THE BIBLE SPEAKS DAILY (OCTOBER 17th, 2024).

TODAY'S TOPIC: 

CHRISTIAN FAITH: WEIGHING THE EVIDENCE!

TODAY'S VERSE: JOHN 20:30-31.

"Many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name" -John The Apostle 20:30,31. 

Look at the verse for today, we clearly see the biblical kind of faith. For faith to be of any value, it must be based on reasonable evidence.            This, in fact, is the nature of biblical faith. It is rational and reasonable. In considering an issue, we should give a fair-minded and objective evaluation of all sides. After a forthright assessment, we should go with whichever side has the most rational, and reasonable evidence. This attitude reflects a love for truth. It demonstrates a respect for the facts above whatever prejudices we may hold!!!

The biblical faith could be described as "an hypothesis based upon evidence." Here there is evidence. There may not be enough evidence to prove the matter beyond any shadow of a doubt, however, but the evidence is still powerful and compelling. 

Let us consider the view of man's origin? First, we must recognize that neither evolution nor creation can be scientifically proven. The scientific method is based on observation, testing and repeatability, and neither of these philosophies can be so examined.                                                      Evolution and creationism are both theories, or more specifically hypotheses, since neither can be reproduced in a laboratory. An hypothesis is "a proposition, or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation (working hypothesis) or accepted as highly probably in the light of established facts." Since neither explanation can be proven, both are accepted by faith. However, the important question is this: which hypothesis fits the facts better with fewer secondary assumptions? A rational and unbiased examination of all the evidence (biblical, scientific and moral) points to Divine Creation as the best explanation of man's origin.

God has not left himself without witness! New Testament faith has a rational foundation. 

a. It is based upon the testimony of the creation (Psa. 19:1; Rom. 1:20; Acts 14:17), 

b. It is based upon the unity and consistency of the Bible, 

c. It is based upon the purity of its ethics, 

d. It is based upon its relevance to human needs,

e. It is based upon the historical trustworthiness of the Bible, 

f. It is based upon the scientific accuracy of the Bible, 

g. It is based upon the evidence of fulfilled prophecy (2 Pet. 1:19), 

h. It is based upon the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, 

I. It is based upon the signs and wonders that confirmed the word (Heb. 2:3-4), 

j. It is based upon the eye-witness testimony of the apostles (Acts 2:32).

Belief in the existence of God cannot be absolutely proved scientifically, and analyzed in the Laboratory. No!.                                                 No man has seen God. He cannot be put in the test-tube and examined. Yet, the evidence is overwhelming, and compelling! An open minded consideration of the issue can lead to only one conclusion. Faith! It is demanded by the evidence. It is more reasonable to believe than to disbelieve.

Have you fallen short from the reasonable Faith?

You need to apply what the inspired writer was talking about: 

"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat." Hebrew 5:12

This normally brings to mind repentance and baptism, but the first "first principle" is Faith. 

We need to go back and build our faith in the right way. 

We need to know what we believe and why. 

We need to be able to give a defense of our faith.

 If we would do this, we would be amazed at the changes these will bring into our Churches. We would see a situation much more like New Testament times where Disciples were sent, and went everywhere preaching the Word. Such persons will strive to be right with God. They will stand in time of trial, even in the face of death. However, the key is to have a love for the Truth first, then the love to examine the evidence with honesty and integrity, and then to have a respect for the facts, and lastly to be willing to follow the truth wherever it leads. 

 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the Faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, ...unless indeed you are disqualified.  2 Corinthians 13:5.

TODAY'S PRAYER:

My Heavenly Father, I come before You in the Name of your Son Jesus Christ, and I choose to walk in the faith that is proven by the biblical facts and reasons, and shall walk no more in dead Faith. Father, I pray You open my eyes to any hidden areas of fear in my life.                            Father, lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. Lord, today I ask for your guidance, in all areas of my life. Please, heal the sick and bless the needy, AMEN!

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This work is under the oversight of The Church of Christ Ekute Quarters Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State Nigeria. (Listen to us on the FRCN Progress FM Ado Ekiti 100.5 every Thursday by 6:30pm AND on the FRESH FM AYEFELE 106.9 every Friday by 6.30pm).