OBJECTIONS ANSWERED: A Crash-Course in Defending the Christian Faith 1 June 2011 How Do We Know There Really is a God?

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1 OBJECTIONS ANSWERED: A Crash-Course in Defending the Christian Faith 1 June 2011 How Do We Know There Really is a God? Context: Tonight we continue our Bible study series Objections Answered: A Crash-Course in Defending the Faith. After an initial lesson introducing the art and science of contending for the truthfulness of Christianity over all other religions and worldviews, tonight we will begin addressing some common challenges to the faith. First on this list is the question, How do we know there really is a God? Read: Romans 1:18-32 Discussion: I. Review questions: A. What does the word apologetics mean? B. For what is apologetics useful? C. Why should we learn how to do apologetics? II. Questions about the existence of God: A. What do you think is the strongest reason to believe there is a God? Why do you believe the Bible is the Word of God? B. If you do not believe there is a God, why not? If you have atheist friends, what reasons do they give for not believing in God? C. Why do you believe the Bible simply assumes the existence of God (Genesis 1:1) as opposed to arguing that He is there? D. If most people today (and throughout history) believe there is a God, why have they not worshipped Him rightly? Study: I. Some Basic Arguments for the Existence of God: A. Humanity s Inner Sense of God: 1. Throughout history (including today) the vast majority of people believe in the existence of a God. While polls obviously vary, generally between percent of those polled claim to believe there is a God/god. 1 That there is a God is the default human position. 2. Historically, hardened atheism is usually limited to wealthy intellectuals. The purpose, design, hardships, and enjoyments of real life make atheism unthinkable to ordinary people (cf. There are no atheists in the foxholes. ). Even when atheistic communism ruled the Soviet Union and religion was illegal, the vast majority of Russians continued to believe there was a God. 3. While the popularity of the existence of God does not prove God s existence, it does put atheism on the defensive. The burden of proof lies with disproving God rather than proving his existence. 4. This idea we are calling Humanity s Inner Sense of God is exactly what the Bible teaches about mankind. Since we are made in the image of God, we instinctively know in our hearts that there is a all-powerful Creator (and yet we do not Him in a saving way): a. Psalm 14:1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." 1 Just do a Google search for people believe in God and you will quickly find scores of such surveys. 1

2 b. Ecclesiastes 3:11 He [God] has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. c. Acts 17:23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 2 d. Romans 1:18-23 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 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. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 3 B. The Cosmological Argument: 1. This argument reasons that everything we can touch and observe has a cause/beginning. Therefore, since there is a universe, there must have been a First Cause (i.e., God) who began the universe (i.e., an infinite series of caused beings is nonsense), otherwise there would be no universe. 4 While atheists do not believe there is a God, if there were no God, there would be no atheists. 2. Acts 17:28 In him we live and move and have our being. 3. Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. C. The Teleological Argument: 1. This argument contends that the harmony, order, and design of creation prove an intelligent creator. To use a human illustration, anyone finding a wristwatch in the forest would never conclude that the watch evolved accidentally but that an intelligent designer made it. So also, the precise distance of the earth from the sun (a bit closer and we would burn up; a bit further away and we would freeze to death), the obvious design in the human body (e.g., nostrils face downward instead of upward so rain can not fall into them, etc.), the way that the seasons make it possible to grow crops, etc. strongly points to an all-powerful Designer. 2. Acts 14:17 Yet he [God] did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. D. Scientific Arguments: 1. Though many people are unaware of the facts, science (especially archeology) generally affirms the claims of the Bible rather than contradicting it. 2. A couple examples: a. It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference. Scores of archaeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or exact detail historical statements in the Bible. And, by the same token, 2 The situation of the philosophers in Athens is the universal human condition: we know God but we do not know Him. By that what we mean is that all people instinctively know there is a God and yet we do not instinctively know Him in a saving way through Jesus Christ. For this latter knowledge, Gospel proclamation is necessary. 3 Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 4 This sentence is intentionally redundant for emphasis. 2

3 proper evaluation of Biblical description has often led to amazing discoveries. Dr. Nelson Glueck, world-famous archeologist b. When the Bible addresses the topic of astronomy, it is accurate in every aspect. This shouldn t be surprising, because the Bible, which teaches that the heavens declare the glory and handiwork of God (Psalm 19:1), is the written Word of the Creator. God understands every aspect of the universe He has created, and He never makes mistakes. Dr. Jason Lisle, PhD Astrophysicist c. Recommended resource: The ministry Answers in Genesis is dedicated to helping Christians interpret science biblically and to understand how science actually supports the Bible rather than contradicts it. Visit their website: 3. Historically, some of the world s greatest scientists were also committed Christians. This would include individuals such as Johannes Kepler, Blaise Pascal, Michael Faraday, Gregor Mendel, Lord Kelvin, George Washington Carver, and dozens of others. These scientists saw no contradiction between the creation of God and the Word of God but rather sought to understand the created universe as God designed it (e.g., thinking God s thoughts after Him. ). It has only been since the Enlightenment (18 th century) that people began claiming that science and Christianity were contradictory. 4. This relationship of science to the Bible is exactly what we would expect, since the God who speaks in the Bible is also the God who created the universe. When interpreted correctly, science always confirms the Bible and never contradicts it: Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. E. The Transcendental Argument: 1. Abstract (i.e., spiritual) entitles and laws can only be accounted for if there is a God. Laws of morality, logic, science, ascetics, etc. are ultimately illusions and purely conventional if there is no God. If there is no God, there is no love, hate, beauty, truth, error, etc. 2. Yet all people instinctively recognize in their hearts that there is more to this life than simply that which is material and tangible. We know that love exists and that it is good, that evil exists and that it is bad, that there is purpose in life, that the strong should protect the weak, etc. The fact that all men acknowledge the existence of these non-material, non-observable realities points to the fact that in our hearts, we understand more than we realize. We know that there is a good, loving, eternal God to whom we will one day be accountable. 3. Even unbelievers stumble upon something of this argument from time to time: What is the meaning of it, Watson? What is the object of this circle of misery and violence and fear? It must have a purpose or our universe has no meaning, and that is unthinkable. But what purpose? That is humanity s greatest problem, for which reason so far has no answer. 5 Sherlock Holmes to Dr. Watson in The Cardboard Box by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 4. Aside on the so-called problem of suffering. Many atheists argue that there cannot be a good God since there is so much suffering in the world. While suffering can certainly make belief more difficult and should not be minimized, in reality, the existence of suffering is a problem not for the Christian, but for the atheist. If there is no God, there is no suffering or evil or purpose in life (they are all merely illusion and/or convention and/or hormonal 5 This interesting statement of Sherlock s includes a number of noteworthy ideas that are consistent with a Christian worldview: (1) There is real evil in the world; (2) For some reason, humans cannot put an end to this evil; (3) Life must have a purpose, evil notwithstanding (4) To imagine that life has no purpose is obviously absurd; (5) Reason alone is unable to discern the purpose of life. In response to this last point, this is why the Bible is necessary. Unfortunately, Dr. Watson did not reply, Well, you see, Sherlock, God is the loving creator of the world 3

4 fluctuations). Furthermore, if me causing you to suffer results in my advance up the evolutionary ladder, why should I not cause you to suffer (e.g., survival of the fittest)? While Christians do not claim to understand all the reasons for suffering, the existence of suffering only makes sense within a Christian framework and Christianity is the only worldview that contains a solution for our suffering the suffering of Jesus in our place. 5. Recommended resource: A wonderful presentation of the transcendental argument for the existence of God (and a general, all-around persuasive apologetic for Christianity) is found in The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Tim Keller (Dutton, 2009) F. The Gospel-Solution Argument: 1. The worldview founded on the Gospel (i.e., there is sin; a holy God demands justice for sin; Christ s death satisfies God s justice and enables forgiveness, etc.) is the only worldview that makes sense of reality. 2. When people are wronged, what do they demand? Justice. Yet, when I wrong others, what do I hope for? Mercy. We all long for a universe where justice and mercy can somehow paradoxically coexist. Essentially, we are all on a search for a God who is both just and the justifier of the ungodly. Only biblical Christianity satisfies this profound longing of the soul (cf. Augustine s God-shaped vacuum ). Atheism has no category for right or wrong or justice or forgiveness (since all these things are illusions). Deism has a category for forgiveness but not for justice. Islam has a category for justice but not for forgiveness. Only the religion of the Bible fulfills all the desires of our souls. 3. Romans 3:25-26 Whom [i.e., Jesus] God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. II. The Usefulness of Arguments for the Existence for God: A. Apologetics and Evangelism: 1. The Bible teaches that man s basic problem is not ignorance (i.e., lack of evidence) but rebellion (Romans 1:18-23). In his heart of hearts, all men believe there is a God. Intellectual objections to Christianity are ultimately complicated excuses for sin (Psalm 14:1). 2. The miracles of Christ were the clearest evidence of the truthfulness of the Gospel conceivable. Even still, the Pharisees, Judas, the soldiers who guarded Jesus tomb, and others refused to believe (cf. Pharaoh). One of the strange things about sin s affect on the mind is that it enables us to disbelieve clear truth and to believe nonsense. Since enables people to embrace absurdity to escape accountability. 3. Apologetics can, however, be useful in pointing out the foolishness of unbelief and in opening doors for sharing the Gospel. Paul illustrates this in Acts 17 in his encounter with the Athenian philosophers. 4. Ultimately, it takes God s Spirit opening a person s heart for them to embrace the truthfulness of Christianity. Therefore pray diligently as you share the Gospel. a. Acts 16:14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. b. Acts 26:17-18 I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. 4

5 c. 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to f those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. B. Apologetics and the Christian Apologetics is most helpful to those who have already committed themselves to the Gospel. For Christians, apologetics acts to strengthen the faith commitments they have already made. Christianity can easily handle all opponents; apologetics demonstrates this to the Christian and encourages confidence in the faith. Application: I. What are some other reasons to believe in the existence of God? II. Can you testify of a time when as a Christian you struggled with doubts about the certainty of Christianity? What was it that caused the doubt? What helped you resolve the doubt? III. Can you imagine some additional ways we might reason from the existence of God to the truthfulness of the Bible? IV. What most stood out to you from this lesson and why? 5