What do YOU say ?
How do we even
know that the
Bible is factual or
true ?
There is no
such thing
as hell.
Everyone goes
to heaven – if
you’re a good
person!
God is a loving
God and He
will not send
people to hell !
Your religion isn’t
any better than
any other religion!
There are lots of
ways to get to
heaven!
Is this truth?
The Bible had so many authors; how can it possibly be “God inspired?” It contradicts itself repeatedly and
there are crazy things in there that couldn’t have possibly happened. Therefore, the Bible is a book of fiction.
Comeback:
The Bible is a book of crazy stories written by many people over the course of
1500 years. While it seems like a book of fiction, it is indeed fact. No one
has been able to prove any part of the Bible false. In fact, more and more
events and statements are being proven true just within recent history.
Let me share with you some “proof”…
• First, If we believe at all that the Bible is a holy book,
then we must believe all of it, not just bits and
pieces. Here are some Bible verses that support the
truth of the Bible within the text itself:
Bible Truths
• Isaiah 40:22 Roundness of the earth
• Job 26:7 Gravitational field
• Psalm 19:7-9 “The law of the Lord is perfect… the testimony of the Lord is
sure… the commandment of the Lord is pure… the judgments of the Lord
are true forever.”
• Psalm 119:43 “the word of truth.”
• John 17:17 “Thy word is truth.”
• Titus 1:2 “God who cannot lie.”
• Hebrews 6:18 “It is impossible for God to lie.”
•
2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable e for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished
unto all good works"
Proving the Bible to non-believers:
M-A-P-S
M – Manuscripts
•
We have more than 14,000 manuscripts and fragments of the Old Testament of three main
types: (a) approximately 10,000 from the Cairo Geniza (storeroom) find of 1897, dating back
as far as about AD. 800; (b) about 190 from the Dead Sea Scrolls find of 1947-1955, the
oldest dating back to 250-200 B.C.; and (c) at least 4,314 assorted other copies. The short
time between the original Old Testament manuscripts (completed around 400 B.C.) and the
first extensive copies (about 250 B.C.) — coupled with the more than 14,000 copies that have
been discovered — ensures the trustworthiness of the Old Testament text. The earliest
quoted verses (Num. 6:24-26) date from 800-700 B.C.
•
The same is true of the New Testament text. The abundance of textual witnesses is amazing.
We possess over 5,300 manuscripts or portions of the (Greek) New Testament — almost 800
copied before A.D. 1000. The time between the original composition and our earliest copies
is an unbelievably short 60 years or so. The overwhelming bibliographic reliability of the Bible
is clearly evident.
Internal & External Tests (M)
Internal:
•
The Old and New Testament authors were eyewitnesses of — or interviewed eyewitnesses of
— the majority of the events they described.
External:
•
This looks at the historical reliability of the historical events, geographical locations, and
cultural consistency of the biblical texts.
•
Unlike writings from other world religions which make no historical references or which
fabricate histories, the Bible refers to historical events and assumes its historical accuracy.
The Bible is not only the inspired Word of God, it is also a history book — and the historical
assertions it makes have been proven time and again.
•
Many of the events, people, places, and customs in the New Testament are confirmed by
secular historians who were almost contemporaries with New Testament writers.
A – Archeological Evidence
• Comprehensive field work (archaeology) and careful biblical interpretation
affirms the reliability of the Bible.
•
For years critics dismissed the Book of Daniel, partly because there was no evidence that a
king named Belshazzar ruled in Babylon during that time period. However, later
archaeological research confirmed that the reigning monarch, Nabonidus, appointed
Belshazzar as his co-regent while he was away from Babylon.
•
One of the most well-known New Testament examples concerns the Books of Luke and Acts.
A biblical skeptic, Sir William Ramsay, trained as an archaeologist and then set out to disprove
the historical reliability of this portion of the New Testament. However, through his
painstaking Mediterranean archaeological trips, he became converted as — one after
another — of the historical statements of Luke were proved accurate. Archaeological
evidence thus confirms the trustworthiness of the Bible.
P –Probability
The Bible records predictions of events that could not be known or predicted by chance or
common sense. Surprisingly, the predictive nature of many Bible passages was once a popular
argument (by liberals) against the reliability of the Bible. Critics argued that the prophecies
actually were written after the events and that editors had merely dressed up the Bible text to
look like they contained predictions made before the events. Nothing could be further from the
truth, however.
•
Being struck by lightning in a year = 7 x 105 or 1 in 700,000
•
Being killed by lightning in a year = 2 x 106 or 1 in 2,000,000
•
Becoming president = 1 x 107 or 1 in 10,000,000
•
A meteorite landing on your house = 1.8 x 1014 or 1 in 180,000,000,000,000
•
You will eventually die = 1 in 1
Probability of Jesus being the Messiah as stated
in the Old Testament
Old Testament Prophecy
Christ to be born in Bethlehem
(Micah 5:2)
New Testament Fulfillment
born ... they answered
(Matt 2:4-6)
Forerunner of Christ
(Malachi 3:1)
Probability
And Herod asked where Christ had been
2.8 x 105 or 1 in 280,000
John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ
(Mark 1:2-8)
1 x 103 or 1 in 1,000
Christ to enter Jerusalem riding on a
donkey
(Zech 9:9)
Christ to be betrayed by a friend
(Psalm 41:9)
Christ enters riding on a donkey
(Matt 21:4-11)
Judas betrayed Jesus
(Luke 22:21)
Christ to be betrayed for 30 pieces of
silver
(Zech 11:12)
Judas sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver
1 x 102 or 1 in 100
1 x 103 or 1 in 1,000
1 x 103 or 1 in 1,000
(Matt 26:15)
30 pieces of silver casted down and
used to buy a potter's field
(Zech 11:13)
Although innocent, Christ kept silent
when on trial
(Isaiah 53:7)
Christ crucified
(Psalm 22:16)
30 pieces of silver used to buy a potter's
field
1 x 105 or 1 in 100,000
(Matt 27:3-10)
Jesus kept silent when questioned
(Mark 14:60-61)
Jesus was crucified
(John 19:17, 18)
1 x 103 or 1 in 1,000
1 x 104 or 1 in 10,000
S - Statistics
• The Bible was written over a span of 1500 years by forty different human
authors in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), on
hundreds of subjects. And yet there is one consistent, non-contradictory
theme that runs through it all: God’s redemption of humankind. Clearly,
Statistical probability is a powerful indicator of the trustworthiness of
Scripture.
• When you look at some of the improbable prophecies of the Old and New
Testaments, it seems incredible that skeptics — knowing the authenticity
and historicity of the texts — could reject the statistical verdict: the Bible
is the Word of God, and Jesus Christ is the Son of God, just as Scripture
predicted many times and in many ways.
M-manuscripts, A- archeology, P-probability, S-statistics
Is this truth?
Other religions believe in our God (Jewish, Muslims, Mormons,
Universalists, Jehovah Witnesses, etc), so they will go to heaven
too.
Comeback:
Their gods have many similarities to the one true God, but you must look closely to find the differences and
delve into historical context– and they are there. The only exception would be the Jewish religion, because
they follow the Bible word for word throughout the Old Testament.
Muslim-Jesus was a prophet, not son of God. God spoke through Muhammad (a man) with additional
information (in Qur'an) (610 AD)
Mormons –God had to attain His status of Godhead; he has a body of bones and flesh; history of religion is
untrue, truth was revealed to Joseph Smith (1830).
Universalism – believes the ideology that all religions are true and therefore worthy of toleration and respect; if
practiced diligently, all will lead to God and salvation. (1961)
Jehovah Witnesses - founded in 1879 by Charles Taze Russell, a Pennsylvania businessman. Jesus is not the true
son of God and must earn your way into heaven.
Response: It may seem like these religions all have the same God, but in actuality, they do not. We must rely
upon the one true, historically correct text and its revealed truths, to test all “Gods”.
Bible Truths:
1. You shall have no other Gods but me (Exodus 20:30)
2. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)
3. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16)
4. …You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth." 2 Kings 19:15
5. For there is one (true) God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus… (1 Timothy 2:5)
6. You believe that God is one . You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. (James
2:19)
7. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me. (John 14:6)
8. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. (Malachi
3:6 )
9. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy
to you. They make you worthless; they speak a vision of their own heart, not from the
mouth of the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:16)
10. http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/jesusgd2.htm
Is this truth?
There is no way that people like Ghandi , Abraham Lincoln, and Nelson Mandela are
not in heaven. They were awesome people who did great things and believed in
peaceful practices (much like Jesus). People who do good things go to heaven!
Comeback:
It doesn’t matter who you are, what you’ve done, how famous you are, or how much money
you have, you cannot earn your way into heaven! Good works and taking care of our
brothers and sisters are “good fruits” but do not earn us a ticket to salvation.
Ghandi – (1869 – 1948). Peacefully fought for civil rights within India.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). President who helped end slavery.
Nelson Mandela – (1918- ). Peacefully fought for civil rights of black Africans.
Bible Truths:
1. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast.
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
2. He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his
mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
(Titus 3:5)
3. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. for God did not send his Son
into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through
him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe
stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one
and only son. (John 3:16-18)
4. Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me. (John 14:6)
What is truth?
Are people who sin really going to go to hell? Don’t we all sin? Isn’t God just
going to forgive everyone because He is a loving God?
Comeback:
All sinners will go to hell; meaning everyone, unless they confess and turn away from
their sins, believe that Jesus came as atonement for those sins, and put their
faith and trust in Him as the living God Who conquered death through the
resurrection.
•
Yes, we all sin.
•
God can only forgive us when we recognize the truth of why God sent Jesus to wash away
our sins. We cannot stand before God unclean. Jesus’ blood is the only thing that makes us
clean.
•
God is a loving God, but He is also a righteous and sovereign God. He is the ultimate Judge
who must give punishment according to His perfect law. Jesus is the savior to that
punishment.
Bible Truths:
1. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all
of it. (James 2:10)
2. Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes
and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (Romans 10:9-10)
3. I (Jesus) tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless
word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be
condemned. (Matthew 12:36-37)
4. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may
receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. ( 2
Corinthians 5:10)
5. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.
(Hebrews 9: 27)
6. The Lord will come with fire. He will ride on the wings of a storm to punish those He is
angry with. By fire and sword he will punish all the people of the world whom he finds
guilty-and many will be put to death. (Isaiah 66:15-16)
What is truth?
Is hell a real place? Are sinners really spending eternity there?
Comeback:
Hell is real; if we believe in a heaven, then we must believe in a hell. Hell was created for Satan and his
angels, but it is also where unbelievers will dwell after judgment. Life here on earth is but a short time,
and eternity is real. We each have a choice as to where we will spend eternity.
•
Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:41)
•
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower
thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel
is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1: 24-25)
•
See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the
Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that
you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if
your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve
them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong [your] days in the land
which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against
you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you
and your descendants may live. (Deuteronomy 30:15-19)
Bible Truths
1. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.
Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what
was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead
who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged,
each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown
into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not
found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20: 12-15)
2. The LORD Almighty says, "The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. The arrogant
and the wicked will be burned up like straw on that day. They will be consumed like a tree roots and all. (Malachi 4:1)
3. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life,
but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. (Dan 12.2)
4. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son
of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes
sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13.40)
5. And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their
worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind
(Isaiah 66:23-24).
Be prepared !
…
but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks
you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence… 1 Peter 3:15