To download a copy of today’s lesson go to TheGoodTeacher and click on “Gospel Meetings”

To download a copy

of today’s lesson go to

TheGoodTeacher.comand click on “Gospel Meetings”

Defend Your FaithDefend Your Faith

Lesson 2Lesson 2Is There A God?Is There A God?

Presented by Chris Reeves * Park Road church of Christ * Gospel Meeting * April 14, 2013

“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” – 1 Peter 3:15

There Is A GodThere Is A God

• We must be ready to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15)

• The importance of this question

• Why discuss this question (Psalm 10:4; 14:1ff; 36:1ff; 53:1ff; Romans 1:21,28; Titus 1:16)?

A Universe Exists

Beginning or No Beginning

Caused or Uncaused

Personal or Impersonal(Mind) (Matter)

Presenting Your Case For GodPresenting Your Case For God

Presenting Your Case For GodPresenting Your Case For God( Two Classical Arguments )( Two Classical Arguments )

• The Cosmological Argument: every effect has a cause (Hebrews 3:4)

“For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God”

– Hebrews 3:4



• The Teleological Argument: design demands a designer

– Design in the heavens (Psalm 19:1-4; Romans 1:20)

“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. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun” – Psalm 19:1-4

“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. 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” – Romans 1:19-20





– Design in the human body (Psa. 139:13-14)

“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:

marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well”

– Psalm 139:13-14

Muscular system

Skeletal system

Nervous system

Vascular system

Immune system

Respiratory system

Digestive system

Renal system

Complex Design of the CellComplex Design of the Cell

how proteins are sent in and out of the cell

Tree

Energy

Complex Packaging and Delivery System

Complex Design of DNAComplex Design of DNAThe Language of God by Francis S. CollinsThe Language of God by Francis S. Collins

Complex Design of DNAComplex Design of DNADNA “Language” in the Human BodyDNA “Language” in the Human Body

Complex DesignComplex DesignDNA “Language” in the Human BodyDNA “Language” in the Human Body

“The human genome consists of all the DNA or our species, the hereditary code of life. The newly revealed text was 3 billion letters long, and written in a strange and cryptographic four-letter code. Such is the amazing complexity of the information carried within each cell of the human body, that live reading of that code at a rate of three letters per second would take thirty-one years, even if reading continued day and night. Printing these letters out in regular font size on normal bond paper and binding them all together would result in a tower the height of the Washington Monument” – Dr. Francis S. Collins

Irreducible Complex DesignIrreducible Complex Design

Irreducible Complex DesignIrreducible Complex Design

12

34

5

67

8

9

Irreducible Complex DesignIrreducible Complex DesignDarwin’s Black Box by Michael J. BeheDarwin’s Black Box by Michael J. Behe

Irreducible Complex DesignIrreducible Complex DesignMichael Behe’s Bacterial FlagellumMichael Behe’s Bacterial Flagellum

Irreducible ComplexityIrreducible ComplexityDemonstrates Evolution to Be FalseDemonstrates Evolution to Be False

“If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous successive slight modifications my theory would absolutely break down” (Charles Darwin, Origin of the Species, Introduction)





– Design in the human body (Psa. 139:13-14)

– Design in the animals (Psa. 104; Job 38-39)

“Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. From thence

she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there

is she” – Job 39:26-30

Presenting Your Case For GodPresenting Your Case For God( Two Historical Arguments )( Two Historical Arguments )

• The Bible Argument: if the Bible writers say God is and they are true, then God is (Luke 1:1-4; 2 Peter 1:16-21; 1 John 1:1-4)

Presenting Your Case For GodPresenting Your Case For God( Two Historical Arguments )( Two Historical Arguments )

• The Bible Argument: if the Bible writers say God is and they are true, then God is (Luke 1:1-4; 2 Peter 1:16-21; 1 John 1:1-4)

• The Jesus Argument: if Jesus is God, then God is (John 1:1,14,18; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:3)

Answering Objections to GodAnswering Objections to GodObjection #1: I cannot believe in a God that I cannot see.

•The atheist bears the “burden of proof” that God does not exist. To do this, he must know everything in the universe that can be known. This he cannot do!

•What about thoughts or emotions (like love), can you see them or measure them? What about electricity, sound waves, magnetism, or gravity? Can you see them? No, and yet you believe in them.

Answering Objections to GodAnswering Objections to GodObjection #2: If God exists, why doesn’t he just show himself?

•First, God has already shown himself in nature (Romans 1:20) and Jesus Christ (John 1:1,14,18).

•Second, God does not have to show himself in ways that man requires.

•Third, God showing himself will not guarantee that a person will believe in his existence (Exodus 4:1,8,9; Luke 22:67).

Answering Objections to GodAnswering Objections to GodObjection #3: If God created all things, who created God?

•At some point in time there must be a first cause. Thus, something (matter) or someone (spirit) has always existed to be the first cause of our own existence.

•It is more reasonable to believe that someone (God) has always existed (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 90:2; Proverbs 8:22ff; Hebrews 1:10). God is an eternal Spirit (Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 33:27; John 4:24; 5:26; Revelation 4:10).

Answering Objections to GodAnswering Objections to GodObjection #4: God is just a human invention like all of our fairy tale figures.

•Sigmund Freud’s hypothesis was never tested on people who believed in God!

•This objection cuts both ways. If the believer wishes God into existence, does the atheist wish God out of existence?

•Desire come from needs that can actually be satisfied with something or someone that is real.

•Why would man invent a God who punishes sin?

Answering Objections to GodAnswering Objections to GodObjection #5: Atheism does not rely upon a blind faith in God. It relies upon science and facts.

•The atheist is an unbeliever in God, but he is not a man without beliefs. He is a believer. He has faith. He believes that:

1. God does not exist2. Either matter is eternal, or something came from

nothing3. Life (mind) came from non-life (matter)4. Design came from random chance and chaos5. Conscience came from non-conscience


• We Must Choose the Path to Travel: Belief in God or Belief in No God.

• Either God Exists or He Does Not. If We Believe in a God That Does Not Exist, Then No Amount of Faith Will Create Him. If We Don’t Believe in a God That Does Exist, Then No Amount of Unbelief Will Make Him Go Away.


• Either Way There is Belief. Which Belief is More Reasonable? Which Belief Has the Evidence to Support It? Belief in God Rests Upon Reasonable Evidence. It Is Foolish To Say That There Is No God (Psalm 14:1).

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have

done abominable works, there is none that doeth good” – Psalm 14:1; 53:1

Defend Your FaithDefend Your Faith• There Are Three Kinds of People in the World:

– Those who have sought God and found him … they are reasonable and happy.

– Those who are seeking God and have not yet found him … they are reasonable, but unhappy.

– Those who neither seek God nor find God … they are unreasonable and unhappy.

• Seek God, Find Him, and Be Happy Today (Isaiah 55:6; Matthew 7:7-8; Acts 17:27)!

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is

near” – Isaiah 55:6

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be

opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” – Matthew 7:7-8

“And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the

times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they

should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every

one of us” – Acts 17:26-27

Defend Your FaithDefend Your Faith• Do you have the will to believe today (John 7:16-17)!

“Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself”

– John 7:16-17

Documents

To download a copy of today’s lesson go to TheGoodTeacher and click on “Gospel Meetings”