AOBC Apologetics - Arbor Oaks Bible Chapel

AOBC
Apologetics
Miracles
Quick Review:
Atheism
Pantheism
“NO” GOD
“ALL” IS GOD
Evidence
Deism
Theism
“REMOTE” GOD
“PERSONAL” GOD
Quick Review:
GOD EXISTS!
Atheism
Pantheism
“NO” GOD
“ALL” IS GOD
Evidence
Deism
Theism
“REMOTE” GOD
“PERSONAL” GOD
Quick Review:
GOD EXISTS!
The BIBLE is the WORD of GOD!
•
AUTHENTIC, AGREEMENT, ACCURATE, ACCEPTED
Atheism
Pantheism
“NO” GOD
“ALL” IS GOD
Evidence
Deism
Theism
“REMOTE” GOD
“PERSONAL” GOD
Wait One Second…
Aren’t Miracles Scientifically IMPOSSIBLE?
I. Definitions
A. SCIENCE:
knowledge about or study of the NATURAL
world based on facts learned through
EXPERIMENTS and OBSERVATION
•
MORAL judgments, AESTHETIC judgments,
decisions about APPLICATIONS of science, and
conclusions about the SUPERNATURAL are outside
the realm of science
I. Definitions
B. SCIENTISM:
the view that science is the ONLY reliable
source of knowledge (Rosenberg, Alex (2011). The Atheist's Guide to Reality)
I. Definitions
C. Miracle:
An event in the PHYSICAL WORLD, which takes
place when the SUPERNATURAL breaks into
the NATURAL and temporarily alters the
normal course of events
▪
Natural Laws cannot PROHIBIT miracles, …
They only describe what NORMALLY occurs
Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh
and blood, but against the rulers,
against the powers, against the
world forces of this darkness,
against the SPIRITUAL FORCES of
wickedness in the heavenly places.
UNBELIEVABLE
UNLIKELY
IMPROBABLE
IRRATIONAL
ILLOGICAL
UNREASONABLE
UNREALISTIC
But …
NOT A
II. DOCTRINE of Miracles
A. Doctrine (Definition):
Principle of BELIEF; instruction; that which is
TAUGHT. (Webster’s Dictionary)
II. DOCTRINE of Miracles
B. The LIBERAL Doctrine of Miracles
1. Denial of SUPERNATURAL
2. RETAIN the history, REJECT the Miracles
II. DOCTRINE of Miracles
C. The BIBLICAL Doctrine of Miracles
1. Miracles are EVIDENCE that the God of the
Bible is who he claims to be
2. Miracles are EXPECTED, and should be
ACCEPTED
III.DESCRIPTION of Miracles
A. WHEN?
•
Miracles are recorded thru ALL of scripture,
but CLUSTERS of miracles occur during
specific times in HISTORY
III.DESCRIPTION of Miracles
B. WHO?
•
Not every NOTABLE Biblical character
performed miracles …
•
However, “CHOSEN” people did
(i.e. Nehemiah, John the Baptist Lk 7:28, …)
III.DESCRIPTION of Miracles
C. WHY?
1. To authenticate a MESSENGER
a.
MOSES (Exodus 7-12)
b.
ELIJAH (1 Kings 18:21, 36-39)
c.
PETER and JOHN (Acts 3:6, 4:8-12)
d.
JESUS (Luke 5:20-26)
III.DESCRIPTION of Miracles
C. WHY?
1. To authenticate a MESSENGER
2. To authenticate THE MESSAGE
JESUS IS GOD! (Luke 7:22, John 20:30-31)
IV.DECLINE of Miracles
Do Miracles occur TODAY?
A. NO!
• As the NT was COMPLETED the miracles
DECLINED
• By the LATE EPISTLES (60-85 A.D.), there are not
a lot of miracles transpiring
• As the Bible is being COMPLETED, the Word of the
Lord is being CONFIRMED (i.e. The rich man and Lazarus)
• Miracles are not NORMATIVE today (like Bible
times), because we have the BIBLE in our HANDS.
IV.DECLINE of Miracles
Do Miracles occur TODAY?
A. NO!
B. YES!
1. Every CONVERSION is a MIRACLE … (the
SUPERNATURAL breaking into the NATURAL)
2. How about miracles of healing today?
a.
b.
YES!
Its NOT NORMATIVE, and shouldn’t be expected
thru a EARTHLY HEALER (Matt 7:22-23)
V. DENIAL of Miracles
A. Liberal Objections:
1. Miracles are UNSCIENTIFIC
2. Miracles are MYTHS believed by MORONS
3. Miracles are PIOUS FRAUDS
4. Miracles are ANOMOLIES
V. DENIAL of Miracles
B. Christian Cop-out:
1.
CREATION – Theistic Evolution/Progressive
Creationism
2.
RED SEA – Walk through a marsh
3.
JONAH – Just a parable
4.
MIRACLES of JESUS – Exaggerated deeds of a “Good
Man”
V. DENIAL of Miracles
C. The Dilemma of Denial:
1. You are left with a JESUS who is NOT who
he said he was
2. You are left with a BIBLE that is filled with
MYTHS
VI.DESIGN of Miracles
Miracles are designed by God to TEACH us
http://www.growingchristians.org
DFGC: 1. Gourds and Grain
2. The School of God
3. Only Five Loaves and Two Fish
4. Fig Trees and Mountains
Mark 10:27
Looking upon them, Jesus said,
“With men it is IMPOSSIBLE,
but not with God;
for all things are
POSSIBLE with God.”