Sermon Tone Analysis

DAY 1 , and Mark 1

NOTE 1: In searching for truth, we Christians know there is only one truth.

We also know that the Bible is true, but that does not mean that our interpretation of the Bible is true.

Consequently we should examine scientific hypothesis and our understanding of biblical record with an open mind.

Knowing that there is only one truth, and God commanded us to rule over the earth (for which we need to understand it), biblical exegesis and scientific pursuit should ultimately coincide.

: The order of creation is worth noting compared to what we understand from science.

Day 1: Light -- The earth and water already existed.

He created light, but not the Sun, Moon and Stars.

He also created time, since the record says

"there was evening and there was morning, the first day."

(The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

().

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.)

Big Bang??

Day 2: Sky -- Separated the waters below from that above.

Creating the essential conditions for life.

Day 3: Flora -- First he separated the waters "below" into Seas and dry earth.

He then created vegetation.

Flora came before fauna, so the record is consistent with science in this respect.Were these seeds only or the full plants?

We are told in , that there no plants yet because God had not yet caused it to rain.

But light, water and earth already existed (He was the light) so the plants could grow.

Day 4: Sun, Moon and Stars -- This appears to contradict scientific evidence because science indicates that all came to being at the Big Bang.

But closer thought shows that this account does not preclude science.

The earth could very well have existed before it came to orbit the Sun or the Moon came to orbit it.

The stars were those visible from the Earth, not necessarily all stars, since the account says that these were set to set apart the light from the darkness.

Day 5: Fauna — consistent with archaeological record, sea life came after vegetation and before earth creatures on dry land.

How did the ancients know this since they did not have science to back them up.

Day 6: Man — Although we know the male of the species came before the female, it is clear that they are equal for He created both in His image.

He created them to rule over all of the earth.

Once again consistent with scientific record.

Man is the highest expression of the species.

In each instance of a living thing, the biblical record is also specific in saying that each form of life was “according to its kind.”

Although evolutionists point to archaeological record, evolutionists have not adequately explained how evolution takes place at a micro-biological level which would be required for species to evolve from another.

Although I am sure that science will some day explain this, evolutionary theory is insufficient.

NOTE 2: WE WERE ALL VEGETARIANS.

God gave the plants for food for both man and beast.

He did not intend for there to be any carnivores in His creation because this would bring about the “death” of “thing that has the breath of life.”

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DAY 2: ,

NOTE 1: Is the story of Adam and Eve being tempted by a serpent literal or an allegory?

We can get caught up in minors.

Whether or not this is an allegory does not affect the central tenants of Christianity: the Bible is God’s inspired revelation, man was created perfect but fell because of his own free will and lost his innocence, there is a great spiritual battle between God and the forces of evil (the serpent or the devil).

NOTE 2: Work was to be a blessing.

When God created the Garden of Eden, he set man to till it.

However, as a result of the Fall, work has become part of a curse.

Moreover, man was to suffer physical death — “for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

NOTE 3: We are often envious of the “blessings” others receive, but we do not think of what they have done to receive those blessings.

The poor blame the rich for having so much, but often those who are rich have worked hard to obtain the wealth, and have not done so through deceit.

NOTE 4: When we are confronted with our sin, we tried to evade the feeling of shame by blame-shifting as Adam and Eve did or avoiding answering for our sin like Cain did.

NOTE 5: Cain’s progeny also sinned.

We pass on our sins to our children, not because they lose free will, but because they model after us.

Lamech, Cain’s great-great-great grandson was the first recorded bigamist and he was also a murderer.

NOTE 6: How do we account for the longevity of Adam and his close descendants before the flood?

This should be a clue to scientists in search of longer life.

Something about the environment and health of these early people caused them to live longer.

Could it have been the atmosphere (it had not rained massively since it was before the flood)? the food (vegetarian)?

innocence

NOTE 7: The ages at the death of the descendants of Seth are given but not of Cain’s descendants.

NOTE 8: Our biggest stumbling block to understanding God’s revelation is often our own preconceptions of orthodoxy.

Confronted with Jesus’ forgiveness of the sin of the paralytic because of his and his companion’s faith, the scribes, the learned religious men of that day, “questioned in their hearts” Jesus’ authority (,).

Again they doubt him because he associated with sinners, but Jesus points their error: He had come for sinners.

NOTE 9: Jesus declares that forgiving sins is harder than healing of paralysis!

Isn’t that our experience.

We can heal the body, but the wounds of the soul, the heart are much more difficult to heal.

Only God can change our minds!

NOTE 10: Among Jesus’ disciples he called the simple (fisherman), the sinners and despised (Levi).

We are to do the same.

We should draw those who are outcast.

DAY 3: , ,

NOTE 1: is a strange passage.

Who are the Sons of Man.

This has been a source of debate, but not material.

NOTE 2: Think how depraved man had gotten by this time: “ every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

() All except one man, Noah!

What a man.

NOTE 3: Is the story of the Arc and of the flood an allegory?

Although as written it is in my opinion embellished like often happens in historical literature (e.g., think Washington and the Cherry Tree), there is sufficient evidence that suggest a great flood and destruction took place.

Records from multiple civilizations record the same.

every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

NOTE 4: God covenanted with Noah never to destroy the earth on man’s account.

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NOTE 5: We see in that God shortened man’s lifespan to 120 years.

How this happened we are not told.

However, He was going to bring about the great flood, so could the atmospheric changes brought about by this cataclysmic event accounted for the reduced lifespan?

Should scientists evaluate the effects of the Sun and its radiation and/or other atmospheric effects on longevity as a clue?

As we will see, man’s diet is also changed after the flood (), could meat-eating shorten lifespan?

It is this type of interplay that should take place between science in biblical scholarship in investigating the Truth.

NOTE 5: When we consider all of the evidence of science we see God.

For the earth is so finely tuned to sustain life.

So orderly and precisely measured.

Who can wonder?

But we do.

Unless God, by His grace, opens our eyes, we are blind to the truth because our thoughts are evil from our youth.

(Ps 194, Gen 8:20-22).

NOTE 6: When we consider all of the evidence of science we see God.

For the earth is so finely tuned to sustain life.

So orderly and precisely measured.

Who can wonder?

But we do.

Unless God, by His grace, opens our eyes, we are blind to the truth because our thoughts are evil from our youth.

(Ps 194, ).

NOTE 7: “5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man” ().

How often do I harden my heart against the Lord’s constant entreaty.