Does God Exist ? How Can We Know ?

Answering Those Who Ask

Part 2 Theme Verse: 1 Peter 3:15

What We Believe About God And Why !

Genesis 1:1, Psa 14:1

Joke:

A couple had two little boys, ages seven and nine, who were excessively mischevious.

The two were always getting into trouble and their parents could be confident that if any mischeif occured in their town, their two young sons were involved in some capacity. The parents were at their wit’s end as to what to do about their sons’ behavior. The parents had heard that a clergyman in town had been successful in disciplining children in the past, so they contacted him, and he agreed to give it his best shot. He asked to see the boys individually, so the seven-year-old was sent to meet him first. The clergyman sat the boy down and asked him sternly,"Where is God?" The boy made no response, so the clergyman repeated the question in an even sterner tone,"Where is God?" Again the boy made no attempt to answer, so the clergyman raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy’s face,"WHERE IS GOD?" At that, the boy bolted from the room and slammed himself in his closet. His older brother followed him into the closet and said,"What happened?" The younger brother replied,"We are in BIG trouble this time. God is missing and they think we did it!"

God is missing in the lives of a lot of people ! Yet, it is not because he has not revealed who he is, and what he is like, and what he has done and is doing !

This morning we’re going to begin Part 2 of our series on "Answering Those Who Ask". The Bible says in .....

1Pet. 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

As believers we have a responsibility to provide a answer concerning what we believe, and why ?

This morning I want us to start with the pronouncement in Psa 14:1

The Bible says that the atheist is a fool ! The atheist is a fool because he has evidence of God all around him, and in him, and yet he says there is no God ! Listen to the powerful words of Paul.

Rom 1:19-22 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. Rom 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: Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

The atheist, and all those who hold to unbelief are without excuse ! They profess themselves to be wise...but they become fools !

Bottomline: There is no excuse for not believing in God because he is manifest, and clearly seen.

However.......let me say this, and make sure you hear ! Just believing in God is not enough to have a relationship with him that will get you to heaven !

Jam 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble..

What we believe about God", said the late A.W. Tozer, "is the most important thing about us." Our belief or lack of it inevitably translates itself into our actions and attitudes.

This morning "What Do We Believe About God And Why ?" Let me share some points with you this morning.

We believe in God.......

I. As Recorded In Scripture !

a. Bible Reveals The Presence Of God !

Gen 1:1 "In the beginning God.........."

The existence of God is assumed and not argued in scripture ! This, however, does not mean that we should not be able to defend what we believe about God to the skeptics, and scoffers !

We believe in the existence of one God as revealed in the Bible !

This verse refutes atheism and it’s belief in no God.

This verse refutes agnosticism which says you cannot know God

This verse refutes deism which says that God is impersonal.

This verse refutes pantheism which says that everything is God.

It refutes polytheism which says that many gods exist !

b. Bible Reveals The Person Of God !

In the beginning God(Elohim) which is plural in number, and attached to a singular verb. This denotes the Trinity of God ! There is one God manifest in 3 persons ! God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit !