Facts or Fables

Facts or Fables 2022 05 08

1 Timothy 1:1 – 4

   I read an article in National Geographic about a cuneiform tablet, recently translated, that had a story about a global flood and an ark made by a king according to the instructions of a Babylonian god.  The article went on to describe how the Babylonian account made much more sense than the Biblical account, as the Babylonian ark was round and bowl-shaped, rather than boat shaped, which the writer believed was unnecessary for an ark that simply had to float aimlessly on the surface until the waters receded.  The author considered, therefore, that both records were merely fables, but that the Biblical account was obviously a later rewrite of the Babylonian fable.

     Apart from the obvious bias of the writer of the article, the science is also flawed.  It is intriguing to note that the dimensions that God instructed Noah to use are the same exceptionally stable ratios used today for modern aircraft carriers!  The bowl-shaped “ark” described in the Babylonian cuneiform would have been horribly unstable, uncomfortable, and impractical for the purpose the ark was constructed.  The ark built by Noah was the real thing, built by a man who had faith in the almighty and living God, and the Babylonian “ark” was a fable created after the flood by men who were deceived by demons to worship gods of wood and stone. It is interesting to note that pagan cultures around the world all have a “Noah” story, sometimes even using a name very similar to “Noah,” yet the Bible account is the only one that could actually work.

 – Facts are important

 – Doctrine is important

 – Faith is of utmost important – but unless it is evidence-based, is it really faith in facts – or in fables?

1 Timothy 1:1 – 4

1. First, let’s look at some facts. Paul was not simply some first century mystic, looking to make a name for himself.  Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ, called by Jesus Christ, himself, who was proven to be the Son of God by his many well documented miracles and especially by his resurrection from the dead, an occurrence with many hundreds of eyewitnesses.
   1. Paul was an apostle by the commandment of God our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ.
   2. He was “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)” Galatians 1:1
   3. Paul was not an uneducated ruffian from the shores of Galilee, but a very well-educated lawyer, theologian and scholar. As an exceptional student, he trained under Gamaliel.
   4. Paul was unblameable under the law of Moses, and extremely zealous. He not only witnessed the stoning of Stephen and held the cloaks of those who did the deed, but he later actively and zealously led the persecution against the Christians.
   5. But, while on the road to Damascus with letters of order in his hand that gave him authority to arrest Christians and bring them back to be punished, he was met by the risen Lord Jesus Christ, himself, and powerfully convinced and converted. In Paul’s own words, “And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.  And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.  And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.  And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.” Acts 22:6 – 10
   6. Paul was clearly and miraculously called by the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Creator, to preach the very word of God as God the Holy Spirit gave him the words to preach. Therefore, there can be no question as to the importance, accuracy, and validity of the message that Paul preached and wrote in his epistles.
2. Paul wrote that no other doctrine is to be taught (so, what is the correct doctrine?)
   1. The doctrine taught by Paul is recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:1 – 8 and reads, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”
   2. Brother Luke, a medical doctor and historian wrote, “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,  Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:”  Acts 1:1 – 3   The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a well-documented, well-established historical fact that is only denied by foolish people whose pride prevents them from accepting the fact that they are NOT good enough without a Saviour to meet a perfect, holy, and almighty God.  Their own foolish pride is hurling them headlong into hell! What a tragedy!
   3. Salvation is by grace, alone. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  not of works, lest any man should boast.”  Ephesians 2:8,9
      1. Grace is undeserved. It is the free favour and good will of God towards undeserving people – you and I
      2. Grace comes through faith in Jesus Christ, with no other requirement. If you turn from your own sinful way to Jesus Christ by faith, your sins are washed away and you have everlasting life!
   4. Fables are not to be given any merit; neither is legalism of any value
      1. Fables are stories that often sound good, and may even teach a lesson, but they are not true and do not save a person, nor do they really change anyone. There are many warnings about fables in the scriptures.
         1. They are profane and ungodly, human inventions and powerless. “But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.” 1 Timothy 4:7
         2. They are not true, but only sound good. “And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:4

• They are made up by men to replace the truth! “Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.” Titus 1:14

1. They are meant to deceive but have no power to save. “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” 2 Peter 1:16

1. There is nothing you can do to earn your way to God. Such teaching is a fable.
   1. Trying to obey the law will not do it, because the law (Ten Commandments, etc.) were not given to save us, but to show us that we need a saviour! “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24
2. Genealogies are not to be given any merit
   1. Genealogies were carefully kept by the Jews, who prided themselves especially on tracing their genealogy back to Abraham.
   2. The Jews in Jesus’ day claimed righteousness based on their ability to trace their genealogy back to Abraham, but Jesus said, “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” Luke 3:8
   3. Again, it does not matter who your father or ancestors is, was, or were: salvation comes through faith, alone; the only way you can be saved is by turning from your own ways to Jesus Christ by faith. You must personally believe in Jesus Christ.  You must personally trust God, believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who gave up his glory in heaven and humbled himself to become fully human.  He lived a sinless live, then died a cruel death on the cross for your sins, shedding all his blood for you, was buried in a grave for three days, then rose visibly and bodily from the dead on the third day, whereupon he was seen alive by many over a period of 40 days (Acts 1:3).  The Bible says he showed himself alive by many infallible This means the evidence of his resurrection is indisputable and irrefutable.  Those who deny it deny it at their peril, without any evidence.
      1. The fact that Jesus Christ IS the Son of God who lived a perfect, sinless life as a human, died on the cross shedding all of his blood to pay for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day IS a fact!
      2. He WAS dead. He IS alive!  He IS the Son of God!  When you put your faith in him to save you, your sins are washed away by his blood, and you have everlasting life!  You cannot even imagine the good that is stored up for those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ!  1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

So, what is it?  Facts or Fables?  Is your faith, today, in fables, or is your faith supported by solid evidence? Is your faith a sure faith in a sure, very well-documented, living Saviour who is Christ the Lord, our Creator, the almighty Son of God?  Are you today 100% sure that if you died in the next moment you would go to heaven?  If not, why not?  Trust the real Jesus Christ, the risen Son of God, and be 100% sure your sins are forgiven, and you have eternal life, right now!