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Doctrine of God 0001 - Lesson 3
Attached Audio:
- THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
- The Choices Man Must Make
- First choice: All that exists either came from nothing or from something
- If it all came from nothing, then there must have been a way for something to come from nothing
- That all came from nothing is generally rejected by all religions and human philosophies
- Second choice: The something that all comes from is either impersonal or personal
- If impersonal, this something would be impersonal energy, matter, or some other substance
- An impersonal source would not explain the diversity we see in the world
- Not only would this impersonal source be required to exist for eternity past, something would also need to explain why at this point in eternity it determined to make a universe
- Third choice: If the source of the universe is personal, then it must be in the form of many gods or one God
- Many gods might explain the diversity we see in the world around us
- However, many gods could not explain the unity of the universe and would need a source of their own
- Fourth choice: If the universe came from one God, two characteristics are absolutely essential
- He must have eternal power
- His power must be infinite
- His power must be eternal; that is, He must be the original power
- Otherwise, He would not have the ability to create the universe and all that is in it.
- He must have personality
- He must have the attributes of personality such as intelligence, will, purpose, etc.
- Only a personable God could explain the design, beauty, order, and diversity of the universe.
- These two basic attributes of the Creator/God are seen in Romans 1:20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
See All... – “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” [Note: the term Godhead refers to His personhood as God.] - Fifth choice: Is the one God a singular unity alone or is He a trinity?
- If God is unity alone and not a trinity, then He experienced no love and no communion before creation. He is therefore not sufficient in Himself, but needs the created universe for His own fulfillment.
- However, as a trinity, God would have experienced love and communion in eternity (John 17:24Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
See All...) and His own attributes are the source of our need for love and communion. - Only the one God can explain the unity in the universe and only the trinity can explain the diversity in the universe.
- The Approach of Scripture
- The supposition of God’s existence (Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
See All...; Deuteronomy 4:39Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
See All...; 1 Kings 8:60That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.
See All...; Isaiah 44:8Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
See All...; Isaiah 45:5I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
See All...) - The revelation of God’s person
- Through His works (Deuteronomy 3:24O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?
See All...; Job 37:14Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
See All...; Psalm 40:5Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
See All...; Psalm 86:8Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.
See All...; Psalm 111:4He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
See All...) - Through His word (Numbers 24:16He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
See All...; John 5:39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
See All...; 1 John 2:14I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
See All...) - Through the Word (John 14:7-9 [7] If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
[8] Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
[9] Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
See All...) - The biblical description of God
- His being and works (Psalm 86:10For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
See All...; Psalm 119:68Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
See All...) - Being
- Who He is in and of Himself (Exodus 3:13-14 [13] And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
[14] And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
See All...; Deuteronomy 32:39-40 [39] See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. [40] For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.
See All...; Isaiah 41:4Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
See All...; Isaiah 43:10-13 [10] Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. [11] I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. [12] I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. [13] Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
See All..., 25; Isaiah 44:6Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
See All...; Isaiah 46:3-4 [3] Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: [4] And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
See All...; Isaiah 48:12Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
See All...; Isaiah 51:12I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
See All...) - The object of our praise (Psalm 7:17I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
See All...; Psalm 18:3I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
See All...; Psalm 44:8In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
See All...) - Works
- What He does in relationship to creation (Psalm 40:5Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
See All...; Psalm 66:5Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
See All...) - The object of our thanksgiving (Psalm 26:7That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
See All...; Psalm 75:1Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.
See All...) - Note: praise and thanksgiving overlap in their usage. Praise can be made for the works of God (Psalm 107:8Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
See All...) and thanksgiving can be made for who he is (Psalm 30:4Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
See All...). However, this does not change the general difference in meaning. Praise is an objective declaration of the greatness of God. Thanksgiving is a subjective expression of God’s goodness to the one giving thanks. - His greatness and goodness (Psalm 135:3-5 [3] Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.
[4] For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
[5] For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
See All...; Psalm 145:3-9 [3] Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. [4] One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. [5] I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. [6] And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. [7] They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. [8] The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. [9] The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
See All...) - Great
- Attributes of God’s supremacy (Deuteronomy 32:3Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
See All...; Job 36:26Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
See All...; Psalm 77:13Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
See All...; Psalm 104:1Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
See All...) - Attributes of quantity: eternity, omnipotence, omniscience
- Good
- Attributes of God’s moral nature (Psalm 52:1Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
See All...; Romans 2:4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
See All...) - Attributes of quality: love, holiness, righteousness
- False Concepts of God
- Atheism – denial of the existence of God (Psalm 14:1The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
See All...) - Skepticism – doubt of the existence of God
- Agnosticism – ignorance of the existence of God
- Evolution – belief that the universe came about apart from the work of God
- Materialism – belief that the facts of experience can all be explained by physical laws or material substance
- Positivism – belief developed by Auguste Comte (1798-1857) that man’s knowledge is restricted to observable phenomena
- Pantheism – belief that god is everything and that everything is god
- Polytheism – belief in many gods (Exodus 20:3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
See All...) - Deism – belief in a God who began the process of creation but does not take part in the affairs of the world today
- Human Arguments for the Existence of God
- Cosmological argument: the universe requires a first cause
- Teleological argument: the order and design of the universe requires an intelligent designer
- Ontological argument: the idea of God in man must have its origin in God
- Moral argument: the moral nature of man indicates an original moral law and lawgiver [also called the anthropological argument]
- Christological argument: the existence of God is supported by the influence of the Bible, the fulfillment of prophecy, the influence of Christ and Christianity, and the fact of conversion.
- Note: These arguments can be very involved and are part of complex philosophical systems. However, they do not give a test tube proof of God. We are best not to rely too heavily on these proofs.
- Biblical Evidences for the Existence of God – although they are not proofs in the classical sense, there are many evidences that there must be a God and that He must be the God spoken of in the Bible.
- Creation (Romans 1:20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
See All...) - Conscience (Romans 1:19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
See All...) - Jewish people (Deuteronomy 4:5-8 [5] Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
[6] Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
[7] For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
[8] And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
See All...) - Christ (John 20:30-31 [30] And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
[31] But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
See All...) - Prophecy fulfilled (John 14:29And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
See All...) - Bible (1 Thessalonians 2:13For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
See All...) - Power of conversion (John 4:40-42 [40] So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
[41] And many more believed because of his own word;
[42] And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
See All...) - NOTE: God gives us many evidences of His existence. We examine the evidences and see them to be true. Then, we accept the existence of God by faith. It is not a blind faith but rather an intelligent faith. Yet, our knowledge of God and the things of God always contain a strong element of faith.
Proverbs 26:15
The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.