Twelve Points that
Show Christianity is True
PT 2
Copyright by Norman Geisler 2010
Twelve Points that Show Christianity is True
1. Truth about reality is knowable.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
The opposite of true is false.
It is true that the theistic God exists.
If God exists then miracles are possible.
Miracles can be used to confirm a message from God.
The New Testament is historically reliable.
The New Testament says Jesus claimed to be God.
Jesus’ claim to be God was miraculously confirmed by:
a. His fulfillment of many prophecies about Himself;
b. His sinless and miraculous life;
c. His prediction and accomplishment of His resurrection
9. Therefore, Jesus is God.
10. Whatever Jesus (who is God) teaches is true.
11. Jesus taught that the Bible is the Word of God.
12. Therefore, it is true that the Bible is the Word of God (and
anything opposed to it is false).
Twelve Points that Show Christianity is True
1. Truth about reality is knowable.
2. The opposite of true is false.
3. It is true that the theistic God exists.
Are There Reasons to Believe
a Theistic God Exists?
Yes! There are 3 Good Reasons:
1. The Universe had a beginning
2. Life reveals incredible design
3. There is a moral law
Three Great Arguments
for the Existence of God
1. The First Reason
•
1. Everything that had a beginning had a cause.
Three Great Arguments
for the Existence of God
1. The First Reason
•
1. Everything that had a beginning had a cause.
•
2. The universe had a beginning.
Three Great Arguments
for the Existence of God
1. The First Reason
•
1. Everything that had a beginning had a cause.
•
2. The universe had a beginning.
•
3. Therefore, the universe had a cause.
Evidence that the Universe
Had a Beginning
SECOND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS
UNIVERSE IS EXPANDING
RADIATION ECHO
GREAT MASS OF MATTER
END OF INFINITE TIME IMPOSSIBLE
Second Law of
Thermodynamics
The universe is
running down;
it is running
out of energy
UNUSABLE
ENERGY
In the Beginning:
BANG!
An Agnostic Astronomer
–
• “Now we see how the
astronomical evidence leads
to a biblical view of the
origin of the world.... The
chain of events leading to
man commence suddenly and
sharply at a definite moment
in time, in a flash of light and
energy" (Robert Jastrow, God
and the Astronomers, 14).
An Agnostic Astronomer
–
• "That there are
what I or anyone
would call
supernatural
forces at work
is now, I think,
a scientifically
proven fact"
(Jastrow in
Science Ends with a
Beginning
"The scientists pursuit of
the past ends in the
moment of creation. This
is an exceedingly strange
development, unexpected by
all but theologians. They
have always accepted the
word of the Bible: `In the
beginning God created the
heaven and the earth'"
A Super-Intelligent Cause
• "The harmony of natural
law. . . reveals an
intelligence of such
superiority that, compared
with it, all the systematic
thinking and acting of
human beings is an utterly
insignificant reflection" (in
Heeren, Shew Me God, 66).
Three Great Reasons
for the Existence of God
1. The First Reason
2. 2. The Second Reason
A. a. Every design has a designer.
B. b. The universe and life have highly complex
design.
C. c. Therefore, the universe and life have a
Designer
Every Design has a Designer
GRAND CANYON
MT. RUSHMORE
TWO TYPES OF CAUSES
INTELLIGENT
Mount Rushmore
NATURAL
Grand Canyon
BEACH SAND
JESUS SAND
TWO TYPES OF CAUSES
INTELLIGENT
Jesus Sand
NATURAL
Beach Sand
What Caused Mt. Rushmore?
Past: Intelligent
Designer
-1000 BC
10AD
Today: Intelligent
Designer
1000
Principle of Uniformity
Causes in the past were
like those in the present
2000
Three Great Arguments
for the Existence of God
1. The First Reason
2. 2. The Second Reason
A. a. Every design has a designer.
B. b. The universe and life have
highly complex design.
C. c. Therefore, the universe and
life have a Designer.
Intelligent Design from
an Intelligent Being! (Mom)
O
H
_
G
O
B
G
Who Designed the Genetic Code?
A T
1
C G
T A
G C
A T
3
A
T
2
G
4
Adenine Thymine
Sugar &
Phosphate
Molecules
C
Cytosine
Guanine
Base Pairs
From Non-Living Matter
To A Living Organism
The cause must be intelligent!
Irreducible Complexity
Your Car is Irreducibly Complex
So is Life
One Ameba =
1,000 Volumes
of an Encyclopedia
Intelligent Design:
• Thus, "The conclusion of
intelligent design flows
naturally from the data
itself--not from sacred books
or sectarian beliefs.
Inferring that biochemical
systems were designed by an
intelligent agent is a humdrum
process that requires no new
principles of logic or
science" (Behe, ibid., 193).
Who Designed the Human Brain?
The Search For Intelligence
e
g
a
s
es
A
l
g
n
i
S
M
e
Super-Intelligence
Found!
0
0
0
!
,
0
S
0
E
0
,
20 LUM
O
V
Who Designed the Universe?
Who Designed Man?
. Once I was a tadpole when I did
begin:
Then I was a frog with my tail
tucked in:
Then I was a monkey swinging in a
tree:
Now I’m a professor with a PhD
Reason Three: The Moral Law
1. Every law has a lawgiver
Reason Three: The Moral Law
1. Every law has a lawgiver
2. There is an absolute Moral law
The Moral Argument for God
1. Every law has a lawgiver
2. There is an absolute Moral law
3. Therefore, there is an absolute Moral
Lawgiver
How we know there’s a Moral Law
1. Absolutes are undeniable
a. “You should never say ‘never’”
b. “You should always avoid ‘always’”
b. “I am absolutely sure there are no
absolutes”
How we know there’s a Moral Law
2. We can’t know in-justice unless we know
justice.
What’s the Standard for Judgment?
“This world is absolutely unjust!”
What’s the Standard for Judgment?
“This world is absolutely unjust!”
“How can he know what
is absolutely un-just without
knowing what is absolutely just?”
How we know there’s a Moral Law
“Mother Teresa is better than Hitler”
3. We can’t make moral comparison without an
objective moral standard. But we do.
An Outside Standard of Measurement
The moment you say that
one set of moral ideas can
be better than another, you
are, in fact, measuring them
both by a standard, saying
that one of them conforms to
that standard more nearly
than the other. But the
standard that measures two
things is something different
from either.
C.S. Lewis
Mere Christianity, p 25.
How we know there’s a Moral Law
4. We wouldn’t know the world was getting
worse (or better) if there was no Moral Best.
How we know there’s a Moral Law
5. We know the moral law by our reactions, not
by our actions:
a. Not by what we do to others, but—
b. By what we want others to do to us!
Skeptic: What Kind of God Exists?
Answer: A Theistic God
1. He is super-powerful—reason 1
2. He is super-intelligent—reason 2
3. He is morally perfect—reason 3
Note: He is beyond the world
He is as different from the world
Twelve Points that Show Christianity is True
1. Truth about reality is knowable.
2. The opposite of true is false.
3. It is true that the theistic God exists.
4. If God exists then miracles are possible.
When Skeptics Ask about Miracles....
1. If God exists, then miracles are possible
a. If there is a God who can act, then
b. There can be acts of God (i.e., miracles).
When Skeptics Ask about Miracles....
1. If God exists, then miracles are possible
a. If there is a God who can act, then
b. There can be acts of God (i.e., miracles).
2. If God exists, then the greatest miracle has
already occurred—creation from nothing.
When Skeptics Ask about Miracles....
1. If God exists, then miracles are possible
a. If there is a God who can act, then
b. There can be acts of God (i.e., miracles).
2. If God exists, then the greatest miracle has
already occurred—creation from nothing.
3. If the Big miracle has occurred (creating
life), then smaller ones (resurrecting the
dead) are possible.
Did David Hume Prove
Miracles are not Credible?
The Skeptic’s Objection:
1. Natural Law is by definition a description of a regular
occurrence.
2. A miracle is by definition a rare occurrence.
3. The evidence for the regular is always greater than
that for the rare.
4. A wise man always bases his belief on the greater
evidence.
5. Therefore, a wise man should never believe in
miracles.
Answer to Hume’s
Skeptical Objection
The evidence for regular events is not always
greater than the evidence for the rare.
Examples from Hume’s own world view:
1. The Big Bang Theory is not based on regular
events
2. The origin of life on earth does not occur regularly
3. Spontaneous generation/evolution is not regular
4. The entire history of the earth is unrepeated
Twelve Points that Show Christianity is True
1. Truth about reality is knowable.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
The opposite of true is false.
It is true that the theistic God exists.
If God exists then miracles are possible.
Miracles can be used to confirm a message from God.
The New Testament is historically reliable.
When Skeptics Ask about the
Reliability of the New Testament
Skeptics: “Is the New Testament Historically
Reliable?”
Answer: It is the most reliable book from the
ancient world.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
There are more manuscripts
There are earlier manuscripts
They are better copied manuscripts
There are more contemporary witnesses
There are more reliable witnesses
Reliability of NT Documents
# Manuscript Copies
25
New Testament
5686
500
643
Homer
1400
Demonsthenes
200
1400
Herodotus
Plato
Tacitus
Caesar
Time Gap in Years
8
1200
7
1000
20
1000
10
750
Pliny
7
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
Isaiah 53 in the Great Isaiah Scroll
(A Dead Sea Scroll from 100 B.C.)
Evidence for Early NT Authorship
1) 1. 1st century commentaries exist (by 90 A.D.)
2) 2. No mention of the destruction of Jerusalem
and the temple (occurred in 70 A.D.).
3) 3. Acts was written by 62 A.D.
4) 4. Luke was written before Acts (thus by 61 A.D).
5) 5. Most critics date Mark earlier than Luke (thus
by 60 A.D.).
6) 6. Even critical scholars agree that 1 Cor. was
written by 55-56 A.D.
7) 7. Any 1st century dates are too early to allow
mythological development.
8) All this was during the life of eyewitnesses!
How we know they were
telling the truth:
1) They claimed to see it.
2) They all lived it.
3) Nine of them recorded it (and much of
it was embarrassing).
4) They were all willing to die for it.
5) The historical evidence confirms it.
Archaeology Affirms the Bible
“In extraordinary ways, modern archaeology
has affirmed the historical core of the Old
and New Testaments—corroborating key
portions of the stories of Israel’s patriarchs,
the Exodus, the Davidic monarchy, and the
life and times of Jesus.”
(Jeffery Sheler, “Is the Bible True,” US News & World Report,
October 25, 1999, 52)
Twelve Points that Show Christianity is True
1. Truth about reality is knowable.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The opposite of true is false.
It is true that the theistic God exists.
If God exists then miracles are possible.
Miracles can be used to confirm a message from God.
The New Testament is historically reliable.
The New Testament says Jesus claimed to be God.
When Skeptics Ask if Jesus
was the Son of God?
Jesus Claimed to be and Proved
to be the Son of God
1. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God!
2. Jesus proved to be the Son of God!
a. By fulfilling supernatural predictions
b. By performing supernatural acts
c. By His supernatural resurrection
Seven Ways Jesus Claimed
to Be God By Claiming:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
To be the great “I Am.”
To be Jehovah (Yahweh).
To be equal with God.
To be the Messiah-God.
To be worthy of worship.
To be equal in authority with God.
To be the object of prayer like God.
Jesus: Just a Great Moral Teacher?
I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the
really foolish things that people often say about
Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral
teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.'
That is the one thing we must not say. A man
who was merely a man and said the sort of things
Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.
He would rather be a lunatic - on a level with the
man who says he is a poached egg - Or else he
would be the Devil of Hell.
(C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 55-56).
Objections to the Deity of Christ
1. Jn. 14:28: “The Father is greater than I”
2. Mt. 19:7: “No one is good but One, that is,
God.”
3. Mt. 24:36: “But of that day and hour no one
knows, not even the angels of heaven, but
My Father only.”
Father
Divine
Nature
Son
Human
Nature
Who¹
Father
Holy
Spirit
What¹
(Divine Nature)
Who²
(Son)
What²
Human Nature
Who³
(Holy Spirit)
Twelve Points that Show Christianity is True
1. Truth about reality is knowable.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
The opposite of true is false.
It is true that the theistic God exists.
If God exists then miracles are possible.
Miracles can be used to confirm a message from God.
The New Testament is historically reliable.
The New Testament says Jesus claimed to be God.
Jesus’ claim to be God was miraculously confirmed by:
a. His fulfillment of many prophecies about Himself;
b. His sinless and miraculous life;
c. His prediction and accomplishment of His resurrection
9. Therefore, Jesus is God.
10. Whatever Jesus (who is God) teaches is true.
11. Jesus taught that the Bible is the Word of God.
12. Therefore, it is true that the Bible is the Word of God (and
anything opposed to it is false).
Jesus Claimed to be and Proved
to be the Son of God
1. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God!
2. Jesus proved to be the Son of God!
Three Ways Jesus Proved to be God:
a. By fulfilling supernatural predictions
b. By performing supernatural acts
c. By His supernatural resurrection
No other religious leader ever did this
Human Race
Woman, Gen 3:15
Ethnic Group
Abraham, Gen 12:1
Tribe
Judah, Gen 49:10
Dynasty
David, 2 Sam 7:12
How
Virgin, Isa 7:14
Where
Bethlehem, Mic 5:2
When
33 A.D., Dan 9:24
Three Ways Jesus Proved to be God:
2. By performing supernatural acts
a. Nicodemus said (Jn. 3:2)
b. Earliest history says (Acts 2:22)
No other religious leader ever did this!
Three Ways Jesus Proved to be God:
3. By His supernatural resurrection
No other religious leader ever did this!
Evidence Jesus Died
1. Nature of his wounds (whipping,
crucifixion and spear in side)
ensured death.
2. His mother, friends and closest
disciple witnessed his death.
3. Romans, who were professional
executioners, pronounced him dead.
Evidence Jesus Died
4. Pilate double-checked to make sure
Jesus was dead.
5. The Jews never denied the account
of Jesus being buried in the tomb of
Joseph of Arimathea (a member of
the Sanhedrin).
Evidence Jesus Died
7. Non-Christian writers from the first
and second centuries recorded the
death of Jesus (e.g. Josephus,
Tacitus, Thallus, Lucian, Phelgon,
The Jewish Talmud.)
8. In light of the historical evidence,
modern medical authorities have
verified his death.
JAMA March 21,1986, p. 1463
“Clearly, the weight of historical and medical
evidence indicates that Jesus was dead before
the wound to his side was inflicted and supports
the traditional view that the spear, thrust
between his right rib, probably perforated not
only the right lung but also the pericardium and
heart and thereby ensured his death.
Accordingly, interpretations based on the
assumption that Jesus did not die on the cross
appear to be at odds with modern medical
knowledge."
Evidence Jesus Rose for the Dead
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
The tomb was empty with grave clothes in it
Over 500 witnesses say Him 12 times
They toughed His physical body
They saw His crucifixion scars
They ate with Him four times
He taught them for 40 days
He did miracles for them
He transformed them
From cowards to martyrs overnight!
The Order of the Twelve Appearances of Christ
Persons
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Saw
Mary
X
(Jn. 20:10-18)
Mary & Women
(Mt. 28:1-10)
Peter
X
(1Cor. 15:5)
Two Disciples X
(Lk. 24:13-35)
Ten Apostles X
(Lk. 24:36-49;
Jn. 20:19-23)
Eleven Apostles X
(Jn. 20:24-31)
Heard Touched Other Evidence
X
X
X
X
Empty tomb
X
Empty tomb
X
Empty tomb/clothes
X
Ate with Him
X
X**
Saw wounds, ate food
X
X**
Saw wounds
The Order of the Twelve Appearances of Christ
Persons
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Saw
Seven Apostles
(Jn. 21)
All Apostles X
(Mt. 28:16-20;
Mk 16:14-18)
500 Brethren X
(1Cor. 15:6)
James
X
(1Cor. 15:7)
All Apostles X
(Acts 1:4-8)
Paul
X
(Acts 9:1-9;
1Cor. 15:8)
Heard Touched Other Evidence
X
X
Ate food
X
X*
X*
X
Ate with Him
X
*Implied
An Empty Tomb Like
the One Jesus Has
Twelve Points that Show Christianity is True
1. Truth about reality is knowable.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
The opposite of true is false.
It is true that the theistic God exists.
If God exists then miracles are possible.
Miracles can be used to confirm a message from God.
The New Testament is historically reliable.
The New Testament says Jesus claimed to be God.
Jesus’ claim to be God was miraculously confirmed by:
a. His fulfillment of many prophecies about Himself;
b. His sinless and miraculous life;
c. His prediction and accomplishment of His resurrection
9. Therefore, Jesus is God.
10. Whatever Jesus (who is God) teaches is true.
11. Jesus taught that the Bible is the Word of God.
12. Therefore, it is true that the Bible is the Word of God (and
anything opposed to it is false).
Skeptic: “Is the Bible the Word of God?
Answer: The Son of God Said-1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
It is divinely authoritative (Mt. 4:4, 7, 10)
It is imperishable (Mt. 5:17-18)
It is infallible (Jn. 10:35)
It is inerrant (without error) (Mt. 22:29)
It is historically reliable (Mt. 12:40; Mt. 24:37-38)
It is scientifically accurate (Mt. 19:4-5)
It has ultimate supremacy (Mt. 15:3, 6)
Jesus Promised the New Testament
Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would teach the
apostles “all things” and lead them into “all truth.”
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father
will send in My name, He will teach you all things
and bring to your remembrance all things I said
to you (John 14:26).
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He
will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on
His own authority, but whatever He hears He will
speak; and He will tell you things to come. (Jn. 16:13)
What Books Belong in the Bible?
Tests for Canonicity
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Was it written by a prophet of God?
Was the writer confirmed by acts of God?
Does the message tell the truth about God?
Did it come with the power of God?
Was it accepted by the people of God?
Only 66 books meet the tests!
The End
For More Information
• On Classes/Education in Apologetics
Veritas Evangelical Seminary
– 1-888-JOHN-1717
– www.VeritasSeminary.com
• On Book, Tapes, and Videos
– www.internationallegacy.org