DO YOU BELIEVE HE IS

Introduction:

A. It is a fundamental need for faith.

B. It is a requirement for drawing near to God.

C. It is a necessity for being a Christian.

1. We cannot please God without believing He exists.

2. Belief in His existence is therefore a point of distinction.

a. It serves to set us apart from anyone else.

b. It is a part of what defines us and our life.

Body: Jeremiah 9: 23, 24

I. Arguments For Existence.

A. Ontological Argument (1 John 5: 10).

Since we have an idea of a supremely perfect being, we must conclude that a supremely perfect being exists.

Problem With This Argument

A. For The Bible.

We imagine many things which do not actually exist.

B. For Evolution.

Every nation or culture throughout history has had a belief in a supreme being or beings.

B. Cosmological Argument (Isaiah 40: 26).

Everything that exists has a cause. The earth exists and therefore must have a creator.

Problem With This Argument

A. For The Bible.

If everything must have a cause, then God must have a cause, God's creator must have a cause, etc.

B. For Evolution.

If everything must have a cause, then the Big Bang, the nothing, etc. must have a cause.

C. Teleological Argument (Romans 1: 20).

Since the universe and living things exhibit marks of design in their order, consistency, unity, and pattern, a designer must therefore exist.

Problem With This Argument

A. For The Bible.

Evidence of design is subjective. Anything disorganized would disprove the existence of a designer.

B. For Evolution.

There are so many extremely complex designs in nature, that it is highly unlikely they happened by chance.

D. Moral Argument (Romans 2: 14, 15).

Throughout history, people have had "a sense of ought." This sense of morality must have a moral legislator.

Problem With This Argument

A. For The Bible.

There are many varying differences between cultures of what is right or wrong. What is right in one culture is wrong in another.

B. For Evolution.

Generally, there are morals which are standard over a majority of the cultures. Cultures without any morals result in anarchy and self-destruction.

II. Just The Facts?

A. Eye Witness Testimony.

Two people seeing the same thing can have differing accounts of what happened.

1. One witness may say the car was traveling 50 mph and the driver never saw the other person.

2. Another witness may say the car was traveling 30 mph and the driver tried to avoid the accident.

3. It often depends upon your perspective and background.

B. Scientific Facts.

Two scientists can view the same set of facts and come to opposite conclusions.

1. One scientist can see a large group of sea creature fossils on a mountain top and conclude it is proof of the flood.

2. Another scientist can se the same evidence and conclude the mountain formed sometime after the sea dried up.

C. An Individual Choice.

You must choose to either believe the Bible or to believe Evolution.

1. It depends upon how you choose to look at the evidence.

2. It also depends on what makes the most sense to you.

a. Can you believe something came from nothing, order came from disorder, give it enough time and chance will get it right?

b. Does it make more sense that God created the earth and all that is in it, gave it form, design and purpose?

Conclusion: Hebrews 10: 38. 39

A. This Is The Most Fundamental Point Of Distinction For Being A Christian.

B. If You Believe God Exists, Then Doing His Will Is An Important Next Step.

C. He Wants What Is Best For You. Will You Trust Him?