Pastor Tab Cosgrove January 14, 2018

Text: Psalm 19 + Romans 1:19-20 Title: God Questions: Is God Real?

  1. Over the next 5 weeks we are going to explore questions that people, who are trying to figure out life and purpose, will often ask of themselves and of others about God. The reason I felt this was an important series to address, is that throughout the course of our lives we will encounter people who may ask of us these types of questions, particularly if they know we are Christian, So how do you answer? The goal or hope behind this series is to equip you with some starting points that if indeed those God conversations should ever arise you have at least something to try. 1 Peter 3:15 says, always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; This is the desired outcome.The first question we are going to address is, Is God Real? I’m going to give you short points of argument that could equip you with something to say.However,in the short period of time that I have with you I can’t possibly cover all the reasons and data that proves God is real—all I can do is merely touch the tip of the iceberg. I challenge you to do some research on your ownto formulate an answer, and as Peter says, to make a defense for the hope that is in you because it could make a difference in how someone views faith and their trus in a God beyond themselves.So Is God Real?
  1. In his letter to Rome Paul addresses how unbelievers can know that God is real. He says, Romans 1:19-20 (read). Because creation validates the existence of God. Psalm 19:1-3 (read).Everything in creation, by its order and intricate details speaks of God’s existence! The French skeptic Voltaireonce said, “I shall always be convinced that a watch proves a watch-maker.” Same can be said of creation and the universe. We can address the question Is God real? by simply pointing someone to creation itself and asking the question,how can all of this be?I have learned one of the ways of explaining how can this be, is by the Argument from Contingency?Here is the scientific explanation—see if you can follow the logic: If something exists, there must exist what it takes for that thing to exist. The universe, the collection of beings in space and time, exists. Therefore, there must exist what it takes for the universe to exist. What it takes for the universe to exist cannot exist within the universe or be bound by space and time. Therefore, what it takes for the universe to exist must transcend both space and time.The entirety of this argument is based off of scientific conclusion that everything in the universe is dependent on something else in order to exist. For example, humans depend air to breath.Vegetation depends on sun to produce oxygen, the sun depends on gravity to keep it from breaking apart, etc. If everything we observe is dependent on something else, and not independent or self-caused, then the question becomes, “If all that exists is dependent, fragile and temporary; who or what is responsible for all these dependent objects and beings? Maybe this will help us understand. (Hula Hoop Example) I want you to mentally journey with me outside the realm of the universe and fit the entire universe inside the circle. Everything under the Science says everything that exists is dependent on something else for its existence. If everything that exists inside this circle is fragile, temporary and dependent, how likely is it that the cause of all these things originated inside the circle of contingency?Theories like the big bang theory can’t work in this model because something still would have had to create the bang outside the dependency realm. Voltaire got it right, the intricacies of a watch prove there has to be a watch-maker. So is God real? The creative order of things would say yes.
  1. Another way to argue that God is real is by using the moral argument. Have you ever set out to do something and that thing in your gut begins setting off alarms telling you not to do it, but you do anyway? Anyone? The moral argument asks, Where does that sense of right come from? C.S. Lewis stated in his book Mere Christianity, “My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust.(C.S. Lewis was a devout atheist at one point) But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called itunjust?”Anthropologists tell us what C.S. Lewis pondered is a universal phenomenon. Morals can vary from person to person and society to society, they can be skewed and influenced by environment and cultural practice, but every person has an innate set of moralswritten within their hearts. When we do something wrong and feel guilty that we have not lived up to the standard we should have, anthropologists tell us that’s a universal phenomenon as well. Because the moral standard is actually higher than the person feel guilty. So how does that happen? A conclusion that can be drawnis that our morals are not self-invented, but rather come from a higher moral source. Asignificant verse to back this theory comes from Romans 2:14-15 (read on screen). Just as God reveals Himself in nature, He also reveals Himself through our conscience by the moral law written on our hearts. The conscience makes one feel guilty when it’s violated, but also makes one feel that certain actions are right. So an argument we can site is that a higher standard of morality is naturally written on our hearts. Dr Seed in his book “God Questions” says this, “Because it’s impossible to invent something that is greater than we are, there must be a moral Creator who put this standard within us.”Our own hearts and the moral code written on them also demonstrates that God is real.
  1. Another argument is one of a personal nature. They call this argument—Jesus. What communicates most effectively that God is real is your own personal story of how the Lord has loved, forgiven, strengthened, provided, sustained you.Jesus came so that we would know that God is real intimately and personally. And when we share with others what that meansfrom our experiences,the realness of God is portrayed more vividly than any scientific proof we can site.always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the HOPE that is in you;How can this be important? Well I will let someone who grew up as an atheist tell you why. (Darlene Weir comes up and shares)
  1. God is real, creation testifies to it, the moral code innately in us confirms it and our personal story demonstrates it. In Jesus Name. Amen.