1. Hebrews 11:1-3

2. Hebrews 11:1-3
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

3. GOD IS… The Fundamental Fact
Only the fool can deny God’s existence (Psa. 14:1)
Power & Divinity of God manifested (Rom. 1:20)
Power to explain world is past finite realm (omnipotence)
With all around us winding down, where did power begin?
Divinity (omniscience) also beyond natural explanation
Order, design & might seen from largest to smallest
No natural explanation exists for world to create itself
“Every house is built by someone…” (Heb. 3:4)
The logical conclusion to design & order is a Creator
The power & design of God points us to His purpose

4. The Bible Is God’s Word The Fundamental Source
Bible is inspired message by God (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
Fulfilled prophecy is major proof (Isa )
God’s Challenge: Match His knowledge in “former things” (history) or “things to come” (prophecy)
To foretell events hundreds of years before with 100% accuracy is humanly impossible
If try to move time foretold forward, problem increases with 100% accuracy of historical facts
Bible abounds in totally accurate prophecies of nations
Bible contains 332 totally accurate messianic prophecies
What are the chances this was all just product of luck?

5. Probability of Messianic Prophecies Taking Place by Random Chance
Can be calculated as a probability of occurrence to one individual in total population
Probability of just 8 of prophecies being fulfilled in one person?
1 in ,000,000,000,000,000
Probability of just 48 of prophecies being fulfilled in one person?
1 in 10157
10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

6. The Bible Is God’s Word The Fundamental Source
Bible is inspired message by God (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
Fulfilled prophecy is major proof (Isa )
God’s Challenge: Match His knowledge in “former things” (history) or “things to come” (prophecy)
To foretell events hundreds of years before with 100% accuracy is humanly impossible
If try to move time foretold forward, problem increases with 100% accuracy of historical facts
Bible abounds in totally accurate prophecies of nations
Bible contains 332 totally accurate messianic prophecies
What are the chances this was all just product of luck?
Bible’s uniqueness, care of transmission, witness…

7. AUTHOR BOOK WRITTEN COPIES TIME GAP NUMBER of COPIES
DATE
WRITTEN
EARLIEST
COPIES
TIME GAP
NUMBER of COPIES
Homer
Iliad
800 B.C.
c. 400 B.C.
c. 400 yrs.
643
Herodotus
History
B.C.
c. A.D. 900
c yrs. 8
Thucydides
B.C.
c yrs.
Plato
400 B.C. 7
Demosthenes
300 B.C.
c. A.D. 1100
c yrs.
200
Caesar
Gallic Wars
B.C.
c yrs. 10
Livy
History of
59 B.C. – A.D. 17
4th cent. (partial)
mostly 10th cent.
1 partial
19 copies
Tacitus
Annals
A.D. 100 20
Pliny Secundus
Natural History
A.D
c. A.D. 850
c. 750 yrs.
Inspired Writers
New Testament
A.D
c. 114 (fragment)
c. 200 (books)
c. 250 (most of NT)
c. 325 (complete NT)
25-50 yrs.
100 yrs.
150 yrs.
225 yrs.
Greek
19,284 - Other languages
24,970+ Total
Taken from The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell (p. 38)

8. Writer & Known Dates (A.D.)
Gospels
Acts
Epistles of Paul
General Epistles
Revelation
Totals
Justin Martyr (converted 130 – martyred 165)
268 10 43 6 3
266 allusions
330
Irenaeus (born ?)
1038
194
499 23 65
1,819
Clement of Alex. ( )
1107 44
1127
207 11
2,406
Origen ( )
9231
349
7778
399
165
17,992
Tertullian ( )
3822
502
2609
120
205
7,258
Hippolytus ( )
734 42
387 27
188
1,378
Eusebius ( )
3258
211
1592 88
5,176
Grand Totals
19,368
1,352
14,035
870
664
36,289
Edited from The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell (p. 43) with added material by HRO

9. The Bible Is God’s Word The Fundamental Source
Bible is inspired message by God (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
Fulfilled prophecy is major proof (Isa )
God’s Challenge: Match His knowledge in “former things” (history) or “things to come” (prophecy)
To foretell events hundreds of years before with 100% accuracy is humanly impossible
If try to move time foretold forward, problem increases with 100% accuracy of historical facts
Bible abounds in totally accurate prophecies of nations
Bible contains 332 totally accurate messianic prophecies
What are the chances this was all just product of luck?
Bible’s uniqueness, care of transmission, witness…

10. As His Creation… I Am Subject to GOD
Since God created, He has right to rule (Acts 17:22f)
Jesus affirmed absolute authority as deity (Mt. 28:18)
God the Father affirmed that authority (Mt. 17:1-8)
Apostles taught full authority of Christ (Acts 3:22-23)
Authority expressed by His word (Jn. 17:8, 14-18)
Jn. 14: Inspired to know all Jesus had said to them
Jn. 16: Inspired to know that not already revealed
Gospel of Christ must be fully obeyed by all
Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 7:24-29; 7:21-23; 28:18-20
John 12:48-50; 5:22; 14:23; 2 Jn. 9

11. There Is a Solid Foundation for Faith in God, His Word & His Will