The Darkness of Unbelief Hebrews 11.1 The Darkness of Unbelief Heb. 11:1 Introduction: A. The present so called enlightened age frowns on unreserved faith in the Bible. As a result we are surrounded with “infidels”…a very charged word, but appropriate:

Infidel: One who does not believe Complete infidels Partial infidels Practical infidels 1. Complete infidels – to them the Bible is a collection of myths and fantasies. 2. Partial infidels – to them the Bible must be explained to fit “rationalism.” 3. Practical infidels – to them the Bible is true, but is not to be obeyed explicitly.

“Enlightened Age” has no answer Tons of questions Ounce of answers In the dark concerning “things not seen” B. The present so called enlightened age has no real alternative to faith in the Bible. 1. It leaves us with a ton of questions and mere ounce of answers. 2. It leaves us in dark concerning “things not seen.” C. Without faith in the Bible, mysteries of “things not seen” are still mysteries. The French Mathematician, Lecompte de Nouy, examined the laws of probability for a single molecule of high dissymmetry to be formed by the action of chance. De Nouy found that, on an average, the time needed to form one such molecule of our terrestrial globe would be about 10 to the 253 power, i.e. billions of years. "But," continued de Nouy ironically, "let us admit that no matter how small the chance it could happen, one molecule could be created by such astronomical odds of chance. However, one molecule is of no use. Hundreds of millions of identical ones are necessary. Thus we either admit the miracle or doubt the absolute truth of science."  Quoted in; "Is Science Moving Toward Belief in God?" Paul A. Fisher, The Wanderer, (Nov 7, 1985), cited in Kingdoms In Conflict, C. Colson, p. 66. A recent Gallup Poll found that the greatest number of Americans (47% of those expressing an opinion) hold to the strict creationist view, that God created man pretty much in his present form within the last 10,000 years. Most other Americans believe in some combination of evolution and creationism, and only nine percent of Americans believe in strict evolution.  Christian News, May, 1993, , p. 3, from the Evangelical Press. Discussion:

Concerning Origin of Existence Heb 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. I. The Origin of Existence (Heb. 11:3). A. Each new generation of philosophers and scientists has new theories and revise old ones. 1. Evolution is revised constantly – science is still looking for clues. 2. The Space program, among other things, seeks for clues to the origin of things. B. Each new generation of Christians has no need to revise the Creation account. 1. No new discovered fact contradicts the Genesis account. 2. No new discovered fact has explained the origin of the concept of morality (right and wrong)

Concerning Power of Existence Act 17:27b, 28a …Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “In him we live and move and have our being” 2Pe 3:7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. Hebrews 1.3 “…he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” II. The Power of Existence (cf. Acts 17:28). A. The order and balance of the universe maintained by divine power (2 Pet. 3:7) 1. Scientists can give his explanation, but faith gives the power behind the “explanation.” 2. Scientists can define the laws of nature, but faith tells of the lawgiver. B. The order and balance of the universe must remain a mystery to the unbeliever. 1. Knows how things work, but nothing of “why?” 2. Ill. What makes a ball bounce? C. The order and nature of the Bible must remain a mystery to the unbeliever.

Concerning Purpose of Existence Hebrews 11.6; 13-16; 13.14 III. The Purpose of Existence (Heb. 11:6, 13-16; 13:14) Heb 13:14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. A. “Why are we here?” must remain in doubt without faith (11:6) 1. A man may assign himself a purpose, but still does not answer reason for existence. 2. A man may feel a reason to live, but still does not know why he lives apart from faith. B. “What is my chief aim in life?” must remain unsure without faith in a better place. 1. Unbeliever cannot look beyond crumbled dreams of this world. 2. Unbeliever can only speculate about life here and hereafter. IV. The Destiny of Existence (Heb. 11:16, 40). A. Only faith removes the questions marks from the minds of the dying. B. Only faith makes sense of the brevity of life. Conclusion: A. Before one abandons faith in the Bible, he needs to consider the alternatives. B. Before one can have real faith in the Bible, he must know it and desire to obey it.