The Existence of God
Notes
Transcript
Distinctions
Distinctions
There are some distinctions that mark the church that Jesus built.
Distinction: a difference or contrast between similar things or people. excellence that sets someone or something apart from others.
This series as introduced last week will look at some issues of distinction:
Existence of God
Identity of GOd
Identity of Jesus of Nazareth
The sufficiency of scripture
The purpose of baptism
Nature of the church that Jesus built (the Lord’s church).
We are not to put up barriers, divisions with others, we are to be diligent to study God’s word to see what does differentiate ourselves from others and be will to present our convictions with love (turn to Eph4:15)
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
As children of God we need to be able to share truth as Paul told Timothy. (turn to 2Tim2:24-25)
24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
May we be people who can know what we believe, believe what we know and explain why we believe what we believe.
The importance of this issue.
The importance of this issue.
The atheist believes there is no God, the agnostic is not convinced there is a God. So, if there is no God, they are right, there is no judgment day, no heaven, no hell, no reason to be accountable to anyone but ourselves. There is no plumb line of right and wrong, good or evil, man will do as he pleases.
But, if there is a God, if God does exist, there is a Supreme Being in whom we must give an account and we should learn whatever we can about the character, the nature of God. What does He reveal about Himself, what does He expect, require from us.
Consider this passage that wonderfully states a such a search (turn to Jer9:23-24)
23 Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.
(Transition): Think of this, any issue of controversy, such as the existence of God, the burden of proof rest on those who argue in the affirmative. So what are the evidences presented by people that affirm that God exists.
Evidences for the existence of God
Evidences for the existence of God
Ontological: relating to the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being.
This argument started in about 1100 A.D. by an archbishop named Anselm who stated:
“If man can have the concept of a perfect God, then He must exist.”
In short this argument is that everything that man can know is based on some reality (even if it is perverted)
This is really considered the weakest of the arguments
The General Argument: this is based on the universal belief in God and the religious instinct.
Ferrell Jenkins in his introduction to Christian evidences course said.
“Man in all the world, and throughout all time, not only believe in deity, but also engage in acts of worship and devotion.”
Turn to (Act17:22-28)
22 So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. 23 “For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’
He also said “Everywhere the human heart has a craving for God. There will be exceptions as individuals, but the exceptions do not invalidate the rule. The atheist is an exception in every society.”
Yes, the general argument presents that since there is a universe, there is a creator, God, a Supreme being whom man longs for.
The cosmological argument: The cosmological argument is an attempt to prove the existence of God by the fact that things exist. It assumes that things must have a cause, and that the chain of causes can only end by a supernatural event. (Wixipedia, Stanford school of philosophy) - this is also known as the argument from first cause.
The premise is that every effect must have a cause. The theist, believes
(Quote Gen1:1)
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
The objection is who created God.
Keep in mind that the law which states every effect has a cause applies to things that are physical.
God is spiritual by definition (turn to Jn4:24)
24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
His omnipresence is an example of how He defies the laws of nature. (turn to Jer23:23-24)
23 “Am I a God who is near,” declares the Lord, “And not a God far off? 24 “Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?” declares the Lord. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.
So, this argument, as logical as it sounds does not apply to him since He is the uncaused cause of all things.
The Teleological argument: The basic premise, of all teleological arguments for the existence of God, is that the world exhibits an intelligent purpose based on experience from nature such as its order, unity, coherency, design and complexity (Oxford University)
So, as you can conclude from that statement that this argument is based upon the evidence of design in the universe.
Evidence of design means there is a designer.
You can look at the order of things in the universe are perfectly placed how the human body intricately works together to function together.
Walk outside and you can be in awe of creation, which means in awe of the Creator. Consider (turn to Ps19:1-2)
1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.
Or maybe turn to Ps139:14)
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
The moral argument: The argument states that all people have an instinctive sense of what is right and wrong. - this is also known as “anthropological argument.” - this is based upon reality that everywhere people have a “sense of ought.”
That people should do, act in a certain way. and that oftentimes that people do not do this.
Even atheists have a “sense of justice,: and are angered when it is violated such as murder, rape, etc.,
The moral nature demands a moral being as the original cause.
The Esthetical argument: The argument from beauty (also the aesthetic argument) is an argument for the existence of a realm of immaterial ideas or, most commonly, for the existence of God, that roughly states that the evident beauty in nature, art and music and even in more abstract areas like the elegance of the laws of physics or the elegant laws of mathematics is evidence of a creator deity who has arranged these things to be beautiful (aesthetically pleasing, or "good") and not ugly
How did beauty come to be, was it by a blind chance, or from a supreme being. It is an intelligent argument for design. It isa moral argument from sense of ought, and a aesthetic argument from sense of beauty. Consider (turn to Ps96:4-6)
4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Arguments we have looked at are all philosophical arguments, but are bible based for the bible points to nature, to creation and a creator (turn to Ps19:1-2; Rom1:20).
1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.
then (Rom1:20)
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
But man must draw his own conclusion, I believe, I hope you are here today already having a conclusion that God exists and you are desiring to know Him more .
God invites you to know Him, His desire is for you to know Him and be saved.
Invitation/Encouragement
