|
THAT GOD IS Our English word evidence comes from a compound Latin word meaning to clearly see. Video, a recent word to our language, lurks in the word. Evidence appears 7 times in 6 verses of the KJV and 10 times in 9 verses of the NASV. Five of the KJV verses are in Jeremiah 32:10-16 and refer to that which is written. The KJV calls these written documents "evidence" whereas the NASV refers to them by the legal title of "deeds." WRITTEN EVIDENCE is vital, dependable and required by the old and new testaments. Christ appealed to the scriptures, John 5:39 is an example, in challenging the religious leaders of his day. Daniel knew the 70 years of captivity were drawing to a close. Jeremiah's writings were his evidence in Daniel 9:2. Hebrews 11:1 in the NASV has "conviction" where the KJV has "evidence" in explaining the subjective, active faith of the ancients. Acts 17:3 records Paul's arguments concerning Christ which were based on the scriptures. The KJV says he "alleged" things concerning Christ, the NASV says he offered "evidence." In the 19th Psalm the scriptures call attention to the concrete evidence of the universe as ample testimony that God is: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork," and in the 8th Psalm: "For thou hast made him {MAN RLL} a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour." The physical world of His creation stands as unimpeachable evidence that God is. Prima facie evidence of God's existence is found in God's spiritual creation, that is, in those who obey His word. This evidence, to my mind, is not adequately expressed in most sermons on evidences. This series will deal with the physical creation, but the bottom line will always be to emphasize the evidence of the spiritually minded. Saints have submitted themselves to God's written word and control their spirits according to God's word. This assertion finds proof in passages such as 1 Corinthians 14:33: "And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets," and verse 37: "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." A saint's reputation and conduct are evidence that God is. Jesus did not refer to those of the beatitudes as lights for naught. The gospel revealed and believed is made evident by practice in the lives of saints. A Christian walking "by faith" is the strongest evidence that God is. Paul's life in the flesh was according to the faith arising from the gospel of Christ. See Galatians 2:20. - Ron Lloyd |