Sermon Tone Analysis

! What The Bible Teaches \\ Unit 1 \\ Who is God?

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! Lesson 2 \\ How Can I Know That God Exists?

Life’s most important questions.

The things we all ponder.

The first of these is

*Who is God*?

Amazingly enough, over the past fifty years, surveys have consistently represented that America believes in God.

During that time somewhere between 85% and 95% of Americans represent that God exists.

If this is true, where is He in their actions?

At issue is the definition of God.

Who is the God most American’s believe in?

How does He help bring comfort and guidance into their lives?

!!! Getting Attention

 

Psalm 14:1 (NKJV) \\ 1 The fool has said in his heart,“/There is/ no God.”

They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.

The Bible takes a different direction.

The Bible says that those who say there is no God is a fool, a person without understanding.

But, since America believes in God, are there no fools in America?

Why should thoughtful people ask these questions?

 

* Who is God? 

* How can I know that God exists?

!!! Knowing and Understanding the Bible

 

 

 

!!! Arguments for God’s Existence

 

Genesis 1:1 (NKJV) \\ 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

One of the practical problems a believer faces is that Christianity is a religion of faith.

One must believe to be saved.

One must believe in order to understand the teachings of Scripture.

In other words, one must believe that God exists.

It is, in the final analysis, a matter of faith.

On the other hand, according to the surveys most people do not deny the existence of God.

As we indicated last week, most atheists are really agnostics, people who argue that God’s existence cannot be proven.

In practical terms, the burden of proof for God’s existence should be on the minority, those who deny his existence.

In practice, the burden seems to always fall upon the Christian.

When faced with a situation in which the other party denies the existence of deity, the Christian feels duty bound to “prove” God exists.

Unfortunately this is not actually possible.

Theologians have developed a number of possible arguments for God’s existence.

*Cause and Effect*

 

Every one understands that every cause has an effect.

This is called cosmological argument.

Therefore, if one is discussing creation, this means that someone caused Creation.

That someone is God.

Hebrews supports the general concept behind this argument.

Hebrews 3:4 (NKJV) \\ 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things /is/ God.

Romans 1:16-32 also supports this conclusion.

Verse 20 is the best single verse for supporting this argument.

Romans 1:20 (NKJV) \\ 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible /attributes/ are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, /even/ His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

 

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*Design*

 

A closely related to this argument is the teleological argument.

It is more properly known as the design argument.

Science has shown us the universe is an orderly design, not a mass of confusion and chaos.

This argument is based upon the results of our experience.

The universe, the earth, the systems of earth, are all orderly and they function (more or less) systematically and orderly.

Therefore, one should conclude the existence of a designer or creator of the universe.

In other words, design assumes a designer.

Just as finding a watch on the beach suggests a watch maker, so, too, the universes suggests a “universe maker.”

The lesson materials use the human body as the prime or special example of something developed by design.

Scripture speaks to the design of the human body.

Psalm 94:9-10 (NKJV) \\ 9 He who planted the ear, shall He not hear?

He who formed the eye, shall He not see? 10 He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge?

Many feel that no single argument presses more strongly and intuitively upon the thoughts of individuals in pointing toward God’s existence than this argument.

In the field of creationism versus evolution the movement is headed away from arguing for the teaching of creationism in schools and is now pushing to teach “intelligent design.”

The view is that by teaching a designer more students will be pointed toward concluding the existence of God, without “violating” the laws about separation of church and state.

*Morality*

 

Man is an intelligent creature.

He has a conscience which is based upon an innate moral code.

This natural law requires a Law-Giver.

Society, via its various forms of government, generally has recognized the concepts of right and wrong.

Where does this uniform impulse come from, if not from God.  Reason declares all of this to be true.

The atheist is a fool, and must bow to the existence of God.

Only one who blindly overlooks all of the evidence may conclude there is no God.

Romans 2:15 implies that man has a sense of right and wrong.

Mankind has always possessed a code of laws.

Where did they come from?

C.S. Lewis argues in Mere Christianity that this is the prime method of convincing people of God’s existence.

*History*

 

History shows the continual belief of a Supreme Being.

Where did this belief arise and how did it continue for so many thousands of years if there is no God?

The ontological argument, sometimes called the religious or general argument, is based upon the premise that man naturally believes in a god.

God is pictured as matching the dictionary definition of a supreme being, one who is perfect, independent, and infinite.

This is viewed philosophically as a rational argument, for if man’s logic is incorrect, these concepts are not true, and our thinking would be futile.

Who wants to believe man’s logic is empty?

This argument lies on a foundation of universalism.

Even amongst the "backward" tribes of the world, those living apart from modern civilization, there is a belief in the supernatural God.

Thus, since this belief is universal, it must come from within mankind.

This belief is part of our nature.

Since there is a thirst for God, there must be a God creating this thirst.

*Value of Arguments*

 

All of these arguments point to the existence of a Supreme Being, especially since God made us to recognize Him.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV) \\ 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

The arguments make people think about whether or not God exists.

*However, they do not point toward nor logically prove the existence of the Christian God of the Bible.*

This knowledge only comes via the special revelation of Scripture and the work of the Holy Spirit which requires FAITH (special revelation).

But, mankind . .

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!!! Suppression of Belief in God

 

History and the Bible both demonstrate that mankind ignores all of the arguments for the existence of the one true God.

Romans 1:16-32 (NKJV) \\ 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, /“The just shall live by faith.”/

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 what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown /it/ to them.

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible /attributes/ are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, /even/ His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify /Him/ as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.