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You Need More?

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When certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees asked for a sign from Jesus, He answered, “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign” (Mt. 12:38-39). Now, there is nothing wrong with asking for proof from a man that says he is speaking from God. Jesus also said, “If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him” (John 10:37-38). Jesus did not expect people to believe without evidence. What Christ is saying is: if I do not do the miraculous works that correspond with my heavenly Father then do not believe me; however, if I do the miraculous signs, then believe me.

 

Photo by Casey Horner

The reason in Matthew 12:38 that Jesus said this was an evil generation is because they continued looking for a sign that He had already given them and they did not believe. In Matthew 12:22, Jesus cast out a demon and the man who had formerly been possessed, causing muteness and blindness, was healed so that he spoke and saw. In reaction to this undeniable miracle, the Pharisees attributed the power to come from “Beelzebub, the prince of the devils” (v. 24). Jesus highlighted how ludicrous their accusation was that Satan would cast out Satan, and that rather this sign was proof that the kingdom of God has come upon you (vv. 25-28).

No matter what Jesus did these scribes and Pharisees were always asking for more proof. It is much like skeptics today who can look at the vast creation about us with all its intricate design and still maintain that God does not exist (Psalm 14:1; 19:1). They are always asking for more apparent evidence, but they have plenty already. The problem is not the evidence, but their hearts. They are not being honest with the sufficient evidence God has given.

These scribes and Pharisees are like religious people today who reject the plain teaching from the Bible. When you show them the Bible passage that contradicts what they are teaching or practicing they say, “Well, it only says that one time. I’m going to have to have more than that.” How many times does God have to say something in the Bible for it to be true and for us to be required to follow it? Where will this thinking stop? Will a person like this be satisfied if the Bible says something two times? What about three? People like this have seen more than enough proof; they just are not being honest with the evidence. If we are going to be honest we will have to take what the Bible says instead of forming special rules that exempt us each time it says something we do not like. The good old hymn poses this question: “How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in his excellent Word! What more can he say than to you he has said, to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?” God has said in His written word all we need to have acceptable faith and be pleasing to Him (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3). Those who dismiss His word by requiring more are not being honest with what He has given.

 

-Mark Day

 

Lesson Audio – Gospel Meeting – David Lipe – Assurance In The Age of Skepticism

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03.26.17 AM Bible Class – David Lipe – Unbelief – Fact of it and Reasons for it

03.26.17 AM – David Lipe – Unbelief – The Christian’s Response to it

03.26.17 PM – David Lipe – One Can Know God Exists

03.27.17 PM – David Lipe – One can Know the Bible is the Word of God

03.28.17 PM – David Lipe – One Know Jesus is a Child of God

03.29.17 PM – David Lipe – One can Know He is a Child of God

Help My Unbelief

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Jesus told the father who came to him wanting his son to be cured, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23).  To this the father replied in tears, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:24). There is a part in each of us which believes and there is a part which doubts.  Christians often have questions or doubts that challenge their faith.  The good news is there are good answers to our questions.  There is solid, adequate evidence for the existence of God, the deity of Christ, and the inspiration of the Bible.  But we must devote time to weigh the evidence; only by asking our hard questions and exploring the answers can our faith be fortified.  A person who never tests the validity of Christianity cannot really be helped out of unbelief.  We cannot simply ignore our doubts and deny that we have any.  We are commanded to “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

The skeptic will rarely admit it, but he actually holds beliefs that cannot be proven.  Often skeptics say, “There is no absolute truth,” which is itself an absolute statement.  How can they be absolutely sure of it and be consistent?  A skeptic may try to reduce the Christian’s beliefs to their cultural and historical condition, saying, “Well, if you were born to different parents who were Muslims in Saudi Arabia, you would believe in Islam.”  But what about the skeptic?  If he were born to Muslims in Saudi Arabia would he believe Islam?  You see, even his skepticism does not stand on an island apart from the historical and cultural condition in which he lives.  Skepticism flourishes at certain times and in certain cultures as well because people can be influenced into skepticism.  The skeptic can’t make an exception for himself and say, all beliefs about religion are conditioned by history and culture except for the belief I am stating right now. Or if he says, “no religion can have an exclusive claim to truth; it is arrogant for any religion to claim to have the whole truth of spiritual reality,” then he himself has made an assertion that he says cannot be made.  How could the skeptic possibly know that no religion can have the whole truth unless he had such superior, all-inclusive knowledge that he claims no religions can have?  In short, the skeptic ought to be fair enough to admit his own doubts.  He must be willing to consider if he is wrong in his skepticism.

This week we will be examining the evidence that gives us assurance in an age of skepticism.  Dr. David Lipe will be with us to help us think critically about these vitally important subjects that undergird the Christian faith.  Brother Lipe has spent his life studying these subjects and asking hard questions.  Whether you have faith, doubts, or some of both, you will be benefited by coming to these lessons.  Will you come?

 

–Mark Day