YouTube Transcript:

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FROM D. JAMES KENNEDY MINISTRIES
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THIS IS KENNEDY CLASSICS
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♪
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WELCOME TO KENNEDY CLASSICS
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HELLO, AND WELCOME TO KENNEDY CLASSICS,
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A VIEWER-SUPPORTED OUTREACH.
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I’M FRANK WRIGHT, PRESIDENT OF D. JAMES
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KENNEDY MINISTRIES, AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE
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YOU TO VISIT OUR MINISTRY WEBSITE,
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YOU CAN FIND AN ABUNDANCE OF DIGITAL, AUDIO, VIDEO,
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AND PRINT RESOURCES THERE.
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IT’S ALL AVAILABLE AT DJKM.ORG.
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IN PSYCHIATRY, DENIAL IS CONSIDERED A DEFENSE
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MECHANISM IN WHICH UNPLEASANT REALITIES ARE
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KEPT OUT OF CONSCIOUS AWARENESS BY A REJECTION
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OF THEIR EXISTENCE.
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IN THIS WAY, THOSE IN DENIAL ATTEMPT TO KEEP
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UNPLEASANT REALITIES OUT OF THEIR CONSCIOUS THOUGHT
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AND SPARE THEMSELVES THE ASSOCIATED ANXIETY.
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IN ADDITION TO BEING A PSYCHOLOGICAL REALITY,
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DENIAL IS ALSO A TOOL OF THE MENDACIOUS WHO SEEK TO
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CREATE A FALSE NARRATIVE THAT OTHERS WILL PICK UP ON.
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THIS TOO IS AN EFFORT TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM WHAT
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SOME CONSIDER AN UNPLEASANT REALITY.
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IN MODERN TIMES, RATHER THAN ARGUE THE TRUTH OF
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THE CLAIMS OF JESUS CHRIST- PARTICULARLY HIS
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CLAIM THAT HE WAS AND IS GOD IN HUMAN FORM- A VERY
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EXTREME GROUP OF SKEPTICS HAVE TRIED TO ARGUE THAT
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JESUS NEVER REALLY EXISTED AT ALL.
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ONE CAN EASILY SEE WHY THESE CHRIST-DENIERS MIGHT
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EMBRACE THIS FALSEHOOD, BECAUSE ONE DAY JESUS WILL
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RETURN TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.
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FOR THOSE ALREADY SPIRITUALLY DEAD IN THEIR
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TRESPASSES AND SINS, THIS IS THE MOST UNPLEASANT
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REALITY OF ALL- HENCE THEIR DENIAL THAT JESUS
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EVER EXISTED.
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DR. D. JAMES KENNEDY ANSWERS THIS ULTIMATE
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EXERCISE IN DENIAL WITH HIS MESSAGE:
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“WAS JESUS REAL OR A MYTH.”
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OUR SCRIPTURE LESSON THIS MORNING IS TAKEN FROM THE
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FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. JOHN, CHAPTER ONE BEGINNING WITH
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VERSE ONE.
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MAY WE HEAR THE INSPIRED WORD OF THE GREAT TRIUNE
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GOD.
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AND MAY GOD SPEAK TO US TODAY THROUGH HIS HOLY
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WORD AND MAY HIS NAME EVER BE PRAISED AMEN.
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IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME AGAIN, ADVENT SEASON WHEN WE
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REMEMBER THE BIRTH OF OUR GLORIOUS SAVIOR.
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IT’S ALSO “TERMITE” SEASON AS WELL,
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AND THE ANTI-CHRISTIAN TERMITES SWARM AT THIS
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TIME OF YEAR, COMING OUT TO DO THEIR VERY BEST TO
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OBLITERATE ALL REMEMBRANCE OF CHRIST- AT LEAST IN THE
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PUBLIC SQUARE NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT
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CHRIST CAN’T BE MENTIONED IN SCHOOLS-
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NOT IN CARDS GIVEN, NOT IN THESES WRITTEN,
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NOT IN PRAYERS OFFERED.
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CHRIST IS BANISHED, EVEN FROM MOST OF
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OUR STORES TODAY.
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IF YOU’LL NOTE CAREFULLY AT THE ADS,
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YOU’LL SEE THAT IT IS MOSTLY “HOLIDAY SALES.”
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BUT WHICH HOLIDAY IS IT THAT BRINGS OUT ALL OF
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THESE CUSTOMERS?
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WELL, THE OWNERS KNOW.
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YES, THEY ALL GATHER AROUND THE CASH REGISTER
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ON THE TWENTY-SIXTH AND SING,
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“WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.”
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(LAUGH)
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AND THEN THEY MAKE SURE THAT HIS NAME IS NOT
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MENTIONED IN THEIR ADVERTISEMENTS.
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BY THE WAY, CHRISTIANS ARE BEGINNING TO SPEAK UP AND
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LET THEIR FEELINGS BE KNOWN.
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AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A BEGINNING OF A TREND BACK
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TO ACKNOWLEDGING CHRIST.
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AND, OF COURSE, THE MOST RADICAL OF THESE
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“TERMITES” ARE THE ONES THAT NOT ONLY WANT TO DENY
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HIS DEITY OR HIS MESSIAHSHIP, BUT WANT
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TO DENY EVEN HIS VERY EXISTENCE- THAT HE IS
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MERELY A MYTH, A FABLE, NO MORE REAL THAN SANTA CLAUS.
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AND, THEREFORE, THEY TRY TO CONVINCE STUDENTS,
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ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG AND THE GULLIBLE THAT THIS IS
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THE CASE, AND THAT THERE IS NO REALITY TO IT.
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AND AFTER ALL, THEY’VE GOT NOTHING TO BASE THIS ON
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EXCEPT THE BIBLE, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THE BIBLE
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IS NOT RELIABLE, DON’T WE?
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AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT OUR KIDS HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
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BUT IS THE BIBLE RELIABLE, OR IS IT A COMPILATION OF
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FAIRY TALES AND MYTHS?
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WELL, PETER SAID, “WE’VE NOT MADE KNOWN UNTO YOU
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“CUNNINGLY DEVISED FABLES” (2 PETER 1:16).
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BY THE WAY THE “FABLES” COMES FROM THE GREEK WORD
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MUTHOS, WHICH FROM WHICH WE ALSO GET MYTHS,
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BUT WE WERE EYEWITNESSES, HE SAID.
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BUT IS THE BIBLE RELIABLE?
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YOU WOULD GET FROM A THOUSAND SOURCES THAT IT
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IS NOT NEARLY AS RELIABLE AS THE GREAT SECULAR WORKS
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OF ANTIQUITY.
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IT’S BASICALLY A BUNCH OF FAIRY TALES AND STORIES
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AND BUT THEY’LL PUT UP WITH IT,
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EXCEPT NOT IN SCHOOL, AND THEY HAVE HAD A HUGE
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IMPACT ON STUDENTS THAT WAY.
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BUT HOW RELIABLE IS THE BIBLE?
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IS IT RELIABLE AT ALL?
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WELL, I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT I SINCERELY
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DOUBT THAT ANY OF YOU HAVE EVER HEARD SAID BEFORE.
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AND I SAY IT PUBLICLY FROM THIS PULPIT TO ALL OF YOU.
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NOT ONLY IS THE BIBLE RELIABLE, IT IS THE MOST
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RELIABLE ANCIENT BOOK ON THIS EARTH.
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[APPLAUSE]
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NOW, SOMEONE WILL SAY, “WELL,
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THAT’S JUST YOUR BIASED OPINION.
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THAT’S JUST YOUR PREJUDICE.”
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WELL, I CERTAINLY DO BELIEVE THAT,
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BUT I AM NOT STATING IT IN THAT WAY.
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I AM STATING IT SCIENTIFICALLY,
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HISTORICALLY.
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THE EVIDENCE FOR THE RELIABILITY OF SCRIPTURE
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VASTLY OUTNUMBERS ALL OF THE PIECES OF EVIDENCE FOR
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ANY OTHER ANCIENT WORK AT ALL.
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JUST FROM A SCIENTIFIC HISTORIC POINT OF VIEW,
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IF YOU CONSIDER MERELY HISTORIOGRAPHY,
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HOW DO YOU ASCERTAIN WHETHER A MANUSCRIPT IS
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RELIABLE, ACCURATE, DEPENDABLE,
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THAT IT REALLY REPRESENTS WHAT IT SAYS IT REPRESENTS.
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THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION,
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AND YOU OUGHT TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO IT,
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BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO TELL YOU
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THE BIBLE IS A BUNCH OF FAIRY TALES AND MYTHS AND
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JESUS NEVER EVEN LIVED- THINGS LIKE THAT.
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THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO DO IS YOU HAVE TO
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EXAMINE THE NUMBER, THE YEARS THAT SEPARATE THE
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MANUSCRIPTS FROM THE TIME OF ITS WRITING.
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NOW I TRUST YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT
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THERE IS NO ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT OF ANY ANCIENT
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WRITING- RELIGIOUS, SECULAR, OR OF ANY
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KIND WHATSOEVER.
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THERE IS NO ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT.
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WE DON’T HAVE THE MANUSCRIPT THAT MOSES
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WROTE; WE DON’T HAVE ANY MANUSCRIPT THAT CONFUCIUS
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WROTE OR ZOROASTER OR ANY OF THOSE ANCIENT PEOPLE.
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WE DON’T HAVE ANY OF THE ORIGINAL WRITINGS OF
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CAESAR OR PLATO OR ARISTOTLE OR ANY OF THESE
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PEOPLE SUCH AS THAT.
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ALL WE HAVE IS COPIES OF THOSE ORIGINAL
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MANUSCRIPTS, WHICH ARE CALLED AUTOGRAPHA OR THE
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ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPHS.
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AND SO, THEREFORE, THE QUESTION IS: WHAT KIND OF
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SPACE EXISTS BETWEEN THE TIME THAT THE WRITER LIVED
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AND THE EARLIEST- CLOSEST TO THAT- MANUSCRIPT OF
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THAT WRITING.
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THIS MAY BE OF INTEREST TO YOU TO SEE WHAT THE FACTS
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TELL US.
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THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS: IF YOU EXAMINE THE
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WRITINGS OF THE GREAT CLASSICAL AUTHOR VIRGIL,
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YOU WILL FIND THAT THERE IS A PERIOD OF 350 YEARS
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BETWEEN WHEN VIRGIL LIVED AND THE OLDEST MANUSCRIPT
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EXTANT OF HIS WRITINGS.
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OR LOOK AT LIVY, ANOTHER OF THE GREAT ROMAN
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WRITERS, AND THERE IS A SEPARATION OF 500 YEARS
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FROM THE OLDEST MANUSCRIPT TO THE TIME OF LIVY.
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OR TAKE HORACE, FOR EXAMPLE- 900-YEAR GAP
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BETWEEN HIS LIFE AND HIS WRITING.
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OR TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE GREATEST ORATOR THAT THE
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WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.
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DO YOU KNOW WHO THAT WAS?
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HE WAS A GREEK.
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THERE IS, I THINK, WITHOUT DOUBT THAT HE IS THE
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GREATEST ORATOR THAT MAN HAS EVER KNOWN OR HEARD.
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IT WOULD BE A GREAT JOY TO HEAR HIM SPEAK,
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BUT WE CAN AT LEAST READ HIS WRITINGS.
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BUT THERE IS A GAP OF 1,200 YEARS BETWEEN
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THE TIME THAT DEMOSTHENES LIVED AND THE CLOSEST
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WRITING THAT HE LEFT TO US- 1,200 YEARS.
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OR TAKE THE GREATEST PHILOSOPHER THAT PROBABLY
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EVER LIVED.
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IF YOU TOOK A VOTE OF PHILOSOPHERS,
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I THINK HE PROBABLY WOULD WIN, AND HIS NAME,
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OF COURSE, WAS PLATO.
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THERE IS BETWEEN THE TIME THAT PLATO LIVED AND THE
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OLDEST OR CLOSEST TO HIM MANUSCRIPT OF ANY OF HIS
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WRITINGS, A SPACE OF 1,400 YEARS.
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AND YET I HAVE NEVER HEARD OR KNOWN OR READ OF ANYONE
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THAT QUESTIONED THAT ANY OF THOSE WRITINGS WERE
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RELIABLE AND AUTHENTIC.
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NOW COMPARE THAT WITH THE BIBLE.
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THE OLDEST PORTION OF THE BIBLE THAT WE HAVE IS
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CALLED THE RYLANDS MANUSCRIPT.
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IT IS A PORTION OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN.
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I HAVE SEEN IT AND READ IT IN A MUSEUM.
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IT IS DATED AT 125.
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JOHN WROTE IT AT ABOUT 96, SO ITS 29 YEARS AFTER THE
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TIME THAT JOHN WROTE THIS PORTION OF HIS GOSPEL,
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WHICH IS CONTAINED IN THE MUSEUM IN THE RYLANDS
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MANUSCRIPT.
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QUITE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 29 YEARS AND 1,400 YEARS,
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IS THERE NOT?
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OR, CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THERE ARE OTHER PORTIONS
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OF THE GOSPEL, THE NEW TESTAMENT,
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THAT GO FROM 100-150 YEARS AFTER THEY WERE WRITTEN.
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AND COMPLETE MANUSCRIPTS THAT DATE FROM ABOUT
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200-250 YEARS AFTER THE WRITING OF THE
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NEW TESTAMENT.
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THERE IS NO COMPARISON BETWEEN THE LAPSE OF TIME
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AND THE GREATER THE LAPSE, THE GREATER THE
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POSSIBILITY FOR ERRORS TO CREEP IN.
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THEREFORE, FROM A SCIENTIFIC HISTORICAL
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POINT OF VIEW, HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH BIAS OR
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PREJUDICE OR FAITH, THE NEW TESTAMENT IS VASTLY
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MORE RELIABLE THAN ANY ANCIENT WRITING OF ANY TIME.
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THE SECOND THING THAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER,
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IF YOU ARE GOING TO EXAMINE THE ACCURACY AND
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RELIABILITY OF ANY TEXT, IS HOW MANY MANUSCRIPTS
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DO WE HAVE?
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FOR EXAMPLE, SUPPOSE YOU HAVE TWO ABOUT CHRIST.
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ONE OF THEM SAYS THAT JESUS WENT INTO THE TEMPLE.
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THE OTHER ONE SAYS THAT JESUS CAME OUT OF THE TEMPLE.
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QUESTION! WHICH DID HE DO?
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WELL, YOU COULD FLIP A COIN,
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BUT OTHER THAN THAT IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE
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DIFFICULT TO FIGURE IT OUT.
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BUT SUPPOSE YOU HAVE FIVE OR TEN OR TWENTY DIFFERENT
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MANUSCRIPTS; NINETEEN OF THEM SAY THAT HE WENT IN,
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AND ONE SAYS HE CAME OUT.
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YOU CAN SEE THAT IT GETS EASIER AND EASIER TO MAKE
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A DECISION.
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THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE DON’T HAVE TWENTY
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MANUSCRIPTS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
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WE HAVE 5,000 MANUSCRIPTS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT IN
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GREEK AND 10,000 MORE IN EARLY LANGUAGES,
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OTHER LANGUAGES OF THAT PERIOD.
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SO WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 15,000 MANUSCRIPTS OF
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THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
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THERE IS NO OTHER WRITING, SECULAR OR RELIGIOUS,
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ANYWHERE THAT COMES ANYWHERE CLOSE TO
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ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
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THERE IS JUST NO COMPARISON WHATSOEVER.
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FURTHERMORE, THE THIRD FACTOR THAT WE NEED TO
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KEEP IN MIND IS: HAVE THESE MANUSCRIPTS BEEN
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CAREFULLY ANALYZED AND CHECKED TO SEE IF WHAT IS
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SAID IS TRUE IN THEM?
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WE FIND THAT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, EVERY TEXT,
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EVERY WORD, EVERY LETTER, EVERY ACCENT HAS BEEN
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CAREFULLY EXAMINED.
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THEY HAVE BEEN COLLATED, GATHERED TOGETHER,
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AND CAREFULLY EXAMINED.
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THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MANUSCRIPTS WITH MILLIONS
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OF WORDS- EVERY ONE OF THEM HAS BEEN CHECKED.
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NOTHING LIKE THAT EXISTS ANYWHERE ELSE IN ANY
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RELIGION, IN ANY WRITING WHATSOEVER.
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THEY DEMONSTRATE THAT THERE IS INCREDIBLE
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SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION FOR THE SCRIPTURES.
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IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHETHER WE BELIEVE THEM
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OR NOT, AND I DO, AND I TRUST YOU DO.
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BUT I AM SAYING THERE IS ALSO SCIENTIFIC HISTORICAL
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EVIDENCE FOR THEIR RELIABILITY WHICH ABOUNDS
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BEYOND THAT OF ANY OTHER WRITING.
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IS THE BIBLE RELIABLE?
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IT IS MORE RELIABLE THAN ANY OTHER BOOK OF ANY KIND
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THAT HAS EVER BEEN WRITTEN IN ALL OF ANTIQUITY,
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SO DON’T BE IMPRESSED WHEN SOMEBODY TELLS YOU THAT WE
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REALLY DON’T KNOW, WE HAVE NO SOUND BASIS FOR
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BELIEVING THAT THE SCRIPTURES ARE RELIABLE.
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AS PETER SAID, “WE HAVE NOT FOLLOWED CUNNINGLY
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DEVISED FABLES (II PETER 1:16).
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AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE ARE THOSE WHO WOULD SAY
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THAT JESUS ACTUALLY WAS NEVER MENTIONED BY ANYONE
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OTHER THAN IN THE BIBLE, AND SO THEREFORE,
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WE CAN’T REALLY KNOW IF IT’S TRUE WHAT WE’VE
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HEARD ABOUT HIM- THAT THE ONLY RECORD WE HAVE IS IN
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THE BIBLE.
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I HAVE HEARD THAT SAID TO SOMEONE AND I’VE HEARD
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THEM AGREE.
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“WELL, YEAH, THAT’S TRUE, BUT….”
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THEN THEY TRY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.
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IT’S NOT TRUE THAT CHRIST IS ONLY MENTIONED IN
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ANCIENT WRITINGS IN THE BIBLE.
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FOR EXAMPLE, THE GREATEST HISTORIAN OF THE JEWS,
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WITHOUT QUESTION, WAS JOSEPHUS.
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HE LIVED IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE FIRST CENTURY.
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HE WAS A CONTEMPORARY WITH PETER, PAUL,
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AND JOHN AND OTHER OF THE DISCIPLES.
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HE WAS THE JEW’S GREATEST HISTORIAN.
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HE WAS ALSO A GENERAL, BY THE WAY, BUT WHEN
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THE ROMANS ATTACKED JERUSALEM, HE CAPITULATED,
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WENT OVER TO THE ROMAN SIDE,
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WENT TO LIVE IN ROME AND WAS TREATED ROYALLY BY
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THEM, AND HE ALSO DID SOME VERY NICE THINGS FOR THEM.
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BUT HE WAS A VERY EXCELLENT,
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OUTSTANDING HISTORIAN.
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AND HE IN HIS WRITINGS CAME EVENTUALLY,
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OF COURSE, TO CHRIST.
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HE MENTIONS CHRIST SEVERAL PLACES.
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ONE, HE MENTIONS THE FACT OF JAMES,
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WHO IS THE BROTHER OF CHRIST.
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BUT IN THE LONGER PARAGRAPH, HE SAYS THIS.
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THIS IS IN HIS ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, BOOK 18,
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CHAPTER 3, SECTION 3.
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THIS IS THE MOST RENOWNED HISTORIAN OF THE JEWS,
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AND HE IS WITHOUT ANY QUESTION THE GREATEST
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HISTORIAN OF JUDAISM OF THE FIRST CENTURY.
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“ABOUT THIS TIME [HE SAID], LIVED JESUS.
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A WISE MAN, IF IT BE PROPER TO CALL HIM A MAN;
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FOR HE WAS A DOER OF WONDERFUL WORKS- TEACHER
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OF SUCH MEN AS RECEIVE THE TRUTH WITH PLEASURE.
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HE DREW OVER TO HIM BOTH MANY OF THE JEWS AND MANY
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OF THE GREEKS.
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HE WAS THE CHRIST, IN GREEK THAT’S O XPIOTOS OUTOS NR.
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HE WAS THE CHRIST.
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AND WHEN PILATE, AT THE INSTIGATION OF THE
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PRINCIPAL MEN AMONG US, HAD CONDEMNED HIM TO THE
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CROSS, THOSE WHO HAD LOVED HIM AT THE FIRST DID NOT
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FORSAKE HIM.
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FOR HE APPEARED TO THEM AGAIN ALIVE ON THE THIRD
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DAY, THE DIVINE PROPHETS HAVING FORETOLD THESE AND
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MANY OTHER THINGS CONCERNING HIM.
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AND THE SECT OF CHRISTIANS,
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SO NAMED AFTER HIM, ARE NOT EXTINCT TO THIS DAY.
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THAT IS A PHENOMENAL PARAGRAPH FROM THE
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GREATEST JEWISH HISTORIAN OF THE FIRST CENTURY.
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WAS HE MENTIONED BY ANYONE OTHER THAN CHRISTIANS?
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OBVIOUSLY SO.
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JOSEPHUS WAS THE GREATEST JEWISH HISTORIAN.
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TACITUS IS THE GREATEST ROMAN HISTORIAN OF THE TIME.
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HE TALKS ABOUT JESUS AT LENGTH.
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WHEN HE IS DESCRIBING THE PERSECUTION OF
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THE CHRISTIANS AT ROME BY NERO IN 64 AD.
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WHILE DISCUSSING THAT HE ALLUDES TO THE FOLLOWING
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FACTS.
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THIS IS A FIRST CENTURY ROMAN HISTORIAN: JESUS
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CHRIST WAS PUT TO DEATH AS A MALEFACTOR BY PONTIUS
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PILATE DURING THE REIGN OF TIBERIUS SINNER,
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EXCUSE ME TIBERIUS CAESAR; THAT THIS SAME CHRIST WAS
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THE FOUNDER OF THE SECT KNOWN AS CHRISTIANS;
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THAT LATTER SECT AROSE IN THE REGION OF JUDEA AND
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HAD SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ROMAN EMPIRE IN
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SPITE OF THE IGNOMINIOUS DEATH OF ITS FOUNDER,
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AND THE CONTEMPT AND PERSECUTION IT HAD MET
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EVERYWHERE IT WENT; AND THAT AS EARLY AS 64 AD IN
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THE CITY OF ROME, A “VAST MULTITUDE OF CHRISTIANS
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WERE MOST CRUELLY PUT TO DEATH BY NERO.”
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THUS SPAKE TACITUS, THE GREATEST HISTORIAN OF
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ANCIENT ROME, LIVING IN THE FIRST CENTURY.
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THESE WERE PAGANS.
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SO WHETHER IT IS CHRISTIANS, JEWS,
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OR PAGANS, CHRIST IS MENTIONED AND VIRTUALLY
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EVERY MAJOR ASPECT OF HIS MINISTRY IS DESCRIBED AND
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REFERRED TO BY ALL BY THESE VARIOUS PAGAN
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WRITERS, EVEN IF THEY ARE VERY NEGATIVE.
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AND IN THE MORE RECENT TIMES, LAST CENTURY OR SO,
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IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT YOU SEE MOST OF THE
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SKEPTICS, THE ATHEISTS, THE UNBELIEVERS,
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THE CHRIST-HATERS START OUT BASHING CHRIST AND
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BASHING THE BIBLE, AND THEN IN THEIR MORE MATURE
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AGE, THEY TURN AND SAY THE MOST WONDERFUL THINGS
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ABOUT HIM.
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MOST OF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH H.L. MENCKEN.
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HE LIVED IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE TWENTIETH
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CENTURY.
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HE WAS THE EDITOR OF THE AMERICAN MERCURY MAGAZINE.
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HE WAS BRILLIANT.
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HE WAS DESCRIBED AS BEING BETTER EDUCATED THAN
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ROBERT INGERSOLL, MORE SNEERING THAN VOLTAIRE,
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AND AS CAUSTIC AS GEORGE BERNARD SHAW.
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HE SPENT THIRTY YEARS TRYING TO TEAR THE BIBLE
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AND CHRIST APART.
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YET IN HIS MORE MATURE YEARS, H.L. MENCKEN,
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WHO IS THE ONE WHO GOT DAILY REPORTS FROM
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THE SCOPES TRIAL AND IN TENNESSEE,
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WHEN HE WAS UP IN NEW YORK,
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PUBLISHED ARTICLES ABOUT IT REGULARLY.
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AND THOUGH THE CHRISTIANS WON THE SCOPES TRIAL,
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WHICH YOU WOULD HARDLY KNOW FROM THE WAY IT IS
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DEALT WITH, BECAUSE OF MENCKEN’S WRITINGS,
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THE NATION WAS CONVINCED THAT THE CHRISTIANS LOST.
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SO HE IS A VERY POWERFUL WRITER AND A POWERFUL
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LOOKING MAN, I MIGHT ADD AS WELL.
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AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID IN HIS MATURE YEARS: “THE
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HISTORY THE HISTORICITY OF JESUS IS NO LONGER
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QUESTIONED SERIOUSLY BY ANYONE,
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WHETHER CHRISTIAN OR UNBELIEVER.
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THE MAIN FACTS ABOUT HIM SEEM TO BE BEYOND
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DISPUTE.”
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THE “MAIN FACTS” SAID THIS ATHEIST,
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ARE BEYOND DISPUTE.
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HE TRASHED THE BIBLE FOR THIRTY YEARS.
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IN HIS LATER YEARS HE SAID,
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“THE BIBLE IS UNQUESTIONABLY THE MOST
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BEAUTIFUL BOOK IN ALL OF THE WORLD,”
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AND “THE STORY OF JESUS IS TOUCHING BEYOND COMPARE.”
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I HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER SKEPTICS AND ATHEISTS AND
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UNBELIEVERS THAT I TOLD THE FIRST SERVICE ABOUT,
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BUT I DON’T HAVE TIME TO DO IT AGAIN.
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BUT MAY I SAY, MY FRIENDS, THE IDEA THAT JESUS WAS
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NEVER MENTIONED ANYWHERE BUT IN THE BIBLE;
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THAT NOBODY, THE JEWS DIDN’T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT
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HIM; THE PAGANS, THE HEATHEN DIDN’T SAY
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ANYTHING ABOUT HIM.
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NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH THAN THAT.
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THE MAIN FACTS ABOUT HIM ARE WITHOUT DISPUTE.
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MY FRIENDS, JESUS CHRIST LIVED.
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JESUS CHRIST LIVES.
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AND THE ONLY RELEVANT QUESTION TODAY IS: DOES HE
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LIVE IN YOUR HEART?
25:08
EVERY KNEE WILL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS
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THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD WHEN THEY STAND OR KNEEL
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BEFORE HIM IN THE GREAT ASSIZE IN THE FINAL JUDGMENT.
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HAVE YOU DONE THAT?
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HAVE YOU REPENTED OF YOUR SINS?
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HAVE YOU INVITED HIM INTO YOUR LIFE?
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HAVE YOU ACCEPTED HIM AS MASTER, LORD,
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AND GOD OF YOUR LIFE?
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IF NOT, I HOPE, DEAR FRIEND,
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THAT YOU WILL DO THAT EVEN TODAY.
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MAY WE PRAY.
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HEAVENLY FATHER, I PRAY THAT IF THERE IS ANYONE
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HERE WHO DOESN’T KNOW BEYOND ANY DOUBT THAT HE
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OR SHE HAS ETERNAL LIFE, THAT CHRIST IS THEIR LORD
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AND SAVIOR AND GOD, I PRAY THAT THIS DAY, THIS HOUR,
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THIS MINUTE THEY WILL SAY TO HIM,
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IN THE QUIET SANCTUARY OF THEIR OWN SOUL: “LORD
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JESUS CHRIST, I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE DIVINE
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REDEEMER, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, AND I WANT
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YOU TO BE THE SAVIOR OF MY LIFE AND MY HEART.
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I REPENT OF MY SINS, AND I CAST MYSELF UPON YOUR
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MERCY AND GRACE.
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GRANT ME THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE AND THE
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ASSURANCE THAT I SHALL BE WITH YOU FOREVER.”
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IN THY NAME I PRAY.
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AMEN.
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IF YOU JUST PRAYED THAT PRAYER WITH DR. KENNEDY,
26:42
LET ME BE THE FIRST TO WELCOME YOU TO THE FAMILY
26:45
OF GOD.
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AND TO HELP YOU GROW IN YOUR NEW FAITH,
26:48
WE WANT TO SEND YOU THE BOOK WRITTEN BY
26:50
DR. KENNEDY FOR NEW BELIEVERS.
26:52
IT’S CALLED BEGINNING AGAIN AND IT’S OUR GIFT TO
26:55
YOU WHEN YOU WRITE TO OUR ADDRESS OR CALL OUR
26:57
TOLL-FREE NUMBER.
26:58
JUST ASK FOR IT BY NAME, BEGINNING AGAIN,
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WHICH IS PRECISELY WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
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GOD BLESS YOU.
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THE REALITY OF JESUS CHRIST IS THE MOST
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IMPORTANT FACT OF ALL HUMAN HISTORY.
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AND YET SO MANY TODAY DENY THAT HE EVEN EXISTED.
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DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO THINKS CHRISTMAS IS A
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FAIRY TALE?
27:22
WE’D LOVE TO SEND YOU A COPY OF THIS CONVINCING
27:24
MESSAGE TO SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR LOVED ONES,
27:27
OR AT YOUR BIBLE STUDY.
27:29
FOR YOUR GENEROUS GIFT TO THIS MINISTRY,
27:31
WE’LL SEND YOU A DVD OR CD COPY OF “WAS JESUS REAL OR
27:38
A MYTH?”
27:39
SIMPLY WRITE TO US AT:
27:49
OR CALL TOLL FREE:
27:55
OR GO ONLINE TO:
27:59
AND INCLUDE A GENEROUS GIFT TOWARD THE ONGOING
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WORK OF THIS MINISTRY.
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I’M FRANK WRIGHT.
28:05
THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THIS EDITION OF KENNEDY
28:08
CLASSICS.
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MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AS YOU WORSHIP THE
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LORD JESUS THIS CHRISTMAS.
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WE’LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
28:18
THIS HAS BEEN A PRODUCTION OF
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D. JAMES KENNEDY MINISTRIES