HAS GOD SPOKEN?


The World, the Word & You! Broadcast
Commentary by Dennis L. Finnan

“SOME BELIEVE CHRISTIANITY IS A BLIND FAITH. HOWEVER, GOD NEVER WANTS ANYONE TO EMBRACE HIS WORD BASED ON SUCH FLIMSY EVIDENCE. TODAY I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU A PARTICULAR KNOWLEDGE OF THE EVIDENCE OF CHRISTIANITY!”

 I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about it.

… The Bible is perhaps, without a doubt, the most interesting book of all books. More than any other it contains valuable history, exquisite literature, philosophy, beautiful poetry and even good science. Worldwide without a doubt, it is the best selling book of any and appeals to the widest audience -- from learned scientists to the most uneducated and poor. Alas, not only is it the most popular book, it is also the most hated book on the face of the earth! Yet, it has stood the tests of time, and remains number one worldwide in interest and value, capable of meeting everyone’s most cherished needs.

However friend, have you ever wondered why people read and deeply cherish this book? One of the reasons is its faithfulness to every issue it speaks to, and its uncanny ability to be absolutely inerrant and infallible in every detail and teaching it presents.

Today I want to look at the Bible and verify by way of apologetics, the fact that the Christian Bible from Genesis to Revelation, is the very mind, heart and words of God the Creator to His Creation. As such, there is every reason to believe it and heed its words. After we pause one more time for another moment of music, I’ll return to share with you some compelling scientific reasons to believe the Bible now and forevermore, stay tuned…

… Actually of all books man has access to, the Bible is a “nameless” book. The word “bible” comes from the Greek, biblia, which means “the book.” You see this single book bound and printed these days as a single volume, is really a compilation of 66 books, all bound together not by binding, but by a progressive unity, a consistent theme, a single purpose, an accurate and detailed account of all things, and the total truth given in every matter. In fact, although there are over 40 human authors attributed to its total writings, separated by a time span of over 1,500 years; yet, the Christian Bible is really one book written by, shall we say, one “Architect.” You see the unity and prophetic and historical accuracy of its writings show that, someone besides humans had a part in it.

Though the stories in the Bible are old, perhaps the oldest of human writings, they still are fresh to every generation of readers and the messages are new ands life-giving to all who embrace them. Why, it’s promises have given spirit, life, courage, and confidence to those who have sought to embrace it, and they find a fresh never ending well of joy that comes to all who trust its Words of life eternal, through Jesus Christ the Lord.

Now, let’s get down to the gist of my talk today, and that is ¾ Some great reasons to believe in and trust God’s Word in all that it says. I’ll begin by giving you some “facts,” that reveal the Bible’s uncanny accuracy, absolute truthfulness and its supernatural inspiration from God, for Scripture itself tells us why God has written down His Word for us. We read in,

1 Ki 8:60 (NIV)  “so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.”

HAS GOD SPOKEN? The answer is yes, in and through His Word the Bible. We see this most exactly in the fact that although the Bible is not a science book, nonetheless, it affirms every thing scientific we discover, regardless of the age in which it was written. This uncanny ability can be seen in a number of truths. For instance we can readily see,

 THE SCIENTIFIC ACCURACY OF THE GENESIS ACCOUNT OF CREATION – (1) Moses who wrote the book gives clear details of astronomy,] that only of recent have been confirmed as truth. Moses writes,

Gen 1:16 (NIV)  “God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.”

Like Aristotle, Moses had no instruments in which to study the sun, moon and stars. Yet he accurately wrote against all teachings of his day, that the sun is greater than the moon, yet not the greatest light to rule the day. Only today do we know that there are numerous stars far bigger than our sun, although they appears as pinpoints in the sky. How did Moses know this? Only one way, by divine inspiration of the Creator revealed to him!

(2)Why even the “Order of Creation,” Moses describes, is amazingly scientifically accurate. Peter W. Stoner, a mathematician lists and examines thirteen steps of creation as recorded in Genesis 1. He comes to the conclusion the order of these events is truly acceptable to modern science. He estimates that the chance of Moses’ getting it right with no scientific knowledge of his day, without divine aid, is simply impossible!

Moreover, the Genesis account of Creation, although diametrically opposed and rejected by evolutionists, cannot be questioned as to its scientific accuracy, for it stands in total contrast to the fantastic fables and myths of the writers of Moses’ day. Now, let’s test its scientific accuracy in what it says when it touches the known science of our day. Although the writers of Scripture were not preparing scientific dissertations, they did make reference to scientific subjects, which can easily be checked today for accuracy. Let’s do some of that now, as we look at what the bible say about…

THE EARTH AND ITS SOLAR SYSTEM – In Genesis 1:14, we read,

Gen 1:14 (NKJV)  “Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;”

The world “firmament,” translated here is from the Hebrew word, rakiya which literally means, “an expanse, or something spread out.” The word for “heavens” means something “high and lofty.” These are the most appropriate scientifically accurate terms that could possibly be used to describe outer space. In Moses’ day, and for thousands of years after, the scientific world thought the heavens were a solid sphere. Moreover, Isaiah the prophet said,

Isa 40:22 (NIV)  “He (God the Creator) sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.”

Job 26:7 (NIV)  “He suspends the earth over nothing.”

The opinion was once widespread that the world was flat, but God’s Word refers to the “circle of the earth.” Again, the Hebrew word rendered “circle,” refers not even to a flat circle on a plane surface, but to a vaulted arch or sphere! Job further states the earth hangs in space suspended on nothing. How could Moses, Job and Isaiah know these things, except it be by divine revelation from the Creator who designed and built the universe! Now what about what the Bible says about…

THE NUMBER OF STARS IN THE UNIVERSE – Well, in the years, 121-126 B.C., Hipparchus, the originator of Greek astronomy declared there were 1,080 total stars in the universe. Later on Ptolemy, the Roman scientist who lived at the time of Christ declared there were 1,056, but God’s Word long before them all said,

Gen 15:5 (NIV)   “Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.””

Jer 33:22 (NIV)  “I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless as the stars of the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.’””

It was not until the time of Galileo’s telescope that scientists began to realize the Heavens contained a vast number of stars far exceeding the cherished scientific beliefs of centuries. It has now been estimated through the use of radio telescopes, that there are 10 billion galaxies within observable space. Einstein estimated that the totality of space is at least 100,000 times greater than observable space, leaving an unimaginable speculation there must be 100 septillion stars in space (1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000). Jeremiah the prophet was right (Jer 33:22), the host of heaven cannot be numbered!

But then, what about the stars themselves? Well, the Book of Job is most informative with its scientific comments. Job writes,

Job 38:31 (NIV)  “”Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion?”

For centuries only up to recent, scientists believed the stars were “fixed” in the sky, because the great star patterns or constellations appear to have remained unchanged ever since the earliest recorded observations of man. However, now we know the constellations are changing, although ever so slowly. In fact, only by precise measurements of the astronomer have we find this out. Yet note what Job said,

Job 38:31 (NASB)  “”Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, Or loose the cords of Orion?”

The “Pleiades,” he said is bound but not bound, meaning it is moving through space. Well, it happens that the Pleiades and Orion are true star groups ¾ that is, all the stars of each group are moving together through space, but they are not moving apart for they are “bound” or “chained” together. Yes, they are not moving in various directions, like the stars of the Great Dipper. God of course knows this for He created them, so He divinely inspired Job with supernatural information and caused him to write what Job could never have known in a million years without the sophisticated astronomy of today. Yes, it is God who “bound” the Pleiades and Orion together and its His mighty power that keeps them so! Do you need more affirmation of the truthfulness and accuracy of the Bible in simple but scientific matters? Look then with me at another mysterious statement in the Bible which refers to,

THE EMPTY SPACE IN THE NORTH OF THE UNIVERSE – When Lord Rosse invented a telescope that could read newsprint at a distance of twenty miles, he turned it to the skies and observed that in the northern part of the Heavens, there was a great empty space that did not contain a single star! In all other parts of the universe there are billions and billions of stars everywhere, but none, absolutely none, in the north. Now what has the Bible said on this subject?

Job 26:7 (NIV)  “He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.”

Today this observance is now commonly called “The Black Hole,” It is described as an invisible object because of its gravitational force, where not even light can escape. It is located in the nebula of the constellation of Orion. Orion is estimated to be 1,500 light years above our solar system. What significance is this to bible believers? Well, it may locate for us the very existence of the dwelling place of God. In,

Job 22:12 (NIV)  “”Is not God in the heights of heaven? And see how lofty are the highest stars!”

Job 37:22 (NIV)  “Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty.”

1 John 1:5 (NIV)  “: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”

Oh friend, you cannot find any verse in the Bible from cover to cover that denies or contradicts what in time is found in science to be true and accurate. However in the time period it was written, every known scientist and teaching denied the Bible’s record! Yes, the Bible writers were kept from including in Scripture anything that was in error, even though believed fully in their day. Why? Because as God said,

1 Ki 8:60 (NIV)  “so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.”

But more than this, God gave us this uncanny and accurate book from His heart, to reveal to us the fullness of Himself and His great love. Indeed, the Bible is a love letter, written to fallen sinful mankind, which is perilously on its way to judgment and destruction. In order to stop man from ending up there, God has written down His Word in the fullest accuracy and inerrancy one can find, so that every message given there can be trusted and believed. In addition, to all this scientific accuracy, is the accuracy of God’s Word that tell us,

Rom 3:23 (NIV)  “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Rom 6:23 (NIV)  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The Bible’s main message is we are a world of lost sinners heading for a judgment. Our very existence testifies to this with the crime, brutality, war, and evil we perpetrate against each other. But God loves us,

John 3:16 (NIV)  “”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

And, He doesn’t want to punish or destroy us.

Ezek 18:32 (NIV)  “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!”

But God is just, and He can by no means just forgive those who have broken His laws in the created universe. Thus, sin must be paid for, the debt of our sins must be paid, to uphold God’s justice and righteousness. God warns us,

Ezek 18:4 (NIV)  “For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.”

So God devised a plan to rescue human beings from this coming judgment for sin warned about in the Bible.

Rom 5:12 (NIV)  “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—“

Rom 5:8 (NIV)  “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The Good News Message of the Bible is God loves us and chose to pay for our sins Himself! Friend, Jesus Christ is the answer to your sin and judgment coming, but only if you embrace and receive Him can God forgive your sins, by applying His own death through Christ, to your sin account.

Acts 10:43 (NIV)  “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.””

John 3:18 (NIV)  “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

Acts 16:31 (NIV)   “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.””

The Bible is a remarkable book of accuracy and truthfulness. God gave it to us for this very reason that our faith in God, in Jesus Christ did not have to be simply “blind faith.” There is enough evidence in the accuracy of the Bible for us to believe all that the prophets have spoken about sin, judgment, death, God, Jesus Christ, and our own peril. In fact, Paul the apostle stunned his readers and wrote by divine inspiration,

Rom 1:20 (NIV)  “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

You see you and I, well we all are “without excuse!” No one can say I “cannot” believe the Bible, rather we can only says “I will not believe” the bible and what it teaches about Christ! This is the sin that damns us all to an eternal Hell and separation from God for all eternity. Have you believed God an d His Word? Will you believe God about Jesus Christ? Will you turn away from everything that prevents you from accepting God’s Word as truth, especially it’s truth about Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? If you do, God will bless you, save your life and soul, and grant you His eternal forgiveness and a place in eternity with Him. Oh, the power of truth, God’s truth, may it be yours today, by faith through Jesus Christ as you claim Him alone as your Lord God and Creator and only Savior from your sins. This is the message of the Bible for all ages. I trust you have responded, or will right now respond with your heart and life. Amen...

...Is the Bible full of contradictions and errors? The answer is “no,” there are none! I challenge anyone who claims there are, to find one. But first, read it through, search it diligently and you will find you cannot substantiate it, ever. Although the Bible is an ancient book, remember its accuracy in all details makes it a modern book for every generation. Yes, there are no other books, religious or not, that can claim and verify such truthfulness and accuracy as the Bible. Indeed, God testifies He has given to humanity,  especially to lead you to Him and His love and forgiveness. Remember, God asks, “Why will you die?” Why will you not receive God’s love, forgiveness and pardon? The only answer is your sinful stubborn heart, and for that unbelief God says all souls will be damned to Hell forever and ever. May God not pass that sentence over you for Jesus sake. Turn to Jesus Christ now, call out to Him to forgive you, and grant you His gift of eternal life, and the promise of God is it’s your for all eternity. Amen.

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 22 years, and serves as General Director.

These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also.

For further information, reprints, or a listing of all topics, please write to our speaker, Dennis L. Finnan(dennis@wwy.org),or visit our webpage at http://www.wwy.org/