2. The Doctrine of God - The Existence of God

1. The Existence of God.

Does god Exist? He sure does.

The Billions of Stars in the MILKY WAY GALAXY

A.  Naturalistic Arguments for His Existence.

1. Cosmological Agrument (cosmos, “world”)The Universe is an effect that requires adequate cause, and the only sufficient cause is God. Psa 19:1  To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the expanse proclaims His handiwork.
2. Teleological Argument (telos, “end”) The Universe not only proves a maker but also a designer. Romans 1:18  For God's anger is being revealed from Heaven against all impiety and against the iniquity of men who through iniquity suppress the truth. God is angry: Rom 1:19  because what may be known about Him is plain to their inmost consciousness; for He Himself has made it plain to them. Rom 1:20  For, from the very creation of the world, His invisible perfections--namely His eternal power and divine nature--have been rendered intelligible and clearly visible by His works, so that these men are without excuse.
3. The Anthropological Argument. (anthropos, “man”) Since man is a Moral and intellectual being, he must have a Maker who is also a Moral and intelligent being. Act 17:28  for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Act 17:29  Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man. Act 17:30  The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent: Man’s moral nature, religious instincts, conscience, and emotional nature argue for the existence of God
4. Ontological Argument, (on,”being”) Man has the idea of the Most perfect being. This idea includes more than existence, since a being, otherwise perfect, who did not exist would not be as perfect as a perfect being who did exist. therefore, since the idea of existence is contained in the idea of a Most Perfect Being, the Most Perfect Being must exist.

   
   

   1. Lord, Liar, Or Lunatic?

   Jesus was either much less than, or much more than, a great human being.

     Attach to the Cosmological argument that every effect must have an adequate cause. Robert Culver writes:

   “One of the great names of British Science , mathematics, and Philosophy is Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727). Sir Isaac had a miniature model of the solar system made. A large golden ball representing the sun was at its centre and around it revolved smaller spheres, representing the planets - Mercury, Venus, Earth , Mars, Jupiter and the others.

   They were each kept in orbit relatively the same as in the real solar system. By means of rods, cogwheels, and belts they all moved around the center gold ball in exact precision.

   A friend called on the noted man one day while he was studying the model. The Friend was not a believer in the Biblical Doctrine of Divine Creation. According to reports, their conversation went as follows:

   Friend: “My, Newton, what an exquisite thing! Who made it for you?

   Newton: “Nobody”.

   Friend: “ Nobody?”

   Newton: “That’s right! I said nobody! All these balls and cogs and belts and gears just happened to come together, and wonder of wonders, by chance they began revolving in their set orbits with perfect timing!”

   Of course, the visitor  understood the unexpressed argument: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”(The Living God p.29-30) from The Doctrine of the Trinity, Willmington’s Guide to the Bible p. 591

   1. Does God exist? The complexity of our planet points to a deliberate Designer who not only created our universe, but sustains it today.

   Many examples showing God's design could be given, possibly with no end. But here are a few:

   The Earth...its size is perfect. The Earth's size and corresponding gravity holds a thin layer of mostly nitrogen and oxygen gases, only extending about 50 miles above the Earth's surface. If Earth were smaller, an atmosphere would be impossible, like the planet Mercury. If Earth were larger, its atmosphere would contain free hydrogen, like Jupiter.3 Earth is the only known planet equipped with an atmosphere of the right mixture of gases to sustain plant, animal and human life.The Earth is located the right distance from the sun. Consider the temperature swings we encounter, roughly -30 degrees to +120 degrees. If the Earth were any further away from the sun, we would all freeze. Any closer and we would burn up. Even a fractional variance in the Earth's position to the sun would make life on Earth impossible. The Earth remains this perfect distance from the sun while it rotates around the sun at a speed of nearly 67,000 mph. It is also rotating on its axis, allowing the entire surface of the Earth to be properly warmed and cooled every day.

   And our moon is the perfect size and distance from the Earth for its gravitational pull. The moon creates important ocean tides and movement so ocean waters do not stagnate, and yet our massive oceans are restrained from spilling over across the continents.4

   Water...colorless, odorless and without taste, and yet no living thing can survive without it. Plants, animals and human beings consist mostly of water (about two-thirds of the human body is water). You'll see why the characteristics of water are uniquely suited to life:

   It has an unusually high boiling point and freezing point. Water allows us to live in an environment of fluctuating temperature changes, while keeping our bodies a steady 98.6 degrees.Water is a universal solvent. This property of water means that various chemicals, minerals and nutrients can be carried throughout our bodies and into the smallest blood vessels.5

   Water is also chemically neutral. Without affecting the makeup of the substances it carries, water enables food, medicines and minerals to be absorbed and used by the body.

   Water has a unique surface tension. Water in plants can therefore flow upward against gravity, bringing life-giving water and nutrients to the top of even the tallest trees.

   Water freezes from the top down and floats, so fish can live in the winter.

   Ninety-seven percent of the Earth's water is in the oceans. But on our Earth, there is a system designed which removes salt from the water and then distributes that water throughout the globe. Evaporation takes the ocean waters, leaving the salt, and forms clouds which are easily moved by the wind to disperse water over the land, for vegetation, animals and people. It is a system of purification and supply that sustains life on this planet, a system of recycled and reused water.6

   The human brain...simultaneously processes an amazing amount of information. Your brain takes in all the colors and objects you see, the temperature around you, the pressure of your feet against the floor, the sounds around you, the dryness of your mouth, even the texture of your keyboard. Your brain holds and processes all your emotions, thoughts and memories. At the same time your brain keeps track of the ongoing functions of your body like your breathing pattern, eyelid movement, hunger and movement of the muscles in your hands.The human brain processes more than a million messages a second.7 Your brain weighs the importance of all this data, filtering out the relatively unimportant. This screening function is what allows you to focus and operate effectively in your world. The brain functions differently than other organs. There is an intelligence to it, the ability to reason, to produce feelings, to dream and plan, to take action, and relate to other people.

   The eye...can distinguish among seven million colors. It has automatic focusing and handles an astounding 1.5 million messages -- simultaneously.8 Evolution focuses on mutations and changes from and within existing organisms. Yet evolution alone does not fully explain the initial source of the eye or the brain -- the start of living organisms from nonliving matter.http://www.everystudent.com/features/isthere.html

   
   
   

   B Biblical Arguments:

   1. The Bible simply assumes the existence of God Ps 14:1 “The fool has said in his heart there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”
   2. Hebrews 11:6 “ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God must believe that He exists and that He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.