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