Is the Christian Faith Relevant Today? [Sermon]

Richardson, Texas, USA

October 2022

1. Accurately __________________

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

2. Gives ______________________

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (NASB)

3. Gives _______________________

Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

4. The ________________

a. Manuscripts

Time between the original and the earliest manuscript

Number of manuscripts

b. Eye-witness Accounts

2 Pet 1:16

For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

How early were the eye-witness accounts of the gospels?

Luke 1:1-2 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

1 Cor 15:3-7

For I passed on to you as most important what I also received:

that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

that he was buried,

that he was raised on the third day

according to the Scriptures,

and that he appeared to Cephas,

then to the Twelve.

Then he appeared to over 500 brothers at one time;

most of them are still alive,

but some have fallen asleep.

Then he appeared to James,

then to all the apostles.

Gal 1:18-19 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother.

The Bible has sold more than 2.4 billion copies since 1816. It’s been on the best sellers’ list for the last 400 years and has been translated in over 1,500 languages. It has had a greater impact on culture, world views and individual lives than any other book. It has been responsible for wars, revolutions, and reformations. It spans over 1,500 years, written in three different languages by 44 authors, making up a total of 66 books. Once laughed at, it is now used by archaeologists to find lost civilizations—its historical accuracy is impeccable. Its predictions of future events have been fulfilled by the hundreds with shocking precision. It is the foundation for law and morality for many nations. It unveils the origins of man and his final destiny. It explores and reveals the deepest philosophical questions of humanity. It is practical, yet deeply spiritual. Simple, yet filled with eternal mysteries. Its words are able to cut into the very heart of man, often resulting in overwhelming displays of emotion, conviction, freedom, courage and self–respect. It is authoritative not only on earth, but in the heavens. Principalities and powers must bow before its command. It is a window to heaven. A biography written in God's own handwriting. A love letter. A manual for life. When heaven and earth come crashing down and the stars fall from the sky, it will be left standing solid, for it is eternal living Logos.

5. The ___________________

1 John 3:2-3 we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

His life was perfectly holy. He never looked with lust; he never uttered a hasty, unkind, untrue or frivolous word; and he never entertained an impure thought. He was never accused by conscience, never inflamed by wrongful passion, never out of step with the will of God. … He never had to apologize for anything he did or retract a single word he said. … He lived on earth approximately 12000 days and every one of them was a marvel of holiness. From the summit of the mount of transfiguration he could have stepped straight into glory. … John Phillips, Exploring Romans

Picture of manuscript P52: From the John Rylands library in Manchester, England.