well that's
kind of weird but I think that
00:30:56.62\00:30:58.22
means how old are you, right?
00:30:58.42\00:31:00.46
And another says:
"How old are you? "
00:31:00.66\00:31:04.33
they are different...
but are they that different?
00:31:04.53\00:31:08.03
I don't think so.
00:31:08.90\00:31:10.83
So number one: the first
idea here about why we believe
00:31:12.33\00:31:15.80
the Bible. Number one:
we can believe the Bible
00:31:16.00\00:31:17.87
because the Bible that we
have - even if it's translated -
00:31:18.07\00:31:21.01
is essentially the
same in every meaningful way
00:31:21.41\00:31:25.45
that it was in
the days of Jesus.
00:31:25.85\00:31:28.32
That's the big idea.
You follow that? Yes or no?
00:31:28.52\00:31:31.12
Yes. So what I want you to
understand is you don't have to
00:31:31.32\00:31:34.79
be afraid when
you pick up this book
00:31:34.99\00:31:37.23
that this isn't the
message that God sent to you.
00:31:37.43\00:31:41.86
It is the same. There's
been no meaningful change
00:31:42.06\00:31:46.70
in thousands of years.
00:31:46.90\00:31:49.24
Now, the second reason
to believe, second important
00:31:50.04\00:31:54.58
reason: major things in
the scriptures, major and minor
00:31:54.78\00:32:00.25
things in the
scriptures have been verified
00:32:00.45\00:32:03.05
archaeologically, OK?
00:32:03.25\00:32:05.85
So for example, we
found the Dead Sea Scrolls.
00:32:06.05\00:32:08.39
We would call that an
archaeological discovery
00:32:08.59\00:32:11.66
that verifies the
reliability of scripture.
00:32:11.86\00:32:15.20
I'll give you another one: for
years... for years people were
00:32:15.40\00:32:18.60
saying: "Oh, that Old Testament.
It keeps talking about
00:32:18.80\00:32:21.20
King David, King
David, King David. "
00:32:21.40\00:32:23.57
"Who is this King David guy?
We can't find anything about him
00:32:23.77\00:32:28.11
anywhere else.
" Until they found
00:32:28.31\00:32:33.92
the Tel Dan inscription.
They found a little statue
00:32:34.12\00:32:38.19
not in Israel actually... in one
of their neighboring countries.
00:32:38.39\00:32:42.76
And in there it
refers to a military victory
00:32:43.59\00:32:47.23
that corresponds to
II Chronicles chapter 22
00:32:47.46\00:32:51.10
where David gained a
dramatic military victory
00:32:51.30\00:32:54.24
over their enemies.
00:32:54.44\00:32:55.77
Now what I want you to under-
stand is for years the skeptics
00:32:56.27\00:32:59.54
were basically
looking at Christians saying:
00:32:59.74\00:33:02.01
"Nanny nanny boo boo, " right?
00:33:02.21\00:33:03.58
They're like saying: "Hey look,
you guys keep talking about this
00:33:03.78\00:33:07.05
King David guy. He's a
myth... he never existed.
00:33:07.25\00:33:10.62
There's no such guy.
Archaeology's never found
00:33:10.82\00:33:13.69
anything about it. "
And then all of a sudden
00:33:13.89\00:33:16.46
we find a little inscription
00:33:16.66\00:33:20.90
that one of
Israel's neighbors had
00:33:21.46\00:33:23.73
that records the time
when they got "whupped"
00:33:23.93\00:33:26.13
by King David. OK?
Now, look, look, look
00:33:26.33\00:33:32.11
do you make monuments
to when you got "whupped"
00:33:32.31\00:33:35.58
when you really
didn't get "whupped? "
00:33:35.78\00:33:37.21
So all of a sudden we went
from thinking - the secularists
00:33:42.48\00:33:45.59
went from thinking
- King David's a myth
00:33:45.79\00:33:48.02
to King David's the real deal
00:33:49.16\00:33:51.13
and exactly what
II Chronicles 22 said
00:33:51.63\00:33:56.20
actually happened.
00:33:56.40\00:33:57.73
Here's another one: there's
a man in Jeremiah chapter 39
00:33:58.57\00:34:02.64
verse 2. And he's just a
total minor figure. I mean,
00:34:02.84\00:34:07.01
he's just an extra cast
member in the book of Jeremiah.
00:34:07.21\00:34:12.15
But they're out
there digging in Babylon
00:34:12.55\00:34:15.42
and they find a receipt...
How many of you have ever given
00:34:15.62\00:34:18.75
a gift to a
non-profit organization
00:34:18.95\00:34:20.96
and they sent you a
little receipt in the mail
00:34:21.16\00:34:23.22
telling you: "Thank you so
much for your donation to 3ABN?
00:34:23.43\00:34:27.23
We couldn't do what we do if
you didn't give us that gift. "
00:34:27.40\00:34:30.33
You've received one of
those receipts in the mail
00:34:30.53\00:34:32.67
or from your church or
from some other organization?
00:34:32.87\00:34:36.77
We've been doing that kind
of gift receipt for thousands
00:34:36.97\00:34:40.44
of years. Five hundred
years before Jesus was born
00:34:40.64\00:34:44.01
this man from
the book of Jeremiah
00:34:44.21\00:34:47.02
made an offering to
the Babylonian temple
00:34:47.22\00:34:50.85
of gold, and
there's an offering receipt.
00:34:51.02\00:34:53.42
And somebody's out
digging in the desert
00:34:53.62\00:34:55.49
and lo and behold,
they find his receipt
00:34:55.69\00:34:58.46
for the offering that he made.
00:34:58.66\00:35:00.46
And it's the same guy
in the book of Jeremiah.
00:35:00.66\00:35:05.10
People would have read
the book of Jeremiah and said:
00:35:06.67\00:35:09.24
"Come on! Who's this guy?
Did he really work for the
00:35:09.44\00:35:12.44
Babylonian court? Was he
really alive at this time? "
00:35:12.64\00:35:15.81
And sure enough, we now
have archaeological evidence
00:35:16.01\00:35:19.68
of his existence.
Here's another one...
00:35:19.88\00:35:22.15
I think you'll like this
one. In the Old Testament
00:35:22.35\00:35:25.29
there's this king.
His name's King Hezekiah.
00:35:25.49\00:35:27.82
Again, people
wondered if he was a real guy.
00:35:28.02\00:35:30.23
King Hezekiah began a
great reform, and he began to
00:35:30.43\00:35:33.50
overthrow the false worship
in Israel, and he began to
00:35:33.70\00:35:37.97
bring about
revival and reformation.
00:35:38.17\00:35:39.87
And things began
to go a lot better.
00:35:40.10\00:35:43.37
And there's this funny
thing that they decided to do.
00:35:43.57\00:35:46.84
If they found a temple
to a false god named Baal
00:35:47.04\00:35:51.68
they would turn
it into a latrine.
00:35:51.88\00:35:54.12
Some of ya'll don't
know what a latrine is?
00:35:58.59\00:36:00.59
That's all right.
00:36:00.89\00:36:02.72
That's the polite way of
referring to the outhouse,
00:36:04.19\00:36:08.23
all right?
00:36:08.83\00:36:10.17
Now I don't know about you
but I actually find a little joy
00:36:10.20\00:36:12.93
just in the fact that they
would turn a false god's home
00:36:13.13\00:36:16.91
into an outhouse.
That just makes me think
00:36:17.11\00:36:19.61
that it's kind of nice
some people in the Old Testament
00:36:19.81\00:36:22.58
had a sense of humor. Amen!
00:36:22.78\00:36:25.55
So long story short, again
they're out there in the desert
00:36:26.15\00:36:29.45
digging. And they're
digging and they find a latrine
00:36:29.65\00:36:34.96
in a temple devoted to Baal
00:36:36.83\00:36:39.89
dating from the days of Hezekiah
00:36:40.96\00:36:43.73
in the very city that
Hezekiah turned a temple of Baal
00:36:43.93\00:36:48.37
into a latrine.
00:36:48.57\00:36:50.27
Now, what I'm telling... by
sharing these things with you
00:36:53.64\00:36:57.61
and these are just... I
mean there are dozens and dozens
00:36:57.81\00:37:00.05
and dozens of these
archaeological findings.
00:37:00.25\00:37:02.42
By sharing these archaeological
discoveries with you, what I'm,
00:37:02.62\00:37:06.15
what I'm trying to say to you is
number 1: the Dead Sea Scrolls
00:37:06.35\00:37:10.16
say that the book that we
have is the same as the book
00:37:10.36\00:37:13.86
Jesus had. That's number one.
00:37:14.03\00:37:15.56
Number two: that this
book is a historical book
00:37:15.76\00:37:19.47
and it tells a historical
story. And many of the events
00:37:19.67\00:37:23.91
in that story have been verified
00:37:24.11\00:37:27.01
through actual
on-the-ground data.
00:37:27.21\00:37:30.55
Real live... like
they found the toilet
00:37:30.95\00:37:35.15
in the temple of Baal
00:37:36.89\00:37:38.95
that Hezekiah had
built. I mean, they found it!
00:37:39.15\00:37:44.26
OK?
00:37:45.29\00:37:46.70
Now... the
second kind of major...
00:37:47.40\00:37:52.27
So the first is we would
say archaeological evidence:
00:37:52.47\00:37:54.50
whether it's the Dead Sea
Scrolls or all these other
00:37:54.70\00:37:56.54
things I've mentioned. The
second one is Bible prophecy.
00:37:56.77\00:38:01.14
And I'll have to tell you:
Bible prophecy was probably
00:38:01.54\00:38:04.31
the most compelling evidence
that I personally experienced
00:38:04.51\00:38:09.02
very early in my Christian life.
00:38:09.22\00:38:11.72
Go with me in your
Bibles to the book of Isaiah.
00:38:12.15\00:38:15.26
Isaiah chapter 44... Isaiah 44.
00:38:15.46\00:38:17.66
In Isaiah 44
beginning in verse 6
00:38:19.39\00:38:22.76
the Bible says this:
00:38:29.14\00:38:30.91
"Thus says the
Lord, the King of Israel
00:38:36.61\00:38:39.85
and his Redeemer,
the Lord of Hosts:
00:38:40.05\00:38:42.65
'I am the first
and I am the last;
00:38:42.85\00:38:46.79
besides Me there is no God. ' "
00:38:46.99\00:38:51.93
Verse 7: "Who
can proclaim as I do?
00:38:54.00\00:38:57.53
Then let him declare it
and set it in order for Me
00:38:57.77\00:39:01.04
since I appoint the ancient
people and the things that are
00:39:01.44\00:39:05.27
coming and shall come.
00:39:05.47\00:39:07.74
Let them show these to them. "
00:39:08.01\00:39:12.01
Now I don't know if you
follow the argument there.
00:39:12.55\00:39:14.82
God is saying:
"Look, look! I am God.
00:39:15.22\00:39:17.72
There's nobody like
Me... I am the only God.
00:39:18.12\00:39:20.79
I set up things
in the ancient past.
00:39:20.99\00:39:23.49
I am the Creator, and I actually
tell things that are coming
00:39:23.69\00:39:27.83
in the future. If
these other gods -
00:39:28.00\00:39:31.40
these other people who
claim to be God, these idols -
00:39:31.60\00:39:34.04
if they're really God
I want them to... I want
00:39:34.24\00:39:37.61
them to do what I do.
00:39:37.81\00:39:40.18
I want them to be a
Creator God in the past
00:39:40.58\00:39:43.28
and I want them to be a
predicting God in the present. "
00:39:43.48\00:39:48.15
You see, what God says is that
He has the ability to predict
00:39:49.15\00:39:53.76
the future, and that
ability to predict the future
00:39:53.96\00:39:58.09
is actually evidence that
He is the one true Creator God.
00:39:58.29\00:40:04.23
Isaiah chapter 46...
00:40:04.73\00:40:08.74
just a couple pages over.
00:40:08.94\00:40:11.21
Isaiah 46 verse 9.
00:40:11.41\00:40:13.94
"Remember the
former things of old
00:40:19.08\00:40:21.35
for I am God and
there is no other.
00:40:21.75\00:40:24.69
I am God, and
there is none like Me,
00:40:24.89\00:40:28.22
declaring the end
from the beginning
00:40:28.92\00:40:31.79
and from ancient times
things that are not yet done
00:40:32.19\00:40:36.60
saying: 'My counsel shall stand
00:40:37.00\00:40:40.40
and I will do
all My pleasure. ' "
00:40:40.60\00:40:44.71
Here in the book of
Isaiah God makes it clear
00:40:45.37\00:40:48.41
He is unique
among all so-called gods
00:40:48.81\00:40:52.91
because He can declare
the end from the beginning.
00:40:53.11\00:40:56.08
He can declare things
that have not yet happened
00:40:56.28\00:40:59.32
and then they do happen.
00:40:59.52\00:41:01.49
And we have many
examples of this tonight.
00:41:01.69\00:41:03.86
We don't have time to
actually go look at them
00:41:04.06\00:41:06.70
but I am certain that 3ABN
has many wonderful resources
00:41:07.00\00:41:11.33
on this available online.
00:41:11.53\00:41:13.54
And I'll give you
a couple examples.
00:41:13.94\00:41:16.10
In the book of Daniel
- in Daniel chapter 2-
00:41:16.50\00:41:19.37
there is a
vision. And in that vision
00:41:19.57\00:41:23.04
it predicts the rise
of four great empires:
00:41:23.24\00:41:26.38
Babylon,
Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.
00:41:26.58\00:41:28.82
It predicts that that
fourth empire would break apart
00:41:29.22\00:41:32.35
and that there would never
be a fifth empire to replace
00:41:32.75\00:41:37.49
that Roman
Empire in modern Europe.
00:41:37.69\00:41:41.00
In Daniel 7 you
have the same thing.
00:41:41.40\00:41:44.00
Four beasts arise
up out of the earth...
00:41:44.20\00:41:46.33
out of the sea, actually.
00:41:46.53\00:41:48.20
And those beasts
represent Babylon, Medo-Persia,
00:41:48.40\00:41:52.11
Greece, and Rome. And then
that Roman beast has 10 horns
00:41:52.31\00:41:56.48
and out of those 10
horns comes a little horn.
00:41:56.68\00:41:59.68
And that little horn represents
the rise of the Medieval church.
00:42:00.15\00:42:05.79
I mean, these prophecies:
hundreds and yea, even thousands
00:42:06.19\00:42:11.26
of years in advance articulated
what was going to happen.
00:42:11.46\00:42:15.86
And it happened just
like it said it would.
00:42:16.06\00:42:19.90
In the book of
Ezekiel - Ezekiel 26-
00:42:20.10\00:42:23.04
there is a phenomenal...
phenomenal prophecy
00:42:23.24\00:42:26.64
about this city of Tyre. It
was on the Mediterranean Sea.
00:42:26.84\00:42:30.95
It was a little
coastal town, and God predicted
00:42:31.15\00:42:34.98
through Ezekiel that
that city would be judged
00:42:35.18\00:42:38.05
by Babylon. And
just as God had predicted
00:42:38.92\00:42:42.59
it was judged. But then
the prophecy gets interesting.
00:42:42.79\00:42:46.86
It says that that town would
be "scraped into the sea. "
00:42:47.03\00:42:51.60
Now I don't know about you,
but scraping cities into the sea
00:42:54.07\00:42:58.21
seems like a waste of time.
00:42:58.41\00:43:00.11
Right? So Babylon overthrew Tyre
00:43:02.54\00:43:05.65
and they never took the time
to scrape them into the sea.
00:43:05.85\00:43:09.08
And then along comes a
guy named Alexander the Great
00:43:09.65\00:43:13.12
and there's a little
island off the coast of Tyre.
00:43:13.36\00:43:16.16
And Alexander wants to
overthrow that little island
00:43:16.36\00:43:20.00
but Alexander has no
way. He has no boats;
00:43:20.20\00:43:22.50
he has no ship. How is he going
to overthrow that little island?
00:43:22.70\00:43:25.67
"Let me think...
You know what I'll do?
00:43:25.87\00:43:27.67
I'll scrape the
city into the sea. "
00:43:28.07\00:43:30.11
And so that's what he
did. He had his soldiers
00:43:32.71\00:43:35.44
scrape the city into the
sea. And they marched across
00:43:35.64\00:43:39.85
that little... that
rubble and overtook the city.
00:43:40.08\00:43:43.69
Now the prophecy
took time to be fulfilled
00:43:44.92\00:43:48.36
and for a time it looked
like it wouldn't be fulfilled.
00:43:48.76\00:43:52.26
But then it was fulfilled
just as Ezekiel had predicted.
00:43:52.73\00:43:58.63
And there are countless others.
00:43:59.17\00:44:00.87
Probably the best ones are
concerning our Lord and Savior
00:44:01.07\00:44:04.61
Jesus Christ. In the book
of Micah chapter 5 verse 2
00:44:04.81\00:44:08.88
it predicts exactly
where Jesus would be born.
00:44:09.08\00:44:13.72
In Hosea 11 it predicts that
Messiah would flee to Egypt.
00:44:14.58\00:44:20.26
In the book of
Daniel - Daniel chapter 9-
00:44:20.56\00:44:23.06
incredible time prophecy
there that predicts the exact
00:44:23.26\00:44:27.10
date of the beginning of the
ministry of our Lord and Savior.
00:44:27.30\00:44:31.07
Daniel 9 also predicts the
exact time of His crucifixion.
00:44:31.47\00:44:36.54
It also predicts the time
when the gospel would begin to
00:44:36.77\00:44:40.54
spread to the Gentile nations.
00:44:40.74\00:44:43.08
Daniel chapter... or excuse
me, Leviticus 23 beginning in
00:44:43.51\00:44:46.82
verse 5 predicts the time
when Jesus would be crucified
00:44:47.02\00:44:51.59
on the Passover... on
the date of the Passover.
00:44:51.79\00:44:55.02
All throughout the Old Testament
there are dozens and dozens
00:44:55.49\00:44:59.23
and dozens of prophecies
that have met a precise
00:44:59.43\00:45:03.06
fulfillment in history and in
the life, death and resurrection
00:45:03.26\00:45:08.07
of Jesus Christ.
These prophecies proclaim
00:45:08.27\00:45:12.71
that this book is not
a book of human origin.
00:45:12.91\00:45:17.25
This book comes from God.
00:45:17.45\00:45:20.25
This book is inspired by God
00:45:20.45\00:45:24.02
and it is the
Truth... capital-T Truth...
00:45:24.22\00:45:28.12
in a way that no human
philosophy or human speculation
00:45:28.32\00:45:32.03
ever could be. Amen! Now...
00:45:32.23\00:45:35.00
the greatest, the
single greatest evidence
00:45:36.33\00:45:42.24
for the
truthfulness of scripture
00:45:42.44\00:45:45.14
is found in the death, burial,
and resurrection of Jesus.
00:45:45.44\00:45:49.71
And it's going to take
me a while to get there.
00:45:49.91\00:45:51.91
I want to just summarize though.
00:45:52.48\00:45:54.12
Why do I believe
this book is true? So far
00:45:54.82\00:45:57.19
we talked about
archaeological evidence,
00:45:57.39\00:45:59.62
whether it's the Dead Sea
Scrolls or events that are
00:45:59.82\00:46:04.26
verified through history.
00:46:04.39\00:46:06.33
We've talked about prophecy
and now we're going to talk
00:46:06.53\00:46:10.37
about the
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
00:46:10.77\00:46:14.30
In Mark chapter 8- you
can go there if you'd like -
00:46:15.10\00:46:17.87
Mark chapter 8 verse 31
00:46:18.07\00:46:19.74
Jesus predicts His
death. Mark chapter 8
00:46:19.94\00:46:24.15
beginning in verse 31.
00:46:24.51\00:46:27.12
In fact, Jesus
predicts His death three times:
00:46:27.32\00:46:31.32
Mark 8, Mark 9, and Mark 10.
00:46:31.72\00:46:35.79
Mark 8 verse 31, it
says: "He began to teach them
00:46:36.83\00:46:41.43
that the Son of Man must suffer
many things and be rejected
00:46:41.63\00:46:44.97
by the elders
and the chief priests
00:46:45.17\00:46:46.84
and scribes and be killed
and after three days rise again.
00:46:47.04\00:46:51.27
He spoke this word openly
00:46:52.11\00:46:54.98
and Peter took Him aside
and began to rebuke Him. "
00:46:55.38\00:46:58.78
Here Jesus begins to
teach about His death, burial,
00:47:00.05\00:47:03.08
and resurrection.
Mark 9 verse 31 again:
00:47:03.28\00:47:07.29
"Jesus, " it says,
"taught His disciples
00:47:07.49\00:47:11.43
and said to them: 'The
Son of Man is being betrayed
00:47:11.63\00:47:15.76
into the hands of men
and they will kill Him.
00:47:15.96\00:47:18.73
And after He is killed He
will rise the third day. ' "
00:47:19.13\00:47:24.14
And they did not
understand this saying
00:47:24.64\00:47:26.78
and were afraid to ask Him. "
00:47:26.98\00:47:28.31
The third time is in
Mark chapter 10 verse 33.
00:47:28.71\00:47:31.91
Mark 10 verse 33.
00:47:32.11\00:47:34.12
Jesus says: "Behold,
we're going up to Jerusalem.
00:47:35.72\00:47:39.35
The Son of Man will be
betrayed to the chief priests
00:47:39.85\00:47:42.89
and to the scribes, and
they will condemn Him to death
00:47:43.09\00:47:46.23
and deliver Him to the Gentiles.
00:47:46.43\00:47:48.36
And they will mock
Him and scourge Him
00:47:49.03\00:47:51.73
and spit on Him and kill Him.
00:47:51.93\00:47:54.40
And the third day
He will rise again. "
00:47:54.60\00:47:57.47
In John chapter 14
verse 29 Jesus tells us
00:47:59.37\00:48:03.98
why He makes these
consistent prophecies
00:48:04.28\00:48:08.42
of His death,
burial, and resurrection.
00:48:08.62\00:48:10.95
In John 14:29 He says
exactly what Isaiah says.
00:48:11.35\00:48:17.06
He says: "And
now I have told you
00:48:17.96\00:48:20.96
before it comes to pass
00:48:21.33\00:48:23.37
that when it does come to pass
00:48:24.43\00:48:26.57
you may... " What? "believe. "
00:48:26.77\00:48:30.01
Jesus consistently
articulated the truth:
00:48:30.91\00:48:34.48
that He was going to die,
be buried, and resurrected
00:48:34.68\00:48:37.55
on the third day. He
consistently communicated that
00:48:37.71\00:48:40.55
before His death,
burial, and resurrection
00:48:40.75\00:48:42.08
and then we get to the punch
line. And the punch line is
00:48:42.28\00:48:45.69
"I am telling you
this... I am telling you this
00:48:45.89\00:48:49.02
so that when it
happens you might believe. "
00:48:49.22\00:48:53.60
Now... this leads us to
the most important question
00:48:54.66\00:49:00.57
that Christians must ask them-
selves. And not just Christians.
00:49:00.77\00:49:04.37
This is the most important ques-
tion that confronts the world:
00:49:04.57\00:49:08.61
"Did Jesus Christ
really die and rise again? "
00:49:09.71\00:49:14.45
Did He really
die and rise again?
00:49:15.15\00:49:17.82
And I will tell you
there are three reasons
00:49:19.09\00:49:21.59
why I believe that
Jesus died and rose again.
00:49:21.79\00:49:24.66
Number one: the
historical evidence
00:49:25.69\00:49:28.76
indicates very clearly
that Jesus actually died
00:49:28.96\00:49:33.67
on the cross. Now you might
remember in the gospel of John
00:49:33.87\00:49:36.20
when Jesus is on the cross.
He dies, and then to make sure
00:49:36.40\00:49:40.08
that He's dead, the
soldier takes a spear
00:49:40.28\00:49:43.11
and he plunges that
spear into the side of Jesus.
00:49:43.35\00:49:47.95
And the spear
goes through His lungs
00:49:48.15\00:49:51.79
and into the
pericardial cavity there.
00:49:51.99\00:49:55.12
And then through that
sac - that pericardial sac.
00:49:55.32\00:49:58.63
It goes through
that... punctures the heart.
00:49:58.83\00:50:01.16
And out of that wound
00:50:01.36\00:50:04.97
pours blood and water.
00:50:05.17\00:50:08.04
There is no question
that Jesus died on the cross.
00:50:09.97\00:50:13.58
Whether it's extra-Biblical
sources like the Roman historian
00:50:13.78\00:50:17.75
Tacitus, the
Jewish historian Josephus,
00:50:17.95\00:50:20.88
and the Talmud. All of
these non-Bible sources
00:50:21.08\00:50:25.89
confirm the fact
that Jesus lived and died.
00:50:26.09\00:50:30.09
You know why it's so important
to know that Jesus died?
00:50:31.49\00:50:34.60
'Cause you can't rise from the
dead if you're not dead first.
00:50:35.66\00:50:39.57
Amen! Right?
00:50:39.77\00:50:41.30
And there is no
question that He was dead!
00:50:43.64\00:50:46.37
Number two: on Sunday morning
00:50:49.14\00:50:54.42
the tomb was empty.
00:50:54.62\00:50:56.32
OK. Now... how do we
know the tomb was empty?
00:50:56.52\00:50:59.35
OK? Number one: the women
00:50:59.55\00:51:02.89
showed up at the tomb
and He wasn't there...
00:51:03.29\00:51:05.26
which today isn't a
big deal but back then
00:51:05.66\00:51:08.03
saying the women showed up and
He wasn't there was a big deal.
00:51:08.23\00:51:11.43
You know why it was a big deal?
00:51:14.80\00:51:16.50
'Cause women weren't a big deal.
00:51:17.01\00:51:18.91
Now don't...
Look... now don't stone me.
00:51:20.38\00:51:22.94
I'm not saying
they're not a big deal today.
00:51:23.35\00:51:25.08
I'm just saying they were
not perceived as a big deal
00:51:25.28\00:51:28.52
back then. In fact,
in the days of Jesus
00:51:28.72\00:51:31.32
women were not even
allowed to testify in court.
00:51:31.52\00:51:35.19
Since the Bible says the first
witnesses of the empty tomb
00:51:36.39\00:51:40.20
and the
resurrection of Jesus were women
00:51:40.40\00:51:42.06
we have... that's not the sort
of crazy talk you'd make up.
00:51:42.46\00:51:45.90
You follow me here this evening?
00:51:49.10\00:51:50.87
Now again, I'm not
talking in the 21st century.
00:51:52.37\00:51:55.11
I'm talking about in this time.
00:51:55.31\00:51:57.31
Probably the most compelling
reason that I believe Jesus
00:52:00.72\00:52:02.95
rose from the dead is
found in I Corinthians 15.
00:52:03.15\00:52:05.65
In I Corinthians 15
the apostle Paul says
00:52:05.85\00:52:08.72
that... he says this,
and I'll read it to you.
00:52:08.92\00:52:11.36
I Corinthians chapter 15.
00:52:11.56\00:52:13.50
Oh, it's absolutely incredible!
00:52:13.90\00:52:15.80
Paul says, I
Corinthians 15 verse 3:
00:52:16.30\00:52:18.50
"I deliver to you first of all
00:52:18.70\00:52:23.47
that which I also received:
that Christ died for our sins
00:52:23.67\00:52:27.04
in accordance with the
scriptures. That He was buried,
00:52:27.24\00:52:29.21
that He rose again the third
day according to the scriptures,
00:52:29.41\00:52:32.85
and that He was
seen by Peter - Cephas -
00:52:33.05\00:52:36.85
then by the twelve.
00:52:37.05\00:52:38.39
After that He was seen by
over 500 brethren at once! "
00:52:38.59\00:52:44.13
Now I want you to
follow what Paul says.
00:52:45.03\00:52:46.76
He says: "Look,
church... I'm telling you...
00:52:46.96\00:52:48.93
I'm telling you what I
always told you. Number one:
00:52:49.13\00:52:51.53
Jesus died for your sins
just like the Bible said so.
00:52:51.73\00:52:55.37
That He was
buried and He rose again
00:52:55.77\00:52:58.41
just like the Bible
predicted. And then He was seen
00:52:58.61\00:53:02.21
by Peter and by the twelve
00:53:02.41\00:53:06.61
and then" - whew! mind-blowing!
00:53:06.82\00:53:09.62
"He was seen by more than
500 people at the same time! "
00:53:09.82\00:53:15.29
Now, this is where
things get incredible.
00:53:17.06\00:53:19.83
What did those apostles do?
00:53:20.33\00:53:22.13
They began traveling the
world preaching and teaching
00:53:22.53\00:53:26.37
and telling the
story of the risen Christ.
00:53:26.57\00:53:28.57
And let me tell
you... let me tell you:
00:53:28.97\00:53:30.87
I'm here, nice comfortable
room, air conditioning,
00:53:31.01\00:53:34.04
lights, cameras, nice people.
00:53:34.24\00:53:35.88
It wasn't like that
when Paul went to Rome.
00:53:36.38\00:53:38.81
It wasn't like that when Thomas
walked all the way to India.
00:53:39.38\00:53:43.08
He got there,
preached a little while,
00:53:43.28\00:53:44.85
and they decided to
stick him with a lance.
00:53:45.05\00:53:47.52
Now look, how many
of you ever told a lie?
00:53:50.53\00:53:53.09
If you're not raising
your hand, you're lying.
00:53:53.60\00:53:55.86
OK... all right.
00:53:56.06\00:53:58.27
Most of the time people
tell lies to get out of trouble.
00:54:01.84\00:54:05.47
Right?
00:54:06.31\00:54:07.64
They tell lies to
get out of trouble.
00:54:08.04\00:54:10.28
You don't run around telling
people that Jesus was "risen"
00:54:11.08\00:54:14.78
from the dead as a lie
if it's going to get you
00:54:14.98\00:54:17.02
in more trouble.
00:54:17.22\00:54:18.62
Listen to this: Matthew was
stabbed to death in Ethiopia.
00:54:19.45\00:54:23.73
John was thrown into a
pot of boiling oil in Rome,
00:54:24.76\00:54:29.00
survived, and
was exiled to Patmos.
00:54:29.20\00:54:31.77
Peter was crucified
upside down in Rome.
00:54:31.97\00:54:34.74
James superior was
decapitated in Jerusalem.
00:54:34.94\00:54:38.31
James the less was
stoned and beaten with a mallet
00:54:38.51\00:54:41.18
until he died. Thomas was
pierced to death with lances
00:54:41.38\00:54:44.61
in India. Philip was hanged
from a pillar in Asia Minor.
00:54:44.81\00:54:49.12
Bartholomew was cut
apart alive in India.
00:54:49.32\00:54:52.55
Simon the Zealot
was crucified in Persia.
00:54:52.95\00:54:55.66
Andrew was crucified
in what is now Russia.
00:54:55.86\00:55:00.23
Matthias was burned in Syria.
00:55:00.63\00:55:02.83
Barnabas was
stoned to death in Cyprus.
00:55:03.03\00:55:05.20
Paul was
decapitated by Nero in Rome.
00:55:05.40\00:55:09.10
Mark was drawn through the
streets in Alexandria in Egypt
00:55:09.50\00:55:12.77
until he died. Luke was
hanged from an olive tree
00:55:12.97\00:55:15.91
in Greece. Now I want you
to just get this, my friends.
00:55:16.11\00:55:19.08
All these earliest
closest friends of Jesus
00:55:19.48\00:55:22.92
gave their lives...
not for some silly lie.
00:55:23.12\00:55:27.16
You know, it's not a fairy
tale. It's not a tooth fairy,
00:55:27.36\00:55:31.93
Easter bunny kind of lie.
00:55:32.13\00:55:33.50
They saw Jesus ALIVE! Amen!
00:55:33.70\00:55:37.80
They saw Him raised from
the dead, and they were willing
00:55:38.00\00:55:41.44
to give their lives... they
were willing to give their lives
00:55:41.64\00:55:45.81
because they knew the
One who had conquered death
00:55:46.01\00:55:49.94
completely. Amen!
00:55:50.15\00:55:52.25
Man... I get excited about that!
00:55:52.45\00:55:54.28
Amen! Jesus is alive!
00:55:54.48\00:55:56.75
And you know what?
His resurrection proves
00:55:57.25\00:56:00.52
that He is God -
Amen! in the human flesh.
00:56:00.72\00:56:03.96
Now listen to what He said.
00:56:04.16\00:56:05.49
Jesus while He was
alive referred to Adam and Eve
00:56:05.69\00:56:09.56
in Matthew 19. He
referred to Abel in Luke 11.
00:56:09.76\00:56:13.13
He referred to
Noah in Matthew 24.
00:56:13.34\00:56:15.44
He referred to
Abraham in John 6.
00:56:15.64\00:56:18.17
He referred to Sodom in Luke
17 and Lot's wife in Luke 17
00:56:18.37\00:56:22.44
and Isaac and Jacob in Luke
20 Moses' calling in Mark 12
00:56:22.64\00:56:27.52
and the law given
by Moses in Matthew 19.
00:56:27.68\00:56:30.92
And the Ten Commandments
in the book of Matthew
00:56:31.12\00:56:35.09
and the manna in John 6 and
the brazen serpent in John 3
00:56:35.29\00:56:38.99
and David eating the
showbread in Matthew 12
00:56:39.19\00:56:41.43
and the Queen of
Sheba in Matthew 12
00:56:41.63\00:56:43.83
and the wisdom and
glory of Solomon, and Elijah
00:56:44.03\00:56:46.90
and the widow and the
role of Elijah in the future.
00:56:47.10\00:56:50.47
And Jonah and the whale
00:56:50.67\00:56:52.34
and the judgments
on Tyre and Sidon.
00:56:52.54\00:56:54.61
In other words, Jesus
believed this book! Amen!
00:56:54.81\00:56:59.15
Jesus - the risen
One - our Lord and Savior
00:56:59.35\00:57:03.42
who hung on the cross
and rose from the dead
00:57:03.62\00:57:06.35
He... He believed this book!
00:57:06.79\00:57:09.32
And so, so, so... this
book tells us the truth
00:57:09.52\00:57:12.89
in the way that
no human ever could.
00:57:13.09\00:57:16.10
Because this is capital-T
Truth; it comes from heaven!
00:57:16.30\00:57:20.04
And I want you to
know, brothers and sisters,
00:57:20.24\00:57:21.87
I want you to
know... I want you to know
00:57:22.27\00:57:24.54
that when it comes to this book
00:57:24.74\00:57:26.34
I am with the Man
who rose from the dead!
00:57:26.54\00:57:30.15