THE BIBLE MEETS MY NEEDS

Evidences for God and His Creation Word in the Heart Series

Lesson 5:Pages 20-23

[By Ron Halbrook, adapted from Evidences for God and His Creation]

Eccl. 12:13

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• Introduction

1. Eccl. 12:13 God is our most basic need: He reveals Himself & His will in the Bible

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

• Introduction

2. 1 Pet. 1:23 Bible truth, man’s needs unchanging

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23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

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• Introduction

3. Basic Bible principles have always been true: God is The Bible is God’s Word Jesus Christ is God’s Son Man’s purpose is to love God & his fellowman

• Introduction

4. Is the Bible outdated & irrelevant now? Ps. 90:1 God & His truth never outdated!

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1 Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

• Introduction

4. Is the Bible outdated & irrelevant now? Dangers of sin not change: lives destroyed by hatred & murder, drunkenness, immorality

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• Introduction

4. Is the Bible outdated & irrelevant now? Truth in ancient law codes recognized today: 282 ethical, civil, & legal laws in Babylonian King Hammurabi’s Code (1728-1686 B.C.)— presumption of innocence; builder responsible if building unsafe

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• Introduction

4. Is the Bible outdated & irrelevant now? Problem of sin & evil resolved by Bible

NOT by science, medicine, & technology Science & technology not change our heart,

the origin of sin & evil—the Bible does!

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• Introduction

5. How the Bible meets our needs The Bible Addresses Man’s Deepest Needs The Bible Reveals Practical Moral Principles

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I. The Bible Addresses Man’s Deepest Needs A. Man Cannot Resolve His Own Deepest Needs

Science, medicine, & technology address our material world & physical needs— man has deeper moral & spiritual needs Eccl. 1:8-10 Life’s basic experiences are the same in all generations

Eccl. 1:8-10 Life’s basic experiences are the same in all generations

8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

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I. The Bible Addresses Man’s Deepest Needs B. The Bible Answers Our Deepest Questions

& Needs Gen. 1:1, 26-27 Where did I come from?

Gen. 1:1, 26-27 Where did I come from? 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

==== ==== ==== ==== ==== 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

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I. The Bible Addresses Man’s Deepest Needs B. The Bible Answers Our Deepest Questions & Needs

Eccl. 12:13; Mic. 6:8 Why am I here?

Eccl. 12:13; Mic. 6:8 Why am I here?

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

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I. The Bible Addresses Man’s Deepest Needs B. The Bible Answers Our Deepest Questions & Needs

Jn. 5:28-29 Where am I going? 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

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I. The Bible Addresses Man’s Deepest Needs C. Atheism Cannot Answer Life’s Deepest Questions

Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going?

C. Atheism Cannot Answer Life’s Deepest Questions Robert Ingersoll: “Life is a narrow vale between the cold and barren peaks of two eternities. We strive in vain to look beyond the heights. We cry aloud, and the only answer is the echo of a wailing cry” (“A Tribute to Ebon C. Ingersoll, by his Brother Robert” in Robert Ingersoll, The Ghosts, and other lectures, 1892)

C. Atheism Cannot Answer Life’s Deepest Questions Friedrich Nietzsche, “God is dead.” “Where is my home? For it do I ask and seek, and have sought, but have not found it. O eternal everywhere, O eternal nowhere, O eternal-in-vain” (Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and No One, 1891)

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I. The Bible Addresses Man’s Deepest Needs D. God Gives Us Hope for Time & Eternity

Ps. 23 God shepherds us for time & eternity

Ps. 23 God shepherds us for time & eternity 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Ps. 23 God shepherds us for time & eternity

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

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I. The Bible Addresses Man’s Deepest Needs D. God Gives Us Hope for Time & Eternity

Phil. 4:4-7 God gives joy & peace to prayerful hearts

Phil. 4:4-7 God gives joy & peace to prayerful hearts 4 Rejoice in the Lord alway:

and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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I. The Bible Addresses Man’s Deepest Needs D. God Gives Us Hope for Time & Eternity

Phil. 4:11-13 God gives strength for every trial

Phil. 4:11-13 God gives strength for every trial 11 Not that I speak in respect of want:

for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

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II. The Bible Reveals Practical Moral Principles A. Christ Gave the Greatest Moral & Social Ethics

of All Time in Matt. 5-7 5:21-26 Resolve conflicts: control temper & tongue, seek immediate reconciliation 5:27-32 Protect marriage vows & mate from moral harm 5:33-37 Tell the truth

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II. The Bible Reveals Practical Moral Principles A. Christ Gave the Greatest Moral & Social Ethics of All Time in Matt. 5-7

5:38-42 Generosity not retaliation heals wounds 5:43-48 Love enemies, avoid hatred’s poison 7:1-5 Judge people fairly, accurately— not hypercritically & hypocritically

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II. The Bible Reveals Practical Moral Principles A. Christ Gave the Greatest Moral & Social Ethics

of All Time in Matt. 5-7 7:12 Treat others as you wish to be treated!

12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

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II. The Bible Reveals Practical Moral Principles B. Bible Principles Make Stable Happy Homes

Gen. 2:24 Marriage vows echo this passage

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Do you, ____, desire, & promise to take the one ____ to become your lawful wedded companion; to love, honor, & cherish her in sickness as in health, in adversity as in prosperity; and forsaking all others become and be such a husband as God directs that you should, until death do you part?

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II. The Bible Reveals Practical Moral Principles B. Bible Principles Make Stable Happy Homes

Col. 3:18-21 Family duties give life order & stability

Col. 3:18-21 Family duties give life order & stability

18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

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II. The Bible Reveals Practical Moral Principles B. Bible Principles Make Stable Happy Homes

Prov. 13:24 Balanced discipline shows love

24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

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B. Bible Principles Make Stable Happy Homes Sin’s dysfunctional destructive conduct destabilizes the home: Uncontrolled anger, bitterness, hatred Divorce Murder (often family) Alcohol & other drugs Sexually transmitted diseases Lies, stealing

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II. The Bible Reveals Practical Moral Principles C. The Bible Is a Seamless Cloth of Truth

If part of Scripture is false, all falls into doubt Unbelievers attack Bible morality by attacking

its accuracy in science, history, & geography Accuracy in these fields confirms its moral truth

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II. The Bible Reveals Practical Moral Principles C. The Bible Is a Seamless Cloth of Truth

Bible science is true Gen. 1:1 Every effect has an adequate cause Gen. 1:11-12, 21, 24-25, 28 Seed

produces “after its kind” Acts 17:26 All nations are “made of one

blood”

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II. The Bible Reveals Practical Moral Principles C. The Bible Is a Seamless Cloth of Truth

Bible history is true Gen. 12:1 Abram’s seed given a promised land Isa. 44:28 Cyrus restored Israel to her land Dan. 2:36-45 God’s new kingdom began

in the time of Rome, 4th power from Babylon

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II. The Bible Reveals Practical Moral Principles C. The Bible Is a Seamless Cloth of Truth

Bible geography is true Gen. 11:27-32 Abram from Ur of

Chaldees Gen. 15:20; Josh. 1:4 Hittites a

powerful nation

HITTITEEMPIRE

2000 BC-1200 BC

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II. The Bible Reveals Practical Moral Principles C. The Bible Is a Seamless Cloth of Truth

Archaeology confirms Bible history & geography 1800’s scholars mocked Bible references

to Hittites; early 1900’s 10,000 clay tablets found

Clay tablet

Royalseal

Hittitesphinx

Vasesketch

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II. The Bible Reveals Practical Moral Principles C. The Bible Is a Seamless Cloth of Truth

The moral truth of the Bible is confirmed by its accuracy in science, history, & geography!

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• Conclusion

1. Eccl. 12:13 God is our most basic need: He reveals Himself & His will in the Bible

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

• Conclusion

2. 1 Pet. 1:23 Bible truth, man’s needs unchanging

45

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

46

• Conclusion

3. Basic Bible principles have always been true: God is The Bible is God’s Word Jesus Christ is God’s Son Man’s purpose is to love God & his fellowman

47

• Conclusion

4. How the Bible meets our needs The Bible Addresses Man’s Deepest Needs The Bible Reveals Practical Moral Principles

• Conclusion

5. 1 Pet. 3:21 Submit to Christ: get right with God

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21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: