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Introduction
Hello, dear reader! You are uniquely you. You may be a first-time or regular reader. Thanks for stopping by! I started working on this article yesterday.
Yesterday, at 12:15 PM, website analytics showed, at that minute, all-time views of 157,831 (since 3/6/2006), 84 so far on 10/27/2022, 169 on 10/26/2022, 2,259 this month so far, and 2,325 last month. In the last 24 hours (10/27/2022, at 12:15 PM), viewers were 63 from the United States, 11 from India, 6 from the Netherlands, 5 from Germany, 5 from the United Kingdom, 4 from Taiwan, 3 from Japan, 2 from Austria, 2 from Canada, 2 from China, 2 from Russia, 1 from Belarus, 1 from Spain, 1 from France, 1 from Israel, 1 from Iran, and 1 from Poland.
You, dear reader, are still uniquely you. I write as if we're talking one-to-one.
Inspiration for this Article (in a New Topic Section)
Being retired, I thought yesterday about running a couple of errands, hiking, or touching up the paint on the front porch rocking chairs. I thought about fixing the knob on the door between the kitchen and laundry room.
Yesterday before sunrise, however, I checked the “Folks to Whom I Subscribe” section of this website and found that brother in Christ Phil Robertson had published an article the evening before. I read and commented on his article, "Let’s Talk About What’s Really Wrong with Our Elections: I’ll vote on November 8, but I’ll pray more." By Phil Robertson, Unashamed with Phil Robertson, 10/26/2022. Mine was the twelfth comment.
The tenth comment was from another brother in Christ, Jim Richardson. He has an active website that I enjoy visiting at times. Jim writes well. Yesterday, I commented on his article, "Inward Parts: A most incredible filtration device," by Jim Richardson, From My Brain To Yours, 10/23/2022.
Brother Jim replied with his comment, which suggested that I read his article on the same topic, "First Cause: Did you know that every design has a designer?" By Jim Richardson, From My Brain To Yours, 9/7/2022. Jim's articles from 9/7/2022 and 10/23/2022 affirm that God exists based on the argument from design. Jim articulated the affirmative quite well. Thanks, Jim!
Yesterday, searching this website, I looked for “Christian Evidences,” “proof God exists,” and “apologetics.” I found articles, written over the years, that touch on those topics. As of this entry, the Logic-Theology-Deep Stuff topic section has 37 articles. I glanced through each one.
I realized that my website does not yet have a full article, or series of articles, on Christian Evidences (Christian Apologetics). The Apologetics—Christian Evidences section of my website references six websites that provide articles on the topic.
I've preached sermon series on the existence of God, the inspiration of the Bible, and the deity of Christ. When we lived in Charleston, Missouri (1986-1992), I wrote a series of newspaper articles on the subjects. I may be able to retrieve those old sermons and newspaper articles from floppy disks.
Introduction to Christian Evidences (Apologetics) Series
This is the introductory article to the new topic section series on Christian Evidences. I stand on the shoulders of many fine scholars. In college, I sat at the feet of scholars who taught Christian Evidences. My library includes several books, which I have read, written by scholarly authors on the subject. The purpose of this series is to encapsulate my lifelong study on this topic into website articles.
Articles are published in chronological order (Website Archive). Entries on other topics will intermix chronologically with future articles on Christian Evidences. The Christian Evidences topic section, however, will include each article, as I publish them.
This series will be available freely for readers to share with others. It could be utilized freely in preacher training programs to teach Christian Evidences to students.
My plan, Lord willing, over many months, is to add articles under this topic section. Additional articles will be in order on the following subjects:
Does God exist?
The ultimate question is, does God exist? If God does not exist, then matter is all that exists. There is no human soul. There is no life after death. I will affirm and prove that God exists. I will use the following three arguments as proof. Each argument alone verifies the existence of God.
The moral argument: If absolute moral law (morality) exists, then a Divine Lawgiver exists. Absolute moral law (morality) exists. Therefore, a Divine Lawgiver, God, exists.
The teleological argument: If the creation (i.e., the universe, the earth, the human body, etc.) indicates intelligent design, then an Intelligent Designer exists. The creation indicates intelligent design. Therefore, an Intelligent Designer, God, exists.
The cosmological argument: If the universe is not eternal, then an Eternal First Cause has always existed. The universe is not eternal. Therefore, an Eternal First Cause, God, has always existed. A simpler form is: If something exists, then something or Someone has always existed. Something (i.e., the cosmos and all that is in it, including the earth, you, and me) exists. Therefore, something or Someone, God, has always existed.
What is the nature of God?
Proving that God exists does not prove the nature of God. What is the nature of God? What is God like?
Evidence from reason and nature affirms certain aspects of God's nature. The full answer to the question, however, will include the answer to the next question.
Is the Bible the solely inspired written word of God?
Many so-called inspired books exist. Some of them predate the Bible (Old and New Testaments). How do we know that the Bible is the solely-inspired word of God?
In contrast to other so-called inspired books, I will affirm that the Bible is the solely inspired word of God. I will do so by arguments from the historical accuracy of the Bible, the unity of the Bible (in theme, purpose, and doctrine), and biblical prophecy.
Proving that the Bible is the solely inspired word of God will confirm that all other so-called inspired books are not inspired by God. I will not need to examine all the so-called inspired books (e.g., the Koran, the Book of Mormon, the many Hindu writings, etc.), if the Bible is verified to be the only book that God inspired. My library contains the Koran, the Book of Mormon, and Hindu writings. I read them decades ago.
I will mention briefly how the canon of scripture (66 books, 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament) is verified. Furthermore, I plan to suggest website links that explore the art and science of textual criticism, a subject that is separate from Christian Evidences.
Is Jesus the Son of God?
Once I have proved that God exists and that the Bible is his solely inspired, written word, then I will affirm that Jesus, the Christ, is God, the eternal Word who became flesh, dwelt among us, died as the atoning sacrifice, arose, and ascended back to heaven. Further, I will affirm that Jesus is the only path to salvation.
The affirmation will prove that Christianity (as opposed to other world religions) is the only (exclusive) way to God and to salvation.
Conclusion
Yesterday, as I concluded this introduction to this new Christian Evidences topic section, I wondered if I should have just gone hiking!
I will have my work cut out for me. Of course, I've spoken and written on this topic before, in sermons, newspaper articles, and one-on-one evangelism. I need to encapsulate my work in this online article series.
My work stands on the shoulders of Christian authors, educators, public speakers, and scholars, who have instructed me. Today, as I publish this introduction, many others have written books and website articles on this vital topic. My future articles on this topic, Lord willing, will reference several of those sources.
Why do I undertake this significant task? This website draws national and international readers, who may need to read what, Lord willing, I will continue to write. They may wish to share my writings with others. Preacher training programs may wish to use my article series to teach Christian Evidences to students. I trust that I am sowing on fertile soil.
I am still just one poor beggar who continues to try to help other poor beggars find the Bread of Life. As the inspired apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Corinth, “Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit” (2 Corinthians 2:17, NIV). All my articles are free, and they will always be.
Phil Robertson, Jim Richardson, many others, and I are trying to bring the Light to the spiritually blind. Also, in his same second letter to the Christians at Corinth, the apostle Paul wrote:
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4, NIV)
Perhaps this article series, as I continue it over several months by God's grace, will help spiritually blind readers to see the Light. Readers who already know and see the Light may use these articles to help the spiritually blind, whom they know, to see the Light.
You, dear reader, are still uniquely you. I write as if we're talking one-to-one.
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