Systematic Theology
By Wayne Grudem
Chapter 9
The Existence of God
Truth Bible Church
Sunday School
19 Jun 2011
Overview
A.
B.
C.
D.
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
E. Questions
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)
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
•
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/worldviewtimes/article.php?articleid=7264
Or here:
– http://raycomfortfood.blogspot.com/2011/05/sir-isaacnewton-was-right-atheists-are.html
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
A. 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
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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?”
A. 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.
A. 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.”
A. 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!
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Romans 8:15-16
Ephesians 3:17
Philippians 3:8, 10
Colossians 1:27
John 14:23
1 Peter 1:8
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!”
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
C. Traditional “Proofs”
• These concepts address philosophical
and logical arguments regarding the
necessary existence of God
1. Cosmological argument
2. Teleological argument
3. Ontological argument
4. Moral argument
C. Traditional “Proofs”
1. Cosmological Argument
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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
C. Traditional “Proofs”
2. Teleological Argument
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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
C. Traditional “Proofs”
3. Ontological Argument
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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
C. Traditional “Proofs”
4. Moral Argument
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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
D. Only God Can Overcome Our Sin…
• 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
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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
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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
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
E. Application Questions
1. 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?
2. Look at your hand. Is it more or less complex
than a wristwatch? Is it logical to think that
either came about by accident?
3. 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?