Fundamentals – The Existence of God – Lesson 2
Categories: uncategorizedDate written: February 8, 2002
Scripture ref: Romans 1:20
SUBJECT: Christian Fundamentals: Bible Class
TITLE: The Existence of God
PROPOSITION: To prove the existence of God with three sound arguments.
OBJECTIVES: The hearer should be able to repeat the arguments to show others that God exists.
AIM: I do not want there to be any doubt in anyone’s mind regarding the existence of God.
INTRODUCTION:
Read: Romans 1:20 “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:”
1. About the Text:
1) The Bible says that we can know that God exists from examining the world.
2) We can know His eternal power.
3) We can know His divinity.
4) How do we reason correctly about the world to come to the conclusion that God exists?
2. An illustration
1) During a debate with an atheist on the existence of God, a preacher was asked a question.
2) The question was, “Why don’t you use more scripture?”
3) The preacher replied, “What scripture would you have me to use?”
4) The Bible does teach that God exists, but to bring one to the point of accepting the Bible as their authority, one must first prove that God exists.
3. It is impossible for the Atheist to prove that there is no God.
1) Does the Atheist know everything?
2) How does he KNOW that outside of his scope of knowledge, that God does not exist?
3) At best, he can be an agnostic.
4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION: There are three sound arguments that prove the existence of God.
I. The Cosmological Argument–cause and effect.
1. If something exists, then certain things must be regarding that thing.
1) It has always existed — it is infinite.
2) It was created — it is finite.
3) These are the only two possibilities.
2. Can it be said of the universe that it is infinite?
1) If something is infinite, it cannot have a beginning or an end, it is eternal.
2) It must have within itself sufficient reason within itself to explain itself.
3) But the universe does not have sufficient reason within itself to explain itself.
a. It cannot sustain itself from eternity. There is no evidence to support the conclusion that the Universe has wound itself up.
b. It cannot perpetuate itself to eternity. There is no evidence to support the conclusion that the Universe will fold back upon itself to start again.
4) The universe cannot be infinite.
5) Even science agrees with this now. Go through charts, “The Universe is Expanding.”
3. If something is finite, then it of necessity has a beginning and an end.
1) According to a recent Nova program (November 11th, 2000), scientists have recently discovered that there will be no “big crunch.”
2) The universe had a beginning and it will have an end. It is not a continuous series of bangs and crunches.
3) The universe is finite.
4. If the universe is finite, then…
1) It either had to create itself.
2) Something outside of itself had to create it.
3) It is absurd to say that the universe created itself for this implies that something that exists must come from something that does not exist–that something must come from nothing.
5. What must be the nature of the Creator?
1) He himself must possess sufficient explanation for himself and his creation.
2) He himself must be something different than that of his creation.
6. Go through overhead slides.
II. The Teleological Argument — If there is a design, then there must be a designer.
1. William Paley set forth the classic argument in his book, “Natural Theology.”
1) Every watch must have a watch maker.
2) The watch displays sufficient design so as to conclude that there must have been a designer.
2. Does the universe display such characteristics so that we can say it has been designed? Yes
1) David wrote in Psalm 139:14, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
2) Go through “Wonderfully Made” slides.
3. The argument from design.
1) If the universe shows evidence of design, then there must have been a designer.
2) The universe shows evidence of design.
3) Therefore, there must have been a designer.
4. How do we know that this designer is not simply someone who is more technologically advanced than we are?
5. There is nothing so technologically advanced that it can design a Universe other than God!
III. The Moral Argument — There is a law that transcends all human law.
1. If God does not exist, then there is no crime that we have moral authority to punish.
1) If God does not exist, then anything goes.
2) There is no right or wrong.
2. There is a crime that we have moral authority to punish.
1) Nazi Germany
2) Afghanistan
3. Therefore, God does exist.
CONCLUSION:
1. We have seen three arguments for the existence of God.
1) The cosmological argument — for every effect there is a cause.
2) The teleological argument — Every design must have a designer.
3) The moral argument — There is a law which transcends all human laws.