Convinced?: Decisive Answers to the 21 Most Challenging Questions

By C. J. Rysen and Dan Manternach

What is the complete essence of this book? The Cosmic Harmony of Science, Scripture, and Reason.

Can it be indubitably proven that God absolutely exists? Can it really be shown how science actually confirms creation by God? Given that some say not even God can create something out of nothing, exactly how did God create everything in the universe? Just how can the Holy Bible be reliable and the divine Word of God when it is challenged with so much controversy? Can it be irrefutably verified that Jesus was for real, really rose from the dead, and is the Son of God? Did the Great Flood of Noah and his Ark really happen? How? Everybody wants to see proof. Atheists and skeptics often demand it.

A total of twenty-one of the most often asked and difficult questions challenging Christianity are answered by coauthors C. J. Rysen, (author of the Christian apocalyptic thriller, a novel, In the Course of Three Hours (www.inthecourseofthreehours.com)), and Dan Manternach, a public speaker and leader in the Christian Group, Ministry to Men (www.ministrytomen.net).

Both men have collaborated to provide irrefutable answers and explanations in a simple, easy-to-understand, straightforward way, providing new, unexpected, and intriguing perspectives to which you likely may have never given any thought. Many of these will be surprising and often startling to anyone--whether skeptic, agnostic, or atheist. The book is also intended to be a reference source for the layperson, as well as those with formal theological or philosophical education.

Although this book is intended to address these questions for the benefit of the "nonbeliever," it also is intended to prepare the believer to help answer such questions and solidify their faith.

If one is intellectually honest with oneself, the explanations in this book should be overwhelmingly compelling and absolutely convincing. If they are not, one must ask the question, "Why?"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098088866

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Convinced?

Decisive Answers to the 21 Most Challenging Questions

C. J. Rysen and Dan Manternach

ISBN 978-1-0980-8885-9 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-0980-8887-3 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-0980-8886-6 (digital)

Copyright © 2021 by C. J. Rysen and Dan Manternach

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Acknowledgments

We dedicate this book first to our wives (Sandy and Peggy), who allowed us to spend the enormous amount of time, research, and effort that made this book possible. Second, we acknowledge our respective families and friends who offered encouragement and constructive feedback—with special thanks to our brothers in Christ—Scott, Mike, Mark, and Gary—at our weekly Saturday morning breakfast Bible Study. Their encouragement and constructive critiques and suggestions were invaluable to our writing and editing process along the way.

Finally, this book is also a tribute to Michelle, Scott’s wife and longtime friend of Dan and Peggy. Michelle was an inspiring Bible study leader whom the Lord took to her heavenly home far too soon for those of us she left behind. It was through her group that we authors even met. Her group continues to meet as part of her legacy, and she’s forever with us in spirit.

Another part of her legacy is this book itself. If not for the inspiring way she, Scott, and their family dealt with her impending passing, and since then, the fire between the two of us to research and write this book might never have been lit. And finally, we thank our divine Creator who answered our constant prayers for guidance and to those historians and scholars, both Biblical and secular, who had the insight and answers we sought. Dozens are referenced inside.

Our book is intended for a broad range of readers. We provide believers with straightforward, no-nonsense, down-to-earth answers to questions they have themselves, or for those who ask such questions of them. For those with doubts about whether God even exists, much less Scripture, His inspired Word, we offer an objective look at all the evidence, history, and scholarly work in support of Scripture and suggest they ask themselves one question when finished:

Is my continued disbelief because I still can’t believe or that I still just don’t want to believe?

Regardless of their reasons, those who remain doubtful are always in our prayers. May the Holy Spirit one day light their hearts to realize Scripture is, indeed, the inspired Word of God and such an accurate account that for all the world, believers or not, history itself pivots from BC (before Christ) to AD (anno Domini) Latin for Year of the Lord. No one else who ever lived had such impact.

All of us will have eternal life. Our only choice is where we’ll spend it.

Introduction

Skeptics, agnostics, and determined atheists pose many challenging questions concerning religion in general and Christianity in particular. For example, how can it be proven without any doubt whatsoever that God absolutely exists? Given that some people say not even God can create something out of nothing, just how did God create everything in the universe? How can the Holy Bible be reliable and the divine Word of God? Can it be verified with absolute certainty that Jesus was for real, really rose from the dead, and is the Son of God? The list of challenges goes on and on. They aren’t new. They’ve been presented for millennia—some out of a genuine search for truth, and some based on nonbelief of Christian creed, including a preference for Darwin’s theory of evolution.

It is reasonable for any nonbeliever to ask such questions. Everyone either wants to see proof or at least has some level of interest in whether there is proof to the truth.

This book answers the most challenging questions most often raised by those who doubt or who do not believe in the Christian doctrine. The book is intended for two groups of readers: those who are skeptical or doubtful or who do not believe and those who do believe but are interested in the answers to the same questions.

There are solid, convincing answers for any such questions, no matter how challenging they are. All this said, the most relevant and important questions at this point are the following:

Is one who is doubtful, distrustful, or who outright denies the Christian faith willing to learn and at least contemplate the explanations to the answers to these and related questions?

Or, is he or she content to neglect them?

If one is satisfied to not even consider them, then why would one not be concerned about the very real consequences of ignoring them or being wrong?

What if eternal life isn’t optional and your only critical choice in this life is where you’ll spend it?

This book addresses the toughest questions from Genesis to Revelation. But to start, the most demanding and perplexing questions often come from those who allege Christianity itself is not only fallible but largely based on fiction. Some of the challenges against Christianity may appear to be valid, based on what is alleged to be compelling evidence of scientific and historical error throughout the Bible. Skeptics and other nonbelievers also cite what they believe to be numerous contradictions, discrepancies, and inconsistencies within Scripture itself.

Other critics cite Biblical references that appear to accept questionable practices contrary to moral values and standards among Christians and non-Christians alike today. Then there are all those inconceivable events nothing short of miraculous and thus deemed impossible to be believed by those who don’t believe in miracles.

These all beg the question, How can believers accept all of Scripture as trustworthy and truly the inspired Word of God if it contains so much alleged error that it draws into question the basic foundation of Christianity itself—that Jesus was the Son of God, died for our sins, rose from the dead, and that no one can enter heaven except through faith in Him as personal Lord and Savior?

In this book every single one of these questions is not only analyzed, but also the answers are explained with both clarification and resolution. It shows that all the alleged contradictions or apparent inconsistencies are rooted in inapplicable or incongruous interpretation of what Scripture actually says in its historical context. Or it results from the failure to read and understand related text that resolves alleged contradiction or inconsistency.

In other words, this book will show respectfully, but resolutely, there is a bona fide and substantiated explanation and answer for every single question herein.

Regarding the numerous events that just seem to be too incredible to believe, many can be shown to be possible without defying natural and scientific law. Many others can be shown to be the result of divine direction of these laws by their Creator God. Others cannot be proven to be impossible. Miracles that did defy natural and scientific law always had so many eyewitnesses they could not be dismissed nor explained. They were nothing less than the awesome display of the power of God by those who lived through it and faithfully recorded it in Scripture.

Finally, some of the questions can be answered by thinking outside the box. Scripture actually anticipated those who would doubt or deny it. It plainly states in several places that much of its truth seems "foolish to those who rebel against it because it is spiritually discerned."

In this book it is shown that God is the true author of the Bible, as He was the divine inspiration that resulted in the works of all its authors. The entire Bible is the Word of God, no matter what each person’s opinions are. It’s not a buffet where we can pick and choose what we want to believe and reject what we don’t. After all, Jesus clearly believed it. As stated in the New Testament:

Jesus answered, It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ (Matthew 4:4)

The most challenging of topics and questions regarding Christianity are addressed herein, but they are intended to be simple, plain, direct, down-to-earth interesting discussions. There is no need for any formal theological or even philosophical education. All one needs is the intellectual honesty to consider this compendium of evidence both inside and outside the Bible itself that supports every event recorded in it. This also includes the prophecies that all came true hundreds and even thousands of years after first uttered by the prophets.

There are numerous articles, publications, websites, and books that address all these topics and questions in great length. Many incorporate involved scientific, theological, and philosophical explanations consisting of in-depth and abstract rationalizations and in great analytical detail. This book summarizes and simplifies all this, boiling them down to their essence in simple plain English.

This book is intended to be a source reference that provides simple, easy-to-understand, and straightforward yet stimulating and motivating answers and explanations to these same topics and questions. The answers and explanations addressed in this book are all authentic and substantiated, without delving into all the complex, technical, and punctilious delineations found in other publications yet still supporting and documenting them.

This book also offers new, intriguing, and surprising perspectives in the explanations given which perhaps you might have never thought about before. Many of the explanations and answers in this book have never before been addressed, may be unexpected, and will be outright startling. What you are about to read is especially intended to address the most difficult questions and challenges of skeptics, agnostics, and atheists in a gentle and respectful, but fundamental, simple, and explicit way. Its objective is to help them understand why they should consider the Christian faith.

It is also intended to provide answers and information to Christians seeking greater faith and confidence in what they profess so they can be better prepared to address the questions and issues raised by those who challenge them.

Important Notes

The Scripture quotes and references herein are primarily from the New International version of the Bible (NIV), except when specified (e.g., KJV being the King James version of the Bible, etc.). Most quotes are verbatim, except in some cases, (e.g., when stated they are "in part"), may only include the pertinent text of the referenced verse in view of its length. However, it is noted that regardless which version of the Bible you may use, and regardless of the fact that there may be some variants in some of the wording, all quotes and references refer to the same context, content, and meaning of the related text in this book.

For purposes of this book, any references to skeptics, cynics, agnostics, or atheists are not exclusive, and may refer to all nonbelievers regardless of the level of their disbelief.

Chapter 1

Skeptics, Agnostics, Atheists, and Believers

First, before addressing the most challenging questions thrown into the face of Christianity, it is important to understand the framework of why we as authors have addressed these, to understand our intent in explaining the answers to them, and to understand the purpose of this book. Like most people, at previous times in our lives we also questioned the foundation of Christianity, as we also had numerous questions whether it could all be for real. In other words, we were just like you, the reader, and many others.

However, once we studied the questions and answers, intently researched them, discussed them with clergy and others, and after much prayer in asking our Creator for guidance, we became motivated and compelled to share our findings. It is not this book’s intention to be argumentative or condescending, but instead to tell it like it is, factually, but with kindness. We’re motivated by an attitude of gratitude to share our faith journey as witnesses for the Gospel and our desire to do so by following the counsel to all believing Christians in 1 Peter 3:15:

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

Therefore, the subsequent chapters that answer the most challenging questions do intend to be persuasive and compelling. Why? Because as explained in this book, we truly believe that Christianity is the only way to eternal life in heaven and without a devout faith in it, one will instead live forever in eternal punishment, by their own choice, in rejecting God’s gift to us. We would not wish the latter on anyone, not even our enemies or those who do us wrong. Even God doesn’t wish hell on anyone. First Timothy 2:3–4 reads,

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Why take the chance that we may be mistaken and reject Christ as Savior when one’s eternal destiny is at stake?

Perhaps you are skeptical of the Christian faith, or are a sincere seeker, one who is searching for truth but finding so much of Scripture hard to believe with conviction and not just blind faith. Hopefully, you have a genuine interest, are motivated to explore such questions and answers, and are willing to honestly evaluate them. If you are such a person who is doubtful or who simply is not sure, but is seeking the truth, this book is for you.

Or perhaps you are one who is not interested in the possibility whether Scripture is true. If so, it is hoped that you are not willfully negligent in not caring if it’s true or not and don’t want to believe, but instead one who just simply can’t believe. Perhaps you don’t expect that such questions can be adequately explained or answered. Even if you are such a person, this book will offer unique, intriguing, and sometimes startling and unexpected explanations with scientific and historical evidence, and philosophical perspectives you have probably never encountered. These will likely outright surprise you. This book is for you as well.

Reasonable doubts and questions deserve reasonable answers, and it’s also incumbent on believers to offer credible, reasoned explanations. If you’re a committed believer, this book will prepare you to do just that, have solid answers when asked why you believe the Bible to be God’s inerrant Word, and why accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the only way to heaven. In fact, frequently this book poses questions for anyone to ask of himself/herself or others after reading the answers and explanations provided to ponder. For believers who share the reasoning in this book with others, they are invited to suggest these questions as a reminder the decision on what they believe or not is still theirs and only theirs to make.

For purposes of this book, a skeptic is defined as a person who doubts or is suspicious of the historical accuracy and divine authority of both the Old and New Testaments. Therefore, they are either hesitant to believe or do not believe what it teaches unless coincidentally in accord with personal beliefs or secular culture of the day.

If one is doubtful, but has not abandoned an interest to answers to one’s questions, that represents healthy skepticism. There is nothing inherently wrong with healthy skepticism. It’s often merely prudent caution, the opposite of being gullible. Scripture itself advises to "beware of false prophets" in at least fourteen different passages sprinkled throughout the Old and New Testament.

However, if one has no interest, or if one clings to skepticism in the face of good answers to one’s questions, it becomes unwise, imprudent, and unhealthy. Unhealthy skepticism constitutes refusal to face reality, not caution. If one refuses to have an interest or refuses to seriously contemplate substantiating evidence for Scriptural truth, one needs to ask if their willful blindness to what one doesn’t want to believe (regardless that it is the truth) is even intellectually honest with oneself. In such case, if one continues to unconditionally refuse, then they should also ask themselves, Why?

Therefore, a skeptic may or may not have an interest in the answers to such questions, depending on whether his or her doubt is a healthy or unhealthy skepticism.

An agnostic is defined as a person who claims he or she does not know whether Scripture and the Gospel of Christ is the truth, or a person who neither accepts nor rejects Scripture and the Gospel of Christ on the view that it’s all unknowable. An agnostic also may or may not have a desire to seek answers to such questions, again depending on these same reasons.

An atheist is defined as a person who outright does not believe in the existence of God and who rejects the Scripture and the Gospel of Christ. Atheists may range from one end of the spectrum to the other. They could be one who is insistently anti-God and who openly ridicules Scripture and who publicly derides it as false. Or one may not believe, yet still holds onto a reservation that they just might be wrong. Or an atheist may be somewhere in between.

If any atheist has no interest in the answers to these questions, they should ask themselves the question whether their noninterest is based on an irrevocable mindset without any regard to their eternal destiny. They should ask themselves whether they are willing to at least explore the answers to these questions to be at least intellectually honest with themselves, and if not, why?

Some atheists often follow the Darwinian model of existence and evolution, and insist science alone is the basis for truth. Thus, they challenge authority of Scripture on its face. Yet true science studies evidence in search of truth. Tainted science begins with a desired truth in search of evidence. But does science really validate the evolution model? To the contrary, when studied in light of all the actual evidence, as verified in this book, science instead actually confirms that the evolution model is not the truth. In fact, true science not only corroborates that God must exist but conclusively proves that He does indeed exist, and is responsible for all creation.

Similarly, sometimes those ranging from atheist to simply non-Christian may be willfully negligent or willfully ignorant, or simply blind when it comes to accepting Christ. In other words, they often may not even want to know whether the Christian faith is the truth.

Non-Christians often believe that they’ll be accepted into heaven by merely not rejecting Christ. Some believe that if there is a God and there is a heaven, they’ll simply earn entry into heaven by living a life wherein the good they do outweigh the bad. Others believe there is no afterlife, no heaven, and no hell, and upon death one’s future is to simply be returned to earth as dust or ash and nothing more. But are any of these beliefs accurate? Or are they wrong?

The fact is that faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior is absolutely required to avoid eternal punishment, and as explained why in detail and with convincing clarity in several chapters in this book, only Christianity and no other religion gets anyone into heaven.

Many nonbelievers, at some point in their lives, will have some reservations about their own beliefs and may still wonder about it, but don’t acknowledge it to themselves or others. Is it perhaps possible they fear they may be wrong about what they believe or don’t believe but don’t want to know?

Many people are ingrained, or simply do not want to think any other way than what they want or want not to believe based on their own bias. It is often more compelling to seek alternative evidence and explanation of a Scriptural account than to accept at face value the conclusions, warnings or promises therein.

However, is that an action of the will and not the intellect? Does intellectual honesty require that we always know the vital difference between inability to believe (perhaps for a legitimate reason) and unwillingness to believe? If not, why?

Whether a person is a skeptic, cynic, agnostic, or atheist, some may be willing to listen to explanations and answers to questions and learn. And they may have an interest in considering the factors that support Christianity. In other words, they are at least willing to evaluate everything before making a final decision about their faith or lack thereof. Believers applaud and welcome such sincere seekers.

Others have no interest in evaluating explanations and answers in an unbiased manner. Their minds have already decided. They are often on the attack, fueled by willful ignorance of what they refuse to read. Their determination is often ruled by their unreasonable contempt.

That said, any of these viewpoints (skepticism, agnosticism, or atheism) have eternal consequences because they are all varying degrees of blasphemy, defined in the dictionary as an act of insult or showing contempt or lack of reverence toward God and defined in the New Testament as deliberate rejection of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Blasphemy is the one unforgiveable sin that will be a one-way ticket to eternal hell. Does one really want to risk this? If so, why? Considering the ultimate consequences, is it really worth the risk not to at least consider what this book has to offer?

Nonbelievers are often too busy looking for a contradiction or disparity or how to show that something cannot happen rather than looking for the answer or a possible explanation of how it not only could, but did happen. In many cases, they are simply not motivated to want to find the answer or merely do not want to as a matter of unwillingness or pride.

It is more logical and only natural for people to reject accountability for sin by seeking reasons for disbelief, whether they appear to be self-evident or only perceived. They would rather attempt to prove something is wrong or is not possible than seek to prove something is right or is possible.

By nature, we are inclined to resist authority from birth. Some never outgrow it. Some are simply ingrained to resist the fact that the Bible is the Word of God and deny that it must be taken to be true and accurate. And most often, they have no real foundation for their thinking, as they have not taken the time to earnestly consider the answers and explanations to the aforementioned questions. Otherwise, perhaps one is simply not knowledgeable or experienced enough. If that is the case, that is understandable, as long as one gives it a chance.

If something has not been proven to be impossible, then it is possible. In regard to the foregoing, absolutely nothing in Scripture has actually been proven untrue. One should at the least have a desire to learn and attempt to truly understand the Bible before reaching such a conclusion. If one does not do this, then how can one sincerely support his or her own conviction?

By ignoring answers to these questions, they dismiss any possibility that they just might be wrong. And by doing so, they abandon any hope of salvation from sin and eternal bliss in heaven. Instead, rejection of God will justifiably result in eternal punishment from God. What if God and Jesus just happen to be real? Why would anyone risk not considering the possibility considering the ultimate consequences in their afterlife?

With eternal destiny at stake, believers hold that one must simply have faith in what the Bible says. One must believe in the power of God. If one is not with God, then one is against God. Even believers sometimes find some Scripture troubling. The difference is that believers always give God the benefit of the doubt and assume the troubling parts reveal more about us than they do God. It is a decision that everybody must make.

Question for any nonbeliever to ask at this point would be,

If one defies believing in the Word of God and does not believe what the Bible says, does that not also mean one actually defies and/or rejects God altogether?

Do we really want to do that?

Considering the eternal ramifications, betting against God is quite a risk to take. Think about it this way: If you are one who does not believe, what do you gain if you’re right compared to what you lose if you’re wrong? Will your joy and happiness during your life ignoring Scripture and living accountable to no one but yourself really be great enough and worth it to risk eternal punishment and damnation if you’re mistaken? We should all remember that eternity is forever. The nonbeliever must ask himself or herself, "Just how sure am I?" Are you really hundred-percent sure without a doubt that God does not exist? Are you really hundred-percent sure without a doubt that the Holy Bible is not the Word of God?

How can so many Christians believe the Bible to be the inspired, inerrant Word of God when so much of it appears to conflict with secular history and science? What can we tell those who ask us why we believe all these to be true?

So no matter which stage you’re in on your personal faith journey, from fervent believer to rebellious cynic or any stage in between, it’s okay. As authors, we have been at your stage at one time or another in our own lives. Where are we today? In total conviction of both heart and intellect that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God through those He inspired to write it.

We still encounter those who express surprise, often asking something to the effect of, How can intelligent, educated, successful guys like us believe the Genesis stuff when science has proven we all came from nothing in a ‘big bang’ billions of years ago? But instead of giving a blank look and a bland Well, we just do…on faith, we smile and reply, Great question! That’s the most important question all of us must ask. Our eternal destiny is at stake. And that’s why we researched and wrote this book!

We started by embarking on intense study of the whole realm of Christian apologetics to produce a compendium, or reference manual, summarizing the best evidence, testimony, and scholarly analysis we found on our journey. Our goal is to bring those who fear death as "the end" of existence to realization it’s only the passage to eternity…and our choice where we’ll spend it.

It’s our goal and prayerful hope that what you are about to read will address the most difficult questions and challenges of Scripture in a respectful way. You’ll learn why learned men and women of history and science have decided it actually takes more blind faith to believe the design and order we see around us in nature and the cosmos just happened from a ‘big bang’ out of nothing than to accept Genesis as a more plausible explanation.

Taking that to heart, Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek wrote the best seller I Don’t Have Enough FAITH to be an ATHEIST. Their line of thinking was preceded by two millennia however. In Romans 1:20, Paul writes,

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 people are without excuse [for not believing in a Creator God].

You’ll also learn why many learned men and women of history, science, and business are devoted Christians. They see the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the New Testament as undeniable fulfillment of the prophecies in the Old Testament. Author Lee Strobel, a tough investigative journalist, and once a devout atheist, set out to prove the resurrection of Jesus Christ was a fraud. Instead, he found the evidence so conclusive, he accepted Christ as Savior himself and his book The Case for Christ was such a best seller it was even made into a movie by the same title.

As authors, we pray that you might find evidence, testimony, reason, and spiritual enlightenment from this book. It’s part of our commitment to the Great Commission Christ gave to all disciples just before He ascended back to heaven before the very eyes of His disciples:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:18–20)

If one looks at the big picture for what it really is and is intellectually honest with themselves, they would welcome all the non-Biblical as well as the Biblical evidence presented in this book. Yet the Bible is the Word of God, and if they were to read it as it is meant to be read instead of how they are inclined to want to read it, based on their own personal views, they would understand. Just like the fact that one needs to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, one must also believe all of Scripture as the inspired Word of God.

The Bible clearly shows that it is the Word of God by its majesty and purity, by the agreement of all its parts, by its unified aim to give all glory to God, and by its illuminating power to convince and convert sinners and to comfort and build up believers unto salvation. However, only the Spirit of God, testifying by and with the Bible in our hearts, can completely persuade us that it is truly the Word of God (from the Westminster Larger Catechism, Q. 4).

The answers and explanations to the most challenging questions found in the following chapters are all rooted in Scripture, from the Bible, the Word of God. However, they also contain non-Biblical facts, scientific, and other evidence, logic, and reasoning that also soundly support them.

Chapter 2

Does God Exist? The Conclusive Evidence

The very first question raised by nonbelievers pertains to whether God really exists. Some people believe that God either does not exist or cannot exist for various reasons. This chapter addresses the following subject matters with convincing evidence and irrefutable proof that verifies God does, indeed, exist.

The Holy Bible

Creationism vs. Evolution—The Beginning

Origin of Our Universe

Creationism vs. Evolution—Evidence and Support

Theistic Evolution: Man and Woman

Cause and Reason

Intelligent Design vs. Evolution and Happenstance

Origin of Life and the Reproduction of Life

Origin of Moral Standards

Intangibles of Human Life

Origin of Meaning and Purpose

Ontological Arguments

Miracles

Close Encounters

Personal Relationship with God

Jesus Christ

Each of the reasons for God’s very existence, which manifests itself beginning in the first chapter of the Holy Bible is discussed with undeniable attestation and addresses facts that are hard pressed to be challenged. Although any one of these reasons supports and sustains belief in God by itself, any several of them combined together become extraordinarily compelling. When all are considered in their entirety together, God’s very existence and the historical accuracy and evident divine authority of the Bible becomes absolutely undeniable and indubitable.

To those who still may question this after considering all these reasons, they should ask themselves whether their continued disbelief is based on actual honest intellect or rejection by a defiant will. If the latter, Paul’s warning in Romans 1:20 bears repeating:

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 people are without excuse.

The subsequent chapters address questions pertaining to whether the Jesus Story is real, and other challenging questions regarding not only the Bible but how God and the Jesus Story can be true given other alleged controversies that challenge the Christian faith. These include other questions that are also raised by nonbelievers that suggest God not only does not exist but also cannot exist for certain reasons.

But before these subsequent questions can be answered, one must first understand the reasons that not only soundly support the existence of God but that absolutely prove that He does exist!

The Holy Bible

The Bible itself is evident of God’s existence. The work includes forty (40) authors from over nineteen (19) different walks of life, most who were complete strangers to each other, but all wrote with a common purpose and all were inspired by God.

The Bible consists of sixty-six (66) separate Books that span approximately 1,500 years in writings and covers history back to Creation itself, believed to be about 4,000 years. The Old Testament was generally written from 1500–400 BC. The New Testament was generally written from AD 50–90, within the same or subsequent generation of Jesus Christ. It addresses more individuals (people in real life) than any other Book ever written. It averages between a thousand and two thousand pages depending on font and format. The texts were originally written mostly in Biblical Hebrew (the Old Testament) and Greek (the New Testament), with some portions (notably in Daniel and Ezra) in Biblical Aramaic.

The Bible has also been translated into various versions. These include but are not limited to the King James Version, the New King James Version, the New Revised Standard Version, the American Standard Version, the New International Version, the English Standard Version, the Revised English Bible, the Good News Bible, and the various Living Translations, among others. Some are word-for-word translations, some are thought for thought translations, and some are based on liberal interpretations of what was originally written.

However, despite interpretative and translation differences, the general theme and the messages delivered are the same and is unchanged in every one of them. Only the inspired Word of God can result in such resoluteness and consistency when so many people have had their hands in both writing the Bible and attempting to translate and interpret the ancient writings into modern languages.

There is no other Book that is organized and written in such an absolute and inconceivably consistent revelation from beginning to end, with a uniform purpose throughout the entire work, which is as historically accurate, and which preservation has withstood thousands of years of intense scrutiny, research, interpretation, and even attempted perversion against it.

The prophecies contained within it are astonishingly accurate, both historically and factually in past, present, and presumably for the future. The genealogy and history as well as the inspirational and metaphoric phraseology and countless axioms presented in the Bible are outright astounding.

The divine revelation in the Old Testament was conveyed in two principle ways: by mighty works well documented as nothing less than miracles and by hundreds of detailed prophecies that came true. That’s why history and prophesy are so intermingled throughout. The Bible is the divine Word of God as it is recognized that God is its true author. This is evidenced in numerous places in the Bible, including the following examples:

In Exodus 34:27, it is shown that God was the true inspiration of the Old Testament by the words commanded by God to Moses (who wrote the first five Books of the Bible),

Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.

Also, in Exodus 17:14 it states in part,

Then the LORD said to Moses, Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered.

In Jeremiah 30:1–2, it states,

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: This is what the LORD of God of Israel says, ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you.’

In Psalm 105:5, it says to remember the wonders He has done, and in Psalm 103:2, it states,

Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all His benefits.

In Habakkuk 2:2, it states,

Then the LORD replied: Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.

In the New Testament, in Matthew 4:4, it states,

Jesus answered, It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

In John 1:1, it states,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

And in the Book of Revelation, it becomes clear that God intended the Bible to be His Word, pursuant to 22:18–20 as it states:

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll. If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. He who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

The divine revelation of the New Testament is derived from its description as inspired (God-breathed); the fact that it details the life of Christ, the proven Son of God via virgin birth, astounding miracles, willing sacrifice on the cross for proclaiming Himself the Son of God, and proof of His divinity via bodily resurrection. The Bible tells His biographical story and teachings from four different disciples who were with Him throughout His public ministry, all of whom personally witnessed His physical resurrection, all of whom except one (John) died deaths of martyrs.

And finally, that last disciple, John wrote the Book of Revelation that made it clear anyone who attempts to add something, change something, or delete something from the Holy Scriptures would be cursed by its true author, God (Revelation 22:18–19). Presumably, that warning itself, though from the pen of John, had to be part of God’s inspired Word because John, of all people, would never dare call God’s curse upon anyone from his own hand unless he was still channeling God in the warning that flowed from his pen.

The Book not only tells an absolutely incredible true story, it has also been written with a poetic license incorporating virtuosity, prose, and moral authority with such grace and utter lack of ambiguity that no other book has ever had or ever will have such profound influence on the course of human history. It is not only the most magnificent, inspirational, powerful, and significant Book ever written, it is the most-read Book in the history of the entire world by far, ten times more than any other book.

According to The Guinness World Records, the Bible Society, and others, it has been estimated 5 billion complete Bibles (both Old and New Testaments) have been printed throughout history in 670 languages. The New Testament has been translated into 1,521 languages through the course of history and portions of Scripture including the Old Testament have been translated in thousands of other languages.

Notwithstanding these absolutely amazing facts, the only possible way such a resplendent Book could have been written and assembled with such unbelievably remarkable continuity throughout all sixty-six (66) Books in both the Old and New Testaments considering the disparity of the authors, the incredible time frame in which it was written, the history covered, and considering the multiple translations, is through God Himself.

The creation of the Bible, including its consistency and continuity, within the divine revelation which it sets forth, could not have occurred without the inspiration and guidance provided by God to each of the authors over the 1,500-year time span in which it was written, as well as the translators and interpreters.

Every one of the Books in the Bible talk about the same subject: God’s message to us. The Bible tells us about God, shows us God’s mighty acts in the lives of His people, and describes how people responded to God, as well as how we should respond to God today. From the Bible we learn what God is like and what He expects of us. The Bible truly is the Word of God; it is Holy, and the Bible itself is proof alone that God exists.

Some nonbelievers may argue that the Bible is nothing but a bunch of made-up stories, perhaps derived to deceive people in the ultimate hoax of all time. But if this was the case, it would to have been created by a single person or perhaps a group of people known to each other who could collaborate with the unified intent of fulfilling such objective. Additionally, it would have had to be written without documentation by verified authenticated records. In the case of the Scriptures, obviously neither was the case.

There is absolutely no conspiracy nor intention thereof in the writing or translation of the Bible. There is not one single iota of evidence to this effect. Historians, Biblical scholars, theologians, archaeologists, and others have repeatedly confirmed its authenticity. If one believes that the Bible truly is a fabrication, then he or she is invited to explain specifically in detail exactly how that was accomplished considering these facts. It cannot be done.

The fact that the text of the Bible was written by so many individuals, many not known by each other, and over about a 1,500-year time span, and the fact that the source of the records has been authenticated totally disproves such a notion. The creation of the Bible is so unique; it is a construction that is so epic there is no way it could have been a designed compilation of fabricated tales or events.

If one believes the Bible has been corrupted and has lost its credibility because of multiple transcriptions and translations over time, and if they assume it is not authentic (which has been proven not to be the case), then one must equally assume that it is authentic and therefore must be the valid Word of God. Why? Because they otherwise have no equal basis to believe their original assumption either.

And if one assumes that the Bible is untrue, but has no real basis for such assumption, then one must also allow that the opposing theory (that the Bible is true) may also be correct. Not to do so would be intellectually dishonest at the least. However, honest search for truth need not begin with either assumption. Start with just examining evidence with an open mind, and you’ll discover a basis for trust in Scripture does exist because the Bible has been proven to be genuine and reliable. As explained in a later chapter herein, documented records actually prove that it is reliable and authentic.

So such arguments that the Bible is not credible are not only entirely unreasonable but have been proven to be absolutely untenable with hard facts, science and reason.

The fact that God breathed the Word to be written in the entire Bible is evidenced throughout the Scriptures, but especially in 2 Peter 1: 19–21 and 2 Timothy 3:16, where it is made clear that God is its true author. (Also see Psalm 19, 2 Peter 1:21, and Luke 24:44–48). However, every single one of all sixty-six (66) Books is evidence that God not only exists but also that the Word of the entire Bible is that of God.

If one does not believe the words of the Bible are true and defies it, then one also does defy God as a result. By defying God, one also rejects God. Does one really want to do that? If so, God will take notice, and one may duly suffer the consequences. The Bible affords everyone the opportunity to believe in God, and through God, His Word is made available to everyone.

Creationism vs. Evolution—The Beginning

Whether God exists must conform to the question of whether our universe was created by random happenstance and whether our Earth and life evolved over billions of years all by itself, or whether it was created (in an orderly fashion) by God.

There are few people who ever lived, from primitive mankind to modern man, who haven’t observed the wonders of nature by day and the depths of space by night with such awe that the question "Where did it all come from?" took on almost religious significance. The archaeological record shows even the most primitive cultures had notions of an afterlife. Why else are tools, weapons, and other valuables found buried with skeletal remains or mummies in the most ancient of graves? Why else would such evidence exist as far back as the Pyramids of Giza and before then?

For many, the big bang theory and Darwinian evolution over billions of years from amoeba to man have replaced the Genesis account of man’s origin. Others, looking at the very same design and order of nature, archaeology and the fossil record, don’t see science disproving Scripture at all. Many learned scientists to this day agree with Johannes Kepler, the seventeenth-century genius and founding father of the modern scientific method that science is the process of "thinking God’s thoughts after Him." In fact, as explained in this book, science actually proves creation by God and disproves the Darwinian evolution model.

From fervent believers to atheists and everyone in between, challenging questions concerning religion in general and Christianity in particular are common today: How can the account of creation in Genesis be reconciled with the big bang theory and evolution? How can believers prove God even exists?

For purposes of this book…

An evolutionist is defined as one who believes that all life-forms evolved from something that was not created by God and that our universe, including Earth, evolved after a big bang without the assistance of God, perhaps over billions of years.

A creationist is defined as one who believes that everything in our universe including Earthandlife was created by God. It is believed that God’s creation occurred in more recent times, perhaps six thousand to fifteen thousand years ago, not billions of years ago. Christians who subscribe to the literal interpretation of Scripture generally believe in the creation model, because this is what the Holy Bible states, and they believe it to be the Word of God.

A theist evolutionist (also sometimes referred to as an "evolutionary creationist") is defined as one who believes that God exists and that He is responsible for the beginning of the universe; however, after that and setting things in motion, all life-forms developed by an evolutionary process over a long period of time all on their own, or conceivably with the guidance of God, perhaps over billions of years.

Although the position of creation by God is fundamental to those who subscribe to the literal interpretation of Scripture, whether one is an evolutionist, a creationist, or a theist evolutionist is not necessarily defined by religion. There are many of all faiths who fit any of the above categories. However, based on a study conducted in 2007 by "Pew Forum," 77 percent or more of all who subscribe to the Buddhist, Hindu, and Jewish faiths believe in the evolution model, whereas more than 50 percent of all others, including the Christian and Muslim faiths believe in the creation model. These percentages are similar to those found in other more recent studies, although it appears that through time, the percentage who believe in pure evolution has increased.

Pursuant to a Gallup poll in July 2019, 40 percent of US adults ascribe to a strictly creationist view of human origins, believing that God created them in their present form within roughly the past ten thousand years. However, more Americans continue to think that humans evolved over millions of years, either with God’s guidance (33 percent) or, increasingly, without God’s involvement at all (22 percent). However, the 22 percent of Americans today who do not believe God had any role in human evolution marks a record high dating back to 1982. This figure has changed more than the other two have over the years and coincides with an increasing number of Americans saying they have no religious identification.

Whether or not Christians believe that evolution had any part in the creation and development of life from the beginning may depend on to what extent they endorse Scripture or how they interpret it. For purposes of this book, a Christian is deemed to respect the literal interpretation of Scripture and the Holy Bible as the inerrant Word of God, wherein on this basis He is the creator of all things.

Before we address the topic of age and how far back in time everything started, and before we address how life itself began, let’s first address the issue of from where and what did everything originate and how it originated.

If our universe was not created by God, then how else was it created? It must have been created by something. All matter and energy in our universe could not have come out of nothing. A void of pure nothingness cannot produce anything.

And if everything in our universe came from a singularity, say for example all matter or energy compressed into the size of an atom or smaller, or even a black hole, that blew up according to the big bang theory that created our never-ending universe, then exactly how did that happen? Where did it come from? And how could such a tiny finite thing result in an infinite universe of matter and energy, or how can a black hole of chaotic disorganization erupt into an orderly universe including a finely tuned Earth as it is on its own?

But most importantly, how did the singularity, or black hole, or whatever it was that was supposedly the origin of our universe come to be? Who or what created that? Where did it come from? And what made it explode in a big bang, if it did? It begs an answer from its defenders to this following immutable fact of logic and laws of thermodynamics. The following explanation, rarely if ever addressed, may be one of the most convincing facts that proves that God must have been responsible for the creation of our universe.

It Is Impossible for Anything That Has Always Existed without a Beginning Other Than a Creator God to Create Anything by Itself

Such a thing, whether it be a singularity or black hole, or whatever it was, could not have always existed without a beginning and then give birth to our universe by itself at a given defined point in its existence for a variety of reasons. Just one of which is simply that anything that is not created by God, if it were to have always existed and never had a beginning, would not have had the means to explode in a big bang to create the universe