Notes: 
(1) “The Great Doctrines of the Bible” by Rev. William Evans, Ph.D., D.D. is a well-respected reference material for Bible students, pastors, missionaries and laymen. You can read the entire book from Google (click the picture of the book cover), or download the complete zipped e-book. (2) Surf to the index of lessons and online quizzes from Evans. (3) The most important ideas and statements from this part of Evans’ book are listed in the “Basic truths” section below.
The Argument from Congruity.
If we have a key which fits all the wards of the lock, we know that it is the right key. If we have a theory which fits all the facts in the case, we know then that we have the right theory. “Belief in a self-existent, personal God is in harmony with all the facts of our mental and moral nature, as well as with all the phenomena of the natural world. If God exists, a universal belief in his existence is natural enough; the irresistible impulse to ask for a first cause is accounted for; or religious nature has an object; the uniformity of natural law finds an adequate explanation, and human history is vindicated from the charge of being a vast imposture. Atheism leaves all these matters without an explanation, and makes, not history alone, but our moral and intellectual nature itself, an imposture and a lie.”--Patton. (From “The Great Doctrines of the Bible” by Rev. William Evans, Ph.D., D.D.)
Basic truths
[1] “Belief in a self-existent, personal God is in harmony with all the facts of our mental and moral nature, as well as with all the phenomena of the natural world.”
[2] Atheism does not explain the “facts of our mental and moral nature” and the “phenomena of the natural world”. It makes “history and our moral and intellectual nature an imposture and a lie.”
Further study (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)
[2] Free e-book “Skeptics Who Demanded a Verdict” from Josh McDowell (116 pages, 4 MB; read how three skeptics - Chuck Colson, C.S. Lewis, and Josh McDowell - came to faith in Jesus Christ. Encourage your congregation to use this resource for reaching out to friends who might be skeptical of faith)
[3] Evidence for God, from Institute for Creation Research- Everything Has a Cause
- The Effect Problem
- Time, Space, and Matter
- The Logical Implications
- God Caused Beauty
- God Caused Justice
- God Caused Love
- God Caused Meaning
- God Caused Order
- God Caused Time, Space, and Matter
ICR’s popular Acts & Facts free monthly news magazine contains articles and information of current interest dealing with creation, evolution, and related topics. Current and past issues can also be read, and you can sign up to receive future issues in the mail, all for free. Full versions of previous editions can be viewed online in PDF format.[4] Does God Exist? by Jimmy Williams (also available in Spanish)
[5] Does God Exist? by Hampton Keathley IV
[6] Evidence For God's Existence by J. Hampton Keathley, III
[7] The Rationality of the Christian Worldview
[8] Materials by Ken Boa
- The Evolution Revolution: Naturalism and the Question of Origins
- No God at All: Western Humanism and the New Atheism
[9] Evidentialist Apologetics: Faith Founded on Fact
[10] Presenting Evidence That Demands a Verdict
[11] Classical Apologetics: It Stands to Reason
[12] Taking Every Thought Captive
[13] How I Know Christianity is True by Patrick Zukerian
[14] Survey of Bible Doctrine: God by Sid Litke
Note: This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials.
2 comments:
The Holy Bible alone OR The Holy Bible Plus Oral Tradition?
Matthew 23:2-3 - chair of Moses; observe whatever they tell you (Moses chair was a prefigurement of the chair of St. Peter.)
Mark 13:31 - Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words won't
Mark 16:15 - go to the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature
John 12:25 - not everything Jesus said was recorded in Scripture
Acts 20:35 - sayings of Jesus were not recorded in the Gospels
Romans 10:17 - faith comes from what is heard
1 Corinthians 11:2 - commends them for following Apostolic tradition
1 Corinthians 15:1-2 - being saved if you hold fast to the word I preached
2 Thessalonians 2:15 - hold fast to traditions, whether oral or by letter
2 Timothy 1:13 - follow my sound words; guard the truth
2 Timothy 2:2 - what you heard entrust to faithful men
1 Peter 1:25 - God's eternal word equals the word preached to you
2 Peter 1:20 - no prophecy is a matter of private interpretation
2 Peter 3:15-16 - Paul's letters can be difficult to grasp and interpret
St. Athanasius (360AD) - let us note that the very tradition, teaching, and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning, which the Lord gave, was preached by the Apostles, and was preserved by the Fathers. On this was the Church founded; and if anyone departs from this, he neither is nor any longer ought to be called a Christian.... (Four Letters to Serapion of Thmius 1, 28)
Origen (230AD) - "The teaching of the Church has indeed been handed down through an order of succession, from the Apostles, and remains in the Churches even to the present time. That alone is to be believed as truth which is in no way in variance with ecclesiastical and apostolic tradition." (Fundamental Doctrines 1, preface, 2.)
Michael,
Please listen to this mp3 from "Way of the Master Radio" as Kirk Cameron talks to a Catholic guy named Tim, 4th minute mark of the audio,and Tim’s reply a week later, 26th minute mark of the audio.
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