The Definition and Existence of God

Genesis 1:1 The Definition and Existence of God Introduction: As we begin our studies in Genesis we must start not at the beginning but before the beginning. We must begin with God. Genesis actually begins with the fact of God. There is no attempt to argue for God’s existence, His existence is assumed. From the biblical standpoint God’s existence is in the category of self-evident truth, and those who deny the self-evident truth of God’s existence are considered fools. Psalm 14:1 “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” This is the Biblical standpoint. But outside of the biblical view is the idea of God reasonable? This is what we would like to discuss before going any further in our studies in Genesis. We will make the claim that belief in God is not only reasonable but that our belief and view of God is the most important thing about us. A.W. Tozer Said, “What comes into our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us. The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above it’s religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than it’s idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshipper entertains high or low thoughts of God. For this reason the gravest question before the church is always God himself, and the most portentous fact about man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like.” 1. The Definition of God a. What do we mean by God? We must define our terms for there are so many different beliefs or definitions of God. b. Secular views. i. For Plato, God is the eternal mind, the cause of good in nature. ii. Aristotle considered him to be the first ground of all being. iii. Spinoza defined God as “the absolute, universal substance, the real cause of all and every existence; and not only the cause of all being, but itself all being, of which every special existence is only a modification.” iv. Kant defined God as a being who, by his understanding and will, is the cause of nature; a being who has all rights and no duties; the moral author of the world. v. A more modern definition of God would be, “the creative force, behind and in the universe, who manifests himself as energy, as life, as order, as beauty, as thought, as conscience, as love.” c. Biblical view. i. Biblical names of persons and places often carry great significance. This is also true for the names of God. 1. One of the most widely used terms for deity or God in the bible is the term El, Elim, or Elohim. This is similar to the greek word Theos, and our english word God. The plural term Elohim is often used for God but can also be used for pagan deities or gods. The compound El-Elyon designates Him (God) as the highest, or the most high God (psalm 78:35) and El- Shaddai as the almighty God (Gen 17:1). 2. Jehovah or Yaweh is the personal name of Israel’s God. It literally means “to be” or “the self existent one” or the “one who causes to be”. The Bible usually uses the term Lord with a capital “L” in place of Jehovah. a. This name has a number of combinations, and you’ve probably heard or used some of them. They are: Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord will provide(Gen 22:14); Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord that heals (Ex 15:26); Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord our banner (Ex 17:15); Jehovah-Shalom, the Lord our peace (Judges 6:24); Jehovah-Raah, The Lord my shepherd (psalm 23:1); Jehovah-Tsidkenu, the Lord our righteousness (Jer 23:6); Jehovah-Shammah, the Lord is present (Ezek 48:35). 3. Adonai- meaning my Lord is frequently used by the prophets, expressing submission or dependance upon God as a servant to his master. 4. In the N.T the term Theos takes the place of El, Elohim and Elyon. The names Shaddai, and El-Shaddai are rendered pantokrator and theos-pantokrator. d. Although we have given secular views of God and the biblical view/names for God we still haven’t defined who or what he is. e. The Christian Definition of God f. The best summary of the doctrine of God as taught by scripture is found in the answer to question four in the Westminster Shorter Catechism, “What is God? God is spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.” i. Hoeksema states, “God is the one, simple, absolute, purely spiritual, personal being of infinite perfections, wholly immanent in all the world, yet essentially transcendent in relation to all things.” ii. Berkhof says, God is one, absolute, unchangeable and infinite in his knowledge and wisdom, his goodness and love, his grace and mercy, his righteousness and holiness.” iii. Strongs, “God is the infinite and perfect Spirit in whom all things have their source, support and end.” 2. The Existence of God a. Now just because the Bible or ancient and modern philosophers teach that there is an almighty, all knowing, ever present being known as God, doesn’t mean that there is such a thing or person. b. Many today consider belief in God to be out of date and downright barbaric, they claim that these beliefs are primitive superstitions passed down to us and that we must finally rid ourselves of them if we are to achieve true greatness. i. Therefore it is very important for us as believers in a personal God to re-examine the evidence for the existence of God. ii. A few things to consider before we proceed: 1. We must remember that the existence of God cannot be proven or disproven finally. The arguments for the existence of God are not independent proofs, but are support and expositions of our innate conviction of his existence. 2. God is spirit, therefore we must not demand the same type of proof that we demand for the existence of material things, but only evidence that is suitable to the object of proof. 3. A single argument for the existence of God is inadequate, but a number of arguments together should be sufficient to bind the conscience and compel belief. c. The Cosmological argument: This argument states in essence that the universe is an effect which must have had a cause. i. “The Law of cause and effect states that the effect cannot be greater, in size or in kind, than the cause… No exceptions to the law of cause and effect have ever been observed. It follows that every effect we see in the universe must have had a cause, and we can trace all effects back to a First Cause. The first cause of time must be greater than time, in fact eternal. The first cause of space must be greater than space, namely infinite… The first cause of all the energy in the universe cannot be less than the sum total of that energy, the first cause is omnipotent. By similar logic, we can consider all the information; not just the intrinsic properties of matter, but the genetic information in all the varied forms of animal and vegetable life and conclude that the first cause must be omniscient, all knowing”. (Dr. David Rosevere) d. The Teleological argument: This argument states that where there is a design there must be a designer, where there is purpose there must be one who purposed it. i. Irreducible complexity of the cell. If the cell were to be reduced even slightly, life would not be possible. ii. The anthropic principle: The argument can be used to explain why the conditions happen to be just right for the existence of (intelligent) life on the earth at the present time. 1. When we consider the distance of the moon from the earth, and that if it were any closer the tides would cover the earth in water. When we consider the earth’s distance from the sun if we were any closer we would burn up and any further the earth would freeze. e. The Moral argument: This argument states that there must be a God to account for the universal sense of right and wrong among people. i. Hoeksema Says, “Every man has a sense of obligation, of what is right and wrong, together with an undeniable sense of responsibility to do what is right and a sense of self-condemnation when he commits what is evil” he goes on to say, There is in him, as it were, a voice that will not be silenced” f. Belief in the existence of God is intuitive. i. A belief is intuitive if it is universal and necessary. ii. Universal: Paul writes in Romans 1:19-20 “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” 1. History shows that the religious element of our nature is just as universal as the rational or social one. Man universally is a religious being, whether it is a belief in the phenomena and supernatural or a belief in a personal God. iii. Necessary: The belief in the existence of God is necessary. It is necessary in the sense that we cannot deny his existence without doing violence to the very laws of our nature. 1. Options? There is no designer therefore there is no design. Life is meaningless and you are meaningless. a. The problem with this belief is that it is inconsistent for no one lives as if their life has no significance but we seek to discover who we are, to define ourselves and what our purpose is as human beings. 2. Many have proposed the theory of “panspermia”. Panspermia is the belief that life was brought to earth by aliens. a. Okay, but who made those intelligent beings who brought life to earth? It only delays the inevitable... That there must be an original cause of life. g. The Argument from Congruity: This argument is based on the belief that the postulate which best explains the related facts is probably true. i. In this particular case, belief in the existence of God best explains the facts of our moral, mental and religious nature, as well as the facts of the material universe… without this postulate (God exist) these facts are really inexplicable. ii. To believe in a personal, self-sufficient, and self revealing God is consistent with our moral and mental nature. It is here that history, natural law, universal belief in a supreme being with it’s religious experiences have their explanation. Conclusion: When we come to the end of the argument for God we are faced with another question. Who is the most likely candidate for this office? I myself have often thought and considered the other religions of the world; their God, their message, and their way of life that they offer. In searching and studying I have not found a better candidate for this office than the God that the Bible reveals to us. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:14 “ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.