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The Pastor's Class
Does God Exist?
Scripture References Genesis 1:1
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
The Bible opens with a very simple and yet emphatic statement "In the beginning God......."
From this we learn that there was indeed a beginning and in the beginning God was already there. When we speak of God we are speaking of the eternal Deity who is omnipotent (all powerful) and omniscient (all knowing) and omnipresent (everywhere at once).
For some of you this may not seem like such a big deal. you grew up with a knowledge and understanding of God and the presence of a divine being makes perfect sense to you. However, there are others who will argue that there is no God. These people are commonly referred to as "atheists". There are others who are not quite sure about God. These people are commonly referred to as "agnostics."
Whereas, in the past we would not have paid much attention to these two groups, today their philosophy (way of thinking) has become very mainstream. The most visible evidence of this is in our public school systems. Children today in school are taught evolution as opposed to creation science. To make matters worse evolution is being taught, not as a theory, but as fact. If you have school age children ask them their views on creation. You might be surprised.
Should we be alarmed about the teaching of evolution in school? The answer is yes. What we believe about God has a direct effect on how we live our lives. Atheistic evolution begins with the premise that there is no God and theories built upon a false premise ultimately cannot stand.
What do you believe about God?
Check one of the Following
a.___I am absolutely certain that there is a God.
b.___Sometimes I have doubts about the existence of God.
c___ I believe in a "higher power" however I wouldn't call it God.
d.___I have never really thought about it
e. ___I am absolutely certain that God doesn't exist.
1. In the space below write a brief statement in support of your answer above.
This may be the first time that you have ever been asked to put your thoughts about God into words. What you believe about God serves as the foundation of your world view or paradigm ( A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing and reacting to reality).
People who absolutely believe in God will react to reality differently that people who do not believe in God.
Does God Exist?
Throughout the centuries mankind has always had some innate sense that there is a divine being. Today, scientists, philosophers and other academics discuss, debate and ponder over his existence. Is there really a God? Today we are going to look at the evidence that God does in fact exist.
Anthropologists ( The scientific study of the origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and cultural development of humans.) and Archeologists ( an anthropologist who studies prehistoric people and their culture) who have discovered and studied ancient people goups who have lived through the ages, tell us that every group (society) showed evidence of having a religion or belief system.
2. How can the existence of the universe be evidence for God's existence?
Let's consider the possible explanations of the universes existence.
The universe either had a beginning or it did not have a beginning.
If the universe had a beginning then that beginning was either caused (purposeful) or uncaused (accidental).
Finally, if the universes beginning was caused, then that cause was either personal (someone caused it) or non-personal (something caused it) in nature.
It can be shown that the universe (a) had a beginning, (b) its beginning was caused, and (c) it was caused by a personal being.
Let's take a moment to look at what Paul has to say in Romans 1
Romans 1: 18-20
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
This is an important verse of scripture because it says that God has given us sufficient evidence so that everyone should know that there is a God. We are without excuse.
How many of you have a painting or piece of art somewhere in your home?
If I were to show you an oil painting and if you were to look in the corner of that painting and see a persons signature, would there be any doubt in your mind that someone had painted it?
The Apostle Paul is simply saying that when you look around you and you see sky and birds and rainbows and sunsets and trees in autumn you should know intutively
( The act or faculty of knowing or sensing without the use of rational processes;) that someone caused it to be.
There have been numerous studies on the probability of accidental, non-intelligent, impersonal cause.
If we choose to believe in the prevailing view (evolution) then we must believe that everything that is, is by chance. There is no intelligent design.
If there is no intelligent design then nothing has value except the value we choose to place on it. This allows for things such as abortion, euthanasia (mercy killing) genocide (The systematic and planned extermination of an entire national, racial, political, or ethnic group.) i.e. the Holocaust (The genocide of European Jews and others by the Nazis during World War II:)
3. What are your thoughts concerning the origins of the universe?
Everything suggests that the universe had a beginning. Even the evolutionists theory says that it began with a "BANG",
The bible says "for everything there is a season; a time to be born and a time to die."
The process of beginning and ending, living and dying is all around us.
The Bible plainly states "In the beginning". The universe had a beginning.
For Further Study
Institute for Creation Research
www.icr.org
http://evolution-facts.org/
4. Is it possible to create something form nothing?
Simple math tells us that nothing X nothing = nothing. If the universe had a beginning then it had to be created by someone with the power to bring something from nothing. The Hebrew word that is translated "created" in our bibles means just that. In the beginning God created "from nothing" the heavens and the earth.
Get Your Own Dirt
One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come along way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him.
The scientist walked up to God and said “God, we’ve decided that we no longer need you; We’re to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don’t You just go and get lost.?
God listened very patiently and kindly to the man. After the scientist was done talking, God said, “Very well, how about this? Let’s say we have a man-making contest.?To which the scientist replied, “Okay, great!?
But, God added, “now we’re going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam.?The scientists said, “Sure, no problem?and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt. God looked at him and said, “No, no, no. You go get your own dirt.?
5. How can intelligence be evidence for the existence of God?
Intelligence is the faculity of thought and reason. If I were to give you a piece of paper with the address of a place in California and told you to go there most people would be able to accomplish that task. But, what would be involved in accomplishing that task.
1. You would have to hear and understand the assignment.
2. You would have to determine a mode of transportation.
3. If you chose an automobile you would have to understand how to drive and maintain the vehicle.
4. Also, you would have to use your reasoning skills in order to determine the appropriate route to the destination.
In summation, in order to accomplish the task you would have to have intelligence.
How long would it take to train a dog, or cat, or horse to accomplish the task?
If you believe in the evolutionists theory, at some point you would have to believe that non-intelligent matter somehow acquired intelligence.
A few years ago pet rocks were the craze. How long would you have to work with your pet rock before you could teach it to sit, roll over, to speak?
6. Can moral values be evidence of the existence of God?
An increasing number of people today hold to a view called Nihilism. Nihilists believe that there are no real moral values. According to nihilism, there is nothing really right or wrong – it’s not a question of whether you should or shouldn’t do certain things but rather do you like or dislike those things. But if a nihilist’s car were to get stolen would they really respond by saying “I don’t like what happened – but there was nothing really wrong with it?” The fact is, deep down we all know that some things really are right and others really are wrong. For example torturing babies is not just an unpleasant act to behold nor is it just a socially unacceptable behaviour. Rather it is a moral abomination. Acts such as torturing babies and stealing are really wrong – they are not just acts that you may not want to do, rather they are acts that you should not do.
Now we have a very interesting question. What is the cause for the existence of moral values? Many say that humans created these values. After all we create many other laws – why can’t we be the creators of objective moral values? There is a serious problem with this line of thought. It seems unreasonable that moral absolutes – principles which ALL humans are SUBJECTED to – principles which are DEFINITELY right or wrong – hinges on the decisions of fallible human beings. History has offered plenty of examples that confirm this. Consider what Nazi morality did to the Jews. Sure, we humans recognise moral values and we put many of these values in the form of laws – but we are not the cause of the values themselves. Moral values themselves are absolute and exist outside the realm of human creation.
So where do they come from? I believe that the existence of objective moral values implies the existence of God who is the cause of them. For if there is no supreme being – if we are just the result of accidental chemical bombardments which have evolved through a long process of death and struggle, on an miniscule crumb of dust lost somewhere in a hostile lonesome universe, then how could there be any such thing as absolute moral values? Besides we usually think of a command involving a commander. For example, the rules of Football were invented by people – they didn’t just exist by themselves. Principles come from or exist in minds. Therefore it seems that absolute moral principles would have to come from an ultimate mind – a supreme perfect lawgiver.
7. What evidence can you give to show that the universe was created by an intelligent being?
We might consider the laws of nature. Think about the delicate balance that exists in nature. What are the odds that any of this could exist if not governed by certain laws?
The Human Cell
A cell has been described as “a marvel of detailed and complex architecture” and “more complex then New York City”. A 1979 Newsweek article comments “Power plants generate the cell’s energy. Factories produce proteins, vital units of chemical commerce. Complex transportation systems guide specific chemicals from point to point within the cell and beyond. Sentries at the barricades control the export and import markets, and monitor the outside world. A centralized genetic government maintains order.” Then there is the D.N.A inside the cell. If all the information contained in a pinheads volume of D.N.A were written in typewritten form it would fill a pile of paperback books 500 times higher then the distance from the Earth to the moon. Ounce more, all the parts of the body are inter-related and work in harmony with each other with each part serving a specific and meaningful function. There is purpose, there is order among each of the awe-inspiring complex parts of the human body.
Summary
The bible begins with the words "In the beginning God". Today we have tried to answer the question; Is there a God? This is an important question and maybe you still have questions. There are people who will be glad to talk with you and answer any lingering questions you may have.
From this point on we will proceed with our bible study standing on the firm, immovable, foundational, eternal fact that God does exist. If you are not yet convinced do not be discouraged. As we continue you will see not only that God exist but that he loves you and desires the very best for you. To acknowledge and become obedient to our creator is to experience the very best that life has to offer.
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