six steps step 6 does god care about me

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Answering the “So What?” Question about Christianity

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© Confident Christians – www.confidentchristians.org

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Does God Care about Me?


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What is Deism?

Deism is the belief that a single God created the universe,

but asserts that He is not active in His creation nor cares

about it.

Deists deny the presence of miracles, the divinity of

Christ, any revelation from God, and any concern of God

regarding mankind.


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Deism is refuted by the already covered points:

1. God has performed verified and recorded miracles in this world

2. God revealed His Word to selected individuals who recorded His

revelation

3. God entered into this world in the form of a Man who showed us

the face of God

4. Every answered prayer would have some natural explanation.

But still people question whether God really cares about man…


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The Problem of Evil

If a God who cares exists, when why does

evil exist?


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The Problem of Evil – Why did the Tsunami Happen?

• The evolutionist/scientific naturalist can‟t ask the question because the

animals did better than the humans during the crisis. If macroevolution is

correct and we‟re the higher species, then why did that happen? If survival

is the mark of superiority, why did the lower survive and not the higher?

• The philosophical naturalist can‟t ask the question without using a moral

framework. And this is what he denies because everything in this world is

random and has no meaning. It is a self-defeating proposition – there is no

ultimate moral reference in an amoral universe.

• The Buddhist and Hindu don‟t ask the question because for them it is karma

– those who died got their just desserts.

• The Muslim doesn‟t ask the question because for them it is the will of Allah –

he brought this disaster about.


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The Problem of Evil – Why did the Tsunami Happen?

So who is asking the question? Only a person

who assumes a Christian worldview asks the

question of why there is evil in the world…


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What about the evil inside of man?

Those who argue about evil in the world rarely

turn their gaze inwardly. Rather than focus on

the evil “out there” what about the evil in the

heart of man?


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Two “Absurdities”

1.The absurdity of good and evil in the world

2.The absurdity of good and evil in man

Both must be understood and reconciled, not just the first one


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Man‟s Dilemma

Man can be both noble and cruel. How did he get that way?

Option 1

Original

Today

No

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Option 2

Original

Today

Ch

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Man‟s Dilemma

In Mary Shelly‟s (who was not a Christian) book Frankenstein, Dr.

Frankenstein is a doctor who creates a perfectly benign and peaceful

being. The more the creation observes human behavior, the more it

begins to mimic human behavior and starts to become evil. The

creation confronts the doctor and tells him that when he was brought

into this world, he didn‟t understand why people needed government

and controls and police, but as he observed people and read history, he

turned away in horror at what man was capable of. People could be

kind, but also evil. Why both – where does that capacity come from?

The creation concludes this: you were created in the image of a perfect

being, and you’ve fallen away from it.


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Man‟s Dilemma – the Biblical Perspective

• Man is fallen – Genesis 3

• Man is corrupt – Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is more

deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can

understand it?”

• Man is separated from God – Romans 3

• Man is incapable of working to make things right, with

himself or with God

Man needs two things (1) Reconciliation with God (2) Freedom from sin


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Man‟s Dilemma – the Cure

• The penalty of sin was satisfied at the cross (Romans

5:18)

• The reconciliation of man was accomplished at the

cross (Romans 5:10)

• New life was given to man via Christ‟s life (Romans

5:10)

• Freedom from sin will be achieved when each believer

is glorified (Romans 8:30)


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Man‟s Dilemma – Why do Christians still sin?

Romans 7:20, “But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no

longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.”

1 John 5: 18, “We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He

who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch

him.”

Romans 7:24-25, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from

the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our

Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the

law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.”

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The Promise for the Defeat of Man‟s Evil and Sin

Justification Sanctification Glorification

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed

to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many

brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these

whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also

glorified.” – Romans 8:29-30


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Man‟s Meaning – What is the Meaning of Life?

Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity

of vanities! All is vanity.” – Ecclesiastes 1:2


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Man‟s Meaning – What Comprises Meaning?

• Sense of wonder – removes boredom and monotony

• Knowledge of Truth – supplies freedom

• Experience of Love – greatest of all things

• Confidence of Security – enables peace


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Man‟s Meaning – What Comprises Meaning?

Wonder “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and

knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments

and unfathomable His ways!” – Romans 11:33

Truth “…you will know the truth, and the truth will make you

free.” – John 8:31

Love “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us

and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one

another.” – 1 John 4:10-11

Security “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace

with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 5:1


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Man‟s Meaning – The Place of Worship“I thought of it [worship] in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honor. I

have never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise unless

(sometimes even if) shyness or the fear of boring others is deliberately brought in to

check it. The world rings with praise - lovers praising their mistresses, readers their

favorite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favorite game -

praise of weather, wines, dishes, actors, motors, horses, colleges, countries ... I had

not noticed either that just as men spontaneously praise whatever they value, so they

spontaneously urge us to join them in praising it! „Isn't she lovely?‟ „Wasn't it

glorious?‟ „Don't you think that magnificent?‟ My whole, more general, difficulty about

the praise of God depended on my absurdly denying to us, as regards the supremely

Valuable, what we delight to do, what indeed we can't help doing, about everything

else we value. Fully to enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify Him, God is

inviting us to enjoy Him.” – C. S. Lewis


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How do you define pleasure?

“Pleasure is getting more than you expect.”

- Neurobiologist

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or

imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in

the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

Amen.” – Apostle Paul, Ephesians 3:20-21


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Man‟s Meaning – What is the Meaning of Life?

“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear

God and keep His commandments, because this

applies to every person. For God will bring every act

to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is

good or evil.” – Ecclesiastes 12:12-14

The intertwining of meaning and destiny…


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Man‟s Destiny – Where is Man Going?

God’s plan for history:

(Creation Eternity)

VS.

Linear

Cyclical

Pantheistic Faiths:

Karma, etc.

Stoics/Nietzsche:

Eternal Recurrence


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Man‟s Destiny – The Paths

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the

way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who

enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow

that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” – Matthew

7:13-14


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Man‟s Destiny – The Promise

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that

whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” – John

3:16

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be

any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first

things have passed away.” – Revelation 21:4


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Man‟s Destiny – The Choice

“If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for

yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your

fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites

in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve

the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15

“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has

been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the

only begotten Son of God.” – John 3:18


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Does God Care?• He cares enough to overcome the evil in this world and the evil in

every human heart

• He cares enough to save man from his dilemma of being lost

• He cares enough to give meaning and purpose to everyone who

He saves

• He cares enough to equip you to spend eternity and enjoy

everlasting life with Him

• He cares enough to give you freedom and choice

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may

exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He

cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7


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Last Puzzle Pieces are in Place

• We know our life has meaning – To

discover our Creator, live as He

has intended, and glorify Him.

• We know our destiny – God has

destined all those who trust Him to

obtain everlasting life and live with

Him in eternity.


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The End of the Worldview Maze

• Absolute Truth Exists

• Reason and Religion are Compatible

• God Exists

• God can be Known

• Jesus is God

• God Cares for You

Knowing all these things…What are you going to do about it?

Christianity is True

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Yes, He does

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six steps step 6 does god care about me

Spiritual

god doescare

god romans

single god

god sins

thelaw of god

man confident christians

doesdoes god care

sin confident christians