Systematic Theology By Wayne Grudem

1. Systematic TheologyBy Wayne Grudem Chapter 9 The Existence of God Truth Bible Church Sunday School 19 Jun 2011

2. Overview • Humanity’s Inner Sense of God • Believing the Evidence in Scripture and Nature • Traditional “Proofs” for the Existence of God • Only God Can Overcome Our Sin and Enable Us to Be Persuaded of His Existence • Questions

3. Introductory Remarks • We are beginning Part 2 of our study in Systematic Theology, called the Doctrine of God (Theology) • According to Merriam-Webster first use of the word “theology” in the 14th Century • Theos; Greek qeos meaning god • Logia; Greek logia study of or branch of knowledge (English - ology)

4. Introductory Remarks • “How do we know that God exists? The answer can be given in two parts:First all people have an inner sense of God. Second, we believe the evidence that is found in Scripture and nature.” - p.141 • Specifically the terms Special and General Revelation are used when referring to Scripture and nature respectively • “Special revelation is God’s personal disclosure of Himself to us through the living and written Word so that we might come to know Him in salvation and glorify Him through our lives.” - Pettegrew • Read Hebrews 1:1-3 • “General revelation is the disclosure of God in nature and the constitution of man whereby all people gain an introductory knowledge of God” - Snider • Read Romans 2:14-15

5. Introductory Remarks • Consider the alternatives to belief in God: atheism or literally “no god” or agnosticism or literally “unknowable” or in the Latin “ignoramus” • To deny the existence of a being with infinite power and knowledge requires at a minimum infinite knowledge and is self refuting and defies logic • Read this post (also included in notes below): • http://www.worldviewweekend.com/worldview-times/article.php?articleid=7264 Or here: • http://raycomfortfood.blogspot.com/2011/05/sir-isaac-newton-was-right-atheists-are.html

6. Humanity’s Inner Sense of God • Romans 1:18-25 • Psalm 14:1, 53:1, 10:3-4 • The Bible is clear that sin causes people to think irrationally and to deny God’s existence • They “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” • “They are without excuse” • Ask the atheist if they curse God, almost all do • Then ask, “what is it that you are cursing?”

7. Humanity’s Inner Sense of God • Romans 1:18-25 • 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.†24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

8. Humanity’s Inner Sense of God • Psalm 14:1, 53:1, 10:3-4 • 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good. • 53:1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,” They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; There is no one who does good. • 10:3 For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire, And the greedy man curses and spurns the LORD. 4 The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, “There is no God.”

9. Humanity’s Inner Sense of God • For the Believer this inner sense is confirmed by the Holy Spirit and becomes our comfort, strength, hope, assurance and blessing! • Romans 8:15-16 • Ephesians 3:17 • Philippians 3:8, 10 • Colossians 1:27 • John 14:23 • 1 Peter 1:8

10. B. Believing the Evidence in Scripture and Nature • “In the beginning God…” Genesis 1:1 • You cannot have creation without a Creator • No painting without a painter or building, etc. • Romans 1:20: “through what has been made” • Man, being made in the image of God is the paramount example for the existence of God! Psalm 8:5 • Acts 14:17: “Rains and fruitful seasons” and “food and gladness” • Psalm 8! “displayed your splendor above the heavens!” • Psalm 19:1-2 in every sunrise and sunset! • Everything in existence cries out “God made me!”

11. B. Believing the Evidence in Scripture and Nature • The significance of the testimony of all of creation should not be over-looked • This highlights the importance of holding to a correct and God honoring view of creation • As apposed to evolution, theistic evolution and other compromises and lies • Creation evangelism resources are a great tool: • www.answersingenesis.com • www.icr.org • www.creationstudies.org

12. C. Traditional “Proofs” • These concepts address philosophical and logical arguments regarding the necessary existence of God • Cosmological argument • Teleological argument • Ontological argument • Moral argument

13. C. Traditional “Proofs” • Cosmological Argument • From the Greek kosmos (kosmos) meaning: order, orderly, ornament, and Universe (because of the order displayed in it) and Greek suffix logia (logia) meaning: study of • Based upon the intellectual acknowledgement that everything that exists has a cause

14. C. Traditional “Proofs” • Teleological Argument • From the Greek telos (telos) meaning: end or purpose • Realy a subcategory of the cosmological argument • Focuses on the evidence of harmony, order, and design in the universe and therefore argues that this design gives evidence of purpose

15. C. Traditional “Proofs” • Ontological Argument • From the Greek ontos (ontos) meaning: being • Comes from the idea that God is a being “greater than which nothing can be imagined.” • First postulated by Anselm of Canterbury in 1077-78 • Argues that the characteristic of existence must belong to such a being, since it is greater to exist than not to exist

16. C. Traditional “Proofs” • Moral Argument • Considering the very fact and universality that man can make moral distinctions between right and wrong and the need for justice demands there be some kind of supreme moral law giver • It is a logical fallacy to hold that morality could be the product of chance and unguided processes

17. D. Only God Can Overcome Our Sin… • 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 • 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. • 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 • 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. • It is by God’s grace that we can overcome our sin and acknowledge Him in truth

18. D. Only God Can Overcome Our Sin… • “We are dependent upon God to remove the blindness and irrationality caused by sin and to enable us to evaluate the evidence rightly, believe what Scripture says, and come to saving faith in Christ.” - p. 144

19. E. Application Questions • Isaiah 6:3 records the song of praise of the seraphim, do you think they are seeing the earth from a different perspective than ours? In what ways? How can we begin to see the world more from this perspective? • Look at your hand. Is it more or less complex than a wristwatch? Is it logical to think that either came about by accident? • Why do some people deny the existence of God? Does Romans 1:18 suggest there is often a moral factor influencing their intellectual denial of god’s existence?