Age of the earth

• Why does the age of the earth matter?
• Dr. Rogers: Does the Hebrew word yom endorse an old earth?
  • The word can be used either literally or figuratively.
    • Figurative: Genesis 2:4, 17
    • Literal in cases where it is used with the number of a day (first day, second day, etc.).
• Other references to Creation
  • Exodus 20:11
  • Mark 10:6
• Could the God described in the Bible create the earth in 6, 24-hour days?
• Could the God described in the Bible create the earth across billions of years?
• Based on the evidence available, which do you believe?
• Age of the earth estimations from Biblical records
  • Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus
    • Tracing Jesus’ lineage through Joseph
    • Establishes a paternal link to David
      • Legal right to inherit throne
    • Age of earth: 7,307 years
    • Date of creation: 5284 BC
  • Luke’s genealogy of Jesus
    • Traces Jesus’ lineage through Mary
    • Establishes a blood link to David
      • Blood right to inherit throne
    • Age of earth: 8,596 years
    • Date of creation: 6573 BC
• Underlying assumptions of this Biblical timeline
  • The “days” of creation were literal, 24-hour days.
  • No gaps in genealogies presented in the Biblical record.
  • Where we don’t have the age of the father at the birth of the next person in a lineage, this timeline uses an “average lifespan” for that timespan.
  • Assuming there are no gaps in the genealogies presented in the Bible, this makes the timeline longer than actual.

Introduction

• Genesis 12:1-3, 11-12 – God’s promises to Abraham.

God’s promises

• Genesis 12:1-7

I will make you a great nation.

• Genesis 21:5
• Exodus 1:7-9, 20
• Deuteronomy 26:5
• Genesis 14:13 – “Abram the Hebrew”
• Romans 4:18-22
• FULFILLED! Abraham became the father of the Hebrew nation.

To your descendants I will give this land.

• Joshua 1:1-6; 21:43-45
• Nehemiah 9:7-8
• FULFILLED! The nation lived in the land of promise.

In you all the families of the earth will be blessed.

• Matthew 1:1, 2-16; 3:8-9
• Acts 3:13-15, 19, 25-26
• FULFILLED! Abraham’s descendant, Jesus, became the Savior of the world.

Abraham’s exemplary faith

• Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-19
• John 8:31-33, 37-47
• Romans 4:9-17, 23-24
• Romans 9:6-8
• Galatians 3:6-9, 26-29

Introduction

• Matthew 26:26-29 – Some take this literally. This is a metaphor. It was figuratively his body and blood.

Why does God use figurative language?

• Figures make language more vivid, interesting, memorable, and powerful.
• I Peter 5:8
• II Peter 2:21-22
• How about the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15)?
• The basic message is that we should rejoice when sinners repent, but by presenting that as a parable, Jesus turns it into a memorable story.

When should we take a word or phrase figuratively?

• A good rule of thumb is to understand a passage literally unless there is a good reason to believe otherwise:
  • When it is said to be figurative.
    • John 2:18-21
    • Ephesians 6:17
    • Isaiah 9:2
  • When a literal understanding contradicts another passage.
    • Mark 1:5; Luke 7:29-30 – Not absolutely all people came out to obey Jesus.
  • When it matches a pattern of figurative language in other passages.
    • John 6:27; I John 3:18; I Peter 3:3 – Not-but passages.
  • When a literal understanding contradicts known facts or common sense.
    • John 3:3

When should we NOT take a word or phrase figuratively?

• When a literal understanding simply contradicts our beliefs.
  • I Corinthians 7:1

Introduction

• Acts 8:1-3 – The church was the people. Not a building!
• Romans 16:5
• Acts 20:17, 28-30 – The trouble to come was that people would be drawn away. This was spiritual work to guard the people.

The word “church”

• The word translated church in the New Testament simply means, “a called out group” or “assembly.” The word itself does not have a spiritual connotation.
• Acts 19:32 – The word “assembly” here is ekklesia, often translated “church.”

Universal sense (all saved people everywhere)

• Ephesians 5:22-28 – Christ died to save the church.
• Ephesians 4:4 – There is one body (one church) because there is one savior.
• Matthew 16:16-19 – Jesus was establishing a group of people who were saved.
• Acts 2:38
• Hebrews 12:22-23 – The people’s names are written in heaven.
• Luke 10:20

Local sense (saved people working together as a congregation)

• Romans 16:16
• I Corinthians 1:2

The church does not save; it is the saved.

• Acts 4:12 – Jesus is the savior – not the church!

Don’t think of the “church of Christ” as a denomination with a creed.

• “Church of Christ” is a description – not a name.
• Churches are described with many names in the New Testament:
  • Romans 16:16
  • I Corinthians 11:16
  • I Thessalonians 2:14
  • I Corinthians 14:30
  • Acts 11:22
  • Romans 16:1
  • I Corinthians 1:2
  • I Thessalonians 1:1
• Acts 8:12

There should not be such a thing as “church of Christ” doctrine.

• There is only the doctrine of God.

Let’s just objectively seek the truth!