Monday, February 13, 2012

The Creation Papers

Articles Exposing the Present Evolutionary Explanation for All of Life 
by Letting the Light of God's Intelligent Design Shine Forth

The Premise:

①   The enormous amount of intelligent design found in the natural world and the universe demands the absolute need of an all-powerful, omniscient, eternal Creator. Intelligent design reflects an intelligent designer.

②   Evolution cannot explain the intelligent design of all of life on earth from the standpoint of nonintelligent, nondirectional "natural selection." This nonintelligent, nondirectional explanation for life's existence cannot in any way explain the intelligent design found all through the biological world and the universe.

Creation Articles


Hebrews 11:6
". . . for he that cometh to God must believe that He is . . ."

In the Beginning
Neither Side Can Claim Science

In the beginning of this series, I want you to see the crux of the human part of this battle. Evolutionists fight intensely to convince judges (who are not trained in the field of biology), lawyers (who are not trained in the field of biology), parents (many of whom are not trained in the field of biology), politicians (who are not trained in the field of biology), and many of those in the fields of science and education (who are not trained in the field of biology) to believe that evolution represents "science" and creationism represents faith. Yet, because we do not have recurring, reproducible phenomena and because no one observed how life came to this planet when it was first formed, neither side can claim that it is scientific.

Evolutionists claim that they will be able to someday show in test tubes, etc. evidence that life's beginning was an accident. In the meantime, their view is not science and does not have supporting evidence. The very nature of all of this kind of experimentation is prejudiced against them because the use of test tube apparatuses proves that it took intelligence. They are looking at the effect giving "guesses" and "suggestions" about the cause. THIS IS NOT SCIENCE. IT IS FAITH! The evolutionist's search for truth is a subjective study and not an objective study.

Dr. R. L. Wysong has a DVM (Doctor of veterinary medicine) from Michigan State University. In his excellent book, The Creation Evolution Controversy (I highly recommend it), page 231, he has a cartoon of a scientist with a very large test tube apparatus and a blackboard with equations on it. The caption reads, "If I can just synthesize life here . . . then I'll have proven that NO intelligence was necessary to form it in the beginning!" I hope you see the inherent obvious problem.

One of the big problems of evolutionists claiming "science" is that they have to show how intelligent design exists in our universe without a creator. They say it is an accident. The DNA molecule contains 3 billion nucleotides, made up of 3 billion phosphate molecules, 3 billion sugar molecules, and 3 billion bases in perfect sequence with all the codes for the cell's synthesis of all the proteins which are composed of all left-handed amino acids in a perfect sequence all folded perfectly. The DNA also has all the coded information for every organ in the embryological development of the baby. Evolutionists have to show the world how this can be attributed to the colossal gigantic accident, evolution.

My purpose in these articles is to give our young people and parents a glimpse of how big the accident is. The philosophy of evolution is hiding this fact from the public. Remember, when all is said and done, evolutionists have to explain intelligent design from the standpoint of nondirectional, nonintelligent natural forces! The great organization of life demands positive directed intelligent construction. Nature's forces do not have this ability. A tornado going through a scrap yard could not form an M1 tank, although that would be much simpler than the formation of the first cell.

Creationists believe that all the evidence in the natural world points to an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent creator. You have to choose because it's one or the other. No one could show, by any means, all the colossal magnitude of God's design in the universe. There is not enough paper in Indiana to show forth God's marvelous design.

I Will Repeat Myself In These Articles
Please understand that many concepts will  be repeated throughout these articles. This is consistent with my philosophy of education simply called: Review, Repeat, Review, Repeat, Reinforce, Review until It's Clear.

Look At The Evidence In A Courtroom Trial
Since neither creation nor evolution is science, our children need to view this as a courtroom trial that presents evidence. In my articles, there will be evidence to support creation. The jury has to decide!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Creation Material Available on This Website


I have posted the chapters from my book, Ammunition for Piercing the Armor of the Philosophy of Evolution.  I am doing this to help students to be able to see some of the answers from the creation side of the evolution/creation controversy.  This material is not found in the textbooks.  It does not, by any means, contain all of the arguments that support creation.  

You are welcome to read and/or download any of the materials.  Please remember that this book is copyrighted.  Any comments are welcome.  Just go to "Contact Us" and send me an e-mail.

I will be adding other articles to this website that support creation and clarify misinformation found in most of our schools' biology textbooks.

Be sure to visit the Bookstore by clicking the Bookstore icon at the top of this website.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Cardinal Bellarmine

Cardinal
Bellarmine
Had the Answer in
the 17th Century
  
            Many believe Robert Cardinal Bellarmine (1542-1621) was the best of all the Jesuit theologians. He was declared a Doctor of the Roman Catholic faith in 1931. In this article, I do not want to misrepresent him for he was a dedicated Roman Catholic to the day he died. Bellarmine made some strong statements about the doctrines of Intention and Good Works.
            When a priest administers a sacrament, that priest must have the right intention or the person has not received the sacrament. (He can’t be daydreaming or worried about some sporting event.) The priest has to be 100% focused with pure motives.  (Council of Trent, Sess. VII, Can. 11)
            Bellarmine said this: “No one can be certain, with the certainty of Faith, that he has received a true sacrament, since no sacrament is performed without the intention of the ministers, and no one can see the intention of another.” (Bellarmine’s Works, Vol. 1, p. 488)

No One Knows for Sure
            This teaching implies that no person could know for sure if they have been truly baptized, received penance, etc. Furthermore, and after a series of arguments on being saved by works, he makes this remarkable statement. “Nevertheless, although the way of acceptance with God is by our own works there is a danger that men may so trust in their own works as to grow proud, which would quite spoil their works; and, therefore, upon the whole, it is safest for them to rely upon the blood and merits of Jesus Christ alone.” (Quoted from a March 29, 1874 sermon by Charles H. Spurgeon.) Over 100 years earlier in 1765, John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, quoted Bellarmine in a sermon. Wesley stated that, when Bellarmine was dying, he was asked which saint he would trust in. The cardinal replied, “It is safest to trust in the merits of Christ.”
            On July the 4th in 1969, I was employed as a religion teacher at a catholic high school in Michigan. On that day, I transferred my faith from religious teaching and works, that I could never be assured would get me to heaven, and placed my faith exclusively and completely in Jesus Christ alone as my Savior and only hope of Heaven. I trusted in the blood and merits of Jesus Christ alone.
            The Bible teaches that salvation is of God. God decreed from the foundation of the world that Christ would die for our sins, and in time, He orchestrated His plan. (1 Peter 1:18-20; Revelation 13:8)

Our Sin Deserves
Eternal Punishment
            Our sin is extremely grave and deserves an eternal punishment. 

            uI have a friend who was an officer in the army. He was washing up in a restroom at his base when five private first class soldiers began to make fun of him because of his small stature. My friend picked up his coat from a nearby chair and put it on. When they saw that they were insulting an officer, they each stood at attention, saluted my friend, and apologized.
            Many people think that sin is no big thing. Some think it's a joke. If you believe the above, you don't know who you have sinned against. Jesus Christ's office and divinity is worthy of your highest respect. He is the Supreme Commander of the entire Universe. Everyone will bow their knee in recognition of this fact at the judgment.
            Romans 14:11 says, "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
            No one will have religions’ trump cards to veto their sin and save them on the Day of Judgment. All our sin carries an eternal punishment.
            Matthew 25:41 describes the sinner’s fate as “into everlasting punishment." That's forever!
            Revelation 14:11 declares, "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever."
            (See also Matthew 3:12; 13:41-42; Mark 9:48; Luke 16:23-24) Good works on our part will not eliminate the fact of eternal punishment.
            Scripture says, “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) (See also Titus 3:5a)

Christ Paid Our Sin Debt
            Jesus, the eternal Son of God, paid for our sins on the cross. Isaiah 53:6 says, “…and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” 1 Peter 2:24 says "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree."
            On the cross He said, “It is finished,” and died. (John 19:30) Scripture declares this sacrifice complete and never to be repeated again.
 
One Offering for Sin Forever
            The Bible says in Hebrews 10:11, “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.” And then speaking of Christ in verse 12, “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.” The effects of Christ’s one sacrifice is forever. There is no need to repeat it. (See also Hebrews 7:27; 9:26, 28; 10:10, 14; I Peter 3:18)

The Battle was Christ’s
            The battle to get us to heaven was Christ’s. It’s not ours and it’s not religion’s battle either! You and I and the church throughout history cannot add anything to or take anything from the victory of Jesus’ death on the cross.
            Our faith in Christ and His great victory on the cross allows us entrance into heaven.
            He became our sin and paid our sin debt in full—the eternal debt of punish-ment we all owe a righteous eternal God for our sins.

Is It Any Wonder?
            Is it any wonder that Cardinal Bellarmine, aware of the fact that the best of men can have their works marred  by sin, said in the 17th Century, “Rely upon the blood and merits of Jesus Christ alone?” 

            Trust in the death of Christ on the cross for your sins. You have no hope in human religious inventions presented by fallible men of whose teachings and intentions you could never be certain! But you can be certain of Christ’s infallible work on the cross that was recorded in the Bible. First Peter 2:24 says, “who himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree.” That was all the sins you committed in the past, present, and future. He paid it all.

Take Christ as Your Savior
            This very second, ask God’s forgiveness and receive Jesus Christ alone as your only hope of heaven. John 1:12 says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
            “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” (1 John 5:12-13a)

            Receive Christ now. Would you read and then sincerely pray the following?

“Father in Heaven, I realize my utter helplessness of getting to heaven on my own goodness and merit. Forgive me for my sin and, as best as I can, I turn from it and receive Jesus Christ alone as my Lord, Savior, and only hope of Heaven. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.”

If you have made this decision, please contact me at:

Norm Sharbaugh Ministries
P.O. Box 215
Brownsburg, IN 46112
Or e-mail me at:
evangelistnorm@juno.com

I will send you free Bible studies to help you grow in your Christian faith. 


Four Things God Wants You to Know About Going to Heaven

 The Following Explains Why None Of Us Are
Able To Go To Heaven On Our Own Merit
And What God Did About It.
               
The Problem

We are disqualified from going to heaven on our own merit because we all have missed the mark.

Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." The words come short mean to “miss the mark." It doesn't matter how close or far away from the bulls-eye you hit—a miss is a miss, and Scripture declares that we have all missed.

A friend and I were "siting in" my 12-guage shot gun. I bragged that I only missed the bulls-eye by a half-inch and he missed it by five inches. The fact was, we both missed. In the spiritual realm, coming close doesn't count.

Our Sin Deserves Punishment

God wants us to know that our sin is extremely grave and deserves eternal punishment.

I have a friend who was an officer in the army. He was washing up in a restroom at his base when five private first class soldiers began to make fun of him because of his small stature. My friend picked up his coat from a nearby chair and put it on. When they saw that they were insulting an officer, they each stood at attention, saluted my friend, and apologized.

Many people think that sin is no big thing. Some think it's a joke. If you believe the above, you don't know who you have sinned against. Jesus Christ's office and divinity is worthy of your highest respect. He is the Supreme Commander of the entire Universe. Everyone will bow their knee in recognition of this fact at the judgment.

Romans 14:11 says, "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

The Punishment For Sin Is Awesome!

Matthew 25:41 describes the sinner’s fate as into everlasting punishment." That's forever!

Revelation 14:11 declares, "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever."

Even what people think are insignificant slips of the tongue or idle gossip will receive the full force of judgment in Gehenna.

Note what Matthew 12:36 says. "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."

No one will have religions’ trump cards to veto their sin and save them on the Day of Judgment. All our sin carries an eternal punishment.

Is There Any Hope?

The only hope is for someone perfect to take care of our eternal debt of punishment that we owe for our sin. Yet God’s holy character, at the same time, must not be violated. He cannot change His moral and spiritual nature. He is holy.

But, within His holiness, there is good news. He does have a way out for the whole human race.

Christ Paid Our Sin Debt In Full

God wants you to know that Christ paid your sin debt.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 2:24, speaking of Christ, "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree."

The birth, death, and resurrection of Christ are the three greatest events in human history. Christ took care of our sin and paid the eternal debt of punishment that we owe by dying on the cross. We cannot pay it unless we go to Hell forever. The resurrection is God the Father’s AMENthat He accepted the work of Christ for our sins.

Let's suppose you get a $500 traffic ticket but don't have a dime to pay the fine. A loving compassionate person finds out and goes to court with you. The judge, after hearing testimony, says, "That will be $500, please."

The loving person steps up, pulls out his wallet, and says, "I'll pay your debt." At this point you have a choice. You can accept the money offered or you will have to pay it. If you pay your sin debt, it means punishment forever for every sin. If you receive Christ's payment, you are forgiven and freed from your debt for all eternity.

How To Be Assured Of Heaven

Finally, God wants you to know  how to apply Christ's redemptive work to your life.

In Acts 20:21 it says, "Testifying both to the Jews; and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."

Scripture says in John 1:12, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

In my early religious life, I was deceived. I believed that my church and religion could save me from the debt of punishment I owe for my sin. A simple reading of Scripture showed me that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior—not any church or religion. He is your only hope of heaven.

Embodied in my prayer of salvation on July 4, 1969 was the desire to forsake sin and reject the belief that my church and religion could get me to heaven. I then received Christ alone as my soul's salvation.           

If you really want your sins to be forgiven by receiving Christ, first read the following prayer to know what you are praying, then pray it sincerely.

"Lord Jesus, I’m a sinner and I need a Savior. Forgive me for my sin. As best as I know how, right now, I turn from my sin and I receive you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for dying on the cross in my place."

If you have prayed this prayer and trusted the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive you for your sin and make you his child, I encourage you to go to my website at www.visitnormsplace.net and click on the words Bible Studies found toward the top of the Home Page. These Bible studies are offered to aid you as you begin to grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Available Bible Studies

Click links below to view as PDF.  


Please feel free to use this material in discipling, sermons, Sunday School lessons, etc.  Feel free also to download and use any or all of these Bible Studies as long as you do not alter the wording in any way. I do ask that you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction.





          01     Authority
          17     Women's Scriptural Place In the Church
          18     Homosexuality
          19     Abortion
          20     Alcohol
          21     Gambling
          22     The Rapture
          23     The Second Coming
          24     The Antichrist
          25     Creation Versus Evolution