1. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thes. 5:21 “Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.” Isa. 41:21 “Set forth your case” ESV

2. “Fight the good fight of faith…” I Timothy 6:12

3. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Heb.11:1

4. Substance - assurance  Ground, basis, support  “Surety” Evidence of things unseen  Proof  Never seen heaven  But we have the evidence

5. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thes.5:21

6. Prove = put all things to the test Not a matter of probability “Prove”  Luke 14:19 - oxen, go to “prove” them  Rom. 12:2 - “may prove what is”  1 Tim. 3:10 “first be proved”  1 John 4:1 “try the spirits”

7. 30. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 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 20:30-31

8. Scripture produces faith and knowledge 1 John 5:13 “know that ye have eternal life” “believe on the name of the Son of God” 1 Tim. 4:3 “believe and know the truth” 2 Tim. 1:12 “I know whom I have believed” John 6:69 “we believe and are sure”

9. Variety of types of evidence Eyewitness Miracles Prophecy Luke 1:1-4 Acts 1:3 God is - accepted by faith:  Not against the evidence  Not without evidence  Not beyond the evidence We believe on the basis of evidence

10. “ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear :”1 Peter 3:15

11. Be ready to give an answer  To make defense  To ask a reason  Rational belief  Of the Hope

12. “ For we walk by faith, not by sight ” 2 Cor. 5:7

13.  Jesus was no longer on the Earth  Earlier faith and sight went together John 20:29 “because you have seen me, you have believed” - Thomas Faith in Jesus now is backed by evidence

14. George WashingtonAbraham Lincoln We never saw these men ! We believe they once lived ! Why ? Because of the evidence that we can read. The same is true about Jesus !

15. “ For we walk by faith, not by sight ” Contrasting faith produced by sight with Faith produced by other means.  Testimony of others  Revelation from God Some day faith and sight will be together 1 John 3:2 “when He is revealed” “we shall see Him as He is” “Faith will not be lost in heavenly sight” “We will then have faith with sight”

17. We have the inspired word of God 2 Pet. 1:3 “all things that pertain unto life and godliness”  About God  About Christ  About the Church  About Heaven and Hell

18. Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249evanscoc@bellsouth.netwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Evening Jan. 16, 2011