Foundational Truths #1: God is Real

God is real and made us in His image, with love, to glorify Him.

I. Who Made God? When Did God Start Existing? What Came before Him?

Genesis 1:1 KJV 1900

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Romans 11:36 KJV 1900

36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Hebrews 11:3 KJV 1900

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Revelation 1:11 KJV 1900

11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Colossians 1:16 KJV 1900

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

God has always existed, and will never cease to exist. Out temporary, human minds simply cannot understand an infinite, timeless God. (circle illustration)

Revelation 1:8 KJV 1900

8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

II. God Loves us.

Romans 5:8 KJV 1900

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:10 KJV 1900

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 3:16 KJV 1900

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 3:10 KJV 1900

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23 (KJV 1900)

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:8 KJV 1900

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:10 KJV 1900

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Romans 5:12 KJV 1900

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 10:9–13 KJV 1900

9 That 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. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

III. What does God look like? Does He look like us?

God made us in His “image,” and the Bible uses many human characteristics to describe God, but it is impossible for us to know God’s real appearance until we are in Heaven.

Genesis 1:27 KJV 1900

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Romans 12:1–2 KJV 1900

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1 John 2:15 KJV 1900

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

IV. Why can’t we see God? How do we know that He is there?

Romans 1:20 KJV 1900

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Hebrews 11:1 KJV 1900

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is believing without seeing, and God wants us to have faith so that we depend on Him. If we could see God, there would be no need for faith.

V. Where is God? Is God in Heaven, or is He really everywhere?

God is 'omnipresent, which means He is everywhere at once. But, God also has something called a 'manifest presence, like when He showed himself to Moses (Gen. 33: 18-20). God's manifest presence is on the "Throne" in Heaven, where He rules and reigns over all creation.

Genesis 33:18–20 KJV 1900

18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city. 19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money. 20 And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel.

We want our students to understand...

God is real. Heaven is real. Hell is real. These are not just stories!

The universe was not a random accident. We did not come from nothing for no reason, and we certainly did not evolve from "pond scum" or monkeys!

There is scientific 'evidence' of God all throughout the world and the universe. God has never and will never be 'disproven" by science (Christianity and science are not opposites!)

We are God's children, made in His "image" to "reflect" His nature and character by trying our best to be like Him. This fact alone gives each one of our lives incredible value and worth.