Why Presup? Part 1

Some Review...

Why do I take this approach?

Romans 1:18–25 ESV

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

suppress = to hold down. I think of a splash pad and trying to hold down the water while screaming What water?

vs 19 we are al born with an innate knowledge of God.

vs 20 here we see a distinction betweent he creation and his creation. There is a God, and you’re not it. We can just look around at the world and naturally conclude that someone had to create it. That being is powerful. That being is deity.

There is both internal and external knowledge

vs 21: there is a refusal to acknowledge God as He is. What does this look like? Can this be a religious person? a nominal Christian?

futile thinking....speaks of speculations and worthless reasoings.

Claiming to be wise they became fools...

Some conclusions from this text:

Proverbs 1:7 ESV

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

God has said that everyone in the world innately knows that God exists. I’m going to use that to my advantage. They may be suppressing the truth, but in reality that cannot escape it.

This can be worked out because the secular worldview cannot stand on its own two feet.

Any time a truth claim is made, the question can always be “Says who?”

The issue is always one of authority. Either man is the authority or God is. there is no in between.

Chart.