|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
God: The CreatorThere are a number of arguments for the existence of God. THE WATCH ARGUMENTIf we found a watch on the ground, having never seen a watch before, we might pick it up and examine it. We might open the back and look at the complicated mechanism. We would notice how the tiny wheels worked against each other and turned the hands on the face. We would know that such an intricate piece of mechanism must have been made. The watch must have been designed; it must have been planned. The watch could not have made itself. The parts could not have come together by accident. The fact that the watch exists is evidence that there must be a designer - there must be a watchmaker. The universe is made up of millions of stars. The earth has a moon revolving round it. The sun and the planets are part of a marvelously intricate system of which every part is moving exactly along its appointed path. This is of course is much more complicated than any watch. This did not happen by accident. There must be a designer. Thus we read:
BIBLE EVIDENCEOne of the most powerful arguments for the existence of God is contained in the Bible. The Bible contains many prophecies about the rise and fall of kingdoms and nations; about individuals and about events. In many cases these prophecies were recorded hundreds of years in advance. This is something that man could not do. Only God, who controls all things could have caused these prophecies to be written. For example look at Isaiah 46v9-10. Some of these prophecies will be dealt with in future lessons. The purpose of this study is to explain what God has revealed about Himself in the Bible. WHAT THE BIBLE TELLS USGod has revealed Himself as the Creator.
God has revealed Himself as eternal. He has always been and always will exist.
There is only one God. Israel were reminded that the various gods the Egyptians worshipped had no power and were no more than man-made images.
The Bible teaching that there is one true God is important, particularly as there are many in the world who do not believe this. It is the clear teaching of both Old Testament and New Testament. For example look up these verses - Isaiah 45 v 5; 1 Corinthians 8 v 6 and Ephesians 4 v 6. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, 'For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus' (1 Timothy 2 v 5). Jesus himself emphasized the importance of this Bible doctrine when he said, 'This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent' (John 17 v 3). THE POWER OF GODGod is all powerful. it is He who created all things and upon whom we rely for our very existence. God knows all that is going on and is present everywhere by the power of His spirit. David writes in the Psalms:
David writes in this Psalm says that our minds are too finite and small to understand the true greatness of God (verse 6). But if we know that God sees and knows all things it can indeed be a great comfort and a source of strength for us. David writes: 'If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me' (Psalm 139 v 9-10). The Bible tells us that God's ear is always open to hear the cry of His children and God has declared, too, 'I will never leave thee nor forsake thee' (Hebrews 13 v 5). THE LOVE OF GODIf there is one attribute of the Almighty which shows that His character is different from all the gods which have been invented by mankind, it is the love that He shows. Think of the love that a parent shows to his children. God shows all that love - and more - to us.
The work of the Lord Jesus Christ forms the subject of another study and man's need of salvation is also dealt with very fully later. But the purpose that God has with the earth and with man needs to be outlined here. It is the clear teaching of the Bible that God intends in the future to change the world; to remove the evils which at present afflict the world and restore it to what it was intended to be from the beginning. GOD'S PLAN FOR THE EARTHVery early in the history of Israel, God declared, 'As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord' (Numbers 14 v 21). The earth is certainly not filled with the glory of God now. But it will be, for this is God's purpose. The Apostle Paul spoke to the people of Athens and told them that one day the world would be ruled in righteousness by a king appointed by God and that this was guaranteed by Him raising the one appointed to be King from the dead. The world is certainly not ruled in righteousness now. But it will be. When this time comes it will be called the Kingdom of God and Jesus will be the king. God's purpose with the earth is the subject of the next study. One of the sure ways in which God has shown His love for man is that He has made known His purpose in the Bible. His love is also shown in the provision of His own Son as the central pivot of that purpose. THE SPIRITA study about God would not be complete without mentioning two words which are associated with the Almighty and His work. The word 'spirit' is often used in the Bible to mean the power of God, which is universally present. For example David writes:
HOLY SPIRITThe word 'holy' means special, set apart, sacred, consecrated. When we read of the Holy Spirit, the Bible is speaking of the Power of God when used for a particular or special purpose. The Authorised Version of the Bible sometimes has the word for spirit translated as 'Ghost' but the Revised Version used the word Spirit and if we look at some of the places where the words appear the meaning will be clear. When Mary, the mother of Jesus, was told that she was to have a son who was to be called Jesus, she was told that the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) would come upon her and Luke emphasises the meaning by repeating 'the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee' (Luke 1 v 35). If we look at the verse, we see that the angel is explaining that the birth of Jesus would be a miracle brought about by God's special power operating upon Mary. Because of this it was no ordinary conception and child, Jesus would be the Son of God. WRITING THE BIBLEWe have already looked at a verse in the second letter of Peter which says that 'the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit'. It was God's Spirit, His power that caused the prophets to speak and the writers of the scriptures to set down God's Word as they were moved by the power of God. The word 'spirit' is often a translation of a word in Hebrew (in the Old Testament) or a word in Greek (in the New Testament) that means breath. So when the Spirit of God moved a man, it could be said that 'God breathed into him'. This meaning behind the word makes some of the passages which speak of the power of God particularly beautiful. This, too, is the reason that Paul, writing to Timothy, says the scriptures are God-breathed - 'all scripture is given by INSPIRATION of God (2 Timothy 3 v 16). The power of the Holy Spirit was given to Jesus as we read in the New Testament. The apostles later were also given this power that enabled them to perform miracles. The last verse in Mark 16 v 20 tells us that the purpose of this was to enable the apostles to confirm the words that they spoke and show that they were indeed the word of God. Paul speaks of the way in which the gifts of the Holy Spirit were used in the first century. The greatest attribute above all gifts which we should try to cultivate is Love as you will see from reading 1Corinthians 12 v 28-31 then 1 Corinthians 13 v 1-13. God has shown His love for us in many ways. We can best show our love for Him by trying to live our lives in a way that pleases Him and gives Him pleasure. SUMMARY
It is important to our salvation that we should understand the nature of God and His purpose with the earth and mankind.
|
||||||||||||||||
Study 3 QuestionsThese are for you to answer for yourself if you wish, or you can note the correct answer to each question and send via email to: Bible Light Please give the number of the study that you are sending the answers for.
|
||||||||||||||||
