Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Searching the Scripture

Lesson 1: The Existence of God

Part 1

As a Christian, I belive that there is one God in three persons. This is called the Trinity and the three persons are God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Personally, I am a Christian by conviction and I am a scientist by profession. Both of these aspects of my life, Christian and scientist, have instilled in me a sense of order and a desire for truth. As a Christian I do not question how one God can be three persons. As a scientist, and a finite human being, I can understand the concept of the Trinity through observing the physical world we live in. Often those who do not believe there is a God and those who are babies in their new-found belief wuestion the Trinity. How can one "person" (God) be three people (the Trinity)?

Everyone is familiar with water. Our planet is over 75% water. Without it there would be no life on this planet. Water can be in any one of three states. It can be a gas (vapor) like steam or the clouds. Water can be a liquid that flows in the rivers, rains down from the sky, and quenches our thirst. Or water can be a solid in the form of ice that make up glaciers and cools your lemonade. Gas, liquid, solid - regardless of the form it takes, it is still water. God is still God regardless of whether He is Fathe or Son or Holy Spirit. Another example in nature is an egg. An egg has an outer covering (the shell) that provies protection for what is inside. Within the shell is the yolk (the yellow part) that developes into the chick. Also within the shell is the white or clear part. Shell, yolk, white - all are still an egg. Three that make one. A trinity. Another example would be myself. I am a daughter to my parents. I am a wife to my husband. I am a mother to my children. I am, however, still me, but I have a different role to play depending on the relationship. God is the same way. Each part of the Trinity has a distinct role. God the Father will be our judge. God the Son is our advocate. God the Holy Spirit guides us in paths of righteousness (if we allow Him to do so). In this first lesson we are going to dwell on God the Father.

To begin, we will study the existence of God. In the world today many would like to deny the existence of God. We are constantly confronted by stheists and others who want proof that God exists.

Take up your Bible and turn to I Corintians 2:14. Read the verse.

People who wish to believe that there is no God are nothing new. They've been around since for most of human history. The simple truth is that the natural man (the person who does not believe in God) has a difficult time believing in what he cannot see or touch.

Once when challenged to prove the existence of God, I asked the person why he did not believe. His reply: "I don't believe in anything I cannot see or feel." My response was to ask him how his breathing was. He demanded to know what that had to do with anything. I answered, "By your own definition, if you can't see it or feel it, it doesn't exist. You can't see oxygen or feel it or hold it or smell it or taste it, but it is all around you. The proof that exygen exists is that you are standing here, alive. And the fact that you are alive is proof of God's existence." The man got angry and stomped away. He didn't like his beliefs questions. What beliefs you ask? To believe there is no God requires more faith than is needed to believe there is a God.

The question of faith in the existence of God is easily solved for the Christian. Genesis 1:1 takes care of it. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The Bible begins with the positive fact that God does exist, and it is plainly stated in Psalm 14:1 what type of person denies the existence of God. "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."

Personally, I know there is a God. I talk to Him everyday and He hears me. How do I know He exists? Because I ask in prayer and He answers.

In our next lesson (part 2), we will use the Scripture to prove God's existence.

Abundant Blessings!!!!

2 comments:

Karen said...

Really enjoyed the lesson. Looking forward to next weeks.
Karen

Adam Pastor said...

Greetings Kathie Nolasco

On the subject of the Trinity,
I recommend this video:
The Human Jesus

Take a couple of hours to watch it; and prayerfully it will aid you to reconsider "The Trinity"

Yours In Messiah
Adam Pastor