Twelve Points That Show Christianity is True Owning Your Worldview Considers: By: Dr. Norman Geisler

Building Foundations Apologetics Logical Foundation (Points 1 and 2) Supernatural Foundation (Points 3 through 5) Historical Foundation (Points 6 through 12) Point 9: Therefore Jesus is God Point 10: Whatever Jesus said is true, is true. Point 11: Jesus affirmed that the Bible is the Word of God. This session will cover point 1 of 12.

Review: We established a logical framework for evaluating the exclusivity claims of the Christian worldview. We defined what miracles are and how God uses them to confirm His message and messengers. We determined that we can be confident the NT is the most accurate ancient document in existence. We saw that Jesus claimed to be God in the NT. We saw that Jesus fulfills so many OT prophesies that it is beyond possibility and into the realm of the miraculous.

Point 9: Jesus is God Point 6: The New Testament is historically reliable. Point 7: The New Testament shows that Jesus claimed to be God. Point 8: Jesus' claim to be God was miraculously confirmed. Point 9: Therefore, Jesus is God. The resurrection alone is enough to confirm Jesus is God.

Point 10: Whatever Jesus Teaches is True Point 6: The New Testament is historically reliable. We can be confident that the teachings of Jesus have been recorded and communicated correctly. Point 9: Jesus is God. Jesus is in a position to know the truth of all things. Evidence supports that Jesus lived a sinless life. As God, it is impossible for Jesus to be in error. Point 10: Therefore, whatever Jesus teaches is true.

Point 11: Jesus Taught that the Bible is the Word of God This may sound like circular reasoning at first glance. The Bible says Jesus is true. Jesus says the Bible is true. Point 6 says that the Bible is credible based on witness testimony, archeological confirmation, and literary criticism. The Bible details the life, claims, and teachings of Jesus. Jesus teaches that the Bible is credible based on its own credibility and His own.

Point 11: Jesus Taught that the Bible is the Word of God Divinely Authoritative. Imperishable. Infallible.

Jesus Taught the Bible is Divinely Authoritative Jesus used the authority of scripture against Satan. But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” [Dt. 8:3] Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.” [Dt. 6:16] Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.” [Dt. 6:13] –Matthew 4:4, 7, & 10

Jesus Taught the Bible is Imperishable “Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished..." –Matthew 5:17-18

Jesus Taught the Bible is Infallible Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your scripture, I said, you are gods? [Ps.82:6] If He called those whom the word of God came to ‘gods’—and the Scripture cannot be broken— ..." –Matthew 10:34-35

Jesus Taught the Bible is Inerrant Jesus answered them, “You are deceived, because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God. –Matthew 22:9 [as Jesus prays for His disciples] Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. –John 17:17

Jesus Taught the Bible is Inerrant An argument for inerrancy: God Exists, The Bible is the Word of God, God cannot err, Therefore, the Bible cannot err.

Jesus Taught the Bible is Inerrant To deny biblical inerrancy you must argue that either: God does not exist. The Bible is not from God. God is either capable of making mistakes or lying.

Jesus Confirms Elements of the OT Creation of the universe. Gen. 1 / Jon. 1:3 & Col. 1:16 Creation of Adam & Eve. Gen. 1-2 / 1 Tim. 2:13-14 Marriage of Adam & Eve. Gen. 1-2 / 1 Tim. 2:13 Temptation of Eve. Gen. 3 / 1 Tim. 2:14 Disobedience of Adam. Gen. 3 / Rom. 5:12 & 1 Cor. 15:22 Sacrifices of Abel & Cain. Gen. 4 / Heb. 11:4 Murder of Abel by Cain. Gen. 4 / 1 Jn 3:12 Birth of Seth. Gen. 4 / Lk. 3:38

Jesus Confirms Elements of the OT Translation of Enoch. Gen. 5 / Heb. 11:5 Marriage before the flood. Gen. 6 / Lk. 17:27 The flood and destruction of man. Gen. 7 / Mt. 24:39 Preservation of Noah and his family. Gen. 8-9 / 2 Pt. 2:5 Genealogy of Shem. Gen. 10 / Lk. 3:35-36 Birth of Abraham. Gen. 11 / Lk. 3:34 Call of Abraham. Gen. 12-13 / Heb. 11:8 Tithes to Melchizedek. Gen. 14 / Heb. 7:1-3

Jesus Confirms Elements of the OT Justification of Abraham. Gen. 15 / Rom. 4:3 Ishmael. Gen. 16 / Gal. 4:21-24 Promise of Isaac. Gen. 17 / Heb. 11:18 Lot and Sodom. Gen. 18-19 / Lk. 17:29 The Birth of Isaac. Gen. 21 / Acts 7:9-10 The offering of Isaac. Gen. 22 / Heb. 11:17 The burning bush. Ex. 3:6 / Lk. 20:32 Exodus through the Red Sea. Ex. 14:22 / 1 Cor. 10:1-2

Jesus Confirms Elements of the OT Provision of water and manna. Ex. 16:6 & 17:6 / 1 For. 10:3-5 Lifting up the serpent in the wilderness. Num. 21:9 / Jn. 3:14 The fall of Jericho, Josh. 6:22-25 / Heb. 11:30 Miracles of Elijah. 1 Kings 17:1 & 18:1 / Jas. 5:17 Jonah and the great fish. Jonah 2 / Mt. 12:40 Three in the fiery furnace. Dan. 3 / Heb. 11:34 Daniel in the lion’s den. Dan. 6 / Heb. 11:33 Slaying of Zechariah. 2 Chron. 24:20-22 / Mt. 23:35

Jesus Confirms Elements of the OT Because so many historical elements within the Bible are clearly stated it creates claims that can be challenged. If one of the elements are shown to be false then the OT and the NT can be directly challenged. If a historical claim of Jesus is shown to be false then spiritual claims can also be considered dubious.

DISCUSSION How are claims of inerrancy and infallibility challenged by opponents of the Christian worldview? How do you feel about these areas that can be challenged?