This I Believe Week 2 - Who is God?

Intro/Welcome

We are in a 6 week study called “This I Believe”

Examining the Foundations of the Christian Faith

But really it is the foundations from which we build our life.

and everyone is building their life on something

Sand vs. Rock — Matt 7:24-25.

Today: Who is God?

Really two questions:

Does God exist?

If he does, what is God like?

Pascal’s Wager

The gist of Pascal’s argument is that life is a voyage toward or away from God that we embarked on the moment we were born. When it comes to believing in God, everything begins with a bet that everyone makes with their life.

If you believe there is a God and you die to discover you are right, then you win your bet.

If you believe in God and then die, but there is no God, you have lost nothing, gained nothing, and simply come out even on your bet. This bet is safe because you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

On the other hand, if you do not believe in God, you are making a very risky bet, because you have everything to lose and nothing to gain.

If you do not believe in God and when you die you discover you were wrong, you literally have hell to pay.

And if you do not believe in God and then die and God does not exist, then you have gained nothing, lost nothing, and simply come out even on your bet.

Pascal’s point is simply that your life is a bet and it is most reasonable to bet that there is a God.

Pray

Isaiah 61:1–3 CSB

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify him.

Does God Exist?

Yes, the Bible simply asserts it.

Genesis 1:1 (CSB)

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

Furthermore the Bible goes on to Say.

Psalm 53:1 (CSB)

1 The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.” They are corrupt, and they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good.

How can we know?

Reason & Revelation

Reason

1. Observation

Romans 1:19–20 (CSB)

19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.

Psalm 19:1–2 (CSB)

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.

Marvel at the beauty, elegance and design of the universe.

My trip to the Ear Doctor

2. Rationalization

Can simply use our minds to think about things

Main Arguments for God

Ontological argument: The non-existence of God is not consistently conceivable.

Cosmological argument: The contingent universe required a necessary first cause.

Teleological argument: The apparent design in the universe points to a designer.

Moral argument: Objective moral laws point to a transcendent law-giver.

Kalam Argument from Time : The existence of time necessitates a beginning as a reference point from which time proceeds.

To deny God is to “suppress the truth”

Romans 1:18 (CSB)

18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,

Why?

Psalm 10:4 (CSB)

4 In all his scheming, the wicked person arrogantly thinks, “There’s no accountability, since there’s no God.”

God (Theism) exists over and against: Atheism - There is no God

ok, God exists, but what is he like?

is he the God of the Bible?

What is God Like?

We need Revelation — this reveals the nature and character of God

God exists and we can know him over and against Agnosticism - God cannot be known

1. Creator/Creation Distinction

God is separate from Creation

God is not us and we are not God

Over and against:

Pantheism - God is the world

Panentheism - All is in God

New Ageism

Examples:

New Ageism / Christ Consciousness

Spiritism

Some forms of Buddhism/Hinduism

2. God is One - Monotheism

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 (CSB)

4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Isaiah 45:5 (CSB)

5 I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God but me. I will strengthen you, though you do not know me,

1 Timothy 2:5 (CSB)

5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,

Over and against:

Polytheism - There are many gods/goddesses

Hinduism - millions of Gods

3. Like and Unlike God

There are ways in which we as image bearers are both like and unlike God

Communicable and Incommunicable Attributes

Like God

God is

Omni-present

Omni-potent

Omniscient

We are present locally

We have some degree of power

We have some degree of knowledge

Other attributes:

Spiritual Nature

Loving, Good, truthful, beauty

just, righteous, will, desires

Summary

We are limited — God is unlimited

We are finite — God is infinite

Unlike God

God is completely Independent (Self-Existent)

not contingent on anything else

He simply exist

Exodus 3:14 (CSB)

14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”

Unchanging (immutable)

Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know God Is Unchangeable

God is unchangeable, but not in every way we might think him to be. Instead, he is unchangeable only in the ways the Scriptures tell us he is unchangeable: God is unchangeable in his being, attributes, purposes, and promises.

Malachi 3:6 AV

6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Hebrews 13:8 CSB

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Eternal

Genesis 1:1 CSB

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

Ephesians 1:4 CSB

4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.

Revelation 1:8 CSB

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Transcendent (beyond this world and our understanding)

He is Far

Out there — in the Heavens — High Above

Holy, Righteous, Unapproachable — unknowable.

The Nature of God

Transcendent & Immanent

He is both Far and Near

High and Exalted

yet near and present

Trinitarian

He is three in one

Apostles Creed

Statement of Faith

God as Father

God as the Son

God as the Holy Spirit

Personal - Tri-personal

We are in relationship to Him.

What does God say about himself?

Exodus 34:6–7 (CSB)

6 The Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed: The Lord—the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, 7 maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.

Conclusion: Why it matters?

God is active in the World Today

God wants a relationship with you — wants to walk with you

Wants you to walk with him.

Contrary to Deism — God is active and alive today.

He is living inside of you.