BUT WE KNOW - - -
Presented on K S I M (1400) Radio
(Sikeston, MO)
By Manly Luscombe
January, 1988
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.
We Can Know (Introduction)
2.
God Exists
3.
The Deity of Jesus
4.
The Bible is God’s Word
5.
Miracles Happened
6.
God Created This World
7.
How to be Saved
8.
Man Needs the Church
9. God’s Providence
10.
Right and Wrong
11. Man Will Live Again
INTRODUCTION
1. To the series
a. Many live in doubt of what they believe
b. Many can not explain why they believe in God.
c. Our faith is challenged by –
i. Atheists – “There is no god.”
ii. Agnostics – doubters
iii. Immoral people
iv. Confusion
1. So many religious groups – over 400 in USA
2. Which one is right?
3. They contradict each other.
2. This lesson
a. Can we be “sure” of anything?
b. Many had decided that the best we can do is try to “feel” sure.
c. College professors are teaching “doubt.”
BUT WE KNOW WE CAN KNOW!
1 John 3:2
1. Two ways of discovering facts
a. Deduction
i. Truth through reasoning
ii. A police detective uses this method
iii. Mathematics operates with deductive logic.
iv. Religion uses this method to demonstrate the existence of God.
b. Induction
i. Start with a part and proceed to the whole.
1. All cows seen are black
2. Therefore, all cows are black.
ii. Science uses this method.
1. We begin with a sample.
2. We examine, test and observe it under a variety of situations.
3. A conclusion is drawn on the whole by the tests of a small part.
iii. Religion uses this method in understanding human behavior and emotions – guilt, anger, grief, fear
2. The place of faith
a. What is faith?
i. Hebrews 11:1
ii. Based upon substance and evidence
b. Faith also involves a step into the unknown.
i. NOT – a leap in the dark
ii. BUT – learned in action
1. Illustrate with learning to swim
2. Read all the books, still can’t swim
3. Swimming is learned in the water, not on shore.
3. The place of doubt
a. Two kinds of doubt
i. Doubt that drives one in search of truth.
ii. Doubt that prevents action.
b. Some religious people experience doubt.
i. They are ashamed of their doubt.
ii. Things to do:
1. Admit the doubt.
2. Search for the truth.
3. Be willing to get rid of all that is not truth.
c. IF God does not exist –
i. Why are there organizations that oppose God?
ii. “Don’t kick a dead dog.”
iii. I don’t believe in Santa Claus, but I do not try to propagate this disbelief.
d. Two kinds of proof
i. Logical certainty
1. Reduce knowledge to a statement which has to be true.
2. Its denial is a self-condradiction.
3. Works in math.
ii. Psychological certainty
1. Always a margin of error
2. Many things we “know” but can not prove
a. My own existence
b. My mind
GOD EXISTS
Introduction
1. The Bible claims the existence of God.
a. Genesis 1:1
b. Psalm 14:1
c. Hebrews 11:1-3
2. Can we prove that God exists?
3. Can the atheist prove the God does NOT exist?
4. Here are eight logical proofs for the existence of God.
ARGUMENTS FOR GOD
1. The argument from causation
a. “An effect must have a cause.”
b. Trace every effect back and there is a First Cause.
c. At some point we should reach an “Uncaused Cause.”
2. My digital watch – Hebrews 3:4
a. I wear a watch that knows the time right now – hour, minute, second.
b. It knows the day of the week.
c. It knows the date of the month.
d. It knows which months have 30 or 31 days,
e. It knows which February has 28 or 29 days.
f. There are two explanations for such a watch.
i. Some chance motion brought the right elements together in the proper amount to make this watch happen. It was all by chance.
ii. The watch is the result of purposeful intelligence. Someone planned, designed and built the watch to have these features.
g. Which would you choose?
3. Design of the universe
a. There is evident design
i. The orbit of the planets
ii. The seasonal tilt of the earth on its axis.
iii. The location of the sun.
iv. The location of the stars, moon, and earth.
b. Any gaps in this design?
i. We measure what is orderly to us.
ii. God would design what is orderly to Him.
4. The Moral argument
a. Man has a knowledge of “ought”
b. Where do we get our moral values?
c. In a national crisis –
i. One may feel the need to go defend his country.
ii. Another feels that he must be a conscientious objector.
iii. Both feel a moral sense of “ought”
d. The source of our moral obligations requires God.
5. The voice of beauty
a. Why is there beauty in this world?
b. Evolution can not explain beauty.
c. Psalm 19
i. Sunset
ii. Mountains
iii. Seascape
iv. Flowers
v. Seasons change
6. The testimony of others
a. People in the Bible
i. Adam
ii. Moses
iii. Joshua
iv. The prophets
v. Joseph and Mary
vi. The shepherds
b. People you know
i. Lives changed
ii. Reformed in character
iii. Politicians, sports figures, etc.
iv. Preachers, Bible teachers
7. Personal confrontation
a. Something happens to everyone who meets God.
b. Situations will vary.
c. God becomes clear to us individually.
8. The Natural attributes
a. Omnipotence – Matthew 19:26; Job 42:2
i. All-powerful, Almighty
ii. Some things God can not do
1. Make a five-sided square
2. Make a living dead man
iii. These are meaningless absurdities.
b. Omnipresence – Psalm 139:7
i. Everywhere present
ii. God is not limited by time or space
iii. Past, present, future do not have meaning to God.
c. Omniscience – Psalm 147:5
i. All knowing
ii. God is aware of all that happens.
iii. He is aware of each thought, each bird that falls from a nest, each hair on our head.
d. Moral attributes
i. Positive
1. Love
2. Goodness
3. Forgiveness
ii. Negative
1. Wrath
2. Justice
3. Judgment
e. Trinity
i. There is one God
ii. God in manifested in three persons
1. Father
2. Son – Jesus Christ
3. Holy Spirit
iii. NOT tri-theism (3 gods), Polytheism, Dualism
THE DEITY OF JESUS
1. The claim
a. God in the flesh
i. John 1:14
ii. Matthew 1:23
b. God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.
c. This is a foundation teaching of Christianity.
2. How could God become man?
a. Some think this is a mutual contradiction.
i. God is unlimited, infinite
ii. Man is limited, finite
b. Depends on the source
i. Limited by external forces
ii. Self-imposed limitations
iii. Philippians 2:5-8
iv. John 10:18
3. The Biblical witnesses
a. Apostles
i. 2 Peter 1:16-18
ii. John 21:24-25
iii. Matthew 16:15-17
iv. John 20:28
b. Enemies of Jesus
i. Roman soldier – Matthew 27:54
ii. Samaritan woman – John 4:25, 42
iii. Officer of chief priest – John 7:46
iv. Pharisees – John 11:47-53
4. The claims of Jesus
a. John 14:1-9
b. John 8:12-18, 23, 46, 56-59
c. Mark 2:5-12
d. John 18:33-37
5. New Testament writers
a. John 1:1-3
b. Colossians 1:16-17
c. Colossians 2:9
d. 1 Timothy 3:16
e. Romans 9:5
f. 1 Timothy 1:16-17
6. Lord, Liar, or Lunatic
a. These are the only choices that you have.
b. Was Jesus a liar?
c. What he a self-deluded lunatic?
d. The only other choice is to accept the claims of his divinity.
7. The Human vs. the Divine
a. How much of Jesus was human and how much ws divine?
i. 50% human – 50% divine
ii. 100% human
iii. 100% divine
iv. 100% human and 100% divine
b. We must accept both the humanity and the divinity of Christ.
c. It is not possible to separate them.
d. His humanity
i. Flesh and blood
ii. Hungry and thirsty
iii. Pain and sorrow
iv. Feelings – grief, joy, compassion
e. His divinity
i. Sinlessness
ii. Miracles
iii. Able to forgive sins
iv. Became the sacrifice for our sins
THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD
1. The claims of Jesus
a. Matthew 5:17-18
b. Matthew 22:43
c. Matthew 19:4-5
d. John 10:35
2. Internal claims
a. 2 Timothy 3:15-17
b. 2 Peter 1:20-21
c. 2 Peter 3:15-16
d. Revelation 1:1-2
e. 1 Corinthians 2:9-13
3. Does science disprove the Bible?
a. No!
b. The Bible revealed facts before man “discovered” them.
i. All human blood is the same – Acts 17:26
ii. Earth is round – Isaiah 40:22
iii. Value of snow – Job 38:22
iv. Gravity – Job 26:7
v. Ocean currents – Psalm 8:8
4. Are their contradictions in the Bible?
a. Variant readings, copy errors, added notes, etc.
b. When two people view the same incident from different angles, they will report what they saw.
c. Dates, time of day, month – depends on Roman vs. Jewish calendars and clocks.
5. Verbal inspiration
a. Theories
i. Natural – like an author is inspired to write a poem
ii. Mechanical – writers were just taking dictation
iii. Plenary (verbal) – God used the individual minds and styles of the writers. God told them what to write by selecting words from their vocabulary to express His thoughts.
b. 1 Corinthians 2:9-13
c. Galatians 3:16 (singular vs. plural)
d. Matthew 5:18 (Do not change a letter or a word)
MIRACLES HAPPENED
1. The Bible claims that miracles happened
a. Creation
b. Moses
c. Elijah
d. Jesus
e. Apostles
f. Early Christians
g. John 20:30-31
2. What is a miracle?
a. Two types
i. Not explainable in human terms because they are outside natural law.
ii. Explainable in terms of God’s knowledge and ability to manipulate His own laws at will.
b. The purpose of miracles was to develop faith in God.
i. Mark 16:17-20
ii. Acts 8:5, 12
iii. Hebrews 2:2-4
c. Many try to explain away a miracle.
i. You might explain the means or the process.
ii. Man can not explain the origin or the power.
3. Do I have to believe in miracles?
a. Yes. This is the power of God at work.
b. You can not believe in Jesus and deny the miracles that He did.
c. Miracles proved the teaching to be from God.
GOD CREATED THIS WORLD
1. The Bible claims “Creation”
a. Genesis 1:1
b. Hebrews 11:3
c. John 1:1-3
d. Matthew 19:4
e. 2 Peter 3:4
f. Revelation 4:11
g. Colossians 1:16
2. The Bible claims “How”
a. Psalm 33:6
b. Psalm 33:9
c. Hebrews 11:1, 3
d. Genesis 1:3, ff – “And God said …”
e. 2 Peter 3:3-7
f. God created all things by the power of His voice.
3. Other theories rejected
a. “Big Bang”
b. Evolution
c. Theistic evolution
d. Matter is eternal
4. Can one believe evolution and the Bible?
a. Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning matter?
b. Psalm 90:1 – Matter is eternal?
c. Romans 5:12 – Man fell (not rose from lower life forms)
d. 1 Corinthians 15:29 – From one kind to another kind?
e. Genesis 1:31, 2;1-3 – Millions of years?
f. Genesis 2:7 – Man from lower living forms?
g. Genesis 1:1 – Chance happened?
h. Psalm 33:6, 9 – Method – mutation, survival of the fittest, chance?
i. Psalm 8:5 – Highest animal or little lower than the angels?
5. NOTE: On every basic point the Bible and evolution disagree.
a. You must reject the Bible – to believe evolution.
b. You must reject evolution – to believe the Bible
HOW TO BE SAVED
1. The origin of sin
a. Genesis 3:1-21
b. Romans 5:12
c. 1 Corinthians 15:21-22
d. 1 Timothy 2:13-15
2. Salvation (Two parts)
a. Atonement – God’s part
b. Conversion – Man’s part
3. God’s part in our salvation
a. The plan
i. Ephesians 1:4-6
ii. Genesis 3:15
iii. Isaiah 7:14
iv. Isaiah 53:3-9
b. Jesus is “God in the flesh”
c. Why must Jesus die?
i. God is Just – Sin cannot be in His presence
ii. God is Love – He does not want anyone to be lost.
iii. Animal sacrifices could never take away sin. Hebrews 10:4
iv. Jesus became sin for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21
v. Christ was sinless. Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:21-22
vi. John 19:30
vii. Jesus completed the work of our salvation.
4. Will all men be saved?
a. Matthew 7:21-23
b. John 5:28-29
c. Matthew 7:13-14
d. 2 Peter 3:9
e. Luke 13:3
f. John 8:24
g. NOTE: God has placed conditions upon man.
i. NOT – a work to earn salvation.
ii. NOT – a list of items to do and check off the list
iii. BUT – a willingness to accept Jesus
iv. BUT – we respond because of our faith
5. Man’s part of salvation
a. Believe
i. John 3:16
ii. John 8:24
iii. Hebrews 11:6
iv. John 1:12
v. John 3:36
vi. John 5:24
b. Repent
i. Luke 13:3, 5
ii. 2 Peter 3:9
iii. Acts 17:30-31
c. Confess our faith in Jesus
i. Matthew 10:32-33
ii. Romans 10:9-10
iii. Matthew 16:16
iv. John 1:49
v. John 11:27
vi. Acts 8:37
d. Be baptized
i. Acts 2:38
ii. Mark 16:16
iii. Matthew 28:19
iv. Acts 22:16
v. Romans 6:3-4
vi. Galatians 3:26-27
vii. Acts 10:48
6. Are we saved by works?
a. Ephesians 2:8-10
b. Galatians 5:6
c. James 2:21-26
d. Romans 4:1-25
e. NOTE: Two kinds of “works”
i. Works of “merit” – No, you can not “earn” salvation
ii. Works of “faith” – Yes, you respond to what God has done for you by obeying Him.
1. Hebrews 5:8-9
2. Galatians 5:6
MAN NEEDS THE CHURCH
1. What is the church?
a. Greek word – ekklesia
b. Literally, “called out”, an assembly or meeting called and planned
c. In the New Testament:
i. Any assembly of people called together for a meeting, for example a town meeting
ii. The local church that Jesus built – Matthew 16:18
iii. A local congregational meeting – 1 Corinthians 11:18
d. Figures of speech used to describe the church:
i. Body
1. Ephesians 1:22-23
2. Colossians 1:18
ii. Kingdom
1. Matthew 16:18-19
2. Acts 1:6-8
iii. Family / household
1. Galatians 6:10
2. 1 Timothy 2:15
iv. Army
1. 1 Timothy 1:18
2. Hebrews 2:9-10
v. Vineyard
1. Matthew 21:28-31
2. John 15:1-8
2. Organization of the church
a. Elders
i. Elders – older, mature in faith
ii. Bishops – overseers
iii. Pastors – shepherds
b. Deacons – servants
c. Ministers – preacher, evangelist
d. Each congregation is autonomous (self-governed)
e. The only one higher than the elders of a local congregation is Jesus. He is the head of the church. Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:23
3. Worship of the church
a. First day of the week
i. Acts 20:7
ii. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2
b. Communion – 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
c. Sing – Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16
d. Pray – 1 Thessalonians 5:17
e. Study – 2 Timothy 2:15
f. Give – 1 Corinthians 16:2
4. Identity of the church
a. In the confusing religious world of today – how do we find the church Jesus built – among all the various groups?
b. Here are some clues:
i. Name – Romans 16:16
ii. Worship – see number 3 above
iii. Plan of salvation – see previous chapter
iv. Organization – see number 2 above
5. Why do we need the church?
a. Salvation is in it.
i. Ephesians 5:23
ii. 2 Timothy 2:10
b. Jesus died for it
i. Ephesians 5:5, 25
ii. Acts 20:28
c. To teach the lost
i. Ephesians 3:10
ii. Matthew 28:19-20
iii. Acts 1:8
d. Personal edification
i. Ephesians 3:12-14
ii. Hebrews 10:25
iii. Romans 14:19
e. Minister to the poor
i. Galatians 6:10
ii. 2 Corinthians 9:12-15
iii. Acts 11:29-30
iv. Acts 4:32-37
GOD’S PROVIDENCE
1. Define – Providence
a. The overlapping of two worlds
i. Spiritual world of God
ii. Physical world of man
iii. When God steps into our world
1. Direct intervention
2. Through means, agents, natural events
b. There is a God in heaven! How do we know? Because He is manifested so clearly in the providential guidance of the affairs of men.
c. Hebrews 1:1-3
i. God spoke directly to the fathers and prophets
ii. He used a variety of methods – dreams, visions, revelation, etc.
2. Examples of providence
a. Abraham
i. Genesis 15:13-14
ii. Genesis 22:8
b. Joseph
i. Genesis 45:5-6
ii. Genesis 50:20
iii. Genesis 41:15-16
c. Moses
i. 40 years in the house of Pharaoh
ii. 40 years in the wilderness
iii. 40 years leading Israel through that wilderness
d. Esther
i. Esther 4:14
ii. Esther 4:16
e. Jonah
i. Jonah 1:4 – a great wind
ii. Jonah 1:17 – a great fish
iii. Jonah 4:6 – a gourd vine
iv. Jonah 4:7 – a worm
f. Daniel
i. Daniel 3:16-18 – fiery furnace
ii. Daniel 4:25, 32, 34
iii. Daniel 6:20-22
3. Promises of God
a. Philippians 4:19
b. Philippians 4:13
c. Ephesians 3:20-21
d. Matthew 6:25-34
e. Psalm 23:5
f. Luke 6:38
g. 2 Timothy 1:12
h. 2 Timothy 4:18
i. 1 Peter 5:7
j. Genesis 28:15
4. Does God’s providence overrule our freedom of choice?
a. God created us as “free moral agents”
b. Adam and Eve were given freedom of choice
c. We are free to decide and choose.
d. God may open doors of opportunity for us.
i. We may reject the opportunity.
ii. Story of man during a flood; prayed for God to save him. He refused 3 boats that came by and a helicopter. He died. He asked, “Why did you not save me?” God said, “I sent 3 boats and a helicopter.”
e. Illustration: A river
i. Many springs and streams flow into it. They are totally independent of the river.
ii. When they flow into the river, all the waters are under the control of the mighty river currents.
RIGHT AND WRONG
1. The ten commandments
a. Exodus 20:1-17
b. Given by God
c. All systems of law established by men have been built on the foundation of these laws.
i. Specifics may change but the basic principles remain.
ii. This is the basic moral code.
2. Are the 10 Commandments still binding?
a. Ephesians 2:14-16
b. Colossians 2:12-17
c. 2 Corinthians 3:7-18
d. Hebrews 8:6-13
3. If the 10 Commandments are not binding – are men free to “do their own thing”?
a. Ephesians 2:8-10
i. Grace vs. law? NO!
ii. Grace is opposed to works of merit.
iii. Because we are under the grace of God we do not have permission to do as we please.
b. Romans 6:1-2
4. What if the Bible does not mention a particular thing?
a. Many things are listed
i. Galatians 5:19-21
ii. Romans 1:24-32
iii. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
iv. Revelation 21:8
b. There are also many positive commands – things that we ARE to do.
i. Galatians 5:22-26 – fruit of the spirit
ii. James 4:17
iii. Matthew 5:16
iv. John 4:23-24
v. This list could be very long.
c. God has set down some principles to be used in many situations.
i. Matthew 5:27-28
1. X-rated movies
2. Massage parlors
3. Filthy books and magazines
ii. God has given us the ability to “reason” and think.
5. Try these TESTS for yourself:
a. Personal – Will doing this make be a better or worse Christian?
b. Social – Will doing it influence others to be desirable?
c. Practical – Will the result of my doing it be desireable?
d. Universal – If everyone should do this, would it improve or degrade society?
e. Scriptural – Does the Bible endorse it, or is it expressly forbidden by the Word of God?
f. Stewardship – Will my doing this constitute a waste of the talent God gave to me?
g. Character – What will be the influence of my moral and spiritual stamina?
h. Family – Will it bring discredit and dishonor to my family, and will it embarrass them?
i. Publicity – Would I be willing for friends, fellow-Christians, the elders and preacher to know about it?
j. Common Sense – Does it agree with just plain ordinary common sense?
k. Fairness – Is it honest, and is it practicing the golden rule?
6. OR: Try this approach
a. Three Questions
i. How will my participation in this activity affect me as an individual?
ii. How will my participation in this activity affect others and my influence on others?
iii. How will my participation in this activity affect the cause of Christ?
b. Three Tests
i. Secrecy – Are there people you do not want to know?
ii. Universality – What if everybody did this?
iii. Prayer – Before you do this, stop and ask God to bless your action.
c. Three Sources of Light
i. Within – Instinct, inborn feelings
ii. Without – Trusted men of wisdom
iii.
Above – the Bible
7. Situation Ethics
a. It is thought by many that the situation should determine what is right or wrong.
i. Lying is OK sometimes
ii. Murder is OK sometimes
iii. Fornication is OK sometimes
b. The most frequent argument is “Do the loving thing.”
i. What may be loving to one person many be wrong or hurtful to others.
ii. Most illustrations of situation ethics are answered in what is best for ME.
iii. Right may require me to forgo what would be beast for ME and do what would be best for OTHERS.
c. RIGHT – can be wrong in some situations
d. BUT – WRONG IS ALWAYS WRONG!
MAN WILL LIVE AGAIN
1. Introduction
a. Death is real.
b. All will die – Hebrews 9:27, Romans 5:12
c. Those alive at the end of time will be changed – 1 Corinthians 15:51
2. Death is separation
a. James 2:17
b. James 2:26
3. After death, what?
a. The body
i. Returns to dust – Ecclesiastes 12:7
ii. In the grave – John 5:28-29
iii. This is the shell, house, tent
1. 1 Corinthians 15:50
2. 2 Corinthians 5:1-6
b. The soul of man
i. Matthew 10:28
ii. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
iii. Hebrews 4:12
c. Hadean world
i. Luke 16:19-31
ii. 2 Peter 2:1-11
iii. Paradise
1. Philippians 1:21-24
2. 2 Corinthians 12:2-4
3. 2 Corinthians 5:1-6
4. Luke 23:43
iv. Torments
1. Luke 16:23
2. 2 Peter 2:4
d. Bodily resurrection
i. John 5:28-29
ii. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
iii. 1 Corinthians 15:50-57
e. Second Coming
i. Acts 1:11
ii. Hebrews 9:27-28
iii. Matthew 24:36
iv. Mark 13:32
f. Judgment
i. Matthew 25:31-46
ii. 2 Peter 3:7-10
iii. Revelation 20:11-15
g. Heaven
i. Revelation 21:1-6
ii. Revelation 22:1-4
h. Hell
i. Revelation 21:7-8
ii. Revelation 20:11-15
iii. 1 Thessalonians 1:7-9
iv. Hebrews 10:29
I hope that you will find the knowledge that is needed to produce faith. In this world of doubt, we need something that is sure. The word of god is sure, true and dependable.
“BUT WE KNOW … “ was prepared so that you could study along with me on the radio program, “Because We Care.” I pray that you will continue to study this material. I pray that you will find the assurance of your faith.
Yours in Christ,
Manly R. Luscombe,
minister