unit i : we are christians a. the churchs god. lord = yhwh, related to the verb,to be. god is! the...
TRANSCRIPT
Humanity’s Inner Sense of God
• Everyone has an inner awareness of God.• God is known to all people through Nature.
“...that which is known about God is evident within [humans]; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Rom 1:19-21)
GOD
MAN
The Bible’s First Assumption
Creation of the
Heavens
Michelangelo,
Sistine Chapel
God was there “in the beginning.”
God is still around.
A Second Assumption
“Aseity” = Self-Existence
“But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. ...He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain, and brings out the wind from His storehouses. ”
Jer. 10:10, 13
Definition of God
According to Q. 4, Westminster Catechism:“God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His being,
wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.”
Infinite Eternal Unchangeable
Being Wisdom Power Holiness Justice Goodness Truth
Definition of God
Actually, there can be no definition of God.• “‘To whom then will you liken Me, that I
should be his equal?’ says the Holy One.” Isaiah 40:25
• God is “wholly other,” that is, unique.
GODGOD
Definition of God
To speak about God, we must use analogy.• “Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face
continually.” Ps. 105:4
• God can be found. He has revealed himself to us.
• He is said to have a “face”: anthropomorphic language.
GODGODAnalogical Language
Existence of God
God’s existence is revealed in:General Revelation
The Majesty of Creation
The Design of Creation
Special Revelation
“And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM’; and He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Ex. 3:14
NOTE:
God’s own self-
revelation is necessary
for us to know him. We cannot know him
on our own.
Existence of God
• Every effect has a cause.
• There cannot be an infinite regress of causes.
• There must be an uncaused Cause.
• This being is God.
His existence is shown in theistic proofs.1. The Cosmological Argument
Existence of God
• “Telos” means purpose or goal.
• The universe exhibits intentional design.
• This cannot be self-produced.
• A Designer must have made the universe!
His existence is shown in theistic proofs.2. The Teleological Argument
Existence of God
His existence is shown in theistic proofs.3. The Anthropological Argument
• Our spiritual aspect points us to something beyond ourselves, and that is God.
• Man is “fearfully and wonderfully made,” (Ps. 139:14), both spiritually and physically.
Existence of God
• Everyone has a sense of “ought,” that is, of right and wrong.
• For example, most cultures understand murder is wrong. Man abhors this crime.
• Where does this universal moral sense come from?
• There must be an exterior Judge.
His existence is shown in theistic proofs.4. The Moral Argument
Existence of God
• We have the idea of the “greatest being” in our minds.
• What attributes would the “greatest being” have? Actual existence would certainly be one.
• Therefore, the greatest being must exist.
• The greatest being is called God!
His existence is shown in theistic proofs.5. The Ontological Argument
God
Ontological Argument
• a priori – self-evident propositions, apart from observed facts: Ontological (Anselm of Canterbury)
Concept of God requires the
existence of God
• a posteriori – reasoning from observed facts
Thomas Aquinas’ five proofs