1. We can know about God from his - Clover Sites



GOD LOVES US - Lesson 1 of 5; Part 1 of 2KEY CONCEPT: God loves us and wants a friendship with us.Where Do We Come From?If something can’t come from nothing, and something indeed exists, it must therefore be eternal in and of itself or created by something that is. Thus, we have two options: 1) Matter is eternal and responsible for the Mind; or 2) A Mind (a.k.a. God) is eternal and responsible for Matter. Everybody trusts in a particular worldview, and every worldview must answer the question of origins. Our goal should be to trust the worldview that proves most trustworthy.In this series, we will consider the Christian worldview. According to the Christian worldview, God is the eternal source of all things and he created the world through his son, Jesus. (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3,14; Colossians 1:15-17)??What Is God Like?“What comes into our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” ~ A.W. Tozer. What is your picture of God? How did you arrive at that conclusion? Why does it matter? [Illustration: Pride & Prejudice; The Simpsons Movie]It’s one thing to conclude the best explanation for the origin of life is an Eternal Mind. It’s another thing to know who that Eternal Mind is. Why did he create us? Can we know him personally? What does he consider right and wrong? Will we be held accountable to him? And what will happen to us after we die? Consider these five sources of knowledge: 1. We can know about God from his creation. (Romans 1:20; Psalm 19:1-4)Still, this knowledge is insufficient. The only way to know what God is like is if he provides revelation to us. If he has the power to create us (which is a big thing), it seems reasonable to conclude he has the power to tell us why he created us (which is a small thing). 2. We can know about God from his supernatural presence. (Acts 9:1-9,17-19)Still, while this sort of revelation is nice, it’s not guaranteed, and it is subjective and therefore insufficient. We need objective revelation from God. 3. We can we know about God from his revelation. (Exodus 34:6-7; Isaiah 44:6-8)It seems logical to start by examining which worldviews even claim to possess revelation from a creator. Surprisingly, there are only three: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Incidentally, all three share in common the Old Testament as their starting point.4. We can we know about God from his name. God’s name is Yahweh (Jehovah in English, often translated LORD). This means “eternal present revealing one.” (Exodus 3:13-15)5. We can know about God from his son? (John 14:9; Hebrews 1:1-4)In Part 2, we’ll consider: 1) Why God Created Us; 2) The Dynamic of the Friendship; and 3) The Necessity of Free Will for Mutual Love to Exist. ?GOD LOVES US - Lesson 1 of 5; Part 2 of 2KEY CONCEPT: God loves us and wants a friendship with us.?Why God Created UsAccording to the Christian worldview, humans were created in God’s perfect image; to originally live in a perfect place; to have a perfect job; and to relate perfectly with God, ourselves, others, and with animals and the earth. (Genesis 1:26-31; John 17:3, 20-26; Acts 17:26-27)This has incredible implications. It means we are valued more than we ever imagined. Our worth is derived from God instead of other people’s opinions, or what magazine and commercials tell us. We are a masterpiece![Illustration: Rembrandt; $20]?The Dynamic of the FriendshipLike the relational dynamic between parents and their children, there is a unique dynamic to our friendship with God. God is the creator and humans are his creation. God is our Father and we are his children. His position is on the throne as King, while our position is at the foot of the throne as his people. He leads us with love and wants us to follow his leadership with love. This dynamic must be respected in order for the friendship to work. (Psalm 47:7-8)?The Necessity of Free Will for Mutual Love to Exist The only way friendship with our creator is possible is if we possess free will. (Genesis 2:15-17)[Illustration: Stepford Wives; SIMS]?The tree of the knowledge of good and evil presented the parents of the human race with the opportunity to choose whether or not to love God in obedience or rebel against him in disobedience. Just as a parent’s love for their child compels them to warn the child not to play in the street, it was out of love that God warned Adam and Eve of the consequence of sin.[Illustration: The Purpose of Guardrails]?In Lesson 2 of 5, we’ll discuss what happened next with Adam and Eve, and how that played a part in why we today do not experience the life God originally intended.WE SINNED - Lesson 2 of 5; Part 1 of 2KEY CONCEPT: People have rejected God and rebelled against His authority.?By way of review, we’ve learned that the Christian worldview proposes:God is the eternal source of all things and he created the world through his son, Jesus.We can potentially discover what God is like through: 1.) His creation; 2.) His supernatural presence; 3.) His revelation; 4.) His name; and 5.) His son.The reason God created us is to potentially experience a mutual loving friendship with us in his family.There is a unique dynamic to our friendship with God. He is on the throne as our king and we are at the foot of the throne as his people. Finally, in order for love to exist at all, it was necessary for God to grant us free will. He initially presented this opportunity to Adam and Eve in the form of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, while warning them of the consequence of sin. What’s Gone Wrong?Clearly, the world God had in mind when he created planet earth and the Garden of Eden is not what we see and experience today. It doesn’t take much to conclude that something has gone wrong. You can’t watch the news channel or browse the internet for five minutes without seeing a new headline about war and terrorism, or racism and violence, or human trafficking and rape, or poverty and unemployment, or disease and natural disasters. In fact, the reality of evil and suffering is a problem that every worldview must account for.According to the Christian worldview, the answer to what’s gone wrong as it pertains to humanity is traced back to the choice Adam and Eve made as they stood at the foot of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. However, the origin of evil can be traced back beyond the human race that began in the Garden of Eden, to the angelic race beforehand. So before we consider what Adam and Eve did next, let’s go on an important tangent that will shed some light on the question at hand.[Illustration: Late for a Movie]As we read in Lesson 1, Colossians 1:15-17 tells us that when God created the world through Jesus, that included “things in heaven” and “things on earth,” “visible and invisible.” It goes on to describe those created “things” as positions held by free will agents, “whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities.” These invisible “things” in heaven who hold various positions of power are known as angels. The Angelic Race RebelsWhile it is a little premature to speak of Jesus at this point, it is worth mentioning that, while many people today believe Satan is not a real individual but a concept, Jesus believed and taught that Satan is indeed real. (Luke 10:18; John 8:43-44; Matthew 12:24-28; 13:19, 36-43) It stands to reason, if Jesus was resurrected from the dead (as we will consider in a future lesson), that would bring some authority to his claims about Satan (among other things). Insightful scripture passages about angels and Satan:Angels were the first creatures created to be in God’s family. (Job 38:4-7)One of God’s intentions for angels was to serve humans. (Hebrews 1:14)Lucifer was a high ranking angel who became proud, and rebelled against God. (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:1-17; 1 Timothy 3:6)Lucifer came to be known as “Satan” (which means adversary) as well as the “Devil” (which means slanderer). Other angels joined in Satan’s revolt and started a cosmic battle between good and evil. (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43; 1 John 3:8; 5:19; Revelation 12:4, 7-12) [Illustration: Similar Storyline in Books & Movies]The Human Race RebelsRead Genesis 3:1-5. As Adam and Eve stood at the foot of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, the serpent (who is Satan, according to Revelation 12:9) basically persuaded them to side with him in a rebellion against God. At the heart of this rebellion were three lies of Satan:?#1 - Satan challenged sin’s consequences: claiming the penalty for disobeying God is not death. #2 - Satan challenged God’s character: claiming God was deceptive and withholding good things. #3 - Satan challenged God’s authority: claiming people could rule themselves apart from God. ?Read Genesis 3:6. Thus, Adam and Eve rebelled against God and violated his moral law. There are three aspects to sin: #1 - Rebellion: Refusing to do God’s will. #2 - Independence: Choosing to do our own will. (Isaiah 53:6a; Psalm 81:12)#3 - Unrighteousness: Practicing a lifestyle of wrongdoing. (Psalm 36:1-4)In committing sin, Adam and Eve sided with Satan and actually became enemies of God (1 John 3:8a). In essence, sin is an attempt to switch the roles in the dynamic of our relationship with God.[Illustration: Taking Over the Whitehouse]In Lesson 2 of 5; Part 2 of 2, we’ll discuss how people today stand before God.WE SINNED - Lesson 2 of 5; Part 2 of 2KEY CONCEPT: People have rejected God and rebelled against His authority.?How People Today Stand Before GodJust as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil represented God’s authority to Adam and Eve, so the Bible represents God’s authority to mankind today. It presents the same opportunity to us, to choose to either love and obey God or rebel against Him.According to the Bible, all people have rebelled against God (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:10,23; 1 John 1:8,10) . ?Let’s examine God’s moral law expressed in the Ten Commandments to see where we have sinned against God (Exodus 20:1-17; cf. James 2:10-11). ?●Have you ever told a lie? If so, that makes you a liar in God’s eyes. ●Have you ever stolen something (regardless of its value)? If so, that makes you a thief in God’s eyes. ●Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery already with her in his heart.” Have you ever lusted after someone? If so, that makes you an adulterer in God’s eyes.●Jesus also said that whoever has hated someone is guilty of breaking the commandment, “You shall not murder.” Have you ever hated someone? If so, you are a murderer in the eyes of God.?If you said “yes” to these questions, then by your own admission you’re like the rest of: a liar, a thief, and an adulterer and murderer at heart, and that’s only four of the Ten Commandments. As you listen to the voice of your conscience, ask yourself, If on Judgment Day, God judges you according to the Ten Commandments, would you be innocent or guilty? Do you think you would go to heaven or hell? Does that concern you??It wasn’t the act of eating a piece of fruit that was evil. The true evil is found in the selfish rebellious heart behind the act.[Illustration: A Leaking Pipe]In Lesson 3 of 5, we’ll discuss the consequence of sin; why God must hold people accountable for sin; and why we cannot save ourselves through a life of good works. DEATH IS THE CONSEQUENCE - Lesson 3 of 5KEY CONCEPT: Sin separates us from God and leads to death. ReviewIn Lesson 1: “God Loves Us,” we addressed the worldview question, “Where do we come from?” We saw how, according to the Christian worldview, we were created by God and His Son, Jesus, in order to experience a mutual loving friendship (which is the purpose of life). We also learned about the dynamic of that friendship and how God gave us free will, beginning with Adam and Eve. In Lesson 2: “We Sinned,” we addressed the worldview question, “What’s gone wrong?” We saw how both angels and humans used their free will to rebel against God. Moving on from the sin of Adam and Eve, we considered the sin in our lives as well. Now in Lesson 3: “Death is the Consequence,” we will expound on the worldview question, “What’s gone wrong?” and then begin to address the next question, “What can be done about it?”What the Consequence of Sin Is Read Genesis 2:15-17. How is it an expression of love for a parent to warn their child of danger? Just as there are consequences for violating a law of traffic (by driving the wrong way on a one-way street), or the law of electricity (by sticking a fork in a light socket), or the law of gravity (by jumping off a bridge), there are consequences for violating the moral law of God. According to the Christian worldview, that consequence is death. The concept of death throughout the Bible is threefold: ??1. Physical Death - The death of one’s body. (Romans 6:23)2. Spiritual Death - A broken relationship with God. (Isaiah 59:2)3.? Eternal Death - Eternal condemnation. (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; Revelation 20:14-15)?Now we can make sense of the pain and suffering we experience in the world. God is not the one responsible for evil; those who have rebelled against Him are.?Why God Must Hold People Accountable For Sin[Illustration: The Just Judge - Like a good judge can’t let a guilty criminal go free, God can’t turn a blind eye to our sin. His justice must be satisfied] It is because God is perfectly holy that He must uphold justice. (see Psalm 9:7-8) For God to turn a blind eye to our sin would require Him to go against His very nature. In doing so, He would cease to be a good God. [Illustration: The Chronicles of Narnia – The White Witch demands Edmund’s death as the consequence for his betrayal. Alsan does not deny it]God does not take pleasure in punishing us, but He does respect our free will choices. (see Ezekiel 18:23; 2 Peter 3:9) Thus, God turns us over to the consequences of our choices, which, ultimately, is Hell. Incidentally, Hell was originally created for Satan and his angels. (see Matthew 25:41) ?The warnings we see in the Bible are sobering. It says that all liars will have their part in the lake of fire, and that those who commit adultery, fornication, murder, or practice drunkenness and other such things will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. (Revelation 21:8; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21)Why We Cannot Save Ourselves Through a Life of Good WorksOne of the most commonly held theories in the world is the belief that peace with God can be obtained by outweighing evil deeds with good deeds. For example: attending religious gatherings, giving to charity, saying prayers, going on pilgrimages, enduring suffering, keeping laws, abstaining from evil things, etc. However, this mentality has a major problem: it contradicts what God says can be done about the problem of sin, death and hell. Read Galatians 3:10-11 and Isaiah 64:6. [Illustration: The Scale - How would you rate yourself on a scale of 0 to 100? If God’s minimum standard was one point higher than yours, what would happen to you? Do you know what God’s minimum standard is? It is 100][Illustration: The Cockroach – If you kill a bug, there is no penalty, but if you kill a man, there is a penalty. The penalty increases according to the value of the one offended. There’s an infinite penalty for offending an infinite God]As “sinners,” we have nothing to offer God that could make amends for what we have done or take away what we deserve. Clearly, God will not accept anyone on the basis of a good life. These things do nothing to appease God’s justice. Our merits are not enough. Clearly, if it were left to us to be reconciled to God we would be helpless. So what hope is there? In Lesson 4 of 5, we’ll discuss what God did so that we might be saved from sin and reconciled to Him.JESUS CAME TO SAVE US - Lesson 4 of 5KEY CONCEPT: Jesus is God’s provision for salvation. ReviewOver the last three lessons, we’ve learned that, according to the Christian worldview:God loves us and wants a friendship with us.People have rejected God and rebelled against His authority.?Sin separates us from God and leads to death. We concluded our last lesson by addressing a question regarding sin: “What can be done about it?” Contrary to the claims of world religions, Christianity teaches there is nothing that we (who are guilty) can do to appease the justice of God (who is holy). Thus, our only hope is that God has done something about it for us. 5503545-3810GodJesusPeople00GodJesusPeopleWhat God Did So We Could Be ForgivenLike a parent who continues to love their child even after the son or daughter is disobedient, God continues to love each one of us more deeply than we could ever imagine. In fact, He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to do exactly what it would take to save us from the eternal condemnation we deserve. He made salvation possible through his death and resurrection. Read Romans 5:6-10.?What the Death of Jesus Accomplished1. “Propitiation” - Jesus’ death appeased God’s justice and satisfied God’s wrath on our behalf. Jesus became our substitute, and as a man who never sinned, Jesus became an atoning sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins and make amends for our wrongdoing. On the cross, God poured out His wrath on His Son and turned His back on Jesus. God made Jesus accursed for our sins. This was the only way God could be merciful and forgiving towards us without compromising His justice and righteousness. Read 1 John 2:1-2; 4:10; Isaiah 53:4-6, 10-11. (Romans 3:23-25; Hebrews 2:14-17).[Illustration: The Scale - How would you rate yourself on a scale of 0 to 100? If God’s minimum standard was one point higher than yours, what would happen to you? Do you know what God’s minimum standard is? It is 100. Jesus was 100% and he was our substitute][Illustration: The Cockroach – If you kill a bug, there is no penalty, but if you kill a man, there is a penalty. The penalty increases according to the value of the one offended. There’s an infinite penalty for offending an infinite God. Jesus is equal to the value of God. His death was sufficient to pay for the sins of all of humanity]2. “Justification” - Guilty sinners are declared innocent before God on the basis of Jesus’ merits. Our sins were imputed (credited) to Jesus on the cross, and Jesus’ righteousness is imputed to our account. In the eyes of God, we can be just as holy as Jesus is. Read 2 Corinthians 5:21.?3. “Redemption” - We are purchased by God - just as slaves in a slave market - no longer to live under the bondage and dominion of sin and Satan. Whoever commits sin becomes a slave to sin (John 8:34; Hebrews 2:15; Romans 6:16; 2 Peter 2:19), but Jesus’ death on the cross paid the ransom for our sins to deliver us and set us free! Read Galatians 3:13; 4:4-7. (Colossians 1:13-14; Titus 2:13-14; 1 Peter 1:18-19; John 8:35-36)?4. “Reconciliation” - Our broken relationship with God is restored, and we are no longer God’s enemies but His friends. Jesus’ death made fellowship with God possible for us, giving us the opportunity to come back to God as children in His family! Read Colossians 1:19-22. (1 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 2:13)?What the Resurrection of Jesus AccomplishedWhen God raised Jesus from the dead, Jesus conquered Satan, sin, death and hell. In doing so, Jesus proved that he could raise us from the dead as well. At his resurrection, Jesus became Lord. “Lord” is not a name but a title. It isn’t a portrayal of one’s identity but a description of one’s position. “Lord” means: master, ruler, king, and boss. It speaks of one having lordship, power, and authority over others. Therefore, for Christ to be Lord implies that all others become his subjects. He is Lord over all peoples. The stretch of his power and authority includes every nation, tribe, and tongue, every king, prince, and president, every man, woman, and child, every angel and demon. Jesus is Lord of both the living and the dead. He was Lord thousands of years ago, and he is Lord TODAY! Read Philippians 2:5-11. (Romans 14:9; Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20-22)As the only sinless, living individual equal to God’s value, Jesus is God’s only provision for our sin. Read John 14:6. (Acts 4:12; Hebrews 5:9)In Lesson 5 of 5, we’ll discuss what it looks like to respond to the gospel so that what Jesus did will count for us today.WE MUST TRUST AND FOLLOW HIM - Lesson 5 of 5KEY CONCEPT: We must repent of our rebellion against God, follow Jesus as our leader and trust him as our forgiver. ReviewOver the last four lessons, we’ve learned that, according to the Christian worldview:God loves us and wants a friendship with us.People have rejected God and rebelled against His authority.?Sin separates us from God and leads to death. Jesus is God’s provision for salvation.In our final lesson, we will consider what it looks like to respond to the gospel so that what Jesus did will count for us today.The First Time Anyone Became Christians There is no simpler way to learn how to respond to God’s provision in Christ than to read the historical account of the first time anyone ever did. Read Acts 2:14-41. In this sermon, the apostle Peter appealed to four evidences to prove Jesus is the Messiah: The miracles Jesus performed. (2:22)The messianic prophecies Jesus fulfilled. (2:25-31)Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. (2:24-32)Eyewitness testimony. (2:32)In conclusion to these evidences, Peter said, “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (2:36) The people “were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (2:37) It’s not enough to agree intellectually that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died on the cross for our sins. We must exercise faith, just as we would trust a parachute. While Peter did not specifically mention faith in Jesus as a prerequisite for salvation, it is implied on the basis of what Peter preached and how they asked, “What shall we do?” Their question came from hearts that were convicted about the truth of the gospel they just heard. “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (2:38) We Must Surrender To Jesus as Our Leader (Lord)1397098425PeopleGod & Jesus00PeopleGod & Jesus?To confess Christ as Lord of your life is to acknowledge his right to rule and to surrender your will to his by repenting of your rebellion against God. In doing so, we step back into the original friendship dynamic God intended. [Illustration: Clogged Pipe; Bruce Almighty; Blank Contract]We Must Trust Jesus as Our Forgiver (Savior)We must choose to rely exclusively upon Jesus’ death on our behalf as sufficient payment for our sins. This means that we can no longer appeal to what we do or don’t do as the basis for our acceptance before God. All who look to Jesus as leader and forgiver, are commanded to be immersed into Christ through baptism. There, our sinful self-directed will is put to death and God raises us to new life, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a Christ-directed life. (see John 3:5; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:1-14; 1 Peter 3:21; Galatians 3:26-27)When we receive Christ on his terms we can know that we have eternal life (1 John 5:13). God’s justice is satisfied! We are declared innocent! We are bought out of the slavery of sin and given freedom! And we are restored in our friendship with God to receive the spiritual blessings in His family that He has always wanted for us to experience. We then can live in anticipation of Jesus’ return, with the hope of experiencing life with God in the new heavens and the new earth, as God originally intended. (Revelation 21:1-7)Until that time, we are to grow as faithful disciples of Jesus and live a life of good works which God has promised to reward at Jesus’ second coming. This is not “to be” saved, but “because” we are saved. It is a response, driven not by duty but desire. (Titus 3:3-8; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15) God has provided many resources for us to grow spiritually. These include fellowshipping with other Christians, worship, prayer, communion, tithing, Bible reading, witnessing, mission work, showing compassion, forgiving our enemies, and even enduring trials. The Point of Decision?If the claims of the Christian worldview are true, there are many significant implications:If Jesus is the Son of God, his teachings are more than just good ideas from a wise teacher; they are divine insights on which I can confidently build my life.If Jesus sets the standard for morality, I can now have an unwavering foundation for my choices and decisions.If Jesus did rise from the dead, he's still alive today and available for me to encounter on a personal basis.If Jesus conquered death, he can open the door of eternal life for me, too.If Jesus personally knows the pain of loss and suffering, he can comfort and encourage me in the midst of the turbulence that he himself warned is inevitable in a world corrupted by sin.If Jesus is who he claims to be, as my Creator he rightfully deserves my love and obedience.1Are you ready to trust and surrender to Jesus today?“Do you admit your place before God as one who is guilty and deserving punishment, incapable of lifting a finger to save yourself?” “Do you believe Jesus is the Messiah who died to pay the penalty for our sins, and was raised from the dead to be your Lord?“Is there any reason you can think of that would prevent you from surrendering your life to Jesus and obeying him in baptism this very day?”1. Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ, Conclusion. ................
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