Why do we doubt God
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 9 viewsNotes
Transcript
John 20:24-31
John 20:24-31
Carl Rogers, the U.S. psychologist, was 22 years old when he entered Union Theological Seminary in New York in 1924. While there, he participated in a seminar organized to explore religious doubts. Rogers later said of the group, "The majority of members...in thinking their way through questions they had raised, thought themselves right out of religious work. I was one."
The challenge of doubt.
intellectual
proof
John 20:24–28 “24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!””
This is a week after the Resurrection. Thomas was not with the disciples when Jesus appeared to them the previous week.
He heard the reports
Utter refusal to believe other, would only trust his personal senses.
His unbelief is not that he will refuse to believe but that he would believe if he personally saw - but he didn’t expect to see.
Thomas’ points to our senses as key to our belief. He points out that our belief often needs to
See - with my own eyes
Taste - taste it for myself
touch - the need for tactile touch
Hear - personal familiarity with our ears
smell - our connection with smell
Our senses creates our reality.
Our senses gives us reason for doubt or faith. But why do we doubt. There are types of doubt that people have. These three types of doubt lead us to why we doubt.
First there is provisional doubt. doubt because I have no logical explanation and questions for the sake of reaching a dependable conclusion. This is Thomas’ type of doubt.
Second form of doubt is denial. Does not want to learn, but questions to deny. No answer will create belief.
Satan demonstrates this when he questions eve if God really said in Genesis 3:1
The pharisee’s often questioned Jesus but refused to believe the evidence that had been displayed.
Matthew 12:38–42 “38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.”
The pharisees wanted more evidence even though they had seen enough evidence for belief. But Jesus pointed to the final sign of his death, burial and ressurection
The last version of doubt that we will discuss in ignorant doubt. Ignorant doubt seeks evidence in the face of evidence. while the pharisee’s denied the signs existance, this individual thinks there is some other explanation and lives in ignorance of the truth.
This doubt would be like going to the doctor and being informed and shown a tumor as the call for an illness, But the patient wanting to see more proof that the tumor exists. There has to be another cause for the illness because cancer can’t exist.
But Faith is not just an intellectual issue.
James 2:19 “19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”
We doubt because we willingly and emotionally refuse to have faith, or trust, in God.
Now lets turn our attention to faith.
John 20:29–31 “29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Jesus measures his words of condemnation to Thomas
John connects Thomas’ doubt with the purpose for his entire testimony, so that we can believe or have a saving faith.
Faith overcomes doubt.
What is faith?
the Greek (LXX and NT) pisteuō. A key word in the NT, being the term regularly used to denote the many-sided religious relationship into which the gospel calls people—that of trust in God through Christ.
In the New Testament, the nature of faith is to live by the truth that you have accepted. For Christians that means resting on the promises of God. This gives God the glory for our faith.
Faith in God Involves Right Belief about God
Faith Rests on Divine Testimony
Faith Is a Supernatural Divine Gift
One of the greatest challenges is discerning the voice of God versus when Satan is deceiving us. A few keys to discerning if what we believe is from God is from God is:
Fear the Lord
Proverbs 1:7 “7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
This means that we have to be in constant concern with discerning his voice.
God’s Word
2 Timothy 3:16 “16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”
Psalm 119:105 “105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Ask God for clarity
James 1:5 “5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Wise Counsel
Proverbs 12:15 “15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”
Proverbs 11:14 “14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”
Lessons for today”
Don’t doubt but trust God
