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NASB | Acts 1:3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 1:3 To these [men] He also showed Himself alive after His suffering [in Gethsemane and on the cross], by [a series of] many infallible proofs and unquestionable demonstrations, appearing to them over a period of forty days and talking to them about the things concerning the kingdom of God. |
Subject: Why carry on like a playground dispute? |
Bible Note: I don't want to sound like I don't care about this interesting debate, because I do, but I feel like I am on a never ending conveyor belt whenever I discuss the age issue with any literalist young earther. I am trying to spend less time on this issue and more on scriptural studies. First off. Where did I ever say anything about evolution in the larger sense of its meaning? I believe in "Creatio Ex Nihilo", in other words the supernatural creation of life by God. I don't believe in Ussher's chronology as any reason to require belief in a young earth. It isn't a requirement to believe it in order to become saved. Adam and Eve were created as exceptions to the subsequent natural rule. God's own report says that Adam and Eve were created as adults. Where does God tell us that the universe was created with the appearance of age? On the contrary, God said "Let the earth bring forth vegetation" and that He "made to grow" a garden in Eden, events which take long periods of time. Do you really think Adam had to speak like one of those radio announcers when he named all the animals? He would have had to speak at a phenomenal rate, naming animals within milli-seconds of each other. You may counter argue that Adam was able to perform these tasks at superhuman speed, since he was without sin at this point. However, Scripture makes no connection between intelligence and sinfulness. Additionally, Jesus was without sin and did not perform tasks at a superhuman rate. "Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned..." says Romans. This text is commonly interpreted to mean that there was no animal death before the fall of man, since this would place death before sin instead of after sin. Therefore, only a small period of time could have passed between the creation of the first life forms and the fall of man. Otherwise, the world would have been severely overpopulated with animals. However, this verse says nothing about animal death; it only says that death came to men--human beings. Romans 5:12 cannot be used to support the position of no animal death before sin since it does not even mention animals. When Paul writes that "sin entered the world" he is most likely using "the world" in the same way as it is used in John 3:16, where world obviously refers to mankind, not "planet earth." "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son..." does not mean that God gave His Son for planet earth out of His love for it, but that He gave His Son for the world of mankind out of His love for them. Also, animal death is not related to sin, as man's death is. Only man can experience "death through sin," since animals never sinned. You may feel strongly that to believe in a universe which is more than 6,000 is an unsound Christian doctrine, that is your perogative. I could spend all day replying to your inquiries but I do not feel a need to rationalize my perspective on science and the Bible any further. I hope you find peace and security in your own heart and that God guides you to understanding that His plan is big enough for all of us, the young earth and the old earth believer. |