Philosophical Evidence

The Bible has ways of solving philosophical problems that no other philosophy or religion has been able to do.

For instance, if God is love, then he needs something to love. But if he needs what he has created so he can love someone, then he is dependent on us and therefore not truly God. However, in the trinity (Three persons in one God), God has relationships needed where he can love others (the Father, Son and  Holy Spirit), making him independent and transcendent of all creation.

The fact of the trinity also shows us how far superior, how completely other God is from us. No one has ever thought up something like the “Three-in-One Trinity.” We cannot possible grasp the essence of the trinity; this shows us that God is for beyond us.

Then there is the problem of unity versus diversity. Which is right? The trinity solves this dilemma: three in one; one in three. Both are right!

Then there are the twin problems of evil: its origin and solution. The Bible provides clear answers to both of these while adhering clearly to the stated principles of God’s pure and holy character. Sin came from disobedience, salvation comes by the obedience of Christ. The legal and ethical problems of sinful humans being allowed to enter heaven without making it sinful, are solved in the death and resurrection of Christ, bringing the possibility of forgiveness, transformation and sanctification. This means there is a hope for the end of evil, something that no other religion or philosophy, to my knowledge, can provide.

The Bible bridges the chasms of confusion, giving us a road to clarity and charity.

For further input google “philosophical evidence for the Bible.

Part 2 of evidence for the validity of the Bible. Today’s is a bit longer, cos there’s lots of prophetic evidence!

Prophetic Evidence

There is a plethora of prophecies in the Bible that have been fulfilled. One good website for further reading about this is http://www.reasons.org/, from which I got the following examples at http://www.reasons.org/articles/articles/fulfilled-prophecy-evidence-for-the-reliability-of-the-bible

(1) Some time before 500 B.C. the prophet Daniel proclaimed that Israel’s long-awaited Messiah would begin his public ministry 483 years after the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25-26). He further predicted that the Messiah would be “cut off,” killed, and that this event would take place prior to a second destruction of Jerusalem. Abundant documentation shows that these prophecies were perfectly fulfilled in the life (and crucifixion) of Jesus Christ. The decree regarding the restoration of Jerusalem was issued by Persia’s King Artaxerxes to the Hebrew priest Ezra in 458 B.C., 483 years later the ministry of Jesus Christ began in Galilee. (Remember that due to calendar changes, the date for the start of Christ’s ministry is set by most historians at about 26 A.D. Also note that from 1 B.C. to 1 A.D. is just one year.) Jesus’ crucifixion occurred only a few years later, and about four decades later, in 70 A.D. came the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus.

(Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 10⁵.)*

(2) In approximately 700 B.C. the prophet Micah named the tiny village of Bethlehem as the birthplace of Israel’s Messiah (Micah 5:2). The fulfillment of this prophecy in the birth of Christ is one of the most widely known and widely celebrated facts in history.

(Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 10⁵.)

(3) In the fifth century B.C. a prophet named Zechariah declared that the Messiah would be betrayed for the price of a slave—thirty pieces of silver, according to Jewish law-and also that this money would be used to buy a burial ground for Jerusalem’s poor foreigners (Zechariah 11:12-13). Bible writers and secular historians both record thirty pieces of silver as the sum paid to Judas Iscariot for betraying Jesus, and they indicate that the money went to purchase a “potter’s field,” used—just as predicted—for the burial of poor aliens (Matthew 27:3-10).

(Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 10¹¹.)

(4) Some 400 years before crucifixion was invented, both Israel’s King David and the prophet Zechariah described the Messiah’s death in words that perfectly depict that mode of execution. Further, they said that the body would be pierced and that none of the bones would be broken, contrary to customary procedure in cases of crucifixion (Psalm 22 and 34:20; Zechariah 12:10). Again, historians and New Testament writers confirm the fulfillment: Jesus of Nazareth died on a Roman cross, and his extraordinarily quick death eliminated the need for the usual breaking of bones. A spear was thrust into his side to verify that he was, indeed, dead.

(Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 10¹³.)

Psalm 22:28 “and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.”

[You, Lord God, are the Sovereign One who reigns and rules;

you have control,

you use all for good,

you make your major plans come to pass

while still giving us moral and ethical responsibility in our own spheres of responsibility.

And in the end, all will come, every human being, and bow before you,

whether willingly in belief,

or grudgingly at the judgment seat.

Praise you, Lord God, for the wonder of knowing you and bowing before you now, the King of All, the Lord of Lords, the Ruler of the universe.

Help me to live today in the light of your greatness,

standing in awe of you,

of your love,

of your Word,

of your commands.

May this result in fearing and obeying you instead of raising my thoughts or those of others above your Word. I do  not know better than you.

You are worthy of my full conformity,

my total surrender,

my wholehearted obedience,

so I bow before you now,

that I might bring you great honor today

That I may be fruitful as this bush.

This morning I woke up realizing that I was both worrying and complaining. OHHH! Thank you, Holy Spirit, for pointing this out so I could repent. What you brought to  mind are a series of God sightings, some recent, some in the last two years.

This week as I was preparing to do a repair job on some asphalt, a man came walking by and asked me what I was doing. I explained the project to him and he said, “I can do that for you for this much.” Wow, that was less than the supplies I needed for the project and I didn’t have to spend all that time doing it, plus this man was a professional and said he would do more that I’d planned! God sent him at the perfect time.

Then there was the fact I was concerned about my income but the Lord reminded me that He recently had a church, out of the blue,  send me a large amount—the pastor said they’d forgotten to send support for the last several months. It came just  in time to pay a bill.

Then recently another church gave a gift of just the amount I lost in the eviction process.

Just as God said to the Israelites “Remember!” and often did remind them of all He had done for them, so it is important that we remember what He has done for us, especially faced with a new challenge. As He helped me in the past, so He will help me now.

So instead of complaining and being a glory stealer, the Spirit turned me to offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving so I can honor God and open the way so He can show me His salvation. (Ps. 50:23)

Picture: Remember what God has done.

I praise you, Lord Jesus, for your unending presence; you are everywhere at the same time (here on earth, behind the moon, on the other side of the universe and in Heaven). In another way, you are especially near to those who seek you, those whose hearts are open to you. You are near the brokenhearted. You are near the repentant. You are near those righteous in Christ. You are near the obedient. You are deeply at work in the elect, those you know will believe.

I give you glory, Lord God, for how we can trust you with all our hearts because you are faithful with all your heart. Wherever I go, whatever I do, you are always watching, protecting, guiding, keeping, equipping, teaching, revealing, convicting, blocking and loving. You are worthy of praise and glory, of adoration and obedience.

You are the great One, the wise One, the loving One, the holy One, the pure One, the faithful One, the true One, the eternal One.

To you I bow down today, to you I give my heart, my mind, my soul, my body, my time, my possessions, my money, my relationships, my future, my desires, my projects, my health, my strength, my will–my all. I am your son, your steward, your servant, your subject. Praise you for what you will do in me and through me today to bring greater glory to your Name.

Picture from internet; on the other side of the moon?