Why I Believe (Part 5 - God)

Introduction:

How would you respond to these popular objections against Christianity?

“You’re almost an atheist. You believe in one God and disbelieve in the rest. I go one god further and don’t believe in any of them.”

“There are so many religions in the world, why think yours is right and all the others are wrong?”

“It doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you’re sincere and you’re a good person.”

Last session = Creator.

But many religions claim this

How do we know ours is right?

Resurrection

First lesson.

Vindication of claims to be the Son of God.

So why should we believe? Because Jesus said so!

The sinless, prophecy-fulfilling, miracle-working Son of God.

Others = in the grave.

But Jesus has conquered death.

Jesus’ unique credentials

John 14:6 (NLT)

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Matthew 7:13–14 (NLT)

13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

Q. What do these verses have to say about Christianity?

Jesus: Christianity = one true way

Sincerity can = wrong

Truth > Motives

Not merely “one more god” than atheists.

Not randomly choosing.

Good reasons to believe

Worldview

More than beliefs; a worldview

Q. What is a worldview?

Worldview: a system of beliefs about what the world is and how it works.

Everybody has one

Atheistic worldview (naturalism)

Matter is all that there is.Humans = result of blind evolutionary processes

Death = worm food.

Shapes how you live and treat people

Answers to four basic questions:

How did we get here?

Who or what are we?

How should we live?

What happens when we die?

Think about different answers (Christian/Non-Christian)

How Christianity best explains these

Question 1: How did we get here?

Last week.

Q. What is the Christian answer to this question?

Genesis 1:1 (NLT)

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

Beginning > Beginner.

Fine-tuning > Fine-Tuner.

DNA > Author of life.

Christianity = best explanation

The world = the purposeful creation of a loving God.

Question 2: Who or what are we?

Different worldviews = different humanity definition

Karl Marx: human beings are economic beings, driven by the need for economic equality.

Sigmund Freud: humans are driven by urges and desires.

Darwin: evolved animals fighting for survival.

Modern consumer culture: clothes, cars, and consumption

Q. How does the Bible answer this question?

Bible: different

Humans are special.

God’s image (Genesis 1:27).

Reflecting His character in some fashion

God’s image = human immensely valuable.

The Christian worldview tells why every person deserves love, compassion, dignity, and respect

No one is more valuable than any other person

But also sinful nature

Adam and Eve.

David: from conception (Psalms 51:5).

Jesus: out of the heart (Mark 7:20-23).

Value, yet broken nature

Body and soul.

Not meat machines

Our spiritual self.

New Heaven and New Earth = resurrected bodies

Question 3: How should we live?

Is there an ultimate meaning to life, or can we just live however we want?

Q. What is the Christian answer to this question?

John 17:3 (NLT)

3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

An atheist may find temporary meanings

No true meaning in the absence of an afterlife.

Christianity: meaning in this life and the next.

Morality

Romans 2:14-15: moral code on hearts.

Innate morality.

Christianity: both meaning and guidelines

Question 4: What happens when we die?

Q. What is the question response to this question?

Souls survive our physical death > Resurrected bodies.

Not worm food or one with the universe.

Trust in Christ = heaven,

Reject God = eternity separated

Christianity = not the end—actions have meaning and consequences.

Christianity answers biggest questions

But still faces challenges.

The problem of evil

Evil and suffering

World = evil and suffering.

Illnesses, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, school shootings, etc.

Q. Have you ever wondered: If there really is a God who is perfectly good and loving, why does He allow so much evil?

How pain and suffering entered

Genesis 3: disobedience = rift

All of creation suffers (Gen. 3:17).

World groans for redemption (Romans 8:19-22).

Christian worldview = explanation for origin

Natural evil.. but what about moral evil?

Morally free creatures

Choose to obey or disobey

Disobey = hurt ourselves and others.

Can’t give free will and guarantee we will always choose good.

Evil is actually an argument for God

Moral Argument

Logical syllogism,

1. If there is no God, there is no objective good and evil.

2. Objective good and evil do exist.

3. Therefore, God exists.

Examine each:

1. If there is no God, there is no objective good and evil.

Q. First off, what does objective mean?

Objective = true fact about reality, regardless of opinion

Example: the sky is blue

Example: murder is wrong, period.

Opposite = subjective.

Q. What does subjective mean?

Subjective = someone’s personal view.

Example: chocolate peanut butter is the best flavor ice cream.

If morality is objective = real and binding on everyone throughout all time.

Objective moral law = Moral Lawgiver.

God is the ultimate grounding of good and evil. .

No God = no standard of morality.

Russian Novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky: “If there is no God, all is permissible.”

Up to individuals or cultures.

Calling something evil = preference

Murder = subjective = right in one culture but wrong in another.

2. Objective good and evil do exist.

But we all know better.

Good to love others, wrong to hurt people.

We ought to keep our promises.

The Holocaust and slave trade were evil

Rape is okay = 2 + 2 = 5.

Deep down, everyone knows...

Leads to conclusion:

3. Therefore, God exists.

If morality is really real, then God must exist.

Puts person complaining about evil in a bind.

No God = no such thing as good or evil.

If no real evil , what complaining about?

Saying there is too much evil = affirming existence of God!

The solution

Not just best explanation; best solution.

Jesus sent to suffer and die

Trust in Him = live forever

Conclusion

Christianity best matches reality.

It makes sense of life, meaning, morality, pain and suffering.

How we got here and where we are going.

But another important component: worldview requires commitment.

Shape the way you live your life

If you believe humans are mere animals and hold no special value, how do you think you will treat other people?

But if you think human beings are immensely valuable, then you must treat them that way.

Last five weeks = powerful reasons to believe

Not follower of Christ: take the next step

Are a Christian: greater confidence, increased faith, encouraged to share Gospel

PRAY

Small Group Questions:

What is the most common reason you’ve heard people use for why they are not a Christian?

What do you think makes the most sense about a Christian worldview as opposed to others?

What does it mean to be made in God’s image? How does that make you feel about your identity?

How does Christianity help you to make sense out of good and evil?

What helps you think through the problem of evil?

How can you apply what you have learned tonight to your life this week?