The Identity of God
Notes
Transcript
Building on Truth
Building on Truth
Simply Christians, study God’s word, we will get more into that in a few minutes
We started this series with the reason for this series, Jesus called and built one church, His church and it is distinctive in nature.
We look at the existence of God last week.
Existence of God slide here
Existence of God slide here
Ontological: if man can conceive it, a perfect God than one must exist
General: The universal belief in a God and man’s religious instinct
Cosmological: Cause and effect, the cosmos is the effect of God being the cause
Teleological: Evidence of an intelligent design signifies there is a Creator
Moral: Moral nature in man and sense of “ought” demands a moral person in back of all things.
Esthetical: beauty of creation and man’s response to it suggests there is a God, Supreme being with an eye for beauty.
(Transition): As stated last week these things are philosophical arguments that show there is a creation which reveals something about the Creator.
(turn to 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 there is a problem and maybe better read the passage in context to see the problem, we must have the right belief in who God the Creator is.
Turn to (Rom1:18-21)
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 that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 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. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Important to know is the Creator, the one who is revealed in the Bible?
IS he the God or gods believed by Hindus, Buddhists, and the like?
Or is He some being yet to be discovered by mankind?
There is an issue of distinction when it comes to who God is, the identity of God and that is what is before us today.
The Importance of the Issue
The Importance of the Issue
If God is not the one revealed in the bible, then many religions have it wrong.
Jews, Muslim's and Christians alike a believe in the God of Abraham
We also believe that He has revealed Himself through the prophets.
In not the God revealed in the bible then we should be looking elsewhere to learn who God, the Creator, or Supreme Being is
Like eastern religions, non- theistic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, or a list of many others.
IF God is the one who reveals Himself in the Bible consider (turn to Jn1:1-4)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
If He is the God that has made Himself known so man is without excuse, man has a responsibility to learn what all God has revealed about Himself outside of just creation through the bible, like his promises as well as His expectations of man.
(Transition): while we go forward the three most common beliefs are that of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, but not all can be the One True God whose identity is made known in the bible. This is something we need to reason out.
Start with THe Word is God, and the Word is inspired by God (turn to 2Tim3:16-17)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
May we now consider:
Evidences for the Identity of God
Evidences for the Identity of God
66 books, 1600 years, 40 generations
40 some odd authors from varying backgrounds
Political leader: Moses
Fisherman: Peter
Herdsman: Amos
Military man: Joshua
Cup Bearer: Nehemiah
Slave to Prime Minister: Daniel
A Gentile Physician: Luke
A unlikely king: Solomon
Tax Collector: Matthew
A zealous Rabbi: Paul
From 40 authors to different places
Wilderness (Moses) dungeon (Jeremiah); palace/hillside (Daniel); prison (Paul); in exile (John).
Different times: in times of war, in times of peace, in times of judgment and times of reconciliation and restoration
Different moods: Joys, Triumphs, joy, sorrow, despair, destitute.
Different continents: Asia, Africa, Europe
Different languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek
Different and controversial subject matters on hundreds of topics ranging from
Origin of man and the universe, The nature of God, The sin problem.
Yet with all this differences there is continuity and harmony.
Paradise lost in Genesis is paradise regained when explained in Revelation
The tree of life closed in Genesis but opened forever more in Revelation (Geisler and Nix)
66 (books) x 1600 (years) x 40 (authors) x 3 (languages)x 3 (Continents) and they all point to one thing, God’s scheme of Redemption!
Reason for the unity of the bible? Easy all inspired by the same God turn to 2Pt1:20-21)
20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
(Transition) We still have more to go to Prove the identity of God
Scientific foreknowledge of the bible.
Many man made scientific discoveries made known hundreds of years after the bible truth presented. By this we can know that the bible writers were inspired for they could not have scientifically known these things without divine inspiration.
Such things as things about the earth.
Roundness (turn to Isa40:22)
22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
Placement and suspension of the earth (turn to Job26:7)
7 “He stretches out the north over empty space And hangs the earth on nothing.
Currents of the seas (turn to Ps8:8)
8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
And even the nature of man, from one man many nations (turn to Act17:26)
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,
Then there is the fulfilled prophesies, believed 2500 Prophesies of which most are already fulfilled.
Old Testament foretold events in detail well beyond anything, anyone could know or predict.
A few to consider
turn to Isa41:21-24
21 “Present your case,” the Lord says. “Bring forward your strong arguments,” The King of Jacob says. 22 Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place; As for the former events, declare what they were, That we may consider them and know their outcome. Or announce to us what is coming; 23 Declare the things that are going to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods; Indeed, do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together. 24 Behold, you are of no account, And your work amounts to nothing; He who chooses you is an abomination.
Now turn to (Isa42:8-9)
8 “I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images. 9 “Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”
and then turn to Isa46:8-11)
8 “Remember this, and be assured; Recall it to mind, you transgressors. 9 “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; 11 Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.
Next week we will be looking at some of the fulfilled Messianic prophecies like the fall of Babylon, Egypt, Ninevah and Tyre, so come back as we look at that evidence.
Drawing a conclusion
Drawing a conclusion
We have seen the uniformity of the scripture as well as the scientific foreknowledge of the Bible.
We have touched on the prophesies found in the bible
Among those who believe in the God of the Bible yet have differences
Jews accept the O.T.
Muslims believe the God of the Bible, but that the O.T. and the N.T have been corrupted and do not accurately portray, Moses, the prophets, or Jesus.
Christians believe in both the O.T. and the N.T. and the distinct nature comes in the identity of who Jesus of Nazareth is.
Invitation
There is sufficient historical evidence that the bible is the word of God; Jesus is the Son of God; and that by faith in Jesus you can have eternal life.
Is your faith in Him? Is your faith renewed daily in Him? Do you need to recharge your faith today?
(Prayer) (exit)
