Existence of God Handout

The Existence of God

• Suppose someone asked you to prove that God exists. How would you respond?

• Suppose someone told you that they believe God created the universe but that God is no longer involved in the universe today. How would you respond?

• Suppose that someone told you that God is everything, that is God is the universe itself. How would you respond?

Christianity holds that there is a transcendent, immanent God. That is, God exists, is distinct from the created realm, and has a close relationship/involvement in His created realm.

Positive Apologetics

Positive Apologetics refers to the practice of defending the faith by arguing that Christianity is the only reasonable choice.

The Cosmological Argument

• Why is there something rather than nothing?

The Teleological Argument

• If you were walking on the beach and you saw the message "John loves Susan." What assumptions would you make?

Revelational Apologetics

• What does Psalm 19:1-6 together with Romans 1:20 demonstrate?

• What argument is made in Hebrews 3:4?

The Ontological Argument

This argument requires a fairly rigorous understanding of logic and might be worth looking up sometime.

Negative Apologetics

Negative Apologetics refers to the practice of defending the faith by removing obstacles to faith by showing that criticisms of the Bible are wrong.

• If there is an almighty God of the universe, why is there evil?
  • Romans 9:14-17
  • Romans 9:22,23

Evil is a state of finitude while good is a quality of the infinite.  Therefore, good and evil cannot exist in a dichotomous state.

Conclusion

• Don't lose sight of Romans 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." What is the single greatest tool we have in our toolbox?

• According to Hebrews 1:2-3, what is God's means of showing Himself to his creation?