Our God, He is Alive!

 

2002014

Subject: existence of God

Introduction:

A.    Does the world exist?  There IS something rather than nothing.

1.    But why? 

2.    WHO is responsible for our existence?  A Practical question.

a)    How explainable would life be if God did not create the world?

b)    We simply cannot live without a basic explanation for life.

3.    Most of modern science assumes WHAT is responsible for the universe.

a)    Most scientific explanations of the universe are materialistic.

b)    “what” is not a reasonable alternative.

B.    The fact that we are persons points toward a personal Creator.

1.    Acts 17:24-29; John 1:1-4

2.    We depend utterly upon God every moment of our lives.

a)    Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3 – Jesus continues to uphold creation.

C.   What will our response to this Person be?

1.    Some acknowledge Him; serve Him.

2.    Others refuse to honor Him as such – Rom. 1:20-21

 

I.  God is real!

A.    Sheba had to see it to believe it when it came to Solomon’s wisdom – 1 Kings 10:6-7.

1.    There is a difference between knowing a thing theoretically & knowing it is true through one’s experience.

2.    Many spend much of this life w/the busy-ness of life & do not think much of the ultimate questions of life.

a)    Death…tends to clear up one’s perspective on the important realities.

b)    Some say, as Darwin approached death he renounced his theories & believed in God.

B.    The challenge is to live right now in such a way that God is REAL to us.

1.    We must know the truth of Gen. 1:1 such that it has a REAL impact on our actions in the present.

2.    God’s existence is the most obvious fact in the universe.

a)    Rom. 1:20-21 – God manifested Himself in His creation.

C.   God will become real to us when we spend time w/God’s WORLD.

1.    Acts 14:15b-17

2.    We need more contact w/the things God has made & less things w/man has made.

3.    Becoming harder and harder to keep in touch w/the world God has made.

D.   God will become real to us when we spend time w/God’s WORD.

1.    Reality of God confronts us on every page.

2.    Deut. 4:39 – We need to learn about God!

 

II. Natural Evidence for God’s Existence.

A.    The very existence of the universe is proof enough.

1.    All agree something had to cause the beginning of the universe.

2.    Every beginning; every change; and every event MUST have a sufficient cause!

a)    Heb. 3:4

b)    Those who deny God’s existence – must maintain something came from nothing by some impersonal force.

c)    A kind of spontaneous; self generation.

3.    Obviously, .this is unreasonable.

4.    The existence of the universe implies creation by a personal Mind sufficient to produce it.

a)    The universe is inexplicable by any other accounting.

B.    Scriptures affirm universe had a beginning and that beginning from God.

1.    Gen. 1:1; John 1:3, 10; 2 Cor. 4:18; Heb. 11:3

2.    See also Psa. 90:1-2; Rom. 11:36; 1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:2; 2:10

C.   There is a design & purpose in the universe.

1.    Order; harmony; and systematic arrangement pervade the universe.

2.    Seen on a very small scale – complex order of cells; molecules; atoms; and atomic particles.

3.    Seen on a very large scale – complex order of moon; planets; comets; starts; galaxies.

4.    Consider – exact suitability of earth for life.  How did that just happen?

5.    Consider complex weather systems, etc.

6.    Psa. 139:14 – complexity of the human body.

D.   There must be a power adequate to the production of the order and arrangement of the universe.

1.    Design & purpose by an intelligent, volitional mind are obvious!

2.    To argue all things are the product of an impersonal forces operating by random chance are just ridiculous.

 

III. A look at mankind.

A.    All agree that there are unique factors in the nature of man.

1.    Man is “personal.”  Each individual possesses a unique; original; personality.

2.    Man possess “mind.”

a)    Intellect; cognition; reason; thinking of concepts/ideas & ability to communicate them.

b)    Will – independent choice; freedom of will.

c)    Emotion/feeling – laugh; shed tears; appreciate beauty.

d)    Conscience – a moral faculty.

B.    Personality & mind NEVER come spontaneously from the impersonal.

1.    Man’s intellectual moral nature must have originated in a Being who also possesses personality & mind.

2.    Man’s nature is inexplicable on any other accounting.

3.    Gen. 1:26-27; Psa. 8:3-5; 2 Cor. 5:1-4

C.   Man is “incurably religious”

1.    Psa. 42:1 – the atheist is an exception in any society!

2.    Religious faith/practice is worldwide.  Been at all points in history.

3.    Why are we religious?

a)    Because there is a God.  He can help us with our deepest needs.

b)    If there is no God – man’s most basic instinct is incapable of satisfaction & man is doomed.

4.    Consider:  Josh. 24:15; Acts 17:22-23

 

IV. Those who deny God have some questions to answer.

A.    Explain the existence of the universe w/o God.

B.    Explain the mind boggling intricacy & order of the universe w/o God.

C.   Explain man’s rational & moral nature w/o God.

D.   Explain man’s innate tendency to acknowledge a Supreme Being.

E.    To say the world created through any other force than God is to deny the obvious.

 

Conclusion:

A.    First verse in Bible teaches us we came from God.

1.    It is true we will also return to God.

2.    God is our origin – He is also our destiny.

3.    Eccl. 12:6-7

B.    What about us?  Do we really believe?

1.    Arguments against atheism, evolution will be meaningless if children do not see us living lives that exhibit genuine belief in God.

2.    We ought to live life for God!

3.    Eccl. 12:13-14

4.    2 Cor. 5:9-10

C.   The God of our creation is also our salvation.

1.    Heb. 2:10

2.    Have you dealt seriously with the truth about God?

D.  I N V I T A T I O N