[ ] 1/14/2017 #1225
WITHOUT EXCUSE
Romans 1:19-20
INTRODUCTION: Is there a God as the Bible claims? Did the God of the Bible create the heaven and earth?As Bible believing Christians, webelieve both are true. We should be able to give reasonable evidence for what and why we believe. Paul said when it comes to believing in God, man is without excuse.
In exhorting believers concerning false teachers, Jude said that they “should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (Jude 1:3) The word “contend” comes from the athletic world. It carries the meaning “to agonize.” It is like a wrestler who is wrestling to pin his opponent to the mat. The phrase“the faith”means "the essential truths of the gospel that all true Christians hold in common.”
Peter wrote, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." (1Peter 3:15)
Christians do not oppose science. Some of the world’s greatest scientists have been Christians. God gave to mankind the responsibility to be stewards of His creation. Man was to gain knowledge as he learns and discovers God's amazing creation of the land, the sea, and the universe.
I. EVIDENCE FOR GOD
We can't prove the existence of God by quoting the Bible to one who does not believe in God or the Bible;however, we do have some powerful arguments for the existence of God. Let's consider some of these arguments:
A. First Cause Argument.
The person who begins with the premise that God exists will discover overwhelming evidence. The First Cause Argument states that everything that comes into existence has a cause. Since the creation exists, there had to be a cause. The eternal, immortal, and transcendent God existed before He created.
Those who reject the Creator not only have to believe thatmattercame into existence without any cause;they also have to answer how life came into existence without a cause. They say at one time there was no life. Life on earth began according to them more than 3 billion years ago. These people who reject God say that life started from the most basic of microbes to more complex life over time. These simple organisms became capable of replicating themselves by chance.
Even evolutionists acknowledge life comes from life. In 1933, evolutionist John Sullivan admitted that “it became an accepted doctrine thatlife never arises except from life. So far as the actual evidence goes, this is still theonlypossible conclusion.”
Evolutionist Martin Moe noted that “a century of sensational discoveries in the biological sciences has taught usthat life arises only from life”
Today's atheists say if you believe God exists and created everything you have to explain where God came from. God is the great "I AM." He exists in eternity for He is eternal. He was not created. Jesus said, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
God is infinite. So, what about space? Astronomers thinkspacemight be infinite. If space is finite and comes to an end, what would be found at the end? It isreasonable to believe that an infinite God has created an infinite universe.
Atheist Richard Dawkins was asked, “how it is that something as enormous as the universes came from nothing?”
His response included this statement: “Of coursecommon sensedoesn’t allow you to get something from nothing. That’s why it’s interesting. It’s got to be interesting in order to give rise to the universe at all. Something pretty mysterious had to give rise to the origin of the universe.”
"The odds against the right combination of circumstances occurring to evolve intelligent life on Earth," as estimated by Sir John Eccles, are "about 400,000 trillion to one!" It requires more faith in chance that the universe evolved thanfaith in God to believe that He created the first life by His almighty power.
I believe in creation, not chance.
B. Design Argument.
The basis for this argument is seen in the order and design of the world. David wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard." (Psalm 19:1-3)Someone has said of the heavens: "They are forever preaching; for, like an unbroken chain, their message is delivered from day to day and from night to night."
Evolutionist Jerry Coyne admitted, “Nature resembles a well-oiled machine…. The more one learns about plants and animals, the more one marvels at how well their designs fit their ways of life.”
The Universe reveals complex and functional design.The complex design of the human body and the fine-tuned universe for life can only be explained with reference to a Creator. The discovery of DNA gives evidence of order and design.The six feet of DNA coiled inside every one of our body's one hundred trillion cells contain a four-letter chemical alphabet that spells out precise assembly instructions for all the proteins from which our bodies are made.
Paul proclaimed, "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." (Rom 1:20)
"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1) The meaning of fool is moral rather than intellectual. The order and design of the universe is God shouting, "I Am here." The problem with people is neither about intelligence nor lack of evidence, butthey reject what has been revealed to them about God.
C. Universal Belief Argument
Another argument for the existence of God is the universal belief argument. The examples of the universal belief in a god or gods are found in all ancient civilizations. The study of the nations and cultures reveal that they had a belief in God. Wherever men exist, in all ages and in all parts of the world, they have some form of religion. The universal belief in God is evidence that God exists. The Bible teaches that God has put eternity in the heart of mankind.
D. Moral Argument
Ifevolutionis true, then there can be no universal moral code that all people should follow.
The source of morality is God. The Bible teaches that God created man in His own image. A moral God has established His moral law. Man has within him the sense of morality.Rational human beings believe murder and child abuse arewrong. They know that some things are good and other things are evil.
If there is no God, then there is no objective basis to say that some things are right and others are wrong. The only reasonable answer to an objective moral law for humans is a supernatural, moral law Giver.
Paul wrote in Romans 2:14-16 that God will judge men accordingly. "For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel."
God wrote His law in our hearts. Our conscience gives us the awareness of a moral God. The Bible contains God’s revealed moral will in His law and commandments.One day God will call us all into account for what we have done with the evidence He has given to us.
II. EXPERIENCING GOD
A. CLAIMS OF MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUALS.
People down through the ages and from different cultures have claimed to have had an experience they called an encounter with God. It is unreasonable to believe that so many people could have been wrong about their own experiences.
B. CHANGE IN MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUALS.
Lives of men and women have been transformed by believing Jesus is the Son of God and receiving Him as their Lord and Savior. In the Bible, we read of the radical change in Saul who went from being a hater of Jesus and Christians to being the great apostle Paul. There are people who are being changed as I speak this very moment by the power of the gospel. This is a supernatural work of the God who exists!
On Christmas Eve, 1968, the three astronauts of Apollo 8 circled the dark side of the moon and headed for home. As their tiny capsule floated through space, they saw the glistening blue and white hues of earth slowly fill their window. In that moment, what do you think those men did? They did not quote Einstein or Shakespeare or Darwin. Only one thing could capture the magnificence of the moment. Billions of people around the world heard the voice from outer space begin to read:“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”The astronauts read Genesis 1:1 to a worldwide audience. In that moment no other words would do.
I believe in creation and that each of us was made by God in His image. I do not believe in chance.
LESSONS FOR LIFE:
1. The Bible gives no proof texts for the existence of God. The Bible assumes the existence of God.
2. The Bible and creation reveal the true God. His existence is evident to all.
3. It is impossible to know God except by faith.