“2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
“3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.”
1. We have hope because we have a God .
Isaiah 9:6 “6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
2. We have in A God who .
Isaiah 9:7 “7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this
3. We have hope in a God who is .
How can I know God?
POINT 1
We need to God because we are of him.
Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV – English Standard Version)
1And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
2in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
3among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
4But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
POINT 2
We need know God because he our.
2 Corinthians 5:1-5 (ESV – English Standard Version)
1For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling,
3if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.
4For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
POINT 3
We know God
John 14:6-10 (ESV – English Standard Version)
6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
How Did I Get Here
Continuing our series: The Big Questions
2 Peter 1:20-21 (ESV – English Standard Version)
20knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.
21For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Genesis 1:26-31 (ESV – English Standard Version)
26Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
28And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
29And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.
30And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.
31And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
POINT ONE
Humanity was created by a divine .
Ge 1:26
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
Genesis 1:31 (ESV – English Standard Version)
31And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
(Intrinsic value)
Suggests that the value of an item or concept is absolute and inherently valuable.
(Relative Value)
suggests that the value of an item or concept is not absolute but depends on its context or how it relates to other things.
POINT TWO
Humanity was created with
Isaiah 43:6-7 (ESV – English Standard Version)
6 I will say to the north, Give up,
and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the end of the earth,
7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
POINT THREE
Humanity was created
Genesis 2:7-8 (ESV – English Standard Version)
7then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
8And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
Bible Passage
Genesis 2:21-23 (ESV – English Standard Version)
21So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.
22And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.
23Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.”
God created humanity vastsly different from the rest of his creation.
We are not just some other animal
Our world wants to give animals the same value as humans but we are not just another animal
We are uniquely loved by the God who created us.
Bible Passage
John 3:16 (ESV – English Standard Version)
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
LANDING
You were intentionally created by a divine designer who loves you very much.
Series: The Big Questions
Five major world religions.
There are countless distinctions when it comes to Judaism, Islam, and Christianity but the one that matters the most is answering the question who is ?
Point 1:
Christianity is the most reasonable belief system because it is only through Jesus that God deals with the real issue of .
1 Jn 2:1–2.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Point 2:
Christianity is the most reasonable belief system because Jesus claimed to be God and it.
John 11:25-26
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and [1]kthe life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.
C. S. Lewis popularized the argument that Jesus was either a liar or a lunatic or the Lord.
- In the mid-nineteenth century the Scottish Christian preacher “Rabbi” John Duncan (1796-1870)
- formulated what he called a “trilemma.” In Colloquia Peripatetica
Christ either [1] deceived mankind by conscious fraud, or [2] He was Himself deluded and self-deceived, or [3] He was Divine. There is no getting out of this trilemma. It is inexorable.
1 Corinthians 15: 3-8
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then [2]tto all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
What is amazing is that there is eyewitness testimony that corroborate the testimony of Jesus.
Point 3:
If God exists and Christianity is the most logical belief, then we’re all responsible for the question who is ?
Mark 8:27-30
27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are [3]sthe Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.
Big Question One: Does God really exist?
New Series: The Big Questions
Resources
- Reason for God Timothy Keller
- Stand Firm: Apologetics and the brilliance of the gospel by Travis Dickenson, Paul Guild, and Keith Loften.
- Christian Apologetics: An anthology of primary sources by Chad Meister & khaldoun Sweis
Definitions
Theist
It is the belief that at least one God exists. Theism, in this specific sense, perceives God as personal, present, and active in governing and organizing the world and the universe.
Atheist
believe that there is insufficient evidence to prove the existence of a God.
Naturalism
The belief is that everything from natural properties, causes, and spiritual explanations are excluded or discounted.
Quote
“Although atheism might have been logically tenable before Darwin, Darwin made it possible to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist.”
Timothy Keller, Reason for God (p.84)
Quote
If there is a Creator God, there is nothing illogical at all about the possibility of miracles. After all, if he created everything out of nothing, it would hardly be a problem for him to rearrange parts of it as and when he wishes. To be sure that miracles cannot occur, you would have to be sure beyond a doubt that God didn’t exist, and that is an article of faith. The existence of God can be neither demonstrably proven nor disproven.
Timothy Keller, The Reason for God (pp. 86-87)
Point 1:
We have reasonable evidence to believe in God because of the evidence.
Psalms 19:1-4
1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
Point 2:
We have reasonable evidence to believe in God because of the natural evidence.
Romans 2:14-15
14For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.
15They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
Big Problem with Moral Relativisms:
2.
Quote
The horrid doubt always arises about whether the convictions of man’s mind, which have been developed from the minds of the lower animals, are of any value or at all trustworthy.
Charles Darwin, Quoted in Timothy Keller’s book, The Reason For God (p. 138). Penguin Publishing Group
Quote
Evolutionists say that if God makes sense to us, it is not because he is really there, it’s only because that belief helped us survive and so we are hardwired for it. However, if we can’t trust our belief-forming faculties to tell us the truth about God, why should we trust them to tell us the truth about anything, including evolutionary science? If our cognitive faculties only tell us what we need to survive, not what is true, why trust them about anything at all?
Timothy Keller, The Reason for God (pp. 137-138). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Point 3:
We have reasonable evidence to believe in God because we have a that only God can
Ecclesiastes 3:11
11He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
The Rise of Hope
Three ways we find hope in the resurrection.
1 The Resurrection of Jesus gives us hope to
1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Romans 6:11-14
11So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
2 The Resurrection of Jesus gives us hope because it
Romans 4:19-25
19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
3 The Resurrection of Jesus gives us hope because it means we’ll be
1. Our present .
2. The New & New
Revelation 21:1-8
1 Corinthians 15:50-53
50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
1 Corinthians 15:16-19
16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. Because Christ has been raised from the dead, we will have a resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus is The Rise of Hope for us who know and love Jesus.
When you think about suffering, what comes to mind? Do you envision bedraggled children with distended stomachs, a hospital patient hooked up to life-sustaining medical equipment, or a courageous veteran dealing with the aftermath of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Adversity seems to be a common denominator to human existence, but what does the Bible have to say about suffering?
Jesus spoke to His disciples about suffering. One of the most well-known verses reads, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24 ESV). The Greek word for cross in this verse is staurós. It refers to the crossbeam which the lowest criminals carried as they trudged toward their execution. The cross symbolized degradation and indescribable pain as well as sacrifice.
While the invitation to eternal life is free, it comes at a price–certain suffering.
John 12:12-16
12 The next day rthe large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of spalm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is uhe who comes in the name of the Lord, even vthe King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.
I. Obedience doesn’t always require
Proverbs 3:1-12
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.
3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be ohealing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.
(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
John 12:17-19
17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”
II. worship doesn’t necessarily indicate true
Romans 12:1-2
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
John 12:19-23
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come jfor the Son of Man to be glorified.
III. We can come to because of what did on the cross
Ephesians 2:11-14
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility