 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
-19-
God Hath Spoken
Historical Evidence
Historical evidence involves the miracles recorded in the Bible. They are of such a nature that they verify this Book to be the Word of God. There are many in our seminaries and in our pulpits, however, who deny the veracity of the miracles recorded in the Bible. They have embraced rationalism which teaches there is no such thing as miracles, and that all things can be explained.
Some have contended that the pillar of fire that God used to lead the children of Israel through the wilderness was no miracle, but was nothing more than the conjunction of heavenly bodies. Unbelievers do not believe: this is the reason they are called "unbelievers."
Internal Evidence
The doctrines elicited in the Bible tend to a godly life. This constitutes Internal evidence. Some time ago, I read about a cannibal chief in the South Pacific who was brought by the grace of God to repent of his sins, and to acknowledge Jesus Christ as his Lord.
One day, the chief came to the missionary's hut in an excited temper. "My dog is ruined," he said. "My dog is no good any more."
The missionary asked what he meant, and the chief answered, "He has eaten the leaves of my Bible, and as it has changed the people of the village, it is going to change him into a different animal. He is not going to make a good dog anymore." The application of the Word of God by the Holy Spirit transforms families and nations as it transforms individuals.
Experimental Evidence
The third evidence that the Bible is the Word of God is called "Experimental," or "Experiential" evidence. It involves evidence by experience. In the Old World, idolatry fell and philosophers were confounded before poor, uneducated fishermen preaching this Word. The great Roman empire was not able to extirpate the Christian Church either by education or by legislation, so it turned to persecution. When that failed, they resorted to the doctrine of Balaam, and adopted Christianity as the official religion of the state. The Bible is divinely inspired.
The Doctrine of Inspiration
The Greek word "theopneustos" means "God breathed." But does the Bible itself claim to be Divinely inspired?
The testimony of a man upon his death bed is generally regarded to be good evidence. A person in such a state generally has no reason to lie, and therefore such testimony is admissible as evidence if it can be proven the person is aware of his state.
The last words of King David are recorded in II Samuel chapter 23. "Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God" (vs. 1-3).
It was the testimony of King David as he lay dying that "The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and His word was in my tongue."
The prophet Jeremiah wrote in chapter 1, in verses 7 and 8: "But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD."
Note verse 9: "Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold I have put my words in thy mouth." In the words of the hymn writer, "What more can He say, than to you He hath said?" How could the Lord make it clearer? "Behold I have put my words in thy mouth."
In Jeremiah chapter 5, verse 14 reads: "Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them." Note that God is here speaking about the very words of the prophet. The prophet did not speak what he felt like speaking; neither did he speak to please the people, for he was a servant of God.
Now turn to Ezekiel chapter 3 and let us begin reading with verse 4. "And He said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them. For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel; not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand" (vs. 4-6).
Reader, did you notice what He said? He said, "I have not sent you to a people that speak a foreign language, a language you neither speak nor understand; but I have sent you to Israel." "Surely, had I sent thee to them" [that is, to a foreign land, to people whose language you do not understand], they would have hearkened unto thee. But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. Behold I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. As an adamant [i.e. as a diamond] harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house" (vs. 6-9).
"Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears. And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear" (vs. 10-11).