How Can I Know God Exists?
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· 749 viewsCan you know God exists? I would say yes, and here is why…
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The Atheist Voice | Friendly Atheist | Hemant Mehta
The Atheist Voice | Friendly Atheist | Hemant Mehta
How Can I Know God Exists?
How Can I Know God Exists?
Personal Experience
Barb Dudly
I have had a personal experience with God/Jesus and so I believe it!
greatest of all personal arguments
weakest of all personal arguments
how can we argue with billions of people all over the world / through time who claim the reality of a deity?
Moses | Israel | Prophets | Patriarches | etc…
Apostles - after Jesus resurrection!!
Ontological Argument
The study of being (Ontology)
The ontological argument is an argument based not on observation of the world (like the cosmological and teleological arguments) but rather on reason alone.
St. Anselm 11th cent. AD.
God = “a being than which no greater can be conceived”
“to be or not to be”… William Shakespeare | Hamlet
existance is possible
existance > non-existance
God must exist
3 reasons why unpopular today…
begs question of what God is like
subjective appeal is low for non-believers and these tend to lack objective support
it is difficult to simply state that something exists by definition, without the philosophical support as to why…
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
Teleological Argument
Telos = purpose / goal
One of the most popular arguments today…
The idea is that it takes a "purposer" to have purpose, and so, where we see things obviously intended for a purpose, we can assume that those things were made for a reason.
design implies designer!
grand canyon / Mt. Rushmore
wristwatch… on the beach
no scientific field is design considered spontaneous
universe by design! …
DNA
Life on Earth
Single Celled Organism
Evolution
The odds of a single protein molecule forming by chance is 1 in 10243 (that is a 1 followed by 243 zeros). A single cell is comprised of millions of protein molecules.
The odds of a single protein molecule forming by chance is 1 in 10243 (that is a 1 followed by 243 zeros). A single cell is comprised of millions of protein molecules.
Intelligent Design = God
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Job 38ff
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, 7 when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Cosmological Argument
attempts to prove God by observing the world around us (the cosmos)
Plato
vertical
horizontal
Horizontal = Things Exist
“I think therefore I am”… Rene Descartes | 1637
Tree = Apple tree - apple seed - apple - apple tree - apple seed - apple…
Universe = had a beginning = must have had a cause?
some things cause other things… dominos....
no infinite series = all series finite (limited)
all series have two ends |---------------------------|
one ended stick!! |----------------------------->
No first cause… no chain reaction… therefore God!
Vertical = Things exist
is existence a property something inherently possesses in itself?
triangle | unicorn
triangle = a plane figure with three straight sides and three angles
definition - not include / existence
unicorn defined - non existence!
tiangle caused by something else...
existence outside of self!!
something that does not need to be given existence must exist to give existence to everything else.
Application = to everything in the universe… anything have existence as its nature?
not only does the universe need a first cause to begin but needs a current cause to sustain!!
The only thing that would not have to be given existence is a thing that exists as its very nature. It is existence. This something would always exist, have no cause, have no beginning, have no limit, be outside of time, and be infinite. That something is God!
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
Teleological Argument
Telos = purpose / goal
The idea is that it takes a "purposer" to have purpose, and so, where we see things obviously intended for a purpose, we can assume that those things were made for a reason.
design implies designer!
grand canyon / Mt. Rushmore
wristwatch… on the beach
no scientific field is design considered spontaneous
universe by design! …
DNA
Life on Earth
Single Celled Organism
Evolution
Intelligent Design = God
Ontological Argument
The study of being (Ontology)
The ontological argument is an argument based not on observation of the world (like the cosmological and teleological arguments) but rather on reason alone.
The ontological argument is an argument based not on observation of the world (like the cosmological and teleological arguments) but rather on reason alone.
St. Anselm 11th cent. AD.
God = “a being than which no greater can be conceived”
existance is possible
existance > non-existance
God must exist
Moral Argument
based upon humanities intrinsic moral nature
Everyone on the face of the earth recognizes a difference of right and wrong, and all people appeal to a higher standard for their belief in right and wrong that all must therefore adhere to as well.
Good & Evil - imply a standard = law giver = God
clans / tribes / nations = societal similarities
personal moral code
guilt / wrong & right = unintelligible argument without a standard
conscience = moral argument for God
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. 17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” 25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
Rom 2.14-16
Putting the Pieces Together
Nothing Said Today Proves Christianity / God of Bible
https://www.gotquestions.org/Does-God-exist.html
We must accept by faith!
Nothing
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
He could appear, rearrange stars, = no room for faith…
Jesus & Thomas
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The Universe is full of evidence
As we walk by the ocean, through the forest, atop a mountain, gaze at the stars, etc…
Ps 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
There is evidence in our own hearts
intrinsic to humanity to worship gods
intrinsic acknowledgment to eternal nature of humanity
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
Ecc
Yet still we deny these truths…
1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.
Ps 14.
Logical Presentation of Arguments
Ontological / Cosmological / Teleological / Moral
Even with all this…
Rom 1
25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
However God says there is no excuse for this !!
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
The real reason to reject God
not science
not proof
guilt / submission / accountability
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom 6.23
The very fact that some argue so fervently against God’s existence is in and of itself proof that He does exist!
Arguments For Existence = Logic / Reason / Evidence…
None of these arguments will succeed in convincing you or anyone else
His love
we believe by faith!!!
His grace
His leading
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=117&v=ukOTW-pxuL0