September 2009 - Volume 5, Issue 4

WHO IS OUR 'INTELLIGENT DESIGNER'? (Part 11)
By Dr. John Whitcomb

Did the Apostle Paul ever appeal to Intelligent Design when he confronted unbelievers? Yes, but only in an introductory way. For example, at the Areopagus (i.e., Mars Hill) in Athens, he declared: "For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device" (Acts 17:28-29, KJV).

But for the members of this city court to have agreed with Paul about the obvious fact of natural revelation would have accomplished nothing for their eternal salvation. And Paul knew this! He therefore concluded: God "now commandeth all men every where to repent (i.e., to make a radical change of heart and mind about the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man)" (Acts 17:30; see also Christ's command [Luke 24:47 -- " repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations"] and Paul's commission [Acts 26:20 - he " shewed...to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance"]).

Why should these Athenian leaders "repent"? Answer: "Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained (i.e., the resurrected Jesus, whom Paul had presented for several days in the market place - Acts 17:17, 18); whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31).
What was their response to this shocking statement? "And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them" (Acts 17:32-34).

Some believed! They were transformed forever by the grace of God through the convicting and illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. But how did this happen? The contemporary Intelligent Design Movement needs to ponder this statement. Without faith in the substitutionary death and bodily resurrection of the Son of God, there can be no genuine change of heart, no eternal salvation. Christ did not return from the dead with a mortal body (like Lazarus), but with a glorified body, never to die again.

God's requirement for spiritual salvation is not belief in Intelligent Design. All of the religious leaders of Israel believed in ID. But they crucified the Designer! "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19).
What, then, does one have to believe to be eternally saved? "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. 10:9, 10).

To Be Continued...

Dr. Whitcomb to speak at Men For Christ
Dr. John Whitcomb will speak at next year's Men For Christ rally, which will be held at Faith Baptist Bible College & Theological Seminary in Ankeny, Iowa. Joining him will be Carl Kerby, a founding board member and international speaker for Answers in Genesis.

Gentlemen, be sure to mark your calendars now for March 26 and 27, 2010! You will not want to miss this conference. The theme for the weekend will be "Biblical Creationism in Your Local Church."

For the latest information on this conference, visit www.menforchrist.us and stay connected through the Whitcomb Ministries Web pages.

Hear Dr. Whitcomb speak this fall
In the month of August, Dr. Whitcomb is speaking in Indiana and Wisconsin.

In September, he will be in Indiana and Iowa.

In October, he will teach in Illinois and New York.

Details regarding these trips sometimes change. For all the latest news, always check www.WhitcombMinistries.org (click on "Speaking Schedule" on the home page) or www.SermonAudio.com/Whitcomb (click on "Weblog"). Our ministry never rests online! Visit us there anytime.