He is God Alone

The Battle for the Beginning Evolution is Antithetical to the Truth God has Revealed

Douglas F. Kelly, professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, has written on this subject with great insight. He says, “Essentially, mankind has only two choices. Either we have evolved out of the slime and can be explained only in a materialistic sense, meaning that we are made of nothing but the material, or we have been made on a heavenly pattern.”

There are so many beautiful things in this world: The lilac plants in the spring; the lilies; roses, a shooting star through the dark sky; a majestic mountain range in Nepal - Himalayas...

There are also evidences of great force, energy, power…water in the form of a Tsunami that moved a large military ship inland and wiped out entire villages; fire that rages in the west of the United States; these are forces that cause us to know our limitation.

Just as sure as we have these tokens, there are tokens that God has provided us to know that is is ultimately powerful and supreme in authority. IOW: There are things that tell us God is the only God and that He is in charge.

The scripture presents to us the God of the Universe and calls us to believe on Him.

Proposition:

We can rest assured that the God of the Bible is God alone.

Isaiah 45:22 KJV 1900

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: For I am God, and there is none else.

Isaiah 45:5 KJV 1900

I am the Lord, and there is none else, There is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

1 Corinthians 8:6–7 KJV 1900

But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

(1) God created earth's breathable atmosphere (heaven). This helps me to believe that God is the ONLY true God. (v. 6 - 7)

Scriptural context:

Moses is the human penman. He is the great leader of Israel who served God faithfully. He is recounting how the universe began. Notice a few thoughts:

(1) And God said, Let there be… - these are words of creation. In both verses 6 and 14, these words are followed by God making something.

(2) The word “made” (v. 7) is used synonymously with the word “create.” See .

(3) What God has created is earth’s breathable atmosphere. God’s ability to create and thereby separate the waters shows a tremendous amount of power.

(4) …and it was so…

(5) Clarification: this is not just space, but from a man’s vantage point it is more…it is preparation for Day 5 when God would create birds to fly in the sky.

Principle:

This shows God to be amazingly powerful.

Principle:

Quote:

The theological significance of God’s creation of the skies is the clarification that God alone rules the powers of the heavens

- Mathews, K. A. (1996). (Vol. 1A, p. 150). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Supporting scripture:

Psalm 104:2 KJV 1900

Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

Original recipient:

Original recipients:

These original recipients would have lived in a place largely influenced by Mesopotamian religions.

Divine rule of the skies was particularly important for Sumerian religion, which gave prominent place to the heavens in its pantheon of gods (cf. 1:14). It was Anu, the sky god, and Enlil, god of the atmosphere, who established and deposed the kings of the Sumerian city-states. Baal in the Ugaritic pantheon is identified as the “Rider of the Clouds.” He was the god of storm and rain (cf. ) Mathews, K. A. (1996). (Vol. 1A, p. 150). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Mathews, K. A. (1996). (Vol. 1A, p. 150). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Scientific Amazement:

Losing the ability to breath in the crawl space or watching a shuttle leave earth’s atmosphere or climbing to a high altitude…each of these are experiences that remind us of how important it is that all things be balanced precisely for us to be able to live.

Illustrative thoughts:

From “Battle for the Beginning” by MacArthur:

Did you know that the brain alone is made up of at least 6 million functioning parts.

How critical is the brain to the person?

How critical is oxygen to the brain?

Where does this oxygen reside so that man can inhale it - earth’s atmosphere.

Isn’t it interesting that a Space Shuttle has to enter and leave the earth’s atmosphere at precise angles and measurements otherwise it would mean certain death for all on board.

Yet, not once has it been postulated that the Space Shuttle with all of it’s functioning parts, just accidentally evolved.

All the while, the brain that uses oxygen - we’re supposed to believe it just evolved.

Christological Understanding:

,

Matthew 27:45 KJV 1900

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

Matthew 27:54 KJV 1900

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

(2) God gave a name to earth's breathable atmosphere: Heaven. This helps me to believe that there is no other God with the same authority. (v. 8)

Why is this so hard to accept today?

Transition:

(2) God gave a name to earth's breathable atmosphere: Heaven. This helps me to believe that there is no other God with the same authority. (v. 8)

Scriptural context:

God gives earth’s breathable atmosphere a name: Heaven. This shows to us an authority that no one else can lay claim to. Parents typically reserve the right to name their children.

Principle:

God’s authority is above all other authority.

Supporting scripture:

, ,

Job 38:33 KJV 1900

Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? Canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

Psalm 8:3–4 KJV 1900

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Psalm 18:9–13 KJV 1900

He bowed the heavens also, and came down: And darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: Yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness his secret place; His pavilion round about him Were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, Hail stones and coals of fire. The Lord also thundered in the heavens, And the Highest gave his voice; Hail stones and coals of fire.

Original recipients:

The Lord’s authority over heaven is tied to his power to use those powers for the deliverance of his people. For the original recipients, they were following the God who had miraculous delivered them using various powers of the heavens to show His authority.

Scientific Amazement:

Christological Understanding:

, Christ is the One by Whom God created all things.

Ephesians 3:9 KJV 1900

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Hebrews 1:2 KJV 1900

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

, , , [ASTONISHING]

Current Application:

Mark 1:22 KJV 1900

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

Transition:

Mark 1:27 KJV 1900

And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

Mark 11:28–33 KJV 1900

And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Mark 10:42–45 KJV 1900

But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Concluding Thoughts:

Final application (defeater beliefs):

Why is this so hard to accept? One of the reasons this is hard to accept is because in our world there are so many gods that differing people have.

We think it is arrogant or proud. It seems that in this pantheon of gods, it would be arrogant to say that there is one God.

We think that for us to stand for one God is to declare all other gods as no gods; so, we fear that maybe we are forcing exclusivity on others.

We think that the cry of those who want an “All-Inclusive” option are more loving. They say, “No one should insist that their own religion is valid and others not valid. They say that every religion is equally valid.” This is the ALL-INCLUSIVE OPTION.

So, we have the ALL-INCLUSIVE OPTION and the EXCLUSIVE OPTION. We have the one that says all religions are equal and we have the truth that says “There is only One God.”

Question: Does the ALL-INCLUSIVE OPTION include the EXCLUSIVE OPTION? No. It is impossible.

Acts 17:24 KJV 1900

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Illustrative thoughts:

From “Battle for the Beginning” by MacArthur:

Did you know that the brain alone is made up of at least 6 million functioning parts.

How critical is the brain to the person?

How critical is oxygen to the brain?

Where does this oxygen reside so that man can inhale it - earth’s atmosphere.

Isn’t it interesting that a Space Shuttle has to enter and leave the earth’s atmosphere at precise angles and measurements otherwise it would mean certain death for all on board.

Yet, not once has it been postulated that the Space Shuttle with all of it’s functioning parts, just accidentally evolved.

All the while, the brain that uses oxygen - we’re supposed to believe it just evolved.

Questions:

When you inhale, does that remind you of the powerful Creator?

Have you believed the lie of our world that “You are the master of your own destiny/fate?”