EVIDENCES FOR GOD AND HIS WORD

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. The wonders of the creation forever declare the existence,     
      power, and glory of our Creator.  Rom. 1:20
   B. Also, the wonders of the Bible give evidence of its author,
      Almighty God.
      1. The objective of the Bible is to reveal our Creator, and to
         show our Creator's will for us.
      2. The Bible is not a textbook of science, history, or
         philosophy, but when it touches on those subjects, or any
         other, it is perfectly and absolutely true.  John 17:17
   C. Lets examine a few of the passages which give evidence for the
      existence of God, and for the Bible as revelation from God.

I. PROOF OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.
   A. The Scriptures teach regarding "Cause and Effect."  In other
      words, a design demands a designer, a building, a builder, a   
      thing made, a maker, and a creation, a creator.  Heb. 3:4;     
      Psalm 19:1-3; 139:14
   B. Man is a moral creature.  He has within himself a likeness to  
      God.  Gen. 1:26; James 3:9
      1. This similitude to God is what distinguishes man from all
         other animals.
      2. Even the worse criminals demand a fair trial.  Why?  Man is
         a moral creature; he has within himself a likeness to God.
   C. Man is a worshiping creature.
      1. There is a universal tendency in man to regard someone
         greater than himself.
      2. In all ages, and in all cultures, man has been found to be a
         worshipful being.  Why?  Because his inward nature points to
         a higher being.
   D. God has revealed Himself.
      1. He has revealed Himself through "natural" revelation, by he
         things which He made.  Acts 14:15-17; 17:24-29
      2. He has revealed Himself through "special" revelation, the
         Bible.  The Bible provides:
         a. A ready explanation for the existence of the universe. 
            Gen. 1:1
         b. The knowledge of how such amazing design is to be
            found in nature.  Gen. 1:31
         c. Information to show why man is superior to and above
            all other things.  Gen. 1:26-28
         d. A basis for morality: right and wrong.  Heb. 5:12-14
         e. The answers to some of life's most important questions:
            (1) Where did I come from?  Gen. 2:7
            (2) Why am I here?  Eccl. 12:13-14
            (3) Where am I going?  Heb. 9:27; John 5:28-29

II. PROOF THAT THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD.
   A. Often people have said, "You cannot prove the Bible by the
      Bible."  We disagree.
      1. If someone made the claim that he had found an additional
         work of Shakespear, those knowing the works of Shakespear
         would determine its authorship by closely examining it.
      2. Likewise, when we examine the Bible, we see that its author
         is God.
   B. Let's consider a few evidences for the Bible by asking and
      answering a few questions.
      1. First, do the contents of the Bible harmonize with the facts
         of science?
         a. If the books of the Bible were written by mere men, they
            would contain some of the things commonly believed in
            the time they were written.
            (1) For example, when the Bible was written, it was
                universally believed that the earth was flat.
                (a) People thought that if one would go too far
                    toward the edge he would fall off the earth.
            (2) When Magellan sailed around the earth, he forever
                proved it to be round.
            (3) The writers of the Bible wrote of the earth being
                round.  Isa. 40:22; Prov. 8:27
                (a) How did they know this?  The only answer is
                    that it came from God.
         b. Ancient people believed there were only a few stars in
            the heavens.
            (1) In 50 BC, Hipparchus said there were less than
                3,000.
            (2) In 150 AD, Ptolemy said not more than 3,000
            (3) After the invention of the telescope in the middle
                ages, men discovered that the stars are
                innumerable.
            (4) Yet, all the time the Bible plainly declared that the
                stars in the heavens are as the grains of sand on
                the seashore, "innumerable."  Gen. 15:5; 22:17;
                Jer. 33:22
      2. Secondly, we ask, "Does the Bible harmonize with history?"
         In other words, "Is the Bible historically true? Are its    
         records accurate?"
         a. A historian named Herodotus denied that which Moses
            wrote about Joseph in Gen. 40:9-14
            (1) Herodotus said that grapes did not grow in Egypt
                and Egyptians did not make or drink wine.
            (2) The unbelievers sided with Herodotus. They said
                he was right and Moses was wrong; they claimed
                that the Bible record was not inspired because
                Moses made a historical blunder.
            (3) However, when archaeologists explored the
                ancient tombs of the Egyptians, such as in
                pyramids, paintings on the walls showed how the
                Egyptians crushed their grapes and made their
                wine.
            (4) Herodotus was wrong; Moses was right.
                (a) Moses was right because he wrote by the
                    inspiration of God..
         b. For a long time skeptics contended that Luke had made
            the mistake of styling Sergius Paulus a "proconsul."
            (1) They said that he should have called him
                "propraetor," being the Roman title borne by the
                chief ruler of the island.  Acts 13:6-12
            (2) All of this was put to rest when, not too long ago,
                a coin was found on that same island with the
                inscription, "Paulus the Proconsul."
            (3) "Propraetor" was the usual title, but historians and
                archaeologists have found that there were some
                exceptions where these Roman rulers were called
                "proconsuls."
            (4) Thus, the inspired writings have stood the test.
      3. Thirdly, we ask, "Does the Bible harmonize with itself?"
         a. The harmony and unity of the Bible is proof of its divine
            origin.
         b. The Bible consists of 66 books written by about 40
            different men over a period of 1600 years.
         c. It was written by kings, soldiers, shepherds, farmers and
            fishermen.
         d. It was written in different languages and in different
            countries.
         e. Parts were written by the highly educated and parts
            were written by the uneducated.
         f. Yet, all the books of the Bible blend together into one
            great whole, or unit.  There are no contradictions or
            disagreements.
            (1) The writers of both the Old and New Testaments
                harmonize with each another.
         g. Try to get ordinary man of different ages, languages,
            educations, and backgrounds, to harmonize on anything! 
            It can't be done!
         h. The books of the Bible blend harmoniously because they
            were written under the direction of the Holy Spirit of
            God.  2 Pet. 1:21
   C. We mention one last point.
      1. Not only does the Bible not contradict science, history, or
         itself, but its fruits show it to be from God.
      2. A study and application of the principles taught in the     
         Bible makes better homes, citizens, workers, father,        
         mothers, and children.
      3. The existence of the Bible has greatly benefitted the human
         race.
         a. When a nation abides by the principles taught in the
            Bible, it prospers.  When it neglects them, it crumbles.
      4. The Bible gives us a better world in which to live, and more
         importantly, it offers the hope of eternal life.

Concl.
   A. The only natural conclusion, after examining the evidence, is  
      that God does indeed exist, and the Bible is His revelation.
   B. Read Psalm 19:1-11