Ancient Evidences for the Life of Christ - Pathlighters · 2019-10-23 · 1. Is the story of...

Ancient Evidences for the Life of Christ

God’s Universe and God’s Word


What are the three greatest

hindrances today for individuals to

believe in Jesus?

Hindrances to Faith in God’s Word

1. Is the story of Jesus’ life, death, burial and

resurrection a historical event true or a

fabricated hoax?

We will deal with the answer to this question as

we research first century history over the next 11

weeks.


2. How can I believe in something that has been

disproved by science over the last 100 years?

We will deal with answers to this question

tonight as we look at science and God’s word.


3. Why should I believe in Jesus when I can

take care of myself?

The answer to this question lies in the heart of

the lost person’s response to the biblical story

and Gospel message.

Today’s Question

How can I believe in something that

has been disproved by science over

the last 100 years?

What do you think might be the

origin of this question?

Purpose: To show how God’s Word

and God’s universe harmonize!

Do Science and the Bible

Contradict One Another?

1. Scientific Truths

2. Evolution

3. Creationism

Understanding Scientific Observations

Definitions:

1. Hypothesis – A suggested, testable solution for

unexplained phenomena that does not fit into a

currently accepted scientific theory.

2. Theory – A coherent proposition formulated to

explain a group of facts or phenomena in the

natural world and repeatedly confirmed through

experiment or observation.

3. Fact – Any scientific observation that has been

repeatedly confirmed and accepted as true.

Scientific Observation:

the age of everything

1. Tree rings

2. Ice Layers

3. Radiometric dating

Science: the age of everything

1. Tree rings


2. Ice Layers

Greenland – 123,000 years

Antarctica – 740,000 years


3. Radiometric Dating (14Carbon)

• Organic compounds only

• Dead

• 25,000 years


3. Radiometric Dating (40Potassium and 40Argon)

Half-life (potassium-40 1.3 million years)

Greenland – 3.6 million years

Australia – 4.4 million years

Meteorites – 4.56 billion years

Scientific Truth: the age of everything

4. The Speed of Light

• The speed of light is one of the best know facts in Physics - 186,282,397 miles/second

• The Milky Way galaxy center is 26,000 light years from earth

• That’s 5.9 quadrillion miles (5,874,601,671,792,000 miles)

It has taken the light we see from the center of our galaxy 26,000 years to arrive

Andromeda galaxy (our closest galactic neighbor) is 2.3 million light years away.

Scientific Truths: distance to the edge?

There are four basic methods for measuring

distances in space:

1. Parallax

2. Cepheid Stars

3. Standard Candle (Ia supernovae)

4. Red Shift/Hubble’s Law


1. Parallax (simple geometric exercise)

Good to 100 light years

star


2. Cepheid Stars

a. Cyclically dim

b. Frequency of dimming is directly related to

brightness

c. Inverse square law – brightness is directly related

to the inverse square of the distance from the

source

d. Using the Hubble deep-space telescope –

distances to 50 million light years


3. Standard Candles (Ia Supernovae)

a. The laws of physics demands that all Ia’s emit

the exact same amount of electromagnetic

energy when they explode.

b. Measured brightness is directly related to the

inverse square of the distance

Brightness = Luminosity/4πDistance2

c. Measurable up to 1 billion light years


4. Red Shift/Hubble’s Law

a. Distance = Velocity / Hubble constant

b. The Hubble constant = ~ 20k/s per million light years

c. Velocity is measured by spectrum red-shift

d. Measurable to limit of equipment (13.8 billion light years)


Knowing the distance to the stars and the speed at

which light travels, we determine the minimum age

of the universe – 13.7 to 13.8 billion years


Argument among Christians

Young Earth (6 day) Creationist

The laws of Physics didn’t exist before creation

therefore creation was not bound by them. What

they are saying is:

• God created everything in 6 days and then put the

laws of physics, chemistry and biology in place.

• God created the universe so that it appears to

mankind as science sees it today.

Science: theory or hypothesis

Evolution (Darwinian)

Is it:

1. Hypothesis

2. Theory

3. Fact


Difference between evolution and Darwinian Evolution: Merriam/Webster

1. The historical development of a biological group as a race or species

2. A theory that the various types of animals and plants have their origin in other preexisting types and that the distinguishable differences are due to modifications (genetic) in successive generations

The process described by this theory (Darwinian Evolution)


Historical development (evolution) within a

biological group is observable and repeatedly

confirmed, and can be classified as theory, if

not fact.

BUT, this is NOT what Darwin postulated;

It is not DARWINIAN EVOLUTION!


Building Confusion

Biology Workbook for Dummies says:

“Because a great amount of data supports the idea of biological evolution through natural selection, and because no scientific evidence has yet been found to prove this idea false, this idea is considered a scientific theory. Because lots of evidence supports scientific theories, they are usually accepted as true by a majority of scientists.”


Scientist’s Stance on Darwinian Evolution

• The PewResearchCenter found that 99.9% of

scientist agree with evolution.

• For most people, it is assumed this means they

believe in Darwinian Evolution. This is not

true!

• The PewResearchCenter also found that 33%

of scientist believe in the God of Creation.

Although Christianity vs. Darwinian

Evolution makes it difficult for

Modern and especially Post-modern

unbelievers to believe in Jesus, it is

not their central hang-up.

Young Earth Creationism


Core Problem:

Many people regard Christianity as an absurd

belief system, or at best a religious, non-rational,

faith.

Why?


1. Christianity (the Bible) is believed to date the

origin of the universe about 4004 B.C.

• The first recorded dating by Julius Africanus

(160-240) as 5501 B.C.

• Archbishop James Ussher calculated that the

earth was created in 4004 B.C.

This dating was used in margin notes for the King James

Bible (1611)


2. Christians seldom consider the different

biblical indicators for ancient creation date.

• God reveals His truth through creation

• Romans 1:19-20 the Bible declares everyone is

"without excuse“, including those people who have

never heard the Gospel, since God can be know

through creation.

• Colossians 1:23 “This is the gospel that you heard and

that has been proclaimed to every creature under

heaven, . . .”

• Job 10:8-14, Psalms 104, Proverbs 8:22-31, Psalms 8,

• Acts 17:24-31, Romans 2:14-15, Ecclesiastes 3:11


What is Creationism?

From Wikipedia - Creationism is the religious

belief that the universe and life originated from

specific acts of God, as opposed to the

hypothesis of science that they came about

through natural processes.

What does this definition say to you?


Proclaimed heresy“Adding Time to the Genesis Account” (The Lie: Evolution) Ken Ham (Young Earth Creationist) states:

“When believers attempt to add evolution and millions of years to Genesis, they lay down a foundation of death and suffering on which to build their worldview. If Christians believe the lie that Genesis cannot be trusted, they are paving the way for the trustworthiness of the gospel message to be called into question.

The age of the Earth does matter, and the Bible is clear about it! The age of the Earth is not important because God for some reason hates big numbers – He doesn’t. Ultimately the issue of the age of the Earth is about the authority of the Word of God versus the authority of the words of sinful men.”


A Study of the Hebrew word “Yom” from Theological

Wordbook of the Old Testament (1980, Moody Press)

1. The period of light (as contrasted with the period of

darkness)

2. The period of twenty-four hours

3. A general vague "time"

4. A point of time

5. A year (s)

God’s Universe and God’s WordA Study of the Hebrew word “Yom” from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible

1. Yom is from an unused root meaning to be hot

2. A day (as the warm hours)

3. Literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next)

4. Figuratively (a space of time defined by an associated term)

5. Often used adverbially:Age, Always, Chronicles, Continue(ally)(ance), Daily, From birth, Each day, (For)ever(lasting), Ever(more), As long as (...live), even now, old, outlived, perpetually, presently, remaining, required, season, since, space, then, (process of) time, as at other times, in trouble, weather (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), whole (age), (full) year(-ly), younger


A Study of the Hebrew word “Yom”

1. Time

Sixty-seven verses translate Yom into the English word

"time."

Genesis 4:3, Deuteronomy 10:10, I Kings 11:42, Isaiah

30:8, etc.

Yom refers to 40 years or forever



2. Year

Four times Yom is translated "year."

I Kings 1:1 and 2 Chronicles 21:19-20,

Yom represents years, not days

3. Age

Eight times in the Old Testament Yom is translated "age."

Genesis 18:11 and 24:1; Joshua 23:1 and 23:2 - stricken in age

Genesis 21:2, Genesis 21:7 - old age

Genesis 47:28 - “the whole age of Jacob,"

Zechariah 8:4 - old men and women

Yom here refers to an entire lifetime



4. Ago

One time Yom is translated "ago."

1 Samuel 9:20 says "As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, ..."

Yom refers to a specific period of time

5. Always

Four times Yom is translated as "always"

Deuteronomy 5:29, 6:24, 14:23, and in 2 Chronicles 18:7

Yom refers to a lifetime



6. Season

Three times Yom is translated "season"

Genesis 40:4, "...and they continued a season in ward"

Joshua 24:7, "dwelt in the wilderness a long season,"

2 Chronicles 15:3, "...a long season Israel hath been..."

Yom refers to a multi-month period

God’s Universe and God’s WordA Study of the Hebrew word “Yom”

7. Ever

Nineteen times Yom is translated "ever" to represent a long period of time

Sixteen cases “ever”, “for” is placed before it. This indicates a infinite period of time.

Psalm 23:6, it says "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."

Yom refers to both a long period of time and eternity

8. Evermore

Deuteronomy 28:29, "...and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore;"

Yom refers to either a lifetime or eternity


Yom in the Creation Account

The creation account uses Yom in four distinct time periods

1. Genesis 1:5 – "And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night."

Yom indicates a 12-hour period

2. Genesis 1:14 – "And God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years."

Yom indicates both 12-hours and 24-hour days

3. Genesis 2:4 "...in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens."

Yom to indicates the entire creative week or period


Yom in the Creation Account

The creation account uses Yom in four distinct time

periods

4. The fourth usage of Yom in the creation account is in

the summary for each of the six creation days, "and

there was morning and evening the first day".

– Yom is used to represent a finite, long period of time

Now, let’s consider other uses of Yom by Moses.

God’s Universe and God’s WordMoses’ Use of YOM

Genesis 4:3 – "And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord."

Yom refers to a growing season, probably several months

Genesis 43:9 – "...then let me bear the blame for ever."

Yom refers to eternity

Genesis 44:32 – "...then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever."

Yom refers to eternity

Deuteronomy 4:40 – "You must keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command you this day, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days upon the earth, which the LORD your God gives thee, for ever.

Yom refers to three different times: the present moment, an extended period (lifetime) and eternity


Moses’ Use of YOM

Deuteronomy 10:10 – "Now I stayed on the mountain forty days

and nights, as I did the first time..."

Yom is a "time" equal to forty days

Deuteronomy 18:5 – "...to stand to minister in the name of the

Lord, him and his sons for ever."

Yom is translated as eternity

Deuteronomy 19:9 – “...to love the Lord thy God, and to walk

ever in His ways..."

Yom represents a lifetime


"and there was evening and morning the (X) day“

1. What evening and morning are not

a. Not literal evening and morning, as this requires a sunrise

and sunset

b. Sun was created on day four - no sunrise or sunset for the

first three days

c. Yet, God used the terms evening and morning in the

description of the first three days

2. The words for Evening and Morning are also used to

discribe the beginning and ending of a process or

time period


"and there was evening and morning the (X) day“

Psalm 30:5 – “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor

lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing

comes in the morning.”

Psalm 49:14,15 – “Like sheep they are destined for the grave,

and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in

the morning; their forms will decay in the grave, far from their

princely mansions. 15 But God will redeem my life from the

grave he will surely take me to himself.”

Psalm 90:6 – “… though in the morning it springs up new, by

evening it is dry and withered.”

Daniel 8:26 – "The vision of the evenings and mornings that has

been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the

distant future."


The History of Old Earth Creationism

Many of the early church fathers and biblical scholars interpreted the creation days of Genesis 1 as extended periods of time.

• Jewish historian Josephus (1st century)

• Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons, apologist, and martyr (2nd century)

• Origen, who rebutted heathen attacks on Christian doctrine (3rd century)

• Basil (4th century)

• Augustine (5th century)

• Aquinas (13th century) and others


The History of Old Earth Creationism

“The significance of this:

1. Not because of their prominence

2. But because their scriptural views were not shaped to

accommodate secular opinion

3. Astronomical, paleontological, and geological

evidences for the antiquity of the universe, of the

earth, and of life not known until the 19th century

BIBLICAL EVIDENCE FOR LONG CREATION DAYS by Hugh Ross, Ph.D.

The Battle between Old Earth

and Young Earth Creationist


What God’s Word says about creation:

The issue in the biblical creation story is:

1. Not How, Not When, but WHO!

GOD (ELOHIM) DID IT – HE CREATED!

2. Scripture and validated science agree on these:

1. Science is not about who, but how and when

2. The order of creation of the universe

3. The order of development of life: plants, animals and humans

4. No new species have been found that came after humankind appeared.


What God’s Word says about creation:

GOD (ELOHIM) DID IT – HE CREATED!

3. Believing that God created the universe and all that we see over a period of millions of years does not mean we agree with or even suggest that Darwinian’s Theory of Evolution has any validity!

4. It does recognize that God is the author of creation and the author of the Bible,

THEY CANNOT CONTRADICT ONE ANOTHER!

God’s Universe and God’s WordWhat God’s Word says about creation:

1. God Existed Before TimeProverbs 8:22-23 "The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; 23 I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

1 Corinthians 2:7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

2 Timothy 1:9 God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life —not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, . .

God’s Universe and God’s WordWhat God’s word says about creation:

2. The Universe Had a BeginningGenesis1:1, 2:3-4 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2:4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created.

Psalms 148:5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created.

Isaiah 40:26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?

Isaiah 45:18 For this is what the Lord says — he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited — he says: "I am the Lord, and there is no other.

God’s Universe and God’s WordWhat God’s word says about creation:

2. The Universe Had a BeginningJohn 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Colossians 1:15-17 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible

Genesis 1:2 and Job 38:8-9

God’s Universe and God’s WordWhat God’s Word Says about Creation

3. Creation came from nothingGenesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

4. The universe is expandingJob 9:8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.

Psalms 104:2 . . . he stretches out the heavens like a tent

Isaiah 40:22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

Isaiah 42:5, Isaiah 44:24, Isaiah 45:12, Isaiah 48:13

Jerimiah 10:12 But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.

Zechariah 12:1 . . .The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him,


5. Fixed Laws that have not changedJerimiah 33:25 This is what the Lord says: 'If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed laws of heaven and earth, . . .

Ecclesiastes 1:4-10 Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. 6 The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. 7 All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. 8 All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.

9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.


6. Origin of lifeGenesis 1:9-13 And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good.

11 Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning — the third day.


What the Bible Says about Creation

4. Origin of life

1) Genesis 1:20-21

2) Genesis 1:24-25

3) Job 39

4) Genesis 1:27

5) Genesis 1:28


Apologetics for our witness: what can we say?

1. Nothing in science refutes that God created

2. Fine Tuning of the universe indicates God created it

3. Scientist have found nothing on earth or in the

universe to refute Fine Tuning (the probability that God created).

4. No data, specimen or proof has ever been presented

that supports Darwin’s Theory of Evolution

5. God’s Universe and God’s Word must

harmonize! They both belong to him!

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