2. Some things necessary to human life  Gravity  Sunlight  Water  Air

3. Man has spiritual needs too  Different than animals, Gen. 1:26, 27  Eternal soul  Morality, conscience  Awareness of death

4. Asking if the Bible is relevant is like asking if…  Gravity is relevant  Sunlight is relevant  Water is relevant  Air is relevant

5. Of course the Bible is relevant  Gives a standard  Addresses the problem of sin  Key to happiness in life  Key to happiness in death

6. Some say no  Do what you think is right  Do what the situation calls for  Act in your own best interest  No absolute truth  Chaos

7. Rational people believe there is a standard  Science ∙ Speed of light ∙ Boiling point ∙ Freezing point

8. Rational people believe there is a standard  Commerce ∙ Weights ∙ Measurements ∙ Currency

9. Rational people believe there is a standard  Moral – Spiritual, Titus 1:10-14 ∙ Murder ∙ Adultery ∙ Worship ∙ Doctrine

10. Bible example of a long-lasting standard  Law of Moses, 1400-1500 B.C., Ex. 20  Still in effect 1,000 years later, Mal. 4:4  Gospel given 40-100 A.D.  Still in effect today

11. Believe in God, must believe in a standard  Does God exist? ∙ No, Psa. 14:1 ∙ Yes, Heb. 3:4 ∙ I don’t know – cop out

12. Believe in God, must believe in a standard  Did God leave mankind alone or not? ∙ Yes, Jer. 10:23; Prov. 14:12 ∙ No, Heb. 1:1, 2; 1 Pt. 1:22-25

13. Nature of man has not changed  Self-willed, Gen. 3:6  Blame others, Gen. 3:12, 13  Envious, Gen. 4:3-8  Violent, Gen. 6:11  Arrogant, Gen. 11:1-9  Liar, Gen. 12:11-13  Sexually immoral, Gen. 19:1-11

14. Men continue to live in wickedness 1 Jn. 2:15-17; 5:19  Divorce rate near 50%  High murder rates  Abortions  Pornography  Robbery  Alcohol & drug use

15. The NT addresses false doctrine  Forbidding marriage, 1 Tim. 4:1-5  Use of religious titles, Matt. 23:9  Deny Jesus’ deity, Jn. 1:1-3; Heb. 1:8  Deny the person of the Holy Spirit, Acts 5:3, 4  Premillennialism, Jn. 18:36  Faith-only salvation, Jas. 2:24  Many churches/paths, Mt. 16:18

16. Positive precepts for our duties  Husbands & wives, Eph. 5:22-33  Children, Eph. 6:1-3  Parents, Eph. 6:4  Employees & employers, Eph. 6:5-9

17. It gives the answers to life  Where did I come from, Gen. 1:26, 27  Why am I here, Ecc. 12:13, 14  Where am I going, Lk. 16:19-31

18. It provides for a clear conscience, Heb. 10:19-22  Corruption to purity, Eph. 4:17-24  New life, 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 6:3, 4  Freedom in Christ, Rom. 6:5-13

19. Death is a reality; a part of life  Appointment with death, Heb. 9:27  Quickly arrive, Jas. 4:14

20. There is hope beyond this life  Some do not have it, 1 Thes. 4:13  Not possible outside Christ, Eph. 2:12  Resurrection, Acts 23:6; Eph. 1:17-20  Through Scripture, Rom. 15:4  Anchor, Heb. 6:18, 19