The Existence of God
Notes
Transcript
The Existence of God
The Existence of God
The Second Fundamental Truth:
The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM," the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
From the very beginning, the Bible does not start with an attempt to prove God’s existence. Rather, it opens with His existence as a primary assumption:
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Humanity has an inner sense that God exists:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds;
There is no one who does good.
Nature reveals God’s Existence
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
This realization is evidenced in the idol worship which ran rampant in the Old Testament. They were all looking for the Designer.
1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
17 and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”
Other “proofs” for the existence of God:
These are some of the traditionally used philosophical arguments to prove God exists:
The Cosmological Argument
Every known thing in the universe has a cause, therefore the universe itself must have a cause.
The Teleological Argument
The design of the universe implies orchestration by an intelligent, purposeful deity.
The Moral Argument
Humanity’s sense of right and wrong and the need for justice to be done stands as evidence for God.
What about those who don’t believe in God?
4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
3 For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire,
And the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord.
4 The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him.
All his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
The truth about the existence of God is evident within each one of us, but sin causes people to deny that truth to themselves, and make it so others do not believe in Him as well…
(i.e. I don’t believe in God, because of all the bad in the world)
21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.