Concluding Remarks

Concluding Remarks
from Christian Evidences, Chapter 8

By Leland M. Haines

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The Results Of This Solid Evidence

Search The Scriptures

The Results Of This Solid Evidence

        Non-Christians must not disregard Christianity solely because some state that Christianity is a matter of faith alone. There is solid evidence that God has revealed Himself to mankind through Jesus Christ, His Son, and that the Bible accurately records this revelation. No one should misunderstand faith and think Christianity is a matter of "faith alone." It is a matter of fact; it is supported by solid evidence. If Christianity could not support its claim of being based on God's intervention into human history, it would be a meaningless religion. The one and only true religion must be supported by data sufficient for any non-believer to accept as God's revelation, which the Bible is.
        The proposition that Christianity is a matter of "faith" alone is to be rejected. Throughout this book we have sought to show that there is solid evidence that God has revealed Himself and that the Bible records this revelation. This evidence will not coerce one to believe but it is adequate and sufficient that one can accept the revelation with certainty. But if one wishes to examine the evidence with an antisupernatural, humanistic attitude that assumes the Bible contains only myths, God will respect the person's bias and allow him the freedom to remain in his state of confusion and ignorance.
        There are many who have been critical of the miraculous signs and wonders recorded in the Bible. Often these critics have been liberals who for some reason have believed these were hard for modern "scientific" men to accept, and thus were a stumbling block to man's acceptance of Christianity. But this is not the case in view of God's revelation. One should readily accept the fact that the God who created the world and the physical laws governing its operation could surely transcend these laws to give reasons for the acceptance of His revelation. Thus they should never hinder acceptance of His revelation because they were done so we could accept it. If one finds these a difficulty he lacks understanding of how God has acted in human events to effect revelation, and he should search the Scriptures further.
        Had there been no miraculous signs one could question if God had revealed Himself in historical events. Most of those who are now critical of these supernatural miracles and signs would state loudly that there was no evidence that God had revealed Himself. So with or without these signs the unbeliever would find excuses not to believe. All men should realize this and keep an open mind towards the possibility that the God who created the world and the physical laws governing its operation could surely transcend these laws to give reasons for acceptance of His revelation. We should examine the evidence to support the Bible claims, and be willing to accept it if the evidence is there. Looking at the many eyewitness, that they possessed good character and were trustworthy, that they did not change their reports even under persecution, and left us early written records of what they witnessed before mythologized stories could have been developed, one realizes the Bible has sound evidence to support its claims of being God's
revelation.

Search The Scriptures

        This book has attempted to show that God has revealed Himself and that the record of this revelation is in the Bible. The reader is encouraged to turn to the Bible and read and search it's passages to understand its message. One who turns to it in a humble and prayerful attitude will find truth there.
        A person should not start to search for truth by seeing what various churches stand for, hoping to find one that fits his views. Today many churches who profess the Christian faith are confused, and listening to them will only cause one to become more confused and frustrated. If you want a Biblical faith, search the Scriptures. The reader may wish to start by reading the Gospels, especially John and Matthew. Sit down and read the books in the Bible at one sitting, and see for yourself what the Scriptures teach.
        Jesus once spoke against the "cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent." He then declared, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes." It was the "babes," those who were humble and receptive and who would learn, instead of the self-declared wise, who would enter the kingdom. Jesus then called to these, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:20-30). This promise still stands today. Searchers will find that repentance, the new birth, and discipleship are all made easy because of God's grace. But remember too that "Many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14) because they fail to "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matthew 7:13-14, cf. Luke 13:23-24).

NOTES

1 McMillen, NONE OF THESE DISEASES, 15

2 McMillen, NONE OF THESE DISEASES, 18.

4 McMillen, NONE OF THESE DISEASES, 9-10.

5 Carson, SCRIPTURE AND TRUTH, 153.

6 Davis, A DICTIONARY OF THE Bible, 83-84.

7 See Brunk, FULFILLED PROPHECIES, Rod and Staff Publishers, Crockett, Kentucky, 1971

8 Lenski, Interpretations of St. Matthew's Gospel, 88-89

9 Elwell, BAKER ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE BIBLE, 600.

11 Henry, REVELATION AND THE BIBLE, 247.

12 Henry, REVELATION AND THE BIBLE, 244.

13 Carson,SCRIPTURE AND TRUTH, 126.

14 Carson, SCRIPTURE AND TRUTH, 125.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Alston, William A., Religious Belief and Philosophical Thought, Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc., New York, 1963

Alexander, David and Pat Alexander, Eerdman's Handbook To The Bible, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1973

Boer, Harry R., Above The Battle? The Bible and Its Critics, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, Grand Rapids,
Michigan, 1975

Brunk, Menno J., Fulfilled Prophecies, Rod and Staff, Crockett, Kentucky, 1971

Carson, D. A. and John D. Woodbridge, editors, Scripture and Truth, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1983

Close, Henry T., Reasons For Our Faith, John Knox Press, Richmond, Virginia, 1962

Davis, John D., A Dictionary of the Bible, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1954

Elwell, Walter A., Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1988

Geisler, Norman L., Miracles and Modern Thought, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1982

Haines, Perry F., Christian Evidences, W. A. Widle Company, Natick, Massachusetts, 1959

Henry, Carl F. H., Revelation and the Bible, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1958

Johnson, S. Lewis, The Old Testament in the New, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1980

Keyser, Leander S., A System of Christian Evidence, The Lutheran Literary Board, Burlington, Iowa, 1953

Lenski, R. C. H., Commentary on the New Testament, The Wartburg Press, Columbus, Ohio, 1943

McDowell, Josh, Evidence That Demands A Verdic, Campus Crusade for Christ International, 1972

McMillen, S. I., None Of These Diseases, Fleming H. Revell Company, Old Tappan, New Jersey, 1970

Morris, Henry M, The Bible and Modern Science, Moody Press Book, Chicago, 1968

Parker, J. I., Knowing God, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois, 1973

Pickering, Wilbur N., The Identity of the New Testament Text, Thomas Nelsen Publishers, Nashville, 1977

Pinnock, Clark H., Set Forth Your Case, Moody Press, Chicago, 1971

Purtill, Richard L., Reason to Believe, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1974

Ramm, Bernard, Protestant Christian Evidences, Moody Press, Chicago, 1966

Rogers, Clement F., The Case For Christianity, Harper & Brothers, New York, 1928

Schmidt, Auston G. and Joseph A. Perkins, Faith and Reason, Loyola University Press, Chicago, 1935

Sproul, R. C., John Gerstner, Arthur Lindsley, Classical Apologetics, Academie Books, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1984

.... Can I Trust My Bible?, Moody Press, Chicago, 1963

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March 21, 2001